Volume XLIV – Number 2

Leah Reppert

AbstractThis article provides a thorough study of the use and implications of extraordinary rendition in the decade following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In the case of the United States, extraordinary rendition refers to the process of transporting a suspect, particularly a suspected terrorist, to a third-party location with a loose legal and regulatory climate, so that American intelligence officers may use extreme coercive interrogation measures free from judicial scrutiny at home. This policy was put into practice almost immediately following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and quickly became controversial due to its lack of regard for the suspects’ rights of due process, human security, and protection from torture. This article argues that for all of its controversy and immorality, the policy of extraordinary rendition has not been successful at combating terrorism or ensuring the national security of the United States. This lack of success can be attributed to the Central Intelligence Agency’s emphasis on expediency following the 9/11 attacks, which came at the expense of collecting focused, substantial information and installing effective covert operation policies.

Keywords: covert operations, C.I.A., terrorist, extradition, national security, due process, 9/11 terrorist attacks, rendition

 

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