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→Iraq war
In a raid on an [[al-Qaeda]] safe house in Iraq, U.S. military officials recovered an assortment of crude drawings depicting torture methods like "blowtorch to the skin" and "eye removal." Along with the images soldiers seized various torture implements, such as meat cleavers, whips, and wire cutters. The images, declassified by the Department of Defense, also include a picture of a ramshackle Baghdad safe house described as an "al-Qaeda torture chamber." It was there, during an April 24, 2007 raid, that soldiers found a man suspended from the ceiling by a chain. According to the military, he had been abducted from his job and was being beaten daily by his captors. Earlier Coalition Forces freed five Iraqis who were found in a padlocked room in Karmah. The group, which included a boy, were reportedly beaten with chains, cables, and hoses.<ref>[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0524072torture9.html Torture, Al-Qaeda Style]
In a raid on an [[al-Qaeda]] safe house in Iraq, U.S. military officials recovered an assortment of crude drawings depicting torture methods like "blowtorch to the skin" and "eye removal." Along with the images soldiers seized various torture implements, such as meat cleavers, whips, and wire cutters. The images, declassified by the Department of Defense, also include a picture of a ramshackle Baghdad safe house described as an "al-Qaeda torture chamber." It was there, during an April 24, 2007 raid, that soldiers found a man suspended from the ceiling by a chain. According to the military, he had been abducted from his job and was being beaten daily by his captors. Earlier Coalition Forces freed five Iraqis who were found in a padlocked room in Karmah. The group, which included a boy, were reportedly beaten with chains, cables, and hoses.<ref>[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0524072torture9.html Torture, Al-Qaeda Style]
Drawings, tools seized from Iraq safe house in U.S. military raid, May 24, 2007.</ref>
Drawings, tools seized from Iraq safe house in U.S. military raid, May 24, 2007.</ref>
===CIA torture program===
The controvercy over warrantless wiretaps was always only cover for the the real source where information was gained - Brennan's torture program. At the same time it served public notice Americans had to surrender some freedoms and civil liberties to a group of insiders who knew what was best for them. Legalities didn't matter anymore.
During "a profanity-laced screaming match at the [[White House]]" in August 2009<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8398902 Obama White House v. CIA; Panetta Threatened to Quit Tensions Lead to CIA Director's "Screaming Match" at the White House], Matthew Cole, Richard Espisito, and Brian Ross, ''[[ABC News]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> [[CIA]] Director [[Leon Panetta]] protested Obama's decision to create a team of interrogators overseen by the White House.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112169988 ''White House To Oversee New Interrogation Team''], Dina Temple-Raston, npr.org August 24, 2009.</ref> Responsibility for interrogations of suspects was shifted away from the CIA, and the White House National Security Council staff given direct control.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/23/AR2009082302598.html ''New Unit to Question Key Terror Suspects - Move Shifts Interrogation Oversight From the CIA to the White House]'', Anne E. Kornblut, ''[[Washington Post]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> Brennan was placed in charge of the program.
Unlike executive departments and agencies such as the [[Department of Justice]], [[FBI]], and CIA, the National Security Council staff are not subject to Congressional oversight, and operate outside the spotlight of public view.<ref>[http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/j-e-dyer/78202 National Security Council Reloaded], J. E. Dyer, ''Commentary blog'', 08.25.2009.</ref><ref>Tower Commission Report, p. 13.</ref> The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] made this point during the [[United States Presidential Election, 2008|elections of 2008]] when the George W. Bush NSC staff was involved only in decisions and authorizations and before the Obama NSC staff took on an operational role.<ref>[http://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/35595prs20080610.html?s_src=RSS ACLU Urges Congress to Examine White House National Security Council as Central Decision-Maker on Torture], ACLU Press Release, (6/10/2008).</ref>
After some successful operations such as the [[Abbottabad raid]], Obama re-nominated Brennan to take over CIA in 2013.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/01/07/the-right-or-wrong-experience-for-the-job/by-nominating-john-brennan-obama-is-ignoring-war-crimes By Nominating John Brennan, Obama is Ignoring War Crimes], Glenn Greenwald, ''NY Times'', January 8, 2013.</ref>
== UN definition ==
== UN definition ==