Truthout roundup 5/1

Documents obtained by ACLU show detainee abuse continued after 2003; US officials say Iraq to decide on what to do about Iran; civilians among the dead in Sadr City; former Guantanamo prosecutor says evidence against detainees is tainted; Hoyer tries to keep "blue dogs" from defecting on FISA; Iran complains about Clinton threat; Obama closing in on Clinton's super delegate lead; and more ... Browse our continually updating front page at http://www.truthout.org t r u t h o u t 05.01

ACLU: Torture of Detainees Continued After 2003 Directive
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050108J.shtml Adam Goldman, of The Associated Press, reports "the military continued to use abusive interrogation methods on detainees after a 2003 directive meant to end such practices, the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday after reviewing newly released documents. The Department of Defense documents shed light on the use of psychologists in military interrogations and the failure of medical workers to report abuse of detainees, the ACLU said. 'The documents reveal that psychologists and medical personnel played a key role in sustaining prisoner abuse - a clear violation of their ethical and legal obligations,' ACLU attorney Amrit Singh said."

US Officials: Decision on Confronting Iran Up to Iraq
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050108K.shtml The Associated Press reports "Iraqi leaders have been given the latest US evidence of Iranian support for militias inside Iraq, and Baghdad will decide what to do about it, two senior Pentagon officials said Wednesday. Marine Lt. Gen. John Sattler, director of strategy, plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki possesses the evidence, which other officials said contradicts Tehran's stated commitment to stop providing arms, weapons technology and training to Shiite militias inside Iraq."

Iraq Civilians Reportedly Among Sadr City Dead
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050108L.shtml Tina Susman, of The Los Angeles Times, reports "the US Army said they were militants. Sadr City residents said at least some were civilians, and photographs showed a dust-covered child being pulled from a mountain of rubble after Tuesday's fighting. Whatever the facts, at least 28 people were dead after the four-hour battle, the latest killed in a showdown between US and Iraqi forces and Shiite Muslim militiamen over recent weeks."

Former Guantanamo Prosecutor Says Trials Tainted
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050108M.shtml Reuters reports "the former chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals testified on Monday that the tribunals were tainted by political influence and evidence obtained through prisoner abuse. Air Force Col. Moe Davis, who quit the war court last year, said political appointees and higher-ranking officers pushed prosecutors to file charges before trial rules were even written."

Blue Dogs on Hoyer's FISA Leash
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050108N.shtml Alexander Bolton, of The Hill, reports "Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.), the House Democrats' point man in negotiations on an overhaul of intelligence surveillance law, is keeping his eye on conservative Blue Dog Democrats who might defect on the issue under Republican pressure. The topic has reached a critical point because surveillance orders granted by the director of national intelligence and the attorney general under the authority of the Protect America Act begin to expire in August."

Iran Complains to UN About Clinton Comment
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050108O.shtml Claudia Parsons, of Reuters, reports "Iran complained to the United Nations on Wednesday about US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's comment the United States could 'totally obliterate' Iran in retaliation for a nuclear strike against Israel. Iran's deputy ambassador to the United Nations sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the president of the Security Council expressing Iran's condemnation of 'such a provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible statement.'"

Obama Closing In on Clinton's Advantage Among Super Delegates
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050108P.shtml The Associated Press reports "Barack Obama is closing in on Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's advantage among superdelegates, building on his lead in the primary race even as he faces troubled times. Party leaders are encouraging superdelegates to pick a side by late June to prevent the fight from going to the national convention in August, and it seems some are listening as the race enters its final five weeks of voting