To the Point

Rendition and Interrogation in the War on Terror

It is not a familiar word to most Americans, but it's been US policy since President Ronald Reagan approved it in 1986. "Rendition" is the practice of sending suspected terrorists to other countries with reputations for treating prisoners in ways that are illegal in the United States. When it comes to American laws against torture, CIA Director Porter Goss says his agency is "erring on the side of caution," though he won't deny there might have been past abuses of suspects in the so-called War on Terror. Goss says those countries promise not to torture, but prisoners who have been "rendered" tell a different story. We explore the nature of the claims and what is allowable under American law with journalists, experts in constitutional law and a veteran CIA expert in counter-terrorism. Making News: Major Quake Hits Sumatra There's been an 8.2 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, which could mean another tsunami. Agencies responsible for monitoring such events have called for evacuations in Indonesia, Thailand and other countries that could be affected. Greg Romano is a spokesman for NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Reporter's Notebook: Fifteen Officials Arrested for Darfur Crimes Tens of thousands of people have been killed in more than two years of violence in Sudan's western province of Darfur, in crimes the US has called "genocide." Today, Sudan announced the arrest of 164 suspects for rape, crimes against humanity and war crimes and, for the first time, 15 members of police, military and security forces are among the accused. Alfred Taban is Managing Editor of the Khartoum Monitor and a correspondent for the BBC.