CIA black site detainee served as training prop to teach interrogators torture techniques

Newly declassified documents reveal Ammar al-Baluchi was repeatedly slammed against a wall while naked until all trainees received ‘certification’ A detainee at a secret CIA detention site in Afghanistan was used as a living prop to teach trainee interrogators, who lined up to take turns at knocking his head against a plywood wall, leaving him with brain

The Cold War: Crash Course US History #37

In which John Green teaches you about the Cold War, the decades long conflict between the USA and the USSR. The Cold War was called cold because of the lack of actual fighting, but this is inaccurate. There was plenty of fighting, from Korea to Viet Nam to Afghanistan, but we’ll get into that stuff

World Cup host Qatar used ex-CIA officer to spy on FIFA

The tiny Arab nation of Qatar has for years employed a former CIA officer to help spy on soccer officials as part of a no-expense-spared effort to win and hold on to the 2022 World Cup tournament, an investigation by The Associated Press has found. It’s part of a trend of former U.S. intelligence officers

Justices Gorsuch and Sotomayor Bristle at SCOTUS Refusal to Take Up Case on Secrecy of U.S. Surveillance Court: ‘If These Matters Are Not Worthy of Our Time, What Is?’

Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch were unlikely allies Monday as they issued a dissenting statement from the high court’s denial of certiorari in a case demanding transparency over the proceedings conducted by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) — the judicial body that oversees covert operations conducted by the U.S. intelligence agencies. A 2016 lawsuit filed by the American Civil

George HW Bush and the End of the Cold War: Crash Course US History #44

In which John Green teaches you about the end of the Cold War and the presidency of George H.W. Bush. It was neither the best of times, nor the worst of times. On the domestic front, the first president Bush inherited the relative prosperity of the later Reagan years, and watched that prosperity evaporate. That

Taliban Prisoner Released By Trump Expected To Lead Afghan Government

As the Taliban continues its hold in Afghanistan, a former prisoner released by Donald Trump could become the group’s next head of government. The Taliban is expected to name its government soon, appointing Islamic judges to key positions, while Abdul Ghani Baradar, a former prisoner of the CIA who was released in 2018 at the

Drones: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

The United States has launched a huge number of drone strikes under President Obama. It’s widely accepted and extremely terrifying.

Let’s talk about Kennedy, Malcom Nance, and criticism – Beau of the Fifth Column

Israel Gave U.S. Two-hour Notice on Iran Attack. CIA ‘Demanded Answers’

New York Times reports that the attack at Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility – for which Israel never took responsibility – reflected Netanyahu’s distrust of the Biden administration Israel gave the United States less than two hours’ warning of its plans to attack Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility in April, reflecting then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy

Taliban says it won’t allow Afghans to reach Kabul airport as UN warns of ‘credible’ reports of executions

The Taliban said it won’t allow Afghans to reach Kabul airport. A spokesperson said their skills are needed to rebuild the country. The UN has warned that the Taliban is committing serious violations, including summary executions. A Taliban spokesperson on Tuesday said Afghans will be prevented from going to the airport in Kabul because their