I just saw the movie Rendition for the first time. If you have not seen it, it is definitely a must see. Another of the shameful Bush era legacies that hopefully have come to an end, rendition is the action of sending a suspect to another country where they will be tortured, to get around our constitution and laws.

What was even more compelling than the actual movie was the commentary. Included was an amazing documentary interview with a victim and the family of another victim of rendition, whose stories contributed to the screenplay of the movie. Its about 26 minutes long, but I urge you to watch it. It is very graphic though, so I would suggest you exercise caution.



Recently, President Obama honored the CIA officers and contractors who died in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. The alleged perpetrator was a double agent Jordanian. AlJazeera carried an extended interview with his Turkish widow. Some of her comments were very interesting:
1. Her husband became a changed man after being jailed and tortured in Jordan. It is possible this is when he was recruited to be an agent for the CIA, as well as possibly by AlQaeda.
2. He seemed to be stateless, like many other Muslims, especially the Palestinians, who can not return to their home country for political or other reasons. He had requested she find out how he could try to obtain Turkish citizenship and constantly was telling her he would be back soon with her and the children.
3. She supported what he had done because "he had killed Americans"

Lets start with #3. Years ago, the rest of the world admired the US and our people. Everyone looked up to the US, aspired to visit the US, and wished to become a citizen. What has happened to change this?

One of the many possible reasons is our foreign policy, both our public official policies and actions, and our secret policies and actions as carried out by the CIA and as illustrated by this film and this recent incident. Our unfettering support for Israeli aggression and oppressive regimes has fomented an atmosphere whereby people look at the US as an imperialist state, out to pursue its own and its allies' interests irrespective of who suffers as a result. The US' inability to stand behind the Goldstone report on the Gaza atrocities is illustrative of that. The claims by Israel and its allies of bias in this report is shocking to say the least. I think in any situation where 13 people die on one side, the majority being soldiers in an aggressive formidable army attacking a slum, and 1400 people die on the other, the majority being civilians, women and children, involving the use of excessive and illegal force, and blame is placed equally on both, people will ask WHAT?

Why would this Jordanian, who was looking forward to rejoining his wife and kids, take his own life?

How about the recent conviction of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani, in NY court for attempted murder of US officers. I mentioned her story last year. She was captured and detained by the US and its allies in Pakistan/Afghanistan, and her children were also taken. Years of detention later, and she is named as a most wanted terrorist. She reappears in custody, and is shot, after supposedly grabbing the guns of those interrogating her and firing at them. Why would an MIT educated scientist allegedly try to kill US officers? And why are there so many holes in the story of her capture, disappearance, recapture, and the disappearance of her children? Her whole country of Pakistan is infuriated by what happened and at her conviction. This story is definitely not a helpful one for our interests.

How about the Christmas day KLM bomber? Why would a 23 year old Nigerian who was UK educated from a well to do family, try to take his own life and the lives of hundreds of passengers on a commercial jetliner?

Its easy in each one of these stories to "blame the terrorists".

Its harder to try to understand why and to do something to prevent it in the future, especially if some fault lies with us.

The recent inquiry into the Iraq War directed at Tony Blair was a refreshing review of a war based on hype and spin. A similar review should be conducted states side, and those responsible for the deaths of thousands of our young men and women, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis should be made accountable. (Watch the Green Zone starring Matt Damon for a very intriguing depiction of the WMD scandal. Fiction but how far from the truth?)

President Obama came in under the flag of change. Fundamental change in our foreign policy, both the public and the secret, must be devised and implemented to see change in this world. Otherwise, we will continue to foster desperation and hatred.