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WASHINGTON, 5 December 2005
'Torture is a term that is defined by law. We rely on our law to govern our operations. The United States does not permit, tolerate or condone torture under any circumstances', Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters at Andrews Air Force Base, as she prepared to depart on a four-day European trip to Germany, Romania, Ukraine and Belgium. 'The United States does not transport, and has not transported, detainees from one country to another for the purpose of interrogation using torture', Rice said. 'The United States has not transported anyone and will not transport anyone to a country when we believe he will be tortured', Rice said. 'Where appropriate, the United States seeks assurances that transferred persons will not be tortured'.
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'For decades, the United States and other countries have used renditions to transport terrorist suspects from the country where they were captured to their home country or to other countries where they can be questioned, held, or brought to justice. In some situations a terrorist suspect can be extradited according to traditional judicial procedures. But there have long been many other cases where, for some reason, the local government cannot detain or prosecute a suspect, and traditional extradition is not a good option. Such renditions are permissible under international law and are consistent with the responsibilities of those governments to protect their citizens. Rendition is a vital tool in combating transnational terrorism. Its use is not unique to the United States, or to the current administration. Ramzi Youssef masterminded the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and plotted to blow up airlines over the Pacific Ocean, killing a Japanese airline passenger in a test of one of his bombs. Once tracked down, a rendition brought him to the United States, where he now serves a life sentence. One of history’s most infamous terrorists, best known as Carlos the Jackal, had participated in murders in Europe and the Middle East. He was finally captured in Sudan in 1994. A rendition by the French government brought him to justice in France, where he is now imprisoned. Indeed, the European Commission of Human Rights rejected Carlos’ claim that his rendition from Sudan was unlawful. Renditions take terrorists out of action, and save lives.'
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