The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of the case of German national Khaled al-Masri against the U.S. government. In 2003 Masri was whisked away from Macedonia by the CIA to be tortured in Afghanistan. After 5 months they apparently lost interest and left him on a lonely road in Albania.

Masri's attorney from the ACLU characterized the decision this way—

... it literally grants the CIA complete immunity to engage in any kind of misconduct.

The court wrote in its opinion [PDF]—

We recognize the gravity of our conclusion that al-Masri must be denied a judicial forum.

There is no good news in any of this, but it should be noted that this kidnapping has resulted in warrants for the CIA agents in both Germany and Italy. Though the warrants are unlikely ever to be served, they may at least keep the agents involved out of Europe, where one agent has had to leave behind his Italian villa.

Previous posts
If a tree falls in the forest and only one person is there.... (1/17/05)
Airline Meal of the Day (2/20/07)

Tags: * Masri al-Masri el-Masri Khaled Macedonia CIA extraordinary rendition kidnapping Germany Italy Afghanistan torture opinion appellate court