Rendition

Book excerpt: The purpose of the inquiry was to consider whether the UK intelligence and security Agencies had any knowledge or involvement in rendition operations and their policy for intelligence sharing with foreign liaison services in this context. It looks at the legal framework, the nature of intelligence sharing, the changes since 9/11, ethical dilemmas, flights through UK airspace, and specific cases. One of the conclusions is: "What the rendition programme has shown is that in what it refers to as the 'war on terror' the US will take whatever action it deems necessary, within US law... Although the US may take note of UK protests and concerns, this does not appear to materially affect its strategy on rendition. It is to the credit of our Agencies that they have now managed to adapt their procedures of work round these problems and maintain the exchange of intelligence... The committee notes that UK Agencies now have a policy in place to minimise the risk of their actions inadvertently leading to renditions, torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (CIDT). Where it is known that the consequence of dealing with a foreign liaison service will include torture of CIDT the operation will not be authorised."