Rep. condemns torture outsourcing

WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- A senior U.S. Representative reintroduced legislation to ban the 'extraordinary rendition' program used against suspected terrorists.

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., announced on Tuesday his plan to reintroduce the "Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act."

"Extraordinary rendition undermines our international standing because our own gross hypocrisy prevents us from effectively advocating for improved human rights policies around the globe," Markey said in a news conference.

Extraordinary rendition describes the process of seizing a suspected terrorist and transporting him to a third country for interrogation. That country could include those known to employ torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment in detention or interrogation.

The bill would bar the transfer of individuals in the custody of the United States or its contractors to a country known to employ torture, regardless of the citizenship of the individual or the location of seizure. "Diplomatic assurances" would not be basis for determining whether a threat of torture exists in a particular country.

The American Civil Liberties Union endorsed the Markey bill and said that the legislation would close the loopholes that have been opened by unprecedented administration interpretations of the laws governing torture.