on January 23,
2013
CIA-Torture
Whistleblower Latest in 'Americans Who Tell the Truth' Series by Artist Robert
Shetterly
(Washington, DC) –
Next Wednesday, Jan. 23, CIA/Anti-torture whistleblower and GAP client John
Kiriakou will be honored at an event unveiling his portrait, which is the
latest in a series by prominent artist Robert Shetterly that features notable
truth-tellers from American history. The event will be held in Washington, DC
at Busboys & Poets (14th and V NW location) from 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
This portrait, the
newest edition to Shetterly's "Americans
Who Tell the Truth" project,
will be unveiled just two days prior to Kiriakou's sentencing in Alexandria,
Virginia on Friday, Jan. 25 (more below). This portrait series, in the words of
the artist, is "dedicated to the belief that a profound sense of
citizenship is the only safeguard of democracy and the best defense of our
social, economic, and environmental rights." Many prominent whistleblowers
have been featured in the series, including Daniel Ellsberg, Frank Serpico,
Coleen Rowley, and GAP client Thomas Drake.
Shetterly, Kiriakou
and GAP National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack (the
subject of a series portrait herself) will speak during the program.
Additionally, noted jazz pianist Mary Anne Driscoll will premiere a new
composition at the event, based on Kiriakou's words and actions. Light
refreshments will be served.
As space is limited,
and the event is free and open to the public, it is requested that journalists
who wish to attend RSVP to GAP Communications Director Dylan Blaylock at dylanb@whistleblower.org.
"Even if torture
works, it cannot be tolerated – not in one case, or a thousand, or a million,"
stated Kiriakou. "If their efficacy becomes the measure of abhorrent acts,
all sorts of unspeakable crimes somehow become acceptable. I may have found
myself on the wrong side of the government on torture. But I'm on the right
side of history ... there are things we should not do, even in the name of
national security. One of them, I now firmly believe, is torture."
Stated the artist
Robert Shetterly, "A state that consistently uses law to subvert justice
and to violate human rights has become an enemy of its own defining spirit. It
takes great courage to defy the power of such a state and to demand it adhere
to its moral imperatives. John Kiriakou has shown that courage in opposing this
country's flagrant use of torture and its attempts to justify that use. It is
my great honor to add his portrait to the Americans Who Tell the Truth
project."
Kiriakou is a CIA
veteran who headed counterterrorism operations in Pakistan after 9/11,
organized the team operation that captured suspected al-Qaeda operative Abu
Zubaydah, and refused to be trained in torture interrogation tactics. In
December 2007, Kiriakou gave an on-camera interview to ABC News in which he
disclosed that Zubaydah was "waterboarded" and that
"waterboarding" was torture – making him the first CIA officer to
publicly label the action as torture. His interview also helped expose the
CIA's torture program as policy, rather than the actions of a few rogue agents.
For these and other
actions, in January 2011, Kiriakou became the sixth whistleblower charged with
violating the Espionage Act by the Obama administration. These six prosecutions
are more than all previous presidential administrations combined. Late last
year, Kiriakou pled guilty to violating the Intelligence Identities Protection
Act in exchange for the government dropping all other charges against him.
Kiriakou is now the sole CIA officer who faces jail time for any action
involving the federal government's torture program, despite being a
whistleblower on it.
[Information contained in BKNT E-mail is considered
Attorney-Client and Attorney Work Product privileged, copyrighted and
confidential. Views that may be expressed are those of the author(s) and do not
necessarily reflect those of any government, agency, or news organization.]
1 comment:
David Howard has a comment?
Can't seem to find it, as a complete newbie. Perhaps David could email to BlackNET.Intell@gmail.com
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