Al Qaeda coached to claim torture...
Reader comment on item: [The Abu Ali Case and] Balancing Liberties, Security

Submitted by L. D. Weiner (United States), Mar 3, 2005 at 14:55

The Al-Qaeda training manual instructs its adherents to claim that they have been tortured whenever they have been detained.

Quoting from the Al-Qaeda Training Manual (Lesson 18),

"IF AN INDICTMENT IS ISSUED AND THE TRIAL, BEGINS, THE BROTHER HAS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING:
1. At the beginning of the trial, once more the brothers must insist on proving that torture was inflicted on them by State Security [investigators] before the judge.
2. Complain [to the court] of mistreatment while in prison."

This is an open source document, available at the following web site:

http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/trainingmanual.htm

Why have these media outlets not been called out for being witless dupes? Although I otherwise agree with your article, I think you have granted too much in allowing that the basic premise of the press articles might be true. Howver, I think you missed an opportunity to raise the fact that the actions of Abu Ali and his family in claiming torture are entirely consistent with his being an Al-Qaeda operative.

Regards,

L. D. Weiner

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