Extraordinary Rendition and U.S. Counterterrorism Policy

This article examines the United States Government policy of extraordinary rendition as a response to terrorism. The paper provides a working definition of the term, outlines why it has become controversial, and uses case studies to examine success and failures of extraordinary rendition in practice...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of strategic security 2011-10, Vol.4 (3), p.15-28
Main Author: Murray, Mark J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administration
Al-Qaida
Amendments
Case studies
Counterterrorism
Fallout
Flexibility
Government policy
Imprisonment
Judicial process
National security
Policy making
Public policy
Security policy
Terrorism
Terrorism / counterterrorism
Terrorists
Torture
U.S.A
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Summary:This article examines the United States Government policy of extraordinary rendition as a response to terrorism. The paper provides a working definition of the term, outlines why it has become controversial, and uses case studies to examine success and failures of extraordinary rendition in practice. The paper concludes with lessons learned—more specifically, policy amendments—that are necessary to keep extraordinary rendition as a viable tool for the Obama Administration and mitigate political fallout against the United States from both its allies and enemies. This paper argues that extraordinary rendition provides flexibility to policymakers to detain terrorists in cases where an attack may be forthcoming and when other approved legal processes are slow to react. Therefore, instead of ending extraordinary renditions altogether, the United States should reevaluate how it implements the policy on a tactical, operational, and strategic level and amend it based on the recommendations put forward in this article.
ISSN:1944-0464
1944-0472
DOI:10.5038/1944-0472.4.3.2