Aftershock: The War on Terror Episode 3: Dr Yes
10 snips
Dec 4, 2025 
Join Laleh Khalili, an expert in Middle East politics and the global prison network, and Charles Swift, a former U.S. Navy JAG who defended detainees, as they delve into the dark legacy of detention practices post-9/11. They discuss the controversial legal frameworks that perpetuated indefinite detention, the infamous black sites, and the role of U.S. allies in enabling torture. Swift shares gripping firsthand accounts from military commissions and the challenges faced in pursuing justice for his client, Salim Hamdan, highlighting the complexities of law in wartime.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Post‑9/11 NY Detentions
- Within days of 9/11, over a thousand people were arrested in sweeps across New York, often targeting South Asian communities.
- The Inspector General later called many detentions haphazard, with reports of abuse and long holds without evidence.
Legal Theory That Created A Black Hole
- John Yoo ("Dr. Yes") crafted a legal paradigm to place terrorism detainees outside traditional law and oversight.
- That reasoning enabled indefinite detention, military commissions, and expansive executive power after 9/11.
Global Network Of Black Sites
- The CIA ran secret rendition flights and black sites worldwide, sometimes via allied countries that denied involvement.
- Detainees endured extreme isolation, sleep deprivation and other enhanced interrogation techniques.
