On Aug. 25, The National Security Archive published an online database of over 83,000 federal government documents related to the detention and interrogation of individuals by the United States during the “global war on terror” as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  This database serves as a central point of access for documents obtained through whistleblowers, litigation, and the Freedom of Information Act.

Several organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights were responsible for pursuing litigation that resulted in the releases of hundreds of documents.  Most of this litigation surrounded Freedom of Information Act requests that were denied, often to cover up illegal government activity.

The new database is searchable by keyword, document title, date, or organization.  Many of the documents found in this database were used as part of the PBS documentary, Torturing Democracy, released earlier this year.