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CIA seeks time on response to interrogation report

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN BRAUN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA asked a federal judge Thursday in Washington for more time to declassify its still-secret response to a Senate intelligence report on harsh interrogation techniques used on terror detainees as well as a separate review ordered by former agency director Leon Panetta.

Justice Department lawyers representing the intelligence agency filed a motion urging U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg to lift a May 22 deadline in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union seeking copies of the two classified reports.

Already in the process of declassifying a 500-page summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the harsh techniques, the CIA said it will need more time to similarly review the other two documents. President Barack Obama said in April that he wanted the report made public quickly.

But government lawyers said in their motion only that the CIA would be able to provide a timetable by June 20 and hoped to have the materials available at some point this summer.

Citing legal and national security complexities already surrounding the review of the Senate report, government lawyers said the CIA “does not yet have a firm date by which it can complete the processing of the CIA response and the so-called Panetta report, although it hopes the declassification review and accompanying processing of those documents can be completed this summer.”

Hina Shamsi, the ACLU’s lead lawyer on the case, criticized the government’s offer on timing as too vague.

“We had wanted something more specific than their statement that the review would be completed this summer, especially given that the agency acknowledges the president expressed a commitment to declassify expeditiously.”

The ACLU sued the CIA last November under the Freedom of Information Act, demanding release of the Senate committee’s full 6,000-page report, which still remains secret, as well as CIA Director John Brennan’s secret rebuttal of that report, given to the Senate committee in 2013. As part of the lawsuit, the ACLU also asked for an earlier CIA review of harsh interrogation ordered by Panetta, which reportedly concurs with the Senate’s report.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who heads the Senate committee and has pressed for a speedy declassification of the report on the CIA’s oversight of “enhanced” interrogations in agency-run prisons overseas, said this week she was told by the White House that the CIA’s review would not be ready before July. Feinstein’s comments were first reported by NPR.

Lawyers for the CIA said the agency’s delivery of the two agency reports will depend in part on how quickly the Senate report is declassified, a process that will likely involve several CIA units as well as the involvement of other agencies. Justice lawyers cited “the fluid nature of this process, aspects of which are beyond the CIA’s control.”

Even when that is finished, the lawyers said, more time will be necessary “for implementation of security measures to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel and facilities overseas” — a reference to the possibility of protests and violence abroad ignited by the documents’ details on the abusive treatment of detainees.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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