Eight former Afghan and Iraqi prisoners represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First have filed a federal lawsuit (bugmenot login: “colinsearle” pword: “bristol”) in Illinois seeking unspecified damages against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for authorizing abuse of prisoners in violation of the U.S. Constitution and international law. The plaintiffs contend that they were never combatants against the U.S. and eventually were released without any charges being filed against them.