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22 Euro-wide Arrest Warrants Issued Against American CIA Agents
Once upon a time, one would have thought that news of the simultaneous issuing of 22 Europe-wide arrest warrants warranted world-wide, mainstream media headlines -- on a massive scale.
Especially since all 22 suspects cited in said warrants were actually American CIA agents. And particularly in view of the fact that the wide ranging warrants allow for said suspects apprehension and detention - absolutely anywhere across the entire European Union's 25 seperate, member nations.
Well, we did say 'once upon a time,' didn't we?
Because here's an example of today's BBC's boldest efforts to bring out big news, in the current crazy days of these Bush-Blair-Berlusconi, post 9/11 times.
EU-wide warrant over 'CIA kidnap'The news report in question continued:
Abu Omar was allegedly kidnapped from a Milan streetAn Italian court has issued Europe-wide arrest warrants for 22 suspected CIA agents accused of helping to kidnap a Muslim cleric in Milan in 2003.
The suspects are accused of abducting Osama Mustafa Hassan, also known as Abu Omar, without Italian permission, and flying him to Egypt for interrogation.Then there was this:
The new warrants allow for the suspects' detention anywhere in the 25-nation EU, a prosecutor said.Sad to say though, as nowadays seems all too often to be the case, the individual most actively involved in attempting to activate full investigations - and perhaps help highlight further the increasingly, all pervading political hypocrisy of our appointed premiers, presidents, etc - is summarily 'sidelined' by his seniors.
The authorities had already issued arrest orders within Italy.
But to say 'sidelined' - is probably to put it far too politely. We Brits have a better word for this sort of personal sniping - albeit it Anglo-Saxon slang - we call it 'slagged'.
Some may use even stronger language, and choose to say 'shit upon'.
Read the rest of this 'arrest warrant' report, and see for yourself how such significant stories are swiftly spun into insignificant ones, by the vested interests' parties.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4555660.stm
posted by Richard at Monday, December 26, 2005
14 Comments:
There was, amazingly, a brief mention of this in my local paper:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/13479897.htm
Yeah, the papers here have been "Shy" on it...and it is worrisome how long the media will spin it and how they will spin it...and the American Govt has not said a word on it- kind of like when the Spanish Judge issued warrants for the vets that fired on the Hotel....The NSA and CIA that were just following orders are now going to be hung out to dry...
Sickening times...we yell at out representives and our media and it makes no difference...
I am adding you to my blog roll....
Don't underestimate the importance of this Richard. As someone with a fair bit of experience in the area I can tell you that the Italian investigating magistracy are fiercely independent and highly professional. Extradition from the US will probably not be requested as that's a politicla decision. Extradition from everwhere else is automatic. You've more than enough cop on to realise the significance of that so I won't belabour the point.
There's also the German investigation. The Dutch minister of Defense has publicly stated that "the Americans cannot be trusted" and there's the CoE investigation being conducted Sen. Marty that's one to watch.
There's the EU investigation which has the Poles (full members) and the Romanians (candidate members) shitting themselves because if found guilty they've been warned they could kiss their voting rights goodbye. (The Poles are already unpopular because they've pulled some very fast ones and now this.)
Jaysus of all idiocies to access the swissifo link right click and selct open in new window. The v11 strict DTD for crying out loud who in blogger made that loolah of a decision. Oh well at lest I know now.
he he my dad the greying gaelic gorilla gets grumpy …
Richard you and your readers might appreciate this:
Comedy of terror
du
Yes his story made a brief appearance in my local paper buried no less on p.14. I would love to see these cowboys picked up and tossed in jail but - it ain't happenin' bud. As long as there are US bases in Europe and friendly poor nations (in New Europe) these bodies can slip in and out undetected. The official climate in the US currently is that of 'we don't give a rodent's posterior about any warrants issued from some garlic reeking womanizing Italian magistrate'. But as you well know from the many decent Americans who visit this site some of us are outraged by our governement's actions.
Nice to see the Blarney Boys back in action again!
Grania
Sorry - his story - should read this story. It's hard to type with one's tea cosy on one's head!
kevin,
Hello and welcome. Sounds like your paper is one of the few. I'll have to pay your link [and blog] a visit. Thanks.
elaine,
Too true, you do. And have been for a long time. One of these days, eh? One of these days ....
enigma,
Even when it seems everything's falling on deaf ears - we have to keep on yellin, till ... one of these days ...
Btw, I glimpsed your new-look blog, and I think it's great. You must have worked really hard on it, but it looks like it was worth it. I'll have to call back later and play catch-up there. And thanks for the link - it's most appreciated.
mark,
You're right - it's a 'signal' alright. Significant/strong one too, I'd say. And thanks for the Swiss link - it looks a very interesting place. But hey, looks like the Poles have possibly been 'got at,' eh? Just done a u-turn on their planned pull-out, eh?
du,
You'll have to watch your dad - we can't have TOO many 'grumpy old men' around the place -- well, not all at the same time, eh? That Terry Jones/Guardian "Awards" piece is good stuff. Thanks for the heads up -- I've already started spreading it.
graniab,
We must have just been x-posting. Hi. I know what you saying is true -- but like I've said just now to the others - we can't just shut up. One of these days ......
And it IS good to see Mark & Du back.
Ha! I'm trying to picture you - wearing a tea cosy on your head - heh. I take it you're feeling the winter chill?
Richard - I have been having a little think about these warrants being issued by the Italian magistrates. It's 'doable'. I don't think it would ever happen but it would only take one pitbull like Italian prosecutor to really cause the CIA some grief. The Winter Olympics in Turin would be the perfect place to start. I am not saying anyone would land in jail but there would be some satisfaction gleaned from messin' with the authorities.
Richard,
Just by way of a heads-ups and in case he hasn't already said it — you're only going to see Du for a very short while. He'll be commissioned early in the New Year and given his chosen regiment and first specialism he'll ship out immediately. As to my being grumpy I have never denied it :-> - when your friends and family (including your brattish offspring) have been calling you "gorilla" for more than 40 years now a certain amount of beetle browed grumpiness is allowable don't you think? :-)
As to the Poles - short-term gain no more, I'm not surprised that they've pulled back on the pull out - that was inevitable given that they'ce just elected an extremely conservative bordering on far-right government. If they think that the rewards they'll get from the Americans will outweigh the costs of sharply diminished goodwill within "old Europe" they have another think coming. Pardon the language but tough effing sh*t they asked for it let them enjoy it. They don't seem to realise that the American habit of persistently stabbing their allies in the back is already costing the US dear and that nobody is interested in tolerating it for a moment from the Poles. There's a lot of anger here from all shades of the political spectrum.
Grania - you're right although that's not quite how the magistracy works. More to point there are now quite a lot of people who dare not visit Europe. Even more to the point any Italian officials who collaborated now risk very severe penalties. Yet more to the point the Italians have excellent sources of info throughout the ME which they're quite distinctly less willing to share with their Englsiih speaking countreparts these days. Jeez who'd a thought that illegaly shooting dead one of their top security officials as he escorted an Italian national whom the US had made eff all attempts to rescue from her kidnappers, and violating their sovereignty would have ticked the Italians off. They have enough problems without their allies adding to them are a royally pissed off. High bloody time.
By the way I forgot to mention that the Greek case against the alleged British abductors of an immigrant of Pakistani origin is now going to go ahead as the prosecutorial service have said that the complaints are "absolutely valid" and is preparing to call named Greek Intelligence officers as witnesses. The abduction was allegedly organised by the current counsellor of the British Embassy in Athens. There's a rather coy article about it in The Guardian (right click and select open in new window) about it. There's also this from the Times:
"The disclosures sparked a row in Athens, with opposition leaders and human rights groups demanding to know why British agents were allowed to operate in Greece... "
and two really feeble efforts from aunty beeb 1 and 2
The only reason I'm being coy about the name is because I'm unsure what your legal status would be were I to post it. It's a matter of public record however.
The Greek Intelligence Service (EYP) have stated that it will not allow its employees to testify for reasons of the "national interest". But the lawyer for the abducted immigrants is preparing to sue by name and in open court the EYP officers in question. Thereby making it rather difficult for the accused agents to avoid appearing in court. I'm sure your heart bleeds for them quite as much as mine does being questioned in open court about illegal activities is manfestly far worse than being kidnapped and tortured after all.
Great post and comments, Richard and all.
harmonious,
Thanks for the compliments, and welcome.
Mark, thank you too for you're [now expected] great extra info and links.
Don't forget to wish Du all the very best for the coming new year and others to follow, and the same to yourself of course. Please tell Du he'll be greatly missed while he's away.
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