Mysterious jet tied to torture flights

Chicago Trib via Yahoo ^ | 1/8/05 | John Crewdson

[aynrandfreak]

The first question is: Where is Leonard T. Bayard? The next question is: Who is Leonard T. Bayard? But the most important question may be: Does Leonard T. Bayard even exist?

The questions arise because the signature of a Leonard Thomas Bayard appears on the annual report of a Portland-based company, Bayard Foreign Marketing LLC, that was filed in August with the Oregon secretary of state.

According to federal records, Bayard Foreign Marketing is the newest owner of a U.S.-registered Gulfstream V executive jet reportedly used since Sept. 11, 2001, to transport suspected Al Qaeda operatives to countries such as Egypt and Syria, where some of them claim to have later been tortured.

The Central Intelligence Agency (news - web sites) has declined to discuss the plane. But one retired CIA (news - web sites) officer said that he understood the Gulfstream had been operated by the Joint Special Operations Command, an interagency unit that organizes counterterrorist operations in conjunction with the CIA and military special forces.

A search of commercial databases turned up no information on Leonard Thomas Bayard: no residence address, no telephone number, no Social Security (news - web sites) number, no credit history, no automobile or property ownership records--in short, none of the information commonly associated with real people.

And yet, someone signed the name Leonard T. Bayard to Bayard Foreign Marketing's annual report.

The report, which describes the company as an "international marketing firm," lists Bayard's principal place of business as a suite in a historic downtown Portland office building known as the Pittock Block. But a visitor to the suite who asked to see Bayard was told by a receptionist only that "Mr. Bayard doesn't work here."

[Dog Gone]

Team America Ping

[MindBender26]

Southern Air Transport, flight 6969, now departing from gate number one (the only gate) for places not on the map.......

[ex 98C MI Dude]

Maybe Leonard T. Bayard is Valerie Plame. The Secret Agent Woman herself? Inquiring minds want to know!

Not this inquiring mind, however. The government sometimes has to do things that the general public would find distasteful. It is the cost of doing business with a world that has its head up its @ss. Its gotta be done, but no one said it would be pretty.

[Lion in Winter]

I agree... just disappear.

OK, you want to make the call or should I?

; > ) LOL!!

[Lion in Winter]

LOL!!!

[MindBender26]

If you understand the well-respected British firm, "Universal Exports" or certain other firms (nothing more modern than the 60s/70s here) such as Southern Air Transport, Air America, Pacific Grain Expediters, Northern Michigan Tool and Die Repair, Inc., The Inter Latin American Chamber of Commerce, Harris-Johanessen Pumps Inc. of Newport News, the Glomar Explorer and Global Marine, International Aircrew Supply Inc. and a few others, then you understand this.

[BIGLOOK]

A Gulfstream for transporting terrorists? Highly doubtful. But this is the business of the MSM.

[MindBender26]

>A Gulfstream for transporting terrorists? Highly doubtful

No, very reliable, long range, etc. Transporting terrs requires nothing special. A seat, high security handcuffs and leg irons, a hobble, and bag over the head.

Rule #7, Hide in plain sight.

We once got a Huey "off the books in RVN" Where did we hide it? In a row of 20 other Hueys.

Traded it to the Filipino "PhilCag" for two great armored cars.

[NomadWA]

Even if all of this is true, how is it wrong to repatriate Egyptian nationals to face the music in their own countries? I don't see anyone accusing us of turning them over to the Shin Bet in Israel for torture.

So JSOC leased a plane, whoopee.

[F.J. Mitchell]

LOL! But did they complain when the seat was left up?

[Pusterfuss]

I have mixed feelings on whether the press should be reporting on these types of subjects.

I don't. I think they should stay the heck out of matters of national security.

[Oorang]

Maybe it's Richard Brenneke, former CIA (allegedly) from Portland, Oregon who was caught up in the whole Iran/Contra, Mena, Arkansas, Ollie North affair.

[Dog Gone]

I don't think it was left up. They got the seat, the floor, the door, and the mirror. I didn't check the ceiling. Following one of them into the lavatory was like diving into a urine aquarium.

But no way could I hold it for 16 hours.

nightmares, cold sweats, I think I need therapy...

[It's me]

Really. I agree.

Why is this even being discussed?

[lonevoice]

I know who could answer these questions for the author. Ask John Galt.

If only the reporter would ask Galt, we'd gitmo information for this story and the DoD wouldn't be laughing at him.

[BIGLOOK]

I suspect the reporter is trying to tag the US with "rendering", transporting detainees to countries that use torture methods that we are denied by law. Big story there if true.

In Danang, our trader swapped 2 air conditioners for a jeep. IG came through a month later so TDY orders were drawn up and the jeep and a couple guys went to Phu Bai. IG finished Danang and went to Phu Bai. Our guys gave a wave passing them on the road.

Don't tell anyone.

[F.J. Mitchell]

I believe I would have just opened the door and peed in.

[Dog Gone]

ROFL, that is some great advice if I ever board a torture flight again!

[Dog Gone]

Paramount Pictures / AP

(Left to right) Sarah, Joe, Chris, Lisa and Gary try to save the world in  "Team America: World Police."

No qualms with this team.

[alnick]

My feelings aren't mixed on the subject at all. The press needs to leave things like this alone.