Posted on 06/25/2005 8:18:13 PM PDT by Destro
Italians hunt covert CIA snatch squad
Barbara McMahon in Rome
Sunday June 26, 2005
The Observer
Italy and the United States were embroiled in a growing diplomatic row today over the CIA's alleged kidnapping of a terror suspect, as other countries also began investigations into America's role in the disappearance of their citizens.
Egyptian cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, was seized two years ago on the streets of Milan. Italian investigators claim he was bundled into the back of a van, driven to a US airbase in the north of Italy and secretly flown to Egypt, where he was interrogated and tortured.
The abduction is alleged to be part of America's 'rendition programme', in which terrorist suspects are forcibly removed to their home countries or to a third nation, where they can be interrogated without legal protection.
Earlier last week, an Italian judge issued arrest warrants for 13 people said to be CIA operatives involved in Omar's abduction. Another six people - all Americans - are also under investigation. It is the first time a foreign government has filed criminal charges against US citizens involved in counter-terrorism work abroad.
Other nations have also begun to oppose Washington's forcible removal of terror suspects. Canada is holding hearings into the deportation of a Canadian to Syria for questioning about alleged ties to al-Qaeda. German prosecutors are conducting a criminal investigation into the suspected kidnapping of a German man who was flown to Afghanistan. In Stockholm, a parliamentary investigator has already concluded that CIA agents violated Swedish law by subjecting two Egyptian nationals to 'degrading and inhuman treatment' during a rendition in 2001.
In Italy, news of the arrest warrants has caused outrage and the issue is expected to be discussed in parliament this week. Paolo Cento, vice-president of the justice committee in the Chamber of Deputies, called on the Interior and Defence Ministers to say whether Italian authorities had been alerted by the Americans prior to the rendition of Omar. 'We want to know if American agents have freedom of action on our territory and how, if that is the case, the government intends to protect the prerogative of our sovereignty,' Cento said.
Italians are also angry that the abduction of Omar, who had claimed political refugee status in Italy, disrupted their own investigation into his activities. They believe he was trained in Afghanistan and Bosnia and was connected to a suspected terrorist network in Europe.
'Our belief is that terrorist suspects should be investigated through legal channels and brought to a court of law - not kidnapped and spirited away to be tortured in some secret prison,' a senior Italian official said.
The current whereabouts of Omar are not known. He was released for a short time after imprisonment in Egypt but may now be back in custody.
The 13 people alleged to be working for the CIA were traced by Italian investigators after they left behind a trail of evidence including hotel bills, telephone records and car hire receipts.
Since the 11 September attacks more than 100 terrorism suspects are believed to have been transferred by the US to Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Uzbekistan and other countries.
Bosnia, eh? Should not some Americans be subject this 'rendition programme' for supporting the pipeline of jihadists into Bosnia? Start with Bill Clinton, Mad Caw Albright and General Clark going to Serbia for where they can be interrogated for their al-Qaeda ties (and I am not being glib - those traitors have verifiable links to al-Qaeda).
Who hasn't hunted for that?
AKA beaver patrol
Sounds like we're taking a leaf from the Mossad's book after the '72 Olympics. Good hunting to us! The European courts (and the Canadian Euro-wannabes) are useless at prosecuting terror.
No - the Mossad killed their targets - we take them to other countries for questioning - some are later released - none have been killed from what I have read.
"Other nations have also begun to oppose Washington's forcible removal of terror suspects. Canada is holding hearings into the deportation of a Canadian to Syria for questioning about alleged ties to al-Qaeda. German prosecutors are conducting a criminal investigation into the suspected kidnapping of a German man who was flown to Afghanistan. In Stockholm, a parliamentary investigator has already concluded that CIA agents violated Swedish law by subjecting two Egyptian nationals to 'degrading and inhuman treatment' during a rendition in 2001.
In Italy, news of the arrest warrants has caused outrage and the issue is expected to be discussed in parliament this week. "
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I guess they prefer that we leave the terrorists there so they can blow up their citizens.
Unusual that you use the term "demanding heads".
Is that a cultural preference?
The German Muslim was "snatched" in the area of "Macedonia" where the Albanians revolted. He claimed he was on vacation by himself (he is married). What a vacation spot for a Muslim to choose, eh? In any case he was returned to Germany after the CIA was done with him.
If operatives of some country--even an ally--got caught snatching people off the streets of the USA, they'd be prosecuted, too. This is just an occupational hazard for those involved in this kind of work. No need to get upset at Italy for defending its sovereignty.
Shhhhh. they are watching me. LOL.
I don't understand why they would bother to let them go after snatching them. Maybe from FL50 out the back door of a 727 over the ocean (HANO), but not back home - or alive.
Settle it on the field of war.
I'm not sure if I should laugh or burst with pride.
Go USA!!!
GIT-R-DONE!!
Someone living in Italy said that the Italian justice system only has the CIA ops' ALIASES.
I bet they dumped those names and are far far away by now.
Also, there is no way they would be operating in a friendly country, without the country's blessing and cooperation by THEIR intelligence agencies.
Going after a CIA hit/snatch squad might not be in they're healthiest interest. Those boys tend to settle things personally.
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