This one?
Posted on 11/11/2005 11:21:55 PM PST by FairOpinion
ROME, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Italian prosecutors have requested the extradition of 22 suspected CIA agents over the kidnapping of a terrorism suspect who was grabbed off a street in 2003 and taken abroad, a senior judicial source said on Friday.
The request is now before Justice Minister Roberto Castelli, who can decide to make a formal request to the United States to pursue the case, said the source, who spoke on the condition that he remain anonymous.
"The general prosecutor's office has requested the extradition," the well-placed source said.
Prosecutors in the northern city of Milan believe that the CIA was behind the disappearance of Egyptian-born imam Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar.
They say he was grabbed off a Milan street and flown from a U.S. air base in northern Italy to Egypt, where they suspect he may have been tortured under interrogation by Egyptian security officials.
A Milan judge has issued an arrest order for Nasr, who is believed to be still in Egyptian custody.
Among the suspects is the former head of the CIA operation in Milan, who the Italian prosecutors investigating the case believe organised the abduction, the source said.
Castelli's office declined comment. It said the minister had just returned from a trip to Washington D.C. where he met with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
The investigation has drawn wide media coverage in Italy and the United States.
The Italian government has denied any role in the episode. Last July, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi summoned the U.S. ambassador to Rome and told him that Italian sovereignty had to be respected.
The United States has faced questions from other European countries, including Germany, over its transfers of militant suspects abroad.
Egypt's prime minister said in May the United States had transferred as many as 70 militant suspects to his country.
Intelligence officials believe that Nasr fought in Afghanistan before arriving in Italy in 1997 and obtaining political refugee status. Investigators accuse him of ties to al Qaeda and recruiting combatants for Iraq.
"The investigation has drawn wide media coverage in Italy and the United States."
Correction - drawn yawns in the United States.
"Berlusconi... told him that Italian sovereignty had to be respected."
The sovereignty to let terrorists walk around free?
Yawn.
That post gave me the mental image of dropping an armed homicide bomber on them.
What ticks them off is the U.S. operating willy-nilly within their borders without their OK.
"Berlusconi... told him that Italian sovereignty had to be respected."
It's not their sovereignty we have a problem with...it's their tendency to let terrorists that we caught walk right out of courtrooms.
Is that what happened here?
Understand that how? The Italian government denies it, and our government sure doesn't seem to be saying anything. When you work extrajudicially you have no right to expect others to "just let it go".
"Any government that supports, protects or harbours terrorists is complicit in the murder of the innocent and equally guilty of terrorist crimes."
"America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people."
"We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them."
"Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime."
"All governments that support terror are complicit in a war against civilization."
They must not have gotten the memo!
The best response from the USG would be to simply ignore it altogether. Don't respond to any requests and don't take any phone calls.
This one?
Good quotes!
This is the same bunch who are demanding that we not even say "boo" to our captured terrorists.
Too extreme; the glare from all those candles would have to be murder on his eyes. Soft light, and get that dude massaging his back a mastectomy.
"requested the extradition of 22 suspected CIA agents"
Would these per chance, be 'covert' CIA agents?
These are the REAL covert agents, who can be hurt, if their identies are released, therefore the liberals are very happy to see it released, unlike Valerie Plame who worked IN the US and everyone already knew who she was.
The real story is that that CIA was undermining the administration by sending Wilson, who wasn't going to find anything, even if he tripped over some yellowcake.
It would be interesting to see the libs squirm with this one. I don't see it happening though... do you?
It's not their sovereignty we have a problem with...it's their tendency to let terrorists that we caught walk right out of courtrooms.
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