CIA allegedly flying terrorist suspects via German airports

[Judi Lynn]

CIA allegedly flying terrorist suspects via German airports

www.chinaview.cn 2005-11-25 17:33:36

BERLIN, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Terror suspects detained by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) landed at American airbases in Germany, a newspaper reported Friday.

Handelsblatt, a German business daily, cited a US intelligence source who said that the alleged flights were conducted without informing the German government.

"The CIA aircraft have made stopovers in various European countries, among others Germany," the source told the newspaper. "Nothing has changed in this regard."

The report mentioned the Ramstein base, the largest US military airbase in Europe, and the Rhein-Main Airbase near Frankfurt. It also said German authorities had assumed the practice had ceased.
(snip/...)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-11/25/content_3835161.htm

[sabra]

1. What's the big deal?

:sarcasm:

[VLenin]

2. So what?

So what?

[Woody Box]

3. Without informing the German government - that's the deal

The Germans are not amused, particularly because these "terror suspects" may have not been treated correctly.

[blackhorse]

4. More information at ...

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1792376,00.html

This is gathering steam in Europe. Not smart of the U.S., in several different ways.

I guess NBC can't insert year-old footage into this story to make it more sunny.

BH

[Judi Lynn]

5. Thanks for adding your article. Very interesting excerpt:

The issue could have serious consequences for both Washington and European countries. If such prisons are found in EU territory, they would likely violate European conventions on human rights. If they exist in countries such as Romania, they could threaten its application to the EU.

The matter could also call into question European participation in the war on terror. For example, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot recently told his country's parliament that the existence of such prisons in Europe would have "consequences" for Dutch military operations in Afghanistan.
(snip)

I hope they find the backbone they'll need to take on the _Bush Crime Empire.

On edit:

By the way, welcome to D.U.! :hi: :hi: :hi:

[DemExpat]

6. I was going to mention the Dutch Minister Bot's warning to the US

as he has been a steadfast ally of Bush since the beginning, so this IS serious, IMO.

DemEx

[DemExpat]

7. Link to latest Dutch article

http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/ned051125a?view=Standard&version=1

The Hague talks tough to Washington
by RN Security and Defence editor Hans de Vreij, 25 November


In the 1970s and 1980s, human rights were high on the agenda of consecutive Dutch governments. Indeed, the Netherlands was often referred to as a 'guiding nation' in the field of human rights. Later, the issue slipped down somewhat on the list of priorities of various Dutch cabinets, but this week the subject came back once again into the spotlight.

The Netherlands has asked the United States to clarify reports that the US intelligence service, the CIA, is making use of secret detention centres in Europe. The Dutch government also wants to know how much is true of reports that the CIA has been using planes to transfer people suspected of terrorist activities destinations, which made stopovers in the Netherlands.
---------------------------snip-------------------------------

[Judi Lynn]

8. I see what you mean, if it concerns this recent news:

Dutch want guarantees for Afghan prisoners‘ rights
Staff and agencies
24 November, 2005
Wed Nov 23, 4:46 PM ET

AMSTERDAM - The Dutch government wants its NATO partners to guarantee prisoners‘ rights in Afghanistan as a condition for deciding to expand the Dutch peacekeeping force there, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Dutch state news agency ANP quoted Foreign Minister Bernard Bot as telling parliament he wanted the Netherlands to seal a "memorandum of understanding" with its allies in Afghanistan, which should include the treatment of prisoners.

"We want very good guarantees," Bot said. "That is an important condition for the cabinet for taking a decision concerning a new, dangerous mission with a thousand soldiers to the Southern Afghan province of Uruzgan."
(snip/...)

http://www.leadingthecharge.com/stories/news-00104399.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Apparently _Bush doesn't see other countries as any consideration. All that matters is that _Bush gets what _Bush wants, and the rest be damned, right?

[blackhorse]

9. Thanks for the welcome, Judi Lynn!

(Wave!)

[allisonthegreat]

10. I saw a spot on BBC

Where Blair had a meeting with the new German chancellor..They did not agree in ref to France...I was not surprised!