Reuters: EU lawmakers accuse EU govts on secret CIA flights

[Eugene]

EU lawmakers accuse EU govts on secret CIA flights

49 minutes ago

STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - European governments and secret services accepted
and concealed secret U.S. flights of terrorism suspects across Europe, the European
Parliament said on Wednesday.

EU lawmakers made the charge in a non-binding resolution concluding a year of
investigations into allegations that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency secretly held
terror suspects in Europe and flew some to states that practice torture.

The article adopted by deputies said the European Parliament "condemns extraordinary
rendition as an illegal instrument used by the United States in the fight against
terrorism.

-snip-

Voting was continuing on the marathon resolution with numerous proposed amendments,
including references to the alleged role of individual EU member states.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070214/ts_nm/eu_security_cia_dc_4

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Torture? Heh, heh, smirk, smirk." - Commander AWOL

"TORTURE???? Why that's the kind of inhuman brutality
you would only get from someone who belonged to an
occult EVIL-DOING darkside cabal of evil cronies. Surely, you can't
imagine that someone as Kompletely Kompassionately Konservative as me....?
SMIRK SMIRK SMIRK SMIRK."

- Commander AWOL

[Synnical]

2. AP/USA Today Version: EU report accuses some member nations of colluding with CIA

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-02-14-eu-cia-prisons_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA

Posted 2/14/2007 7:34 AM ET

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — The European Parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial report accusing Britain, Germany, Italy and other European nations of turning a blind eye to CIA flights transporting terror suspects to secret prisons overseas in an apparent breach of EU human rights standards.

The report, concluding a year-long high-profile investigation into CIA activities in Europe, gives no direct proof that the intelligence agency ran secret prisons in Europe — an allegation that prompted the inquiry in November 2005 — but accuses some governments of complicity with the U.S. secret renditions program.

The report passed by a tighter-than-expected 382-256 majority, with 74 abstentions, after lawmakers clashed over its tone and content. Socialist and Liberal lawmakers argued the report, based on the findings of a special parliamentary committee, exposed a string of abductions by U.S. agents and insufficient parliamentary oversight of European security services.

"This is a report that doesn't allow anyone to look the other way. We must be vigilant that what has been happening in the past five years may never happen again," said Italian Socialist Giovanni Fava, who drafted the report.

[Doondoo]

3. K&R

[cal04]

4. EU endorses damning report on CIA

The European parliament has approved a damning report on secret CIA flights, condemning member states which had colluded in the operations.

The UK, Germany and Italy were among 14 states which allowed the US to forcibly remove terror suspects, MEPs said.

The EU parliament voted to accept a resolution condemning member states which accepted or ignored the practice.

The EU report said the US had operated 1,200 flights, flying suspects on to states where they could face torture.

The report was adopted by a large majority, with 382 MEPs voting in favour, 256 against and 74 abstaining.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6360817.stm

[rodeodance]

5. good for the UN for sending this message----finally

[Selteri]

6. Better late than never.

These flights show that our CIA has become a terrorist Organization, yet these are only the tip of the iceberg. The us has kidnapped people for years out of various EU countries for other reasons to bring them to the US on charges that couldn't be given in the country due to their laws, assassinations of scientists who were working on things that were considered to be bad either for US interests or business interests and have been doing it for years.

It all needs to stop. The CIA and LEAs are for enforcing law and protecting against threats, not to be used as armed extensions for bullying and creating terror.

[cal04]

7. EU endorses damning report on CIA

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[autorank]

8. Great news.

Do you know if the EU legislature has ever taken on the member nations in such a dramatic fashion.

This one's pretty significant. Just wondering how historic this is.

[gratuitous]

9. Ruh roh Reorge

Imagine having to answer to your own people for enabling and allowing the United States to do the extraordinary rendition thing and being an aider and abettor of torture. Germany, Italy and England. Oh dear. Could be some bad times ahead for leaders of countries whose people have such a close and first-hand experience with torture, unlike the U.S.

[Eugene]

10. AP: Switzerland Approves Probe of CIA Flight

Switzerland Approves Probe of CIA Flight


Thursday February 15, 2007 12:01 AM

By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS

Associated Press Writer

GENEVA (AP) - Switzerland on Wednesday followed Italy and Germany in raising
the threat of criminal prosecution of CIA operatives involved in anti-terrorism
operations in Europe.

The Swiss Cabinet authorized the start of criminal proceedings against those
responsible for the abduction in Italy of an Egyptian Muslim preacher allegedly
taken on CIA flights through Swiss airspace.

Switzerland, which has cooperated closely in U.S. investigations and attempts to
shut down terrorists' funding networks, has generally avoided open disputes with
the U.S. government. But the wording of the seven-member Cabinet's statement
was sharp.

“In the view of the Federal Council, the use of Swiss airspace for an abduction
cannot be tolerated,” the statement said. “There is evidence that basic norms
of international law were violated.”

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6416237,00.html