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Sun Jan 8th, 2006 at 06:24:04 PM PDT
Pretty much exactly where we thought they were, according to a leaked document from Swiss military intelligence: Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and the Ukraine.
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Swiss may have known about secret CIA prisons
The Swiss intelligence community has allegedly been aware of secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe for nearly two months, according to leaked documents.
The intelligence services are refusing to comment on the affair, revealed at the weekend by the SonntagsBlick newspaper.
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According to the SonntagsBlick, Swiss military intelligence intercepted a fax received by the Egyptian embassy in London supposedly confirming the existence of the detention centres.
The message was picked up by the secret service’s Onyx satellite listening system on November 10, just three days after the Council of Europe launched its investigation into allegations that the CIA was running secret interrogation centres in Europe.
The non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch had claimed shortly beforehand that American intelligence services were interrogating suspected members of Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network at these centres.
The NGO also claimed that American planes had carried prisoners from Kabul to Polish and Romanian military facilities on at least two occasions.
The Egyptian fax stated that 23 Iraqi and Afghan citizens had been transferred to a Romanian military base near the port of Constanza for interrogation purposes. It added that similar detention centres had been set up in Ukraine, Kosovo, Macedonia and Bulgaria.
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The Swiss intelligence services use antennas like these in canton Valais to eavesdrop on satellite communications. Keystone
● Chancellor Merkel Calls for Closure of Guantanamo ◊ by Atlantic Review @EuroTrib
● The Woman Who Came To Dinner … (Condoleezza Rice)
● EU Gets Tough on CIA Torture Flights ¶ “Guten Tag Washington”
● German Citizen Beaten-Sodomized-Drugs Injected and Flown to Kabul
● German Election :: CDU/CSU 225 SPD 222 ¶ Cliffhanger – Angela Merkel Wins
● July 12, 2001! –EU Releases Echelon Spying Report
● Sept. 6, 2001 – Analysis and Recommendations
● Echelon UKUSA Spy & Campbell Report for EU Parliament
● Remarks former CIA director R. James Woolsey
So What’s New? – Electronic Spies
In 1946, Soviet school children presented a two foot wooden replica of the Great Seal of the United States to Ambassador Averell Harriman.
Posted earlier in diary by Jefferson Democrat ::
NSA and the Bill Clinton Years
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
You know, Oui, I hate to admit this fact about me, but I have been so illiterate on so many things in my life involving my/our government. I am very saddened by this that I could not see the forest for the trees. We here in the USA have become so involved by the way that we do things in the world. I simply can not believe in my country’s ethics and standards to deal with others n this world. Maybe it is my age; however, I am very disheartened today with all that I have seen done in my/our name. I do not know if we can get any of our reputation back to being fair and honest, ever! This is truly a sad for for us here. Thank you, once again for your help here for us to see the truth in things. Your service to us is invaluable. Thanks…..
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Although born a Dutchman, my personality and character was formed in the years living amongst friends in Creve Coeur. I finished grade school, high school and St. Louis U. gave me a chance for some higher education.
Gateway to the WestI have a lot to thank for from my fellow Americans. I love the outdoors and small community living where you get to know people. That’s where the true American spirit can still be found.
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
What’s your sense of how this is playing in the EU at the Cabinet level?
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European states are not taking rendition, torture and CIA prison issues hands down. Indications are and my personal analysis is, the separate EU states have been cooperating with the CIA through the intelligence services. In some cases, this has very likely passed without political awareness and authorization by government. Since the Fall and the visit to EU nations and NATO by Condoleezza Rice, opinion has shifted and several issues at hand make this apparent.
The words between Angela Merkel and Condoleezza Rice over the rendition of German citizen Masri, and we’ll see how Merkel’s coming visit to Washington goes.
The Netherlands had been a staunch ally and participant in U.N. and NATO operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. March 2005, the Dutch Forces were pulled out of Iraq, Al-Muthanna province, and troops were added to Afghanistan, including Special Forces.
Dutch Cabinet Delays Decision Uzurgan
A normal routine decision to meet a commitment for further deployment in 2006 and support NATO/ISAF in Uzurgan, has been delayed for more than a month now. Dutch news had an interview with Paul Bremer yesterday where the U.S. threatened economic sanctions if the Dutch cabinet and parliament fail to reach a positive decision on Afghan mission!
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
Thanks. This is going to be a real interesting year. The U.S. administration is out of touch with geopolitical reality shifts. I like to call it running on quicksand.
Oh Don’t forget Syria……is one of the places that they brought people to be tortured!
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As I have repeatedly signaled the Europeans are backing away from U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, this can be underlined by the stand of Angela Merkel and other heads of state in the EU.
Today Swiss delegate doing investigation for Council of Europe gets the news headlines:
Swiss senator Dick Marty, carrying out an inquiry into claims the CIA has run illegal secret detention centres in Europe, has said he has no doubt they exist.
Dick Marty accused the US of violating human rights and attacked European nations for their “shocking” passivity in the face of such violations. He is due to give a preliminary report to the Council of Europe on 23 January.
The US has refused to confirm or deny the allegations over secret prisons. It has denied using or condoning torture.
Speaking to journalists in Switzerland, he said he was personally convinced the US had undertaken illegal activities in Europe in transporting and detaining prisoners. However, he acknowledged he had yet to produce concrete proof and said he expected his inquiry to last another 12 months.
“The question is: was the CIA really working in Europe? I believe we can say today, without a doubt, yes.” Washington’s policy “respects neither human rights nor the Geneva Conventions”, Marty said.
He cited as evidence the case of Egyptian cleric and terror suspect Osama Mustafa Hassan, also known as Abu Omar, who was allegedly kidnapped by CIA agents from Milan in 2003 and flown to Egypt for interrogation.
Investigator believes CIA flouted law in Europe
● Council of Europe support for IHRC position
● Dutch Cabinet Affirms Decision to Support the EU/Nato ISAF Operation with 1,300 troops in Uzurgan province, Afghanistan
● Malawi – Bot – Cheney – EU criticism ¶ An Overview and Update
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
photo op and press event she had with Mr. Danger today.
She did make a remark to the effect that treatment of kidnap victims seized and taken to torture camps “should be discussed.”
US considers its European territories key and valued allies in its war on terror, and has traditionally permitted them very generous autonomy, and anticipates full cooperation with Operation Iranian Freedom, at the same time, Mr. Danger and his henchmen have repeatedly acknowledged that some countries may wish to contribute in lower-profile ways.
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Biggest news story this week in Germany, and all over TV reports and documentaries. BND agents were scouts in Baghdad for targeting of U.S. missiles leading up to first strikes. The infamous failed decapitation strike on Saddam Hussein was a confirmed target by these two BND agents. They confirmed the Mercedes colonne was present at the restaurant, result was a near miss as Saddam had just left and fifty innocent Iraqis died.
BBC News – War In Iraq In Depth
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
terrorist propaganda conspiracy theory, available only on those “unreliable” terrorist propaganda conspiracy theory websites. 😉