Italian police testifying in the
Abu Omar abduction trial in Milan, Italy yesterday named four Americans as their CIA contacts.
"The prosecutors questioned 12 witnesses, all members of the Milan Counterterrorism Police and the Milan Carabinieri Special Branch," said an official involved in the case, on condition of anonymity.
The CIA declined to comment.
(CIA agents named, Cont'd.)
Twenty-six Americans, all but one alledged CIA operatives, are being tried in absentia in Milan on charges that they conspired to kidnap
Abu Omar, a fiery Muslim preacher who disappeared on a city street in Feb. 2003.
Omar has
told his familiy and reporters that he was taken to Egypt and tortured during a lenghty interrogation. When, upon his release months later, he telephoned his wife in Milan and described his ordeal, Italian counterterrorism authorities intercepted the call and launched a kidnapping investigation.
Using cell phone and cedit card records in Milan hotels, Italian police easily traced the alleged perpetrators and eventually identified them as CIA operatives.
A U.S. military officer at Aviano Air Base who allegedly facilitated Omar's "extreme rendtion" has also been charged.
At the request of prosecutor
Armando Spataro, a Milan judge also issued an arrest warrant for Omar, who remains in Egypt, in connection with terrorist charges.
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Comments
What is the intent of your post? Is it to educate Americans, or to encourage knowledgeable Americans to confirm or deny the unconfirmable or easily deniable?
Posted by: Flatus
| July 12, 2008 12:25 PM
Looking forward to your future blogs.
It's nice to hear what other countries are saying about us and that they are questioning the legality of what we do around the world. These are the stories we hear little about.
Posted by: chloe
| July 12, 2008 12:52 PM
Thanks, Chloe. The European media have been following the trial closely, not so the U.S. I thought it might be useful just to keep readers up to date on it from time to time, even if it's been reported elsewhere. -Jeff
Posted by: Jeff Stein
| July 14, 2008 11:42 AM
I agree with Chloe's comments, and it seems that this story has been evolving for a long time.
I have been considering joining the CIA for a few years but watching this story (and the others like it) evolve give me doubts in our government 's ability or willingness to protect me when following orders.
It seems the CIA never has any comment, I am curious if you know what is happening to the men and women who are named in this criminal case in a country that is supposed to be our friend and was fully aware of the events?
I can't imagine that all 26 individuals agreed with renditions, but were only following orders from above.
Don't these people have some protection when they are serving overseas?
Can you please comment or write a deeper article on what our country is doing to help the men and women serving our country overseas
Posted by: analisa
| July 25, 2008 5:38 AM
Analisa,
You've made an important observation. I've written (and lectured) on the price that our most dedicated field operatives and case offiicers pay for choosing a career in the clandestine service. It can be heavy, with divorce and alcoholism common afflictions.
As for the "protection" operatives can expect: Everybody knows when they sign up that they're expendable; it goes with the job.
Still interested in a CIA career? Read widely and seek out CIA veterans to talk to.
And stay tuned: I'll be writing this weekend about a new memoir by a veteran CIA officer who presents a withering portrait of agency bosses and practices.
--Jeff Stein
Posted by: Jeff Stein
| July 29, 2008 10:09 PM
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