Archive for February, 2005:
Written on February 18th, 2005 by stephengrey1no shouts
A former CIA official has confirmed suspicions that dozens of terror suspects have been flown to jails in Middle Eastern countries where torture is routinely practised, and without reference to courts of law.
Michael Scheuer, who once headed the hunt for Osama Bin Laden and left the CIA last November after a 22-year career, said the practice, known as “extraordinary rendition”, was seen by the US as a key tactic in its war on terror.
“The bottom line is getting anyone off the streets who is involved in acts of terrorism is a worthwhile activity,” he told the BBC’s File On 4 programme.
Details of the program, first broadcast on BBC radio on February 8th, are at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/4246089.stm
A full transcript is now on the BBC website at
this address ..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/15_02_05_renditions.pdf
Written on February 7th, 2005 by stephengrey14 shouts
New Statesman Special Issue Stephen Grey Monday 31st January 2005
My friend Mohaned, an Iraqi doctor, writes from Baghdad. “It’s a horrible place these days,” he says, “no public services at all, six hours of electricity, and finally, no tap water at all since six days. Very nice circumstances for a happy elections!” Like most Iraqis, he despairs of what has happened to the country since the Americans and British invaded and “really can’t imagine” what the future will bring.
But the last thing he wants is for western forces to run for the border after the elections. After all the suffering, he hopes that some form of democracy can be salvaged. As he puts it: “I don’t think the new politicians will be any less corrupt, but at least we should have the chance to vote them out every few years.”
Others I have met around the country share those hopes. They believe the invasion was misconceived but they want something to show for it – and not just a civil war. Most educated Iraqis would like a taste of western-style democracy. Are we simply to abandon these people? (more…)
Written on February 7th, 2005 by stephengrey1no shouts
MILAN:
Sunday Times; February 06, 2005
ITALIAN police are investigating allegations that American intelligence agents kidnapped an Islamic militant in Milan and transported him to Egypt, where he was tortured.
Osama Moustafa Nasr, an Egyptian dissident with alleged links to Al-Qaeda, disappeared in Milan on February 16, 2003, after eyewitnesses saw him being approached by three men as he walked to a mosque.
A kidnap inquiry was opened in Italy after Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, was temporarily released from custody in Egypt last year and telephoned his wife and friends to tell them what had happened.
He claimed he had been tortured so badly by secret police in Cairo that he had lost hearing in one ear. Italian officers who intercepted the call believe he has since been rearrested. (more…)
