Written on February 18, 2005 at 12:21 pm by stephengrey1

BBC File on Four : Extraordinary rendition.

Filed under "War on Terror", CIA, Rendition {no comments}

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

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Operation Snakebite

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In December, 2007, Stephen Grey, reporting for the Sunday Times, was under fire in Afghanistan, ambushed by the Taliban. He was amidst the biggest UK-led operation fought on Afghan soil since 9/11: the liberation of a Taliban stronghold called Musa Qala. Taking shelter behind an American armoured Humvee, Grey turned his head to witness scenes of carnage. Two cars were riddled with gunfire. Their occupants, including several children, had died. Taliban positions were pounded by bullets and bombs dropped on their compounds. A day later, as the operation continued, a mine exploded just yards from Grey, killing a British soldier.

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