How PLane spotter turned into th Scourge of the CIA
Brian | 14.12.2005 05:40
An eccentric hobby has exposed the abduction of terrorist suspects, write Gerard Seenan and Giles Tremlett.
An eccentric hobby has exposed the abduction of terrorist suspects, write Gerard Seenan and Giles Tremlett.
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AdvertisementPAUL* goes down to Glasgow Airport's plane-spotters' club most days to record the serial numbers of incoming flights. Eighteen months ago he spotted a plane he had not seen before, so he marked the number down in his book.
At the time he did not think there was anything unusual about the Gulfstream V being ushered to a stand that could not be seen from the airport terminal or the club.
But this week it was at the centre of a transatlantic row that put the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on the spot in the House of Commons, and forced the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, on the defensive during a visit to Europe.
The Gulfstream V has been identified as having been used by the CIA to take terrorist suspects to secret prisons around the world where they may be interrogated using methods not permissable in the US.
The recording of flights by spotters such as Paul, from places as far afield as Bournemouth on England's south coast and the Pakistani city of Karachi, has unintentionally played a significant role in helping journalists and human rights groups expose the scale of these CIA abductions.
But Paul's impact on such international intrigue largely passes him by.
"It's not the CIA bit that interests us. You don't even know who owns the plane when you take down the serial number," he says, already distracted as another aircraft comes in to land through the grey drizzle. "You keep accurate logs for your own records."
At the door of the shabby terrace that houses the Glasgow Airport Aviation Enthusiasts Club, Paul is considering how his hobby got him tangled in such a complex web.
"We know now that these planes are run by the CIA, but it's not something we set out to know," he says.
"I have seen the planes land in day time and I've seen them land at night. You never see anyone get off them. Most of the time they are just coming in to refuel.
"The ones coming in at night, you would expect to see people getting off. But you don't - at least, I never have."
Plane spotters fall into three categories: those who like to take serial numbers, those who like to take photos, and those who indulge in both.
Some 60 kilometres away, near the freight terminals of Prestwick Airport, Stephen*, who is lugging a lens more commonly used by paparazzi lurking in the undergrowth, is setting up a tripod and waiting to see what will land today.
He knows it won't be as exciting as in July, when the planes of G8 leaders and their secret service entourages landed at Prestwick, but nevertheless he's hoping for a good day
etc
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/from-zero-to-unintentional-hero--whos-laughing-now/2005/12/12/1134236004091.html
Advertisement
AdvertisementPAUL* goes down to Glasgow Airport's plane-spotters' club most days to record the serial numbers of incoming flights. Eighteen months ago he spotted a plane he had not seen before, so he marked the number down in his book.
At the time he did not think there was anything unusual about the Gulfstream V being ushered to a stand that could not be seen from the airport terminal or the club.
But this week it was at the centre of a transatlantic row that put the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on the spot in the House of Commons, and forced the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, on the defensive during a visit to Europe.
The Gulfstream V has been identified as having been used by the CIA to take terrorist suspects to secret prisons around the world where they may be interrogated using methods not permissable in the US.
The recording of flights by spotters such as Paul, from places as far afield as Bournemouth on England's south coast and the Pakistani city of Karachi, has unintentionally played a significant role in helping journalists and human rights groups expose the scale of these CIA abductions.
But Paul's impact on such international intrigue largely passes him by.
"It's not the CIA bit that interests us. You don't even know who owns the plane when you take down the serial number," he says, already distracted as another aircraft comes in to land through the grey drizzle. "You keep accurate logs for your own records."
At the door of the shabby terrace that houses the Glasgow Airport Aviation Enthusiasts Club, Paul is considering how his hobby got him tangled in such a complex web.
"We know now that these planes are run by the CIA, but it's not something we set out to know," he says.
"I have seen the planes land in day time and I've seen them land at night. You never see anyone get off them. Most of the time they are just coming in to refuel.
"The ones coming in at night, you would expect to see people getting off. But you don't - at least, I never have."
Plane spotters fall into three categories: those who like to take serial numbers, those who like to take photos, and those who indulge in both.
Some 60 kilometres away, near the freight terminals of Prestwick Airport, Stephen*, who is lugging a lens more commonly used by paparazzi lurking in the undergrowth, is setting up a tripod and waiting to see what will land today.
He knows it won't be as exciting as in July, when the planes of G8 leaders and their secret service entourages landed at Prestwick, but nevertheless he's hoping for a good day
etc
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/from-zero-to-unintentional-hero--whos-laughing-now/2005/12/12/1134236004091.html
Brian