At a meeting in Athens, Greece, on January 22, 2003, the European Union states gave the United States permission to kidnap Muslims off the street (renditions) and use European airports and airspace.
https://dhs.riigikantselei.ee/ELdocs.nsf/e4053b6b4c0cc4d0c2256d12003fe6c4/6F8F7D053FEC3768C2256DD5005E1A92/$File/st05762.en03.pdf The minutes of the meeting are at the above link. That's all the proof you need. Here is the relevant part of the linked file:
"Both sides [EU, US] agreed on the areas where cooperation could be improved i.a. [inter alia (Latin: among other things)], the exchange of data between border management services, *increased use of European transit facilities* to support the return of *criminal/inadmissible aliens*, co-ordination with regard to false documents training (US side will provide the EU with a paper suggesting modalities for the coordination of false documents training) and improving the *cooperation in removals*."
So, Colin Powell is right: the European governments are being hypocrites by denying they knew about renditions and torture flights.
Beyond knowing about CIA rendition flights, the Europeans are cooperating fully in them. The CIA has secret CTICs (Counterterrorist Intelligence Centers) in over 25 countries, including some supposed Iraq-war opponents like France, Germany, and Sweden. These are joint-venture spy nests with the local intelligence service (Italy's SISMI, for example) and military. The CIA supplies about 20 agents for each and an about $20 million dollars' annual budget. Here is a list of the countries with CTICs:
EUROPE
1. Albania
2. Bosnia
3. Britain
4. Bulgaria
5. France
6. Germany
7. Hungary
8. Italy
9. Kosovo (province of Serbia)
10. Macedonia
11. Poland
12. Portugal
13. Romania
14. Spain
15. Sweden
ASIA
16. Afghanistan
17. Indonesia
18. Pakistan
19. Phillipines
20. Thailand
21. Uzbekistan
MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA
22. Algeria
23. Egypt
24. Jordan
25. Libya
26. Morocco
27. Saudi Arabia
28. Turkey
29. Yemen
OTHER
30. Australia
31. Canada
In the spring of 2005, the CIA's Deputy Director for Operations (the head of the espionage directorate), Jose Rodriguez, told House and Senate intelligence committees that the CTICs had been instrumental in arresting over 3000 suspected terrorists. Many of these have been renditioned; flown to the jails of the CIA, US military, and brutal regimes without legal proceedings; and tortured and subjected to indefinite imprisonment.
The renditions and imprisonments have taken place mainly in the above countries. Human rights groups and other investigators in those countries have a lot to learn.
US FIRMS, PERSONS TO BE SUED FOR CIA'S TORTURE, EVILS
Gettng governments of the US and the above countries to do anything about CIA abuses will be hard. However, people can be sued for these abuses when they can be identified in the US and other countries more or less subject to the rule of law.
In the US, Aero Contractors (NC) and its former president Norman Richardson, Richmor Aviation (NY) and its owner Mahlon Richards, CIA shell companies and their lawyers like Dean Plakias (MA) and Scott Caplan (WA) -- these are but a few of the many US firms that could potentially be served legal actions by victims of CIA kidnapping and torture, based on the existence of the landmark lawsuit filed Dec. 6 by CIA victim Khaled el-Masri of Germany. Already Aero and Plakias have heard from Masri's lawyers. Then there are CIA officials like James Pavitt, its retired DDO (Deputy Director for Operations). The DDO reportedly is the specific officer who approves kidnappings and torture measures for specific victims. The DDOs can be gone after. Pavitt was the DDO from Aug. 1999 to Aug. 2004, succeeded by Stephen Kappes (Aug. to Nov. 2004). The Nation says the DDO since Nov. 2004 is Jose Rodriguez.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20041213/vest BESIDES PERSONS ALREADY CHARGED, like the alleged organizer of the Abu Omar rendition in Italy, who reportedly is in Punta Gorda, Florida, who else might be liable, criminally or civilly, for Abu Omar's Feb. 2003 abduction from Italy and transport via US planes and air bases to Egypt? Omar, when briefly released, called home to report what happened to him and got rearrested for that. He was tortured and maimed, allegedly in the presence of CIA officer Robert Lady, and remains imprisoned by his Egyptian torturers.
There are numerous current and retired employees of the CIA's Operations Directorate who potentially could be sued for CIA renditions and related abuses. Some of them have signed fat book contracts and are reaping large speaking fees bragging about their outrages. An example is Michael Scheuer, the McLean, VA, man who was in charge of snatchs from 1995, when the first victim was seized, until June 1999. There were some 50 victims in that period. Since 9/11, there have been 150 to 200 snatches.
As for Jose Rodriguez, before he became the CIA DDO in late 2004, he was the head of the CIA Counterterrorism Center, CTC. The CTC is the part of the CIA that carries out renditions. So for ones done in that time frame, Rodriguez could be liable personally. No wonder he is so publicity shy.
http://www.refdag.nl/artikel/1238465/CIA%20spil%20van%20groot%20antiterreurnetwerk.html AERO CONTRACTORS is another potential defendent and is being sued by the Lebanese-German Khaled el-Masri and the ACLU. Aero Contractors is a real, rather than a shell, company that provides the pilots and flight crews for most CIA planes. The planes are owned by the CIA through phony companies fronted by lawyers. However, the victims' lawyers can serve papers on the CIA-front lawyers, who are known, and thus secure liens in US courts against the CIA's planes.
A list of CIA shell companies for owning aircraft (while leaving actual operations to Aero Contractors and other CIA contractors) appears at the end of this article, along with their agents (lawyers) for legal service.
CIA AIR ( CLIP AND SAVE. )
Indispensable to Newswatchers, Planewatchers,
and all CIA Watchers.
__________________________________________________
CIA AIR -- LIST OF CIA PLANES by N-Number
by Clayton Hallmark
Includes rendition planes, CIA front companies, contractors.
__________________________________________________
---See list of owner companies (AVSPECS, etc.) at end.
---Does not include contractor planes unlikely used by CIA.
---Some planes have had more than one number. There
are 50 numbers below but only 44 separate planes.
"r" -- Denotes rendition or prison (Guantanamo, etc.) plane.
__________________________________________________
N-number, Maker Model, Serial No., OWNER
r-N50BH____Gulfstream III, s/n 359, CRYSTAL
r-N85VM____now N227SV, Gulfstream IV, s/n 1172, BOSOX
N120JM____Fairchild SA227-AT, s/n AT-577, PATH
N157A____Beech B200C, s/n BL-53, AVSPECS
N168BF____Raytheon Hawker 800XP, s/n 258373, WELLS
N168D____CASA CN-235-300, s/n C135, DEVON
N173S____Beech B300, s/n FM-4, STEVENS
N187D____CASA CN-235, s/n C-143, DEVON
N196D____CASA CN-235, s/n 139, DEVON
N212CP____Cessna 208B, s/n 208B0531, PATH
N219D____CASA CN-235, s/n C-145, DEVON
r-N221SG____Gates Learjet 35A, s/n 182, PATH
r-N227SV____ex N85V, Gulfstream IV, s/n 1172, BOSOX
r-N259SK____ex N829MG, Gulfstream III, s/n 327, S&K
(bought from PRESIDENT)
N299AL____Raytheon B200C, s/n BB-1823, AVSPEC
N312ME____Beech 200C, s/n BL-46, AVSPEC
r-N313P____now N4476S, Boeing 737-7ET, s/n 33010,
KEELER, ex-PREMIER
r-N379P____now N44982, ex N8068V, N581GA, Gulfstream V,
s/n 581, BAYARD (after Dec 2004), PREMIER
N505LL____DeHavilland DHC-8-315, s/n 415, PATH
r-N581GA___ now N44982, ex N379P, N8068V, Gulfstream V,
s/n 581, BAYARD (after Dec 2004), PREMIER
N824MG____Learjet 55, s/n 106, PRESIDENT (Plane, number
now registered to "Lear II, LLC," Bellevue, WA.)
N825MG____Learjet 55, s/n 055, PRESIDENT (Plane, number
now registered to "Lear I, LLC" Bellevue, WA.)
N828MG____Gulfstream III, s/n 409, PRESIDENT. Number no
longer assigned. Plane sold to Raleigh Holdings.
r-N829MG____N259SK, Gulfstream III, s/n 327, PRESIDENT
(sold by Mark J. Gordon to S&K and renumbered)
N845S____Douglas DC3, s/n 25509 (43-48248), STEVENS
N955BW____Fairchild SA227-DC, s/n DC821B (C26B), AWS
N956BW____Fairchild SA227-DC, s/n DC864B, AWS
N961BW____CASA C-212-CC, s/n 248, AWS
N962BW____CASA C-212-200, s/n 290, PRESIDENT
N963BW____CASA C-212-CC, s/n 320, AWS
N964BW____CASA C-212-DF, s/n 379, AWS
N965BW____CASA C-212-DF, s/n 393, AWS
N966BW____CASA C-212-200, s/n 289, AWS
N967BW____CASA C-212-CD, s/n 304, AWS
N968BW____CASA C-212-CD, s/n 309, AWS
N1016M____Cessna 208, s/n 20800153, CROWELL
(Obviously not for overseas, but Crowell is a front.)
N2189M____Lockheed 382G-44K-30, s/n 4582, RAPID
(owner), TEPPER (operator)
N4009L____Raytheon B300C, s/n FM-9, STEVENS
N4042J____Beech B200, s/n BB-874, STEVENS
N4456A____Raytheon B200C, s/n BL-143, AVSPEC
r-N4476S____N313P, Boeing 737-7ET, s/n 33010, KEELER
(was PREMIER's N313P)
N4489A____Raytheon B200C, s/n BL-145, AVSPEC
N4557C____Lockheed 382G-44K-30, s/n 5027, RAPID
(owner), TEPPER (operator)
N5139A____Raytheon B200C, s/n BL-144, AVSPEC
N5155A____Raytheon B200C, s/n BL-146, AVSPEC
N6161Q____Dehavilland DHC-6-300, s/n 633, AVSPEC
r-N8068V____now N44982, ex N379P, N581GA, Gulfstream V,
s/n 581, BAYARD (after Dec 2004), PREMIER
N8183J____Lockheed 382G-44K-30, s/n 4796, RAPID
(owner), TEPPER (operator)
N8213G____Lockheed Hercules L100-30, s/n 5055, HSL
(Plane had PRESCOTT markings.)
r-N44982____ex N379P, N8068V, N581GA, Gulfstream V,
s/n 581, BAYARD (after Dec 2004), PREMIER
KEY TO COMPANIES:
AVSPECS - Aviation Specialties, Inc.
AWS - Aviation Worldwide Services, LLC, sister company to
PRESIDENT, both owned by Blackwater USA, Melbourne, FL
BAYARD - Bayard Foreign Marketing, LLC
BOSOX - Boston Red Sox coowner Phillip H. Morse; Assembly
Point Aviation (registered); Richmor Aviation, Inc. (charters)
CROWELL - Crowell Aviation Technologies, Inc.
CRYSTAL - Crystal Jet Aviation, Inc.
DEVON - Devon Holding & Leasing, Inc.
HSL - HSL Company. Registered civilian Hercules C-130 oper-
ated by PRESCOTT Support Company
KEELER - Keeler and Tate Management, LLC (737 formerly
owned by PREMIER)
PATH - Path Corporation
PREMIER - Premier Executive Transport Services, Inc.
PRESCOTT - Prescott Support Co. Had its name on HSL plane
PRESIDENT - Presidential Airways, Inc. - Sister Co. of AWS,
both owned by Blackwater USA, Melbourne, FL, mercenaries
S&K - S&K Aviation, LLC. Gulfstream III got from PRESIDENT
WELLS - Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA. Trustee,
registered plane.
RAPID - Rapid Air Trans, Inc./Rapid Air Transportation, Inc.
Owns 3 civilian Hercules C-130s operated by TEPPER.
STEVENS - Stevens Express Leasing, Inc.
TEPPER - Tepper Aviation, Inc., Crestview, Florida.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIA SHELL COMPANIES, ADDRESSES, LEGAL AGENTS
AVIATION SPECIALTIES INC.
PO BOX 9891
FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS STATION POST OFFICE
4005 WISCONSIN AVE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20016 US
(District of Columbia County)
Most Co. planes registered to above.
Additional Address:
10601 BALTIMORE AVE
SUITE 300 (3RD FLOOR)
BELTSVILLE, MD 20705
(Prince George's County)
Raytheon (Beech) B200C, S/N BB-1823 registered to above.
LAWYER: DOUGLAS R. THOMAS
(Now at AS Address: Leslie Silverman, Gregory R. Caruso)
Thomas lent his address for the one plane, didn't
register Co. with state (MD), was disbarred in 2000.
He also lent his address for RAPID, below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAYARD FOREIGN MARKETING, LLC
755 PITTOCK BLOCK
921 SW WASHINGTON ST
PORTLAND, OR 97205 US
(Multnomah County)
LAWYER: SCOTT D. CAPLAN (same address)
of Jordan, Caplan, Paul & Etter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CROWELL AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC
339 WASHINGTON ST STE 202
DEDHAM, MA 02026 US
(Norfolk County)
LAWYER: DEAN PLAKIAS (same address)
of Hill & Plakias (practice: family law)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVON HOLDING & LEASING, INC.
129 WEST CENTER STREET # 2
LEXINGTON, NC 27292-3009
(Davidson County)
LAWYER: Mark E. Klass
Klass is now a judge. He incorporated STEVENS (below).
Davidson County Hall of Justice, 110 W. Center St.,
P.O. Box 1064 Lexington, NC 27293-1064
(336) 249-0351
(Now at 129 W Center St. is attorney Carroll C. Wall.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEELER AND TATE MANAGEMENT, LLC
KEELER AND TATE MANAGEMENT, LLC
245 E LIBERTY ST STE 510
RENO, NV 89501 US
(Washoe County)
LAWYER: STEVEN F. PETERSEN (same address), political PR
SAME OFFICE: Paul D. Laxalt (ex-US Senator), Peter D. Laxalt,
Frank R. Petersen
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PATH CORPORATION
413 REHOBOTH AVE PO BOX 305
REHOBOTH BEACH, DE 19971 US
(Sussex County)
LAWYER: UNKNOWN
(Now at PATH's address is Barbara-Cherrix O'Leary, real estate lawyer.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREMIER EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.
(Same address, same lawyer as CROWELL above.)
339 WASHINGTON ST STE 202
DEDHAM, MA 02026 US
(Norfolk County)
LAWYER: DEAN PLAKIAS (same address)
of Hill & Plakias (practice: family law)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESCOTT SUPPORT COMPANY
555 MARRIOTT DRIVE, SUITE 350
NASHVILLE, TN 37214
(Davidson County)
LAWYER: MARK E. MORRISON
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RAPID AIR TRANS INC
RAPID AIR TRANSPORT INC
10601 BALTIMORE AVE
SUITE 300 (3RD FLOOR)
BELTSVILLE, MD 20705 US
(Prince George's County)
LAWYER: DOUGLAS R. THOMAS, bankruptcy lawyer
(Same Office: Leslie Silverman, Gregory R. Caruso)
Thomas lent his address for Rapid "Trans" and "Transport"
as well as AVIATION SPECIALTIES (above).
Thomas registered "Trans" with the state for a time,
"Transport" not at all. He was disbarred in 2000.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEVENS EXPRESS LEASING INC
8130 COUNTRY VILLAGE DR STE 101
CORDOVA, TN 38016 US
(Shelby County)
LAWYER: DOUGLAS R. BEATY (Same address),
real estate lawyer
Company was incorporated by Mark E. Klass
(see DEVON), now a judge in Lexington, NC.
Comments
Hide the following comment
Don't do the crime if you won't do the time...
21.12.2005 22:04
The UK Foreign Office (MI6 fulls under its control) privately admit to being "extremely worried" about the evidence of their complicity in torture (
Lying about it doesn't stop it being true, Jack. Slowly but surely this is going to catch up with you. The echoes of all those tortured screams will keep haunting you until you give up the ghost and stop trying to run away from the truth. We will make sure of that.
Wiesenthal