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January 23, 2009
Europe Lauds Obama Shutdown of Secret CIA Prisons
Europe Lauds Obama Shutdown of Secret CIA Prisons
Obama's decision Thursday to shut secret CIA-run prisons abroad brought renewed calls for their locations to be disclosed as well a fresh denial from Poland, one of two eastern European countries most closely linked to the practice.
Across Europe, governments uneasy that CIA flights had been carrying terrorism suspects through their airports and air space for years said they were relieved to be heading into a new rendition-free era.
Dick Marty, the Swiss lawmaker who spearheaded the Council of Europe investigations that sought to expose the existence of clandestine interrogation centers in Eastern Europe and Africa, said he expected the truth would come trickling out once the centers were closed.
"For some countries, things are going to become very embarrassing. I think European countries would do well now to tell the truth," Marty said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Marty said he "would be very surprised" if any CIA-run facilities were still operating in Europe, but added "in East Africa, or Morocco, I might assume there is something." He said Obama's order granting Red Cross officials access to all secret facilities might prove critical in revealing their locations, both past and present.
"There are no American prisons in Poland," said Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Piotr Paszkowski. "We've said that many times in recent years and our position and statements haven't changed, and we have nothing new to say."
But Zbigniew Siemiatkowski, who directed Poland's foreign intelligence agency until 2004, expressed doubts that Obama's moves would make the West more secure from terror.
"It won't make things easier ... one will have to devise new methods, different methods," Siemiatkowski said, declining to elaborate.
In Ireland, government and opposition leaders united in praise for Obama's move.
The officially neutral nation had spent years uneasily permitting CIA flights to refuel at Ireland's strategically placed Shannon Airport. On every occasion, the Bush administration insisted, no rendition suspects were on board. U.S. officials also said that Irish authorities never search the planes.
"Certainly, CIA planes involved in rendition refueled at Shannon and were going to and from Guantanamo Bay from Shannon.
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Wild Thing's comment..........
Hey Eurotrash! This time “The Yankees Aren’t Coming"!!!!
Check this out! .............
Bruce Riedel, 55, is an expert at the Brookings Institution, a longtime CIA veteran and an advisor since April 2007 to US President- elect Barack Obama on South Asia and terrorism. In a SPIEGEL interview, al-Qaida expert and Obama adviser Bruce Riedel discusses the fate of the remaining Guantanamo prisoners, how dangerous they really are, what Europe could do to help.
Riedel: Even if European nations, such as Portugal or Germany, would only take a small number — maybe half a dozen — it would still be an important support. The United States needs all the help it can get to clean up the mess left by President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for the rest of the world.
SPIEGEL: What would countries willing to accept former prisoners have to deal with?
Riedel: They would have to keep a very close eye on the former prisoners for some time; they have to be under surveillance. It would be a financial burden, and the former inmates may file lawsuits in Germany seeking some kind of redress for perceived injustices, which German courts would probably hear. Also, (the former inmates would) need financial support, and it’s hard to imagine their finding employment.
Posted by Wild Thing at January 23, 2009 03:47 AM
Comments
How about Lobotomies, that way they would be harmless...Better, would be, and less expensive give obama, Biden and Pelosi lobotomies and our problems would be solved. Afterall, obama is already a puppet, he didn't even know what was in the Executive Orders he was signing yesterday, great start. In two short days he has put the Nation's National Security at risk.
Posted by: Mark at January 23, 2009 07:09 AM
Sure, go ahead and complain about the US's programs and offer no solutions yourselves. How Modern Progressive/European of you all.
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
Next time you get into a bind, (which should be coming pretty darn soon with your wimpiness against all those "excitable asian youths") don't bother calling...we're pretty darn busy right now taking care of Islamofascists.
Posted by: yankeemom at January 23, 2009 07:44 AM
You mean the EURABIAN UNION and once 'Great' Britain? 007 is dead and Jihad Bomb rule! At least in the Cold War we knew who our enemies were for they wore uniforms and had names on them, and flew their colors! Soon the Sun Page 3 gals will be in burkas, and all alcohol will be illegal!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at January 23, 2009 07:58 AM
America has been fighting the War on Terror bascally singlehanded. We have had a few allies help, but the burden has been on us. The entire non-muslim world and even part of the muslim world are targets for these terrorists. So the rest of the world can sit back and let the US take out the garbage, while criticizing the way we do it.
Now with a gang of "progressive"(socialist) anti-Americans in charge in America, we can be just like Europe. But, who do we look at to take out the garbage?
Posted by: TomR at January 23, 2009 10:34 AM
The Islamofascist terrorists get rewarded for their support of Barack Hussein Obama. Let's see how effective Feckless Europe is in defending itself.
Posted by: Les at January 23, 2009 05:21 PM
Okay europe, and the rest of the world, just remember that next time you desperately need saving. Hell, if I were President I wouldn't send America's Finest to die for those stuck up socio-imperialist punks. I just made that term up combination of socialism and imperialism, the only two prevailing ideals in that stagnating corpse of a continent.
Posted by: JohnE PFC U.S. Army at January 23, 2009 06:36 PM
Mark, LOL I like that idea. hahahaa
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 23, 2009 07:10 PM
Yankeemom, exactly and they better realize that. We can't save the world when our own is under attack.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 23, 2009 07:13 PM
Darth, haha yes these subhumans are the enemy of nightmares and the O says bring it on with what he has done. The EU is as stupid and horrible as he is. augh!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 23, 2009 07:18 PM
Tom, you said it better then I could. That is the thing, now it is open hunting season for terrorists minds and they will follow through too when they feel like it.
CAIR praised Obama and so has the ACLU and some other organizations that hate America.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 23, 2009 07:23 PM
Les, I want to see just how long it takes Europe to whine at our door and ask for help. I am so done with all of them, let them eat cake. haha I mean it, don't come asking for one soldier, one money donation or anything.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 23, 2009 07:25 PM
JohnE PFC U.S. Army, EXCELLENT!! I like that and it says it all too..... "socio-imperialist punks".
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 23, 2009 07:29 PM
