Allies Expose Ugly U.S. War On Terror Practice of Extraordinary Rendition
ALLIES EXPOSE UGLY U.S. WAR ON TERROR PRACTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION
ITALY ISSUES WARRANTS FOR CIA AGENTS IN KIDNAPPING CASE
Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), senior member of the Homeland
Security Committee and author the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act, H.R. 952, renewed his call for
an end to the CIA practice called extraordinary rendition, which has turned into an international
embarrassment.
"As Justice Brandeis once said, Sunshine is the best antiseptic.' Today's case sheds more light on the
ugly U.S. practice of extraordinary rendition. Italy now joins Sweden and Germany in investigating
extra-legal actions by the United States on the streets of sovereign allies. In Italy warrants for
kidnapping have been issued for 13 CIA agents. Germany is also considering issuing charges against
the U.S. for the kidnapping of a German citizen. The War on Terror must be won, but it will not be
won by scooping up people on the streets of Italy and sending them to prisons in Egypt," said Rep.
Markey.
An Italian investigation into the disappearance of an Italian resident near his home in Milan on
February 17, 2003 led to the indictment and the issue of warrants for 13 CIA agents on charges of
kidnapping. The Italian press reports that CIA involvement in this case was determined by tracking the
use of Italian cell phones. A total of 17 cell phones were identified in use at the time of and on the
street where the Italian resident was abducted. The cell phones were found to have made calls to
among other places, the U.S. consulate in Milan and Langley, Virginiathe headquarters of the CIA.
Prior investigations have linked privately owned jets, including the Gulfstream V jet, to flights in and
out of U.S. airports and bases to Europe and eventually terminating in countries that include some of
the world's most notorious human rights violators such as Syria, Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
The jets are owned by shell companies and are believed to act as a front for CIA operations where by
CIA agents pick, drug and shackle individuals, and fly them to Syria and Uzbekistan where they are
likely to be interrogated under torture.
"This is an outrageous practice. The United States cannot stand for torture. This Administration's
rogue kidnapping efforts are now being questioned by some of our closest allies in the war on terror.
This practice of rendition will only impede our fight against terrorism and alienate our allies. President
Bush needs to put an end to the practice of outsourcing of torture, his defense of this illegal practice
jeopardizes U.S. officials who are now caught in the middle of an international kidnapping," said Rep.
Markey.
For more information on Rep. Markey's work to stop the outsourcing of torture, please see Rep.
Markey's website - http://www.house.gov/markey/
http://www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_human_rights_pr050624.pdf