Judge Orders CIA Agents' Arrest
An Italian judge has ordered the arrest of 13 US CIA agents suspected of "rendering" an Imam ullah off the streets of Milan so he could be transported to Egypt for questioning. (here)
It doesn't seem to matter that the Italians were seeking evidence to lock up the Imam at the time. Abu Omar was believed to have fought with jihadists in Afghanistan and Bosnia and was their investigation is an indication he was up to no good in Italy. Nevertheless, the Italians see the US move as an abduction and are moving forward with prosecution.
This underscores what Karl Rove was saying the other day. Liberals see the War on Terror as a legal matter; conservatives see it as a military matter. Had Italy's strategy prevailed, some form of mutated and insufficient justice may have occurred, but it wouldn't have been pretty. Omar's attorneys would have used the trial for their political and propaganda ends, and precious little intelligence would have been gained.
Viewing Omar as an enemy agent on foreign soil led to his abduction, interrogation and later release. We don't know what was gained from the interrogation, but that's irrelevant. He is an enemy agent and thanks to the CIA, he was interrogated.
Next time, though, the spooks should view operations like this as high-risk and hostile, and cover their tracks. They were identified through hotel and cell phone records. Pretty pathetic.
Omar apparently has been re-apprehended in Egypt after his release, an indication that we're dealing with some folks who just don't deserve due process.
It doesn't seem to matter that the Italians were seeking evidence to lock up the Imam at the time. Abu Omar was believed to have fought with jihadists in Afghanistan and Bosnia and was their investigation is an indication he was up to no good in Italy. Nevertheless, the Italians see the US move as an abduction and are moving forward with prosecution.
This underscores what Karl Rove was saying the other day. Liberals see the War on Terror as a legal matter; conservatives see it as a military matter. Had Italy's strategy prevailed, some form of mutated and insufficient justice may have occurred, but it wouldn't have been pretty. Omar's attorneys would have used the trial for their political and propaganda ends, and precious little intelligence would have been gained.
Viewing Omar as an enemy agent on foreign soil led to his abduction, interrogation and later release. We don't know what was gained from the interrogation, but that's irrelevant. He is an enemy agent and thanks to the CIA, he was interrogated.
Next time, though, the spooks should view operations like this as high-risk and hostile, and cover their tracks. They were identified through hotel and cell phone records. Pretty pathetic.
Omar apparently has been re-apprehended in Egypt after his release, an indication that we're dealing with some folks who just don't deserve due process.
posted by Laer at 7:47 AM
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