Posted on 01/31/2007 2:28:22 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
GERMAN prosecutors have ordered arrest warrants for 13 people working for the CIA in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a Lebanese-born German man, public broadcaster NDR reported today.
Authorities in the southern city of Munich are probing allegations by Khaled el-Masri that he was abducted by US agents in the Macedonian capital Skopje on New Year's Eve 2003 and flown to a prison in Afghanistan for interrogation before he was released five months later in Albania.
Masri has said he was tortured while imprisoned.
The Munich prosecutor's office declined to confirm the report.
NDR said that the 13 suspects were facing charges of abduction and grievous bodily harm.
The broadcaster said most of the CIA employees sought lived in the US state of North Carolina.
NDR noted that the German arrest warrants were not valid in the US and that US authorities had refused to cooperate with the investigation.
If the suspects were to travel to the EU, however, they could be arrested.
NDR said that German investigators had identified the 13 suspects with the help of the Spanish police because several so-called CIA rendition operations started from the airport in Palma de Mallorca.
The report quoted Spain's Civil Guard as saying that Masri was seized by 13 CIA agents and flown on a Boeing 737 to Afghanistan.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Pinging you - NC is mentioned.
We should arrest every German ever associated with the Stasi if they travel to the US.
Don't pick on the mercs...
~~~~~~~~~~~
That break German laws -- ouside of Germany?
Da*ned Eurotrash Union busybody nonsense!
Really? He must have been a really big guy. The most I have ever seen some one seized by was six guys and the last one had to hunt for a hand hold.
The US has plenty of laws which apply to those outside of the US. Tax laws for one. Those that live in glass houses...
Is it too much to hope that one of them is named Valerie? Thought so.
My thought also. When did Germany become the world police and issue warrants for alleged crimes committed elsewhere?
Good one!
Hey wait a minute! Do U.S. tax laws really apply to Macedonians doing business in Costa Rica? I'm just not believing this!
Hard to the US to complain about this, see Section 1029 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by the Patriot Act, which provides for extraterritorial jurisdiction over individuals outside the United States in cases of terrorist activities, including financial support of such activities. In terms of more mundane individual criminal offenses, the The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 creates extraterritorial jurisdiction over individuals outside the United States who are involved in the production of child pornography or who travel overseas with the intent to sexually exploit minors.
INside Germany -- the Germans are arguing our CIA guys broke German law on German soil.
The article refers to the individual as a 'German Man' so I am not sure if he is a resident or a citizen. US Tax Law most definately applies to US citizens living in a foreign country. I am not sure about US residents but it wouldn't surprise me.
I thought Germany lost that right in May 1945.
The Spaniards have already turned over and submitted. Of course they are helping the Germans.
The bottom line is that it's the muzzies who are behind this.
...or most likely SpecOp "contractors" from Fort Bragg.
How is this the jurisdiction of German authorities?
They were said to be from NC. Isn't that the location of the Blackwell? (Blackwood) group?
What if the 13 were not CIA but contractors?
Blackwater, and yes, that's their area. Not that they're the only ones up that way.
Question is, who leaked?
Where is Mary McCarthy?
Paging Angela Merkel...Is one of you city prosecutors pulling a Nifong/Fitzgerald, or is this a federal case?
Put 'em on The List, Dano!
LOL Good one. ;-)
I think the word you're looking for is Blackwater.
Remember those burned Americans strung up on the bridge? :-(
Even worse, the NETeller execs were FORMER execs when they were arrested and when the law took effect. They didn't even work for NETeller anymore!
Are they going to Ft. Bragg to get them?
That ought to be good.
It is a quite schizophrenic situation. On one hand we have German authorities who support the WOT on the other hand we have a European judiciary (the "problem" will not be limited to Germany - others like Spain or Italy are going to follow. Beside of that the arrest warrant is going to be executed everywhere in Europe) that is independent and therefore not under the control of the gouvernments. The prosecutors (and later the judges) simply follow the laws and do not take care about spechial circumstances. This is for sure no political affront against America but a logical consequence in a system, where justice is free from political guidance. I am quite sure that something simular would have happend in the US if our secret service would have abducted suspect persons in America (even with approval of the US administration).
Therefore those operatives are well advised not even think about coming ever back to Europe again (with their old passport or their old identity - they are members of the CIA at least). If they do they could end up for a few years in a unpleasant prison. Hijacking is no peccadillo on our side of the big pond.
I am well aware that the US are forced to use unconventional means in their fight against terror. Nevertheless it is logical that they will come into conflict with such inflexible institutions like judiciary. It is probably the price we all have to pay.
Best regards from Lake Constance / Germany
A.B.
Well the occupation of Germany ended in 1990. The times are a changing ya know...
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