From the Jurist, U of Pittsburgh, March 1:
The Council of Europe [official website] said Wednesday that an investigation into allegations that the US Central Intelligence Agency operated secret prisons [JURIST report] in Europe revealed no “smoking gun” evidence that proved the existence of the prisons. COE Secretary General Terry Davis [official profile], presenting his findings on alleged illegal detentions and rendition flights on European territory based on official replies received from all 46 COE member states, also said that it was “virtually impossible” to determine whether the CIA used European airspace for extraordinary rendition [JURIST news archive] in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights [PDF text].
See also, recorded video of the press conference.
Bumper Stickerist notes that the Economist is running a small blurb, as well, though I can’t seem to find the link.
Shockingly, this info slipped right under my radar—despite overwhelming coverage here in the states…
You can’t expect the arsonist to call the firemen.
The liberal media starts the fires, they don’t put them out.
That’s someone else’s job.
Erm, yeah, I missed it.
Of course they didn’t find any evidence – they’re SECRET (or is that “Double Secret”?)
Cue the black helicopters.
i subscribe to the economist, there isn’t anything available in the online version–i searched.
mebbe it’s in the print version. i’ll look.
Looking for the MSM or left bloggers to mention this (other than in an attempt to discredit or deny) will be similar to an effort to find a speck of fly shit in a mountain of black pepper. Good Luck with that.
Well, lack of proof doesn’t mean they don’t exist. We’re not talking about WMDs here.
TW: consistency. You have no right to expect consistency, because we’re talking about the evil, omniscient CIA here.
Actually I think that the reality is that this again reveals the hypocrisy of the Europeans – who bash the United States in public and cooperate enthusiastically with the same programs in secret.
The blurb in the dead tree issue which has the Iraqi guy weeping on the cover like a little girl. Iirc, it’s in the front 1/3rd in the summary sections about America/ Europe/ Africa.
The ‘oh-by-the-way’ aspect caught me off-guard.
Actually that might be a really good example of shrewd decision making on the part of the Euros. The publically denounce us for show to their subjects but privatly agree with us and our methods for taking down an extremely dangerous ideology.
But they probably aren’t secretly cooperating with us.
Strange indeed. Some of us noted this almost two months ago:
http://www.e-manonline.com/blog.php?entry_id=1838
Indeed, the Pajamas crowd, of which I seem to recall you are a member, was my source.
Too much time with the armadillo, perhaps?
Umm…the reports that you cite (and that are referenced in the Jurist article) weren’t designed to find if there was a “smoking gun” or not regarding CIA rendition. From the press conference in the linked video (see around the 13 minute mark):
As for what the report did cover, here’s some info. The report was a survey of European practices regarding oversight of activities of foreign agencies on European soil. Here’s something from a press release:
So it’s extremely misleading to bill this as “No proof of CIA secret prisons: Europe report” when the report had nothing to do with this.
Take it up with the Jurist. It was their headline.
Everyman —
Yeah, maybe I was busy that day.
Shorter Llama School: So far they can’t prove anything, but I still have my hopes up.
B Moe,
I would rather it not be true that we’re doing extraordinary rendition. That’s not the point. The point is that this report specifically did not address the question of whether we’ve done extraordinary rendition.
So anyways, the lack of coverage of this in the States is not because the “MSM” is hiding some sort of report that vindicates the United States. It’s because this report is tangential to the specific claim of whether the US engaged in extraordinary rendition in Europe.
Ah, yes, the vaunted Austin Powers defense. Regarding the Euro torture chambers, the administration is now at approximately Austin’s second or third denial:
[returning Austin’s personal property after reanimating him]
Quartermaster Clerk: One Swedish-made penis enlarger.
Austin Powers: [to Vanessa] That’s not mine.
Quartermaster Clerk: One credit card receipt for Swedish-made penis enlarger signed by Austin Powers.
Austin Powers: I’m telling ya baby, that’s not mine.
Quartermaster Clerk: One warranty card for Swedish-made penis enlarger pump, filled out by Austin Powers.
Austin Powers: I don’t even know what this is! This sort of thing ain’t my bag, baby.
Quartermaster Clerk: One book, “Swedish-made Penis Enlargers And Me: This Sort of Thing Is My Bag Baby”, by Austin Powers.
But don’t forget, we’re living in a police state which is about to become a theocracy.
Oh… and HALLIBURTON!!!
Regards,
St Wendeler
Another Rovian Conspiracy
Which tristero counters with the Inspector Clouseau so fucking incoherent it’s impossible to rebut approach.
It is only because they are so hard to come by that they are worth so much. ,