Switzerland Approves Probe of CIA Flight

[cal04]

GENEVA (AP) - Switzerland on Wednesday followed Italy and Germany in raising the threat of criminal prosecution of CIA operatives involved in anti-terrorism operations in Europe.

The Swiss Cabinet authorized the start of criminal proceedings against those responsible for the abduction in Italy of an Egyptian Muslim preacher allegedly taken on CIA flights through Swiss airspace.

Switzerland, which has cooperated closely in U.S. investigations and attempts to shut down terrorists' funding networks, has generally avoided open disputes with the U.S. government. But the wording of the seven-member Cabinet's statement was sharp.

``In the view of the Federal Council, the use of Swiss airspace for an abduction cannot be tolerated,'' the statement said. ``There is evidence that basic norms of international law were violated.''

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6416237,00.html

[durtee librul]

1. Let's hope * was on the plane

'assisting' with the 'travel arrangements' so the Swiss gov't can prosecute. Somehow, someway, these guys have to pay for all the laws they have managed to mangle.

[BuyingThyme]

2. Europe just keeps getting older.

[Judi Lynn]

3. One government should NEVER be allowed to gather so much power it can bully

the entire rest of the world into submission. This is very good news, if it starts a trend. From the article:

Swiss authorities and European investigators acknowledge that they may never be able to arrest the U.S. agents, but the moves have added to strains in U.S.-European relations over how to combat terrorism.

The European Parliament on Wednesday approved a report accusing Britain, Germany, Italy and other European nations of turning a blind eye to CIA flights transporting terror suspects to secret prisons overseas in an apparent breach of EU human rights standards. Switzerland, which is not in the EU, is not mentioned in that report, which deals mainly with members of the 27-nation bloc.
(snip)

"Might" really DOESN'T make right. Wouldn't it be worth a lifetime to see that proven, finally?