I may be mistaken but I don't think the Italian government has the, now convicted, agents in custody. I remember reading that they were tried "in absentia" and are considered fugitives.

Originally posted by Shadowflux
I may be mistaken but I don't think the Italian government has the, now convicted, agents in custody. I remember reading that they were tried "in absentia" and are considered fugitives.

I think you are mistaken about them being fugitives.

Originally posted by Shadowflux
I may be mistaken but I don't think the Italian government has the, now convicted, agents in custody. I remember reading that they were tried "in absentia" and are considered fugitives.

Hey Shadow, you're right about the absentia thing, I did mention it briefly,was tucked away a bit though!

and the fact that they were convicted in their absence

The agents cannot travel to Italy..and maybe any euro union nation required to extradite wanted persons. The rest of the world will not sit by like we do and allow American corporate/military industrial/intelligence bosses to trample their territory.

It was NOT a military operation, it was a political one, most likley emanating from Cheney's office..where he personally ran an assassination squad. The CIA are pawns for the coup masters that pulled 9-11 off and put al of them on notice that they better shut up or get a dose of anthrax, like the senators that were objecting to the Patriot act and its crimes againt us.

It is so rotten at the top...so bad...that the average person could not comprehend how evil it is. Cheney is an example..the most vile, despicable, murdering, corrupt point man for the 9-11 perps..I will be very satisfied at some point in eternity to see dick Cheney dragged kicking and screaming to the edge of the bottomless pit..his twisted snarl frozen on a terrified face..he may escape justice here, but he is doomed.

And he is not alone.

Originally posted by kiwifoot


I, like a lot of Members, have mixed feelings on this'

On one hand I can totally understand the anger and contempt the Italians have for this process and the arrogance of the CIA in carrying out this kind of operation on the soil of an independent nation.

However, these operatives were carrying out orders, that must have originated from the very highest levels of the US military establishment. Me personally, I think this damages cooperation between Italy and the US fighting the 'War on Terror'.

They were following orders in a job that they continue to choose to work in. They are not conscripted to follow orders. They are allowed at anytime to say "I quit" if their conscience so deems it.

Originally posted by HunkaHunka

Originally posted by kiwifoot


I, like a lot of Members, have mixed feelings on this'

On one hand I can totally understand the anger and contempt the Italians have for this process and the arrogance of the CIA in carrying out this kind of operation on the soil of an independent nation.

However, these operatives were carrying out orders, that must have originated from the very highest levels of the US military establishment. Me personally, I think this damages cooperation between Italy and the US fighting the 'War on Terror'.

They were following orders in a job that they continue to choose to work in. They are not conscripted to follow orders. They are allowed at anytime to say "I quit" if their conscience so deems it.

I disagree I'm afraid.

It's not their job to ensure that an operation has been cleared with the appropriate authorities.

They follow orders.

If something obvious like asking them to slaughter prisoners or commit a war crime is asked of them, then you are right.

But CIA officers follow orders.

Political issues are the responsibility of their superiors.

Kiwifoot

The trial was a farce. The only people convicted were the ones who were not in Italy. Several Italian nationals had their charges dismissed and a few Americans had their charges dropped due to diplomatic immunity. Nobody is actually going to jail. I'll take any and all bets that if any of the people convicted in absentia go to Europe and are arrested for extradition, Italy will refuse extradition. This whole thing was a paperwork drill to pacify those Italians who thought that their sovreignty was violated.

i think it comes down to our image of who we are and what we stand for. on eone hand americans supposedly, have all these freedoms and rights etc.. yet we dont give thee same freedoms to the very people were supposedly trying to give the freedoms to!! i mean how hyporcritically is that? we wont allow any americans to be tried in foreign courts etc. we act like an empire because we are.. an imperialist, resource hogging, arrogant empire... an empire in delcine and the rest of the world knows it, we dont see this because were in america...

The court convicted the individuals but the government has never requested that the US extradite the individuals.

Seems like the court is on its own.

I don't see this hurting the relationship between the two country.