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Also, speeding tickets.

n00bs.

so much for the two for one pizza deals

Radarman's playing the victim card again, I see. And not with the whole story.

radarman wrote:

Ribtorus wrote:

Radarman's playing the victim card again, I see. And not with the whole story.

The story is that a bunch of CIA operatives are going to get their careers ruined over a mission the Italian government clearly approved, because of one knuckle-dragger Italian prosecutor and his kangaroo court. What did I miss?

Just about everything.

Because the Italian government approves something, that makes it legal?  No, it just doesn't work that way and I'd expect an American coming from a libertarian tradition would know better. And would insist, better.

Last edited by Ribtorus (2009-11-05 7:59 am)

I think Berlusconi's untouchable.

But at least one branch of the Italian secret Service played an important role in the cooking up the Niger/Yellowcake fiasco, so I'd love to see Italian prosecutors follow the trails. And I'd hope people interested in rooting out systemic corruption and official lies would like to see that too.

RatFink wrote:

radarman wrote:

Ribtorus wrote:

Just about everything.

Because the Italian government approves something, that makes it legal?  No, it just doesn't work that way and I'd expect an American coming from a libertarian tradition would know better. And would insist, better.

Interestingly, I do think that this needed to be investigated. I have never approved of these midnight renditions to terror loving countries.

However, instead of going to the top; they chose to go after the low hanging fruit. This *should* have been a scandal that rocked the whole ladder, but instead looks a lot like a politically motivated show trial.

Oh for crying out loud.   The only way you go higher up the food chain is by working with those lower on it.  It doesn't matter if it's a complex CIA operation or some smuck paying to have his ex-wive killed.  Without cooperation from the people doing the dirty work (or getting extremely lucky) all you have is the low hanging fruit.

Putting on a trial without evidence... that is about as close to a politically motivated show trial you can get without allusions involving a certain Australian marsupial.

In this case, the higher ups have already been cleared due to secrecy concerns or diplomatic immunity. I suspect the "trial" is over.

This is the Italian equivalent of sending leash wielding Lynndie to jail, while Rumsfeld enjoys his retirement.

jerwin wrote:

Oh... Shed some tears for poor Lyndie, won't you?

here's a lot more information on the Nasr case

The guy was a terrorist recruiter. He obviously knew 1) who he recruited, and 2) where they were going. I don't care what you call it, he was a legit target. It's a shame the CIA botched it.

jerwin wrote:

The guy was a terrorist recruiter. He obviously knew 1) who he recruited, and 2) where they were going. I don't care what you call it, he was a legit target. It's a shame the CIA botched it.

Assert all you want. I'm not buying it, and neither did the court.

Kangaroo court. The defendants weren't there, and the evidence was pretty shifty.

mackerm wrote:

radarman wrote:

No Italians were convicted at all.

'snot what I heard.

A second linked article mentioned 2 Italian officers. The first article, however; mentioned that no high-ranking Italian officers were convicted, so these (like the Americans) must have been rank and file officers.

jerwin wrote:

he CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Lady, was given an eight-year term, while the other 22 Americans convicted - one of them a US air force colonel - were sentenced to five years in prison.
Lawyers for the 23 Americans said they would appeal against their convictions.
The two Italian agents, who were convicted as accomplices to kidnapping, were given three-year prison terms.

In Italy, Kidnapping is illegal. Don't like it? Become an Italian Citizen and work to change the law. Maybe there's a Sardinian constituency for that

They have the right to prosecute, but it was still dirty pool - and an obvious political ploy. I also think the next time they want something from the US, we should show them the hand, and the door - in that order.

radarman wrote:

jerwin wrote:

he CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Lady, was given an eight-year term, while the other 22 Americans convicted - one of them a US air force colonel - were sentenced to five years in prison.
Lawyers for the 23 Americans said they would appeal against their convictions.
The two Italian agents, who were convicted as accomplices to kidnapping, were given three-year prison terms.

In Italy, Kidnapping is illegal. Don't like it? Become an Italian Citizen and work to change the law. Maybe there's a Sardinian constituency for that

They have the right to prosecute, but it was still dirty pool - and an obvious political ploy. I also think the next time they want something from the US, we should show them the hand, and the door - in that order.

Particularly if what is requested is illegal.