Treaty gives CIA powers over Irish citizens

[RogueTrooper]

Ah, The American Empire. I am sure this will go down well.

US INVESTIGATORS, including CIA agents, will be allowed interrogate Irish citizens on Irish soil in total secrecy, under an agreement signed between Ireland and the US last week.

Suspects will also have to give testimony and allow property to be searched and seized even if what the suspect is accused of is not a crime in Ireland.

Under 'instruments of agreement' signed last week by Justice Minister Michael McDowell, Ireland and the US pledged mutual co-operation in the investigation of criminal activity. It is primarily designed to assist America's so-called 'war on terror' in the wake of the September 11 atrocities.

The deal was condemned yesterday by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) as "an appalling signal of how the rights of Irish citizens are considered by the minister when engaging in international relations". The ICCL said it appeared to go far beyond even what has been agreed between EU countries.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/pport/web/ireland/Full_Story/did-sg46g7Ks0cvBEsg7OWirIStPSk.asp

[Maeve]

1. Ah, the freedom of small nations!

We have to destroy freedoms to save them, doncha see... :grr:

[Henny Penny]

2. This really scares me.....

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

Our govt are a bunch of quislings!

[dbt]

3. Somebody explain this one to me!

I somehow got the idea that Ireland was an independent sort of nation, duly distrustful of big, imperialist countries who were/are bent on extending their own spheres of influence and/or subjugating smaller countries.

In plain language, what the FUCK is the Irish government THINKING?? Everybody who gets into bed with bu$hler wakes up in a tub of ice with a kidney missing.

:wow:

[RogueTrooper]

4. It's the Progressive Democrats

The PD's are the most right wing party in Ireland. They are the junior party in the coalition government and will probably be the reason that Bertie will loose the next election.

The minister who signed this document is a progressive democrat.

[dbt]

5. Thank you, RogueTrooper.

Since much of the South US is descended from Scots/Irish, I have an almost automatic curiousity about things in Ireland. "Progressive Democrats" seems to be such an apt misnomer that it could have come right out of the Neocon Think Tank here in the US!

Always more to learn.

:hi: