WikiLeaks Cables: (US) Officials Pressed Germans on Kidnapping by C.I.A.

[Turborama]

Source: NYT

By MICHAEL SLACKMAN
Published: December 8, 2010

BERLIN — American officials exerted sustained pressure on Germany not to enforce arrest warrants against Central Intelligence Agency officers involved in the 2003 kidnapping of a German citizen mistakenly believed to be a terrorist, diplomatic cables made public by WikiLeaks show.

John M. Koenig, the American deputy chief of mission in Berlin, issued a pointed warning in February 2007 urging that Germany “weigh carefully at every step of the way the implications for relations with the U.S.” in the case of Khaled el-Masri, a German of Lebanese descent. Mr. Masri said he was held in a secret United States prison in Afghanistan and tortured before his captors acknowledged their mistake and let him go.

The United States’ concern over the Masri case was detailed in cables sent from the United States Embassies in Germany, Spain and Macedonia in 2006 and 2007.

The cables indicated what was long suspected by German opposition leaders who led a parliamentary inquiry into the case: intense political pressure from Washington was the reason that Germany never pressed for the arrest and extradition of 13 operatives believed to be from the C.I.A. who were ultimately charged in indictments issued in Spain and in Munich.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/world/europe/09wikileaks-elmasri.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

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The NYT seem reluctant to report on this. For a start, the title doesn't really give the story justice. Also, they don't link to the actual cables anywhere in the original article.

[Poll_Blind]

1. I'm sure the Feds are pushing back. But the NYT is probably making a killing on those paper sales..

...and advertising for it.

Capitalist system at work! If the government bribe & threats < Paper sales and advertising revenue then they can sit and spin.

PB

[Demeter]

2. It Was Obvious at the Time, but It's Nice to Have Positive Confirmation

and documentation of the crime and abuse of power.

[truth2power]

3. ...

Poor widdle United States of Criminals. Boo Hoo. :nopity:

[tcaudilllg]

4. What we need is to get that internation court treaty approved

so that we can gift those neocon bastards a one-way ticket to the Hague.

[Pavulon]

5. After we loose a war and are invaded, that treaty will be signed..

right after that happens.