U.S. won’t extradite CIA agents to Italy - International Terrorism - MSNBC.com

U.S. won’t extradite CIA agents to Italy - International Terrorism - MSNBC.com

U.S. won’t extradite CIA agents to Italy
Remarks come ahead of first criminal trial over U.S. ‘renditions’ program
Reuters
Updated: 10:09 p.m. ET Feb 28, 2007
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The United States will reject any request by Italy to extradite CIA agents for the first criminal trial over controversial U.S. "renditions" of terror suspects, a U.S. government lawyer said on Wednesday.

A Milan judge earlier this month ordered 26 Americans, most of them thought to be CIA agents, to stand trial with Italian spies for kidnapping a Muslim cleric and flying him to Egypt, where he says he was tortured.

"We've not got an extradition request from Italy.... If we got an extradition request from Italy, we would not extradite U.S. officials to Italy," U.S. State Department legal adviser John Bellinger told a news briefing.

Bellinger, in Brussels for meetings with European legal advisers, did not comment on details of the case but said the United States would never hand over a suspect to another country without assurances about their treatment.

He acknowledged widespread concern in Europe about the tactics of the Bush administration in what it calls the "war on terror" but said the risk of legal action against U.S. officials in Europe was harming intelligence cooperation.

"The continuing threat of criminal charges not only harms cooperation on our end but does also cast a pall over cooperation on the European side as well," he said.

"We get assurances from countries that individuals will be properly treated and if we can't get these assurances then we will not turn people over to those countries," he added.

Bellinger's remarks were no surprise and meant the indictees would probably stand trial in absentia on June 8.

Among those indicted for the 2003 abduction are Jeff Castelli, former CIA chief in Rome, former CIA Milan station chief Robert Lady and a former head of Italy's SISMI military intelligence agency, Nicolo Pollari.

Terror suspect allegedly taken, beaten
Prosecutors say a CIA-led team, with SISMI's help, grabbed terrorism suspect Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, off a Milan street in February 2003, bundled him into a van and drove him to a military base in northern Italy.

Prosecutors allege the CIA flew him from there via Germany to Egypt, where he says he was tortured with electric shocks, beatings, rape threats and genital abuse.


Persistent criticism by European rights groups and lawmakers of U.S. anti-terror tactics and the alleged acquiescence of European governments has long troubled officials on both sides of the Atlantic.

A court in Munich issued arrest warrants last month for 13 suspected CIA agents accused of kidnapping a German of Lebanese descent and flying him to a jail in Afghanistan, where he too says he was tortured.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a senior aide to former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, has also faced a barrage of criticism over charges that he blocked the release of a German-born Turkish man held in Guantanamo Bay prison.

A European Parliament report published this month said that renditions were illegal and had taken place with the collusion of a number of European governments and their secret services.

Bellinger rejected the report as an "unbalanced, inaccurate and unfair" interpretation of acceptable and important intelligence cooperation.

Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.(c) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17390413/

Pakistan denies U.S. claim on bin Laden - South and Central Asia - MSNBC.com

Pakistan denies U.S. claim on bin Laden - South and Central Asia - MSNBC.com

Pakistan denies U.S. claim on bin Laden
U.S. has not backed up claim with evidence, interior minister says
The Associated Press
Updated: 11:30 a.m. ET Feb 28, 2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan on Wednesday rejected a claim by the U.S. intelligence chief that Osama bin Laden and his deputy were hiding in northwestern Pakistan, and that al-Qaida was setting up camps near the Afghan border.

Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao told The Associated Press there were no al-Qaida training camps in his country and U.S. officials had not provided any intelligence suggesting there were.

"We will act on any such intelligence, but so far they have not" provided any, he said.

Sherpao's comments came a day after Mike McConnell, the new U.S. intelligence chief, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that al-Qaida was trying to set up operations in largely ungoverned parts of Pakistan's northwest, along Afghanistan's eastern border.

"It's something we're very worried about and very concerned about," McConnell said. U.S. intelligence officials believe that bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, were trying to establish an al-Qaida base in the region, he said. McConnell noted the camps are in an area that has never been governed by any state or outside power.

On a visit to Pakistan on Monday, Vice President Dick Cheney met with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to seek his aid in foiling an anticipated spring offensive by the Taliban and al-Qaida against coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Cheney was accompanied by Deputy CIA Director Stephen Kappes, suggesting that the U.S. officials were prepared to buttress their allegations about al-Qaida operations with intelligence data.


U.S. officials are concerned about a peace deal Pakistan signed with tribal leaders of the North Waziristan region in September. In that agreement, the tribes promised to respect the authority of the Pakistani government and curtail cross-border attacks by militants.

In return, Musharraf returned some of the tribes' weapons, released some prisoners and withdrew from posts inside North Waziristan.

At Tuesday's hearing, Lt. Gen. Michael Maples, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the tribes have not abided by most terms of the agreement. McConnell added U.S. intelligence believes al-Qaida's training and related capabilities increased as a result of the deal.

Musharraf's office confirmed that during the meeting, Cheney expressed concern that al-Qaida was "regrouping" in the tribal areas and that the vice president "called for concerted efforts in countering the threat."

Musharraf, his office said, told Cheney that Pakistan was already doing all it could to fight the militants.

Sherpao insisted Pakistan was "fighting the scourge of terrorism in the best interest of Pakistan."

Musharraf is a key ally of the United States in its fight against Islamic militants.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17380397/

Taliban official says bin Laden is alive - Focus on Afghanistan - MSNBC.com

Taliban official says bin Laden is alive - Focus on Afghanistan - MSNBC.com

Taliban official says bin Laden is alive

‘He’s not yet martyred,’ says senior commander; NATO expect offensive

The Associated Press
Updated: 11:51 a.m. ET March 1, 2007
LONDON - A senior Taliban commander says Osama bin Laden is alive and in contact with leaders of Afghanistan’s Taliban insurgents, according to an interview aired on British television.

Mullah Dadullah said he had not met bin Laden since the fall of the Taliban regime after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, but said “we know he’s still alive.”

“He’s not yet martyred. Such information would be easy to get — his comrades stand shoulder to shoulder with us. They keep us informed,” Dadullah said in an interview broadcast Wednesday by Channel 4 News.

The authenticity of the information could not be confirmed. Channel 4 did not say how it had obtained the footage, and it was not known when or where Dadullah made the comments, which were translated into English.

Dadullah, commander of Taliban operations in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan and a trusted associate of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, said bin Laden met outsiders rarely. Dadullah did not comment on bin Laden’s whereabouts.

“Only his comrades see him; we exchange messages with each other to share plans,” Dadullah said. “We also go to the battlefield together. We actually meet very rarely, just for important consultations. It’s hard for anyone to meet bin Laden himself now, but we know he’s still alive.”

Dadullah said the Taliban had “hundreds more” suicide bombers ready to attack NATO forces in Afghanistan.

NATO commanders have said they believe the Taliban plans a spring offensive against alliance troops in the country.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10624157/from/RS.1/

Silicon 'found in contaminated fuel tanks'

telegraph
The petrol contamination scare which has caused hundreds of cars in the South East to break down may be caused by silicon, it emerged today.

It is understood that the element - which should not be in petrol - has been detected in the fuel tanks of some of the affected vehicles. This may explain why they have been juddering and misfiring.

Testing agencies have not yet revealed in how many cars silicon has been found, or in what amounts. It is just one possible explanation for the contamination, the AA told Telegraph.co.uk.

Silicon has many industrial uses. In its basic form it is used in semi-conductors, and its compounds including silica are used to form glasses, cements, ceramics and lubricants.

Given the spread of petrol stations affected by the contaminated fuel, silicon would have to have entered the petrol at some point in the supply chain.

Motorists were today told to consider replacing the petrol in their tanks, even if they are unaffected by the contaminated fuel scare.

Ray Holloway, the director of the Peter Retailers’ Association, said drivers should think about getting fresh fuel even if their vehicle is not suffering any problems.

Trading standards officials are investigating complaints from hundreds of drivers who claim they have been sold contaminated fuel.

Many complain that their cars have juddered, misfired and suffered loss of power in the last week. Most complaints come from the south east of England.

Petrol retailers say they are baffled by the complaints. Levels of ethanol, the chemical added to petrol to make it less environmentally harmful, have been normal.

"Motorists who have not been affected could save themselves a bill by changing the petrol in their tanks. That would be my recommendation," Mr Holloway said.

The spotlight is on oxygen sensors in car exhausts that have failed in some vehicles, probably as a result of faulty petrol. As a result, engine management systems cut power to prevent further damage to the engine, allowing drivers to only "limp home".

Manufacturers are working flat out to provide replacement parts after garages ran out of stock as they struggle to cope with demand.

Many of the drivers who have complained said they bought petrol from Tesco and Morrisons. Both supermarkets said they had tested their stocks of unleaded fuel and not found any contamination or abnormalities.

Independent oil company Greenergy - which is part owned by Tesco - has tested fuel supplied to the supermarkets to see if it was faulty. A spokesman said "extensive" tests showed that it met industry standards.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders advised motorists to keep all their fuel receipts. If their vehicle is affected, they should contact their car dealer for advice.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said motorists affected by contaminated petrol may be able to claim for accidental damage if they have comprehensive cover. A spokesman urged all motorists to keep any evidence that they have purchased the allegedly contaminated petrol, such as receipts or other paperwork.

He said: "At the moment, it is still not clear where liability for this problem lies.

"Nevertheless, the insurance industry can provide this important reassurance to customers in the meantime that, provided they have comprehensive insurance, they need not lose out."

Adam Cracknell, of the RAC, warned drivers not to attempt siphoning petrol from their tanks. He said many modern engines hold the fuel under pressure and removing it should only be done by a mechanic.

"If you have a bucket full of contaminated fuel and it causes a fire then you may be in breach of your insurance and lose your house as well as your car," he said.

Tesco said the problems all appear to be linked to forecourts in the south east of the country served by a refinery in Essex. Asda, which does not get petrol from Greenergy, said it has received about 80 complaints from customers. A spokeswoman said checks have shown no problems with fuel on sale.

War-Weary Dems Face Heat From Left and Right

(CNSNews.com) - Don't go wobbly on us, liberal activists are telling "nervous" Democrats in Congress, as those Democrats mull the best way to stop what many of them describe as President Bush's war.

"Congress has the power to stop the war, but some representatives are afraid to use it," MoveOn.org said in a message to its supporters. "As the [Democratic] caucus meets and debates, we need to remind them that stopping the escalation and ending the war is what they were elected to do."

The only sure way for Congress to stop the war is to cut off funding for it, an idea that many lawmakers don't like because it would put them in the position of failing to support the troops.

Liberal activists say "politics" is clouding the issue for some Democrats who want to cast the war as "Bush's problem."

MoveOn.org called it a "failure of leadership" for Democrats to refuse to take steps that would block the troop surge and begin to end the war. "The truth is, Democrats will be responsible for the war only if they do nothing to stop it," the group said.

MoveOn.org is trying to mobilize public support for measures aimed at stopping the "escalation" in Iraq. "Some Democrats are pushing to water down those measures -- essentially letting the president off the hook," the group said.

"Voters elected Democrats in November to end the war. Right now, it's clear that they're not doing enough. There are no compromises on stopping the escalation."

'Slow bleed'

House Democrats are said to be divided on the best way to force a change in President Bush's war strategy.

As Cybercast News Service reported earlier, anti-war Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) wants to "limit the options of the president" by requiring troops to spend a year at home before returning to battle. He also wants to set training and equipment requirements for troops and prevent combat tours from being extended.

"Now, if they can't extend people, if they can't send people back that don't have equipment and so forth, they can't continue the surge," Murtha was quoted as saying in mid-February.

Several weeks ago, House Democrats did pass a nonbinding resolution opposing the troop buildup. But since then, they've been unable to agree on binding measures.

On Wednesday, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said House Democrats should stop "undermining our troops" and stop trying to "micro-manage" the global war on terror.

"Congress has a responsibility to provide America's troops with the resources and flexibility necessary to complete their mission. Our focus must be on supporting our troops in harm's way -- without strings attached -- not on using a military spending bill as an excuse to fund pork-barrel projects and other unrelated projects."

Boehner said Republicans will fight efforts by Democrats to attach conditions to the military spending bill that would make it more difficult for U.S. troops to successfully complete their mission and return home safely.

"In the seven weeks following the announcement of a new strategy for victory in Iraq, Democrats have failed to articulate a coherent vision for either victory or withdrawal; they've offered only a 'slow bleed' strategy that would slowly choke off the funding and reinforcements our troops need to successfully complete their mission," Boehner said.

"Placing arbitrary and punitive political hurdles before any commander-in-chief during a time of war -- especially under the guise of supporting our troops -- is wrong, and it is reckless," Boehner added.

McCain To Letterman: "I Will Be A Candidate For President"

all headline news
New York, NY (AHN) - Arizona Sen. John McCain announced Wednesday that he will seek the Republican nomination for president in 2008.

Given that McCain's candidacy has been an open secret for months; yesterday's announcement was a formality, the kind of anti-climax typical of the early stage of a long campaign. So, as if to give his candidacy some born-again urgency, McCain made his declaration in the comparatively edgy environment of late night television.

"I am announcing that I will be a candidate for president of the United States," said McCain during an appearance on CBS's "Late Show With David Letterman".

McCain went on to say that he would formally announce his candidacy in April, and, in a small, but telling bit of candor, admitted that his on-air declaration was merely a part of an ongoing process of in which he would gradually unveil his campaign - effectively stretching out the announcement to maximize media coverage.

"You know you drag this out as long as you can.," said McCain. "You don't just have one rendition - you've got to do it over and over."

It's a technique that has become popular with presidential candidates trying to get as much free exposure as possible before the primary season goes into full swing and the costs of ad purchases start to mount.

McCain's appearance with Letterman - a late night icon who gleefully skewers the Bush administration and once dismissed comments by Fox commentator Bill O'Reilly as "crap" - also provided McCain the chance to continue his revival as the GOP's angriest man.

That outsider role served the former Navy pilot and Vietnam War prisoner well during his vibrant but futile attempt to gain the Republican nomination in 2000. McCain was finally vanquished by George W. Bush. And even though he has emerged as one of the Senate's most consistent supporters of the Iraq war, McCain, on the stump, has already begun reasserting himself as the go-to-guy for party dissidents and for Democrats who might be enticed by the candidate's reputation for straight talk.

Campaigning in South Carolina last week, McCain called former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, "one of the worst secretaries of defense in history," and he has railed against the management of the war if not the conflict itself.

McCain has also irked the GOP's social conservative base by refusing to back a constitutional amendment barring gay marriage saying the issue is a matter for the states.

In most polls, McCain trails former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani among Republican voters. However Giuliani, a moderate, is also facing an uphill run against the party's religious right wing.

What Giuliani doesn't have, are the questions about age that may dog McCain. On "Letterman" the talk show host noted that the Arizona senator just turned 70. If elected, McCain would be the second oldest person ever to take the oath, after Ronald Reagan who was 73 at the time of his inauguration.

McCain laughed off Letterman's age talk, and said he was undaunted by the polls.

"We keep doing the best we can," McCain said. "We're very happy with the way things are going."

Iran blames U.S., Israel for world’s problems - Focus on Iran - MSNBC.com

Iran blames U.S., Israel for world’s problems - MSNBC.com

Iran blames U.S., Israel for world’s problems

Ahmadinejad makes remarks during show of support for Sudan government

The Associated Press
Updated: 6:41 a.m. ET March 1, 2007

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Iran’s president blamed the United States and Israel for the world’s problems Thursday in a lecture to Sudanese officials and intellectuals during his visit to Sudan.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comments came as Iran and Sudan face mounting international criticism — Iran over its nuclear activities and Sudan over the conflict in Darfur.

Earlier, Iranian and Saudi media reported that the hardline president was planning a trip to Saudi Arabia in coming days. The rival countries have been holding talks for weeks in an effort to defuse conflicts in the region, including the sectarian strife in Lebanon and Iraq.

In his lecture Thursday titled “Iran and the World,” the hardline president reiterated arguments that he has made repeatedly throughout the standoff with the United States and its Western allies over Iran’s nuclear activities.

“There is no place in the world that suffers from divisions and wars unless America or the Zionists’ fingerprints are seen there,” Ahmadinejad told his audience in Farsi translated into Arabic.

‘We have to pay attention to the devils’
He urged Muslims to rally behind Iran and accused detractors of Iran’s nuclear program of trying to prevent a developing country from making scientific advances.

“Our strength and the cornerstone of the victory is in our (Muslims’) unity ... we have to pay attention to the devils who want to cause divisions among us,” the Iranian president said.

“They want to keep science in their hands only ... they don’t want the rest of the world to progress,” he said referring Iran’s nuclear program.

Show of solidarity
Ahmadinejad arrived in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, Wednesday in a show of solidarity with Sudan.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir declared support for Iran’s nuclear ambitions while Ahmadinejad said Iran viewed Sudan’s progress as important as its own.

Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany have begun discussing a new round of sanctions on Iran for failing to halt uranium enrichment by late February.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor accused a junior member of al-Bashir’s Cabinet and another suspect of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

The Sudanese government has rejected the allegations and said it would not hand the men over for trial.
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17396804/
© 2007 MSNBC.com