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Europe rejects agency like CIA
via Miami Hearld
Sat, Mar. 20, 2004
European security officials agreed Friday to appoint an "antiterrorism czar," but balked at calls for a new European intelligence agency modeled after the CIA. Interior and justice ministers from European Union countries met in response to the March 11 train bombings in Madrid, which killed 202 people and raised fears Europe would become a new battleground in the war on terror. The ministers said they would ask EU heads of government to name an "antiterrorism czar" during their summit next week and declare that the Europeans will "do everything within their power to combat all forms of terrorism."
| "Within our own borders, of course. Other places can attend to themselves. What happens there doesn't apply to us." |
The ministers also identified steps that could be taken to enhance cooperation. Those steps include a European terrorism database, mandatory national identity cards and increased security for train stations, airports and other vulnerable targets. Those proposals will be reviewed by the EU foreign ministers who meet in Brussels on Monday and by heads of government at their two-day summit beginning Thursday. However, the ministers rejected calls by Belgium and Austria to establish a centralized European intelligence agency -- loosely modeled after the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency -- to serve as a clearinghouse for information from spy services of the member countries. Despite the carnage in Madrid, some national secret services were still reluctant to share information across an expanded European Union, which will grow from 15 members to 25 in May.
Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil.
Posted by: .com 2004-03-20 |
