 LONDON: The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been granted âfull accessâ to Britainâs military airfields to transport terrorist suspects, the Mail on Sunday reported. The newspaper published photographs taken by aircraft enthusiasts apparently showing three US aircraft at three Scottish airports - Edinburgh, Prestwick and Glasgow - on June 20, 2004, November 13, 2004 and September 16 this year. âOur investigation has found proof that a series of aircraft linked to the CIAâs âextraordinary renditionâ programme have been flying in and out of Britain unchecked by the authorities,â it claimed.
| Alternately, the flights were moving CIA personnel, or freight, or bunches of other stuff, none of which we want you to know about. Anyone now think the NYT release of the CIA flight operations was innocent? The real question becomes, who at CIA leaked this? |
The Mail on Sunday said one of the planes - a CASA turboprop - had also been photographed at Kabul airport, Afghanistan, and was suspected by human rights groups to have been used to move terror suspects for interrogation.
The newspaper claimed to have unearthed flight logs from the Royal Air Force base at Northolt, northwest London, âwhich suggests top-level Government complicity in the CIAâs secret operationâ. It said the logs give no explanation about why a number of planes, including one allegedly used to transport some high-profile suspects, were granted landing rights and did not record who was on board.
| Because we didn't want you to know. It's called, 'security'. |
CIA flights had stopped at British airports âon at least 210 occasionsâ, the paper said. âNearly 20 British airports have been used, with Prestwick and Glasgow among the top destinations,â it added. âPrestwick has received 75 CIA rendition flights and Glasgow 74.â
Meanwhile, the European Union on Sunday called on Washington to be as clear as possible about claims that it ran CIA secret prisons and flights across Europe. European Commission spokesman Friso Roscam Abbing said the EU executive office was awaiting clarification from the United States this week. âWe stressed to the United States that they should come forward as soon as possible on this,â Roscam Abbing said. âIt is in both our interests to be as forthcoming and transparent as possible.â
| "It ain't possible. Thanks for asking." |
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