As I Was Saying...

The slam on Dennis Kucinich for being in contact with Qadafi will not be lessened by this truth, which should have been common knowledge without the latest paper proof in “secret files.” If it hasn’t been a “secret” apparently we don’t believe it.

British and US intelligence agencies built up close links with Muammar Gaddafi and handed over detailed information to assist his regime, according to secret files found in Libyan government offices.

The documents claim that MI6 supplied its counterparts in Libya with details on exiled opponents living in the UK, and chart how the CIA abducted several suspected militants before handing them over to Tripoli.

[...]

"It wasn't just abducting suspected Islamic militants and handing them over to the Libyan intelligence," said Peter Bouckaert, director of Human Rights Watch's emergencies division. "The CIA also sent the questions they wanted Libyan intelligence to ask and, from the files, it's very clear they were present in some of the interrogations themselves.”

[...]

According to the documents, Libya's relationship with MI6 and the CIA was especially close between 2002 and 2004, at the height of the war on terror. The papers give details of how No 10 insisted that the 2004 meeting between Blair and Gaddafi took place in his bedouin tent, with a letter from an MI6 official saying: "I don't know why the English are fascinated by tents. The plain fact is that the journalists would love it.” ."

  Uk Guardian

Jesus. To quote Mark Twain: “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” Only I think I know.

Two documents from March 2004 appear to be American correspondence to Libyan officials to arrange the rendition of Belhaj, the former leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a now-dissolved militant group with links to al-Qaida.

Referring to him by his nom de guerre, Abdullah al-Sadiq, the documents say he will be flown from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Libya, and asks for Libyan government agents to accompany him. They also request US "access to al-Sadiq for debriefing purposes once he is in your custody".

  UK Guardian

What a surprise.

Belhaj has said he was tortured by CIA agents at a secret prison before being returned to Libya.

"Please be advised that we must be assured that al-Sadiq will be treated humanely and that his human rights will be respected," the document states.

I think that’s the accepted legal caveat, regardless of the reality.

Jennifer Youngblood, a CIA spokeswoman, declined to comment on any specific allegation related to the documents.

She said: "It can't come as a surprise that the Central Intelligence Agency works with foreign governments to help protect our country from terrorism and other deadly threats. That is exactly what we are expected to do."

Believe me, it’s no surprise. Nor will it be any surprise that no one is brought to justice for any war crimes.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.