[lbo-talk] US "intelligence"

[Paul]

This article really does miss the point.  The Italian press has pointed out 
that the flagrant "openness" in their actions implies that the US had some 
level of acquiescence from the Italian authorities - and, one would assume, 
wanted to take no stance that would allow others to later imply 
otherwise.  In addition the cleric has been allowed to call his family and 
tell his story so perhaps the US is seeking a "demonstration" effect.

Paul

Doug forwards:
>CIA abduction in Italy shows U.S. bungling-experts
>
>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA agents charged with kidnapping a Muslim cleric 
>in Milan appear to have bungled their way into an international incident 
>by ignoring the most basic rules of the spy trade, experts say.
>
>Far from the suave discretion of James Bond, experts say the operatives 
>who snatched radical Muslim cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr on Feb. 17, 
>2003, sound more like the bumbling secret agent Austin Powers of movie fame.
>
>"Instead of super-sleuths, they were like elephants stampeding through 
>Milan. They left huge footprints," said former CIA clandestine officer 
>Melissa Boyle Mahle.
>
>Media reports say the agents placed phone calls to CIA headquarters on 
>unsecured lines, ran up $145,000 in bills at luxury hotels and operated 
>far enough in the open for Italian authorities to learn their operational 
>identities.
>
>"Everybody knows that telephones can be traced. It's not exactly an 
>emerging technology," said one former spy.