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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009

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|NEXT STORY »

CIA Officer: We 'Broke the Law' With Kidnapping

She's one of 23 Americans convicted in Italy for 2003 rendition

By John Johnson| Posted Nov 4, 09 6:30 PM CST|

(Newser) – One of the CIA agents convicted in Italy today of kidnapping a Muslim cleric in 2003 says the mission "broke the law" and that she feels "abandoned and betrayed" by the US government. The case involving ex-officer Sabrina DeSousa and 22 other Americans is the first challenge to the US policy of extraordinary rendition—capturing terror suspects and sending them to other countries for interrogation.

"We are paying for the mistakes right now, whoever authorized and approved this," deSousa tells ABC News. "Everything I did was approved back in Washington." She and the others were tried in absentia and sentenced to 5 years in prison. One leader got 8 years. Republican Pete Hoekstra, who's on the House intelligence panel, agrees the agents were betrayed: "They've been hung out to dry. They're taking the fall potentially for a decision that was made by their superiors."

Italian Judge Oscar Magi reads the verdict at the Milan court in Italy Wednesday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Prosecutor Armando Spataro is seen at the Milan court Wednesday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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35 comments

VIEWING:

Netstorm2k9
Nov 4, 09 6:36 PM CST

I'm shocked and amazed. Confounded, even. Utterly flabbergasted. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

divetrader
Nov 4, 09 6:40 PM CST

The fact the CIA officers participated in programs Bush and Cheney devised, doesn't excuse them from their culpability. They had to know what they were doing was wrong and should pay the price. Let's hope Italy prosecutes all the top officials in the Bush administration. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

yummines
Nov 4, 09 6:54 PM CST

wow, the head officials back stab their own officers and leave them to take the blame? It's not their fault, they were following orders, yet they are the only ones that suffer. @divetrader i agree. those scumbags deserve every year in prison that they should have coming for them...

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Deebles
Nov 4, 09 7:02 PM CST

That would be nice, except that our agents like their fellow soldiers expect a little help when they carry out duties which if they ignored they'd be fired for and if carry out can be prosecuted for. And my, yes, this is such a Bush problem--JFK authorized the assassination, or at least the overthrow of the South Vietnamese president. Stop making this a partisan issue, because the guys that dream this stuff up and present it with their power point are forty-year government employees who work through six administrations and feed the same line to Presidents no matter their party.

IN RESPONSE:

divetrader
Nov 4, 09 7:30 PM CST

Sorry Heisenberg, just because they chose to take a job with the lowest agency the US has in its arsenal, doesn't mean they have to go against their own morals. They could have quit! They had a choice. That agency should be dissolved.

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Nov 4, 09 7:33 PM CST

No divetrader. Why let Italy do it? Why doesn't Obama and his nutless congressworms step up and go after the GOP bastards that put us on par with so many evil regimes? Obama has dropped the ball on this one and I for one hope that there is a third party candidate that isn't nuts next time.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

cochiserocks
Nov 4, 09 7:59 PM CST

won't happen - they tried in the UK over the Pinochet thing - they went after Thatcher but it all just disappeared - it sets a dangerous precedent and as we all know, history is written by the winners. It is interesting though that they're also changing the law in Italy to try and get at Belesconi too. A refreshing change of policy from a country known for its families, nepotism and generally relaxed attitude to the letter of the law.

| 0 minutes ago

d3wd
Nov 4, 09 7:39 PM CST

No shit you broke the law. Ever heard of these things we call *rights*? huh? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Nov 4, 09 7:56 PM CST

This kind of thing happens all too frequently. There is an appalling lack of accountability by our federal government--and it doesn't matter whether the dems or repubs are in charge. The only way we can expect less abuse is if we have less government. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Nov 4, 09 8:04 PM CST

Less government in the CIA Jayster999? Your stretching quite a bit on this one.

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Nov 4, 09 8:15 PM CST

Thumbs down for Jayster? He sounds pretty reasonable on this one. Someone took his meds today. Good boy Jayster.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Nov 4, 09 8:22 PM CST

This CIA flap is indicative of a much larger problem. It didn't begin or end with Dick and the Bushman. If people don't get with the program we're going to have our rights and liberties stolen one by one. Our government is out of control, right? Why don't we agree on that much and work together to reign it in?

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Nov 5, 09 6:10 AM CST

Because a bunch of us think it's corporate America that's out of control, and the government is the only way of reining them in. I don't believe for a minute that the CIA isn't helping optimize corporate profits by arranging to steal natural resources from third world countries. With a less powerful government, corporate America wouldn't even have to hide behind the CIA, they would just kill uncooperative leaders outright, bypassing the CIA.

IN RESPONSE:

pete_ess
Nov 5, 09 10:14 AM CST

Well said Jayster. "Work together". The world's biggest renegade, terrorist, war-provoking body - by far - has been the US government in the last decades (especially since Reagan, but also Clinton, and then even more blatantly by Cheney). All Americans who really do want life for thir grankids to be good, and who want America to regain its position of trust and adiration in the World, should work together to overthrow the corporate/banker/arms industry/political hold that is defeating your democracy at present. It'll have to be grassroots - Obama looks like he's too much part of the OLD WAY.

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Nov 4, 09 8:02 PM CST

It's time now, pushing one year after the change of admin, for the pipers of this tune to pay for their godawful noise. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

DarkFrancis
Nov 5, 09 12:17 AM CST

Wait, because you thumbed me down, I'll revise my opinion. Let's give a free pass to the executive that has been letting the underlings and the lackeys take the falls for its illegal activity.

| 0 minutes ago

QueenAlli
Nov 4, 09 8:02 PM CST

Oh the CIA never lies, they never do bad, bad things. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

grey4449
Nov 4, 09 8:03 PM CST

This country is at war against terrorist. Clerics who help terrorist and preach death to america need kidnapped. I praise those CIA who are going to jail. Wonder how many americas have been saved by the CIA taking action? I hope the next bomb falls on those who support the terrorist. Everyone forgets 9-11. Shame on Italy who we have helped many times. We need to cut aid to those countries who help our enemies. Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

cochiserocks
Nov 5, 09 7:37 AM CST

One of the things that attract seemingly normal people to extremism and their seemingly nutty mix of ideologies is that they make it a principle to offer very simple solutions for complex problems. Too late they realise that these simple solutions just create more problems which then require more 'simple' solutions until lo and behold, you have Germany 1939, Iran 2009 and all kinds of weirdness. Don't fall into the same trap is all I'm saying.

IN RESPONSE:

mehrheit
Nov 5, 09 1:40 PM CST

grey4449, cont'd: ...and furthermore, WHAAAARGAAARRBL!

IN RESPONSE:

IndependentThinker
Nov 5, 09 1:50 PM CST

@grey: Don't you understand is this type of action is the reason people hate us. They don't just sit around hatting us for no reason, we fuck up their lives, do illegal shit in their countries then run back to the US military if stuff gets to bad.

| 0 minutes ago

grey4449
Nov 4, 09 8:15 PM CST

Shame on most of you all. Without the CIA NSA and FBI this country would have already been taken over. Do you dummies not realize other countries do the same thing. That this isnt a Bush thing. The CIA NSA FBI have always done whatever to protect this country. We need to cut aid to those who help our enemies. We live in a world with lots of people who would kill you or your family for any reason. Reply

-5

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Nov 4, 09 8:22 PM CST

Yes, clearly the civil rights of our citizens must be violated so that we can preserve our civil rights!

IN RESPONSE:

Observer
Nov 4, 09 9:16 PM CST

Taken over by whom you idiot? Most countries are actually peaceful - check the CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ The only people taking over Anglo America are the Mexicans. They are doing it through their birthrate. Watch the demographics change before your eyes. It isn't the Chinese, Afghans, Iranians or North Koreans. We make our own enemies one pre-emptive war at a time.

IN RESPONSE:

Thinker
Nov 5, 09 7:29 AM CST

Yes grey, we should all live in fear and worship those with the most guns so they can protect us against all the enemies they tell us we have. Way to be smart.

| 0 minutes ago

ksu92
Nov 4, 09 8:16 PM CST

That's okay, CIA. No one gives a fuck about truth, or freedom, or privacy. Just like the secret ACTA deal that will kill the Internet. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

maevealleine
Nov 4, 09 8:44 PM CST

The fact that the CIA even exists is illegal. *sigh* Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Observer
Nov 4, 09 9:09 PM CST

Nice to see a loyal CIA turncoat pushing the responsibility upstairs. Of course the Executive Branch is guilty. They demanded these actions and approved them. Gunslinger W was so gung-ho. Prosecute Bush - Cheney - Tenet - Ashcroft - Gonzales - Rove - Hayden - Rumsfeld - Armitage - Negroponte - Pearle & Wolfowitz. And throw in a few Generals that made certain it all happened in a highly motivated manner. These are dispicable war criminals. Give each of them a week of the cold temperature treatment without sleep and be sure to include the blasting Rap music and super bright lights - then waterboard each of them a few dozen times. It's not torture. It's "enhanced interrogation". These guys thought it was okay. So it must be. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

IndependentThinker
Nov 5, 09 1:53 PM CST

Well said.

| 0 minutes ago

dax
Nov 4, 09 11:12 PM CST

The shock and outrage expressed on this thread by both the Left and the Right is puzzling. The actions taken in this situation by the CIA pale in comparison to covert activities during earlier periods in time.------ The article even alludes to such precedence, quoting CIA officer Bob Baer: "I did these same things under the Reagan administration. When we did a rendition, we did it in international waters. The Bush administration threw all caution to the wind." ---- On September 12, 2001 most Americans turned a blind eye. As a nation, we share this blame. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Middleman
Nov 4, 09 11:14 PM CST

I'm often amazed by the people who complain about the way their rights, freedoms, and lives are preserved especially in light of the fact that we're talking about non-Americans who have nothing but hate for us. It only surprises me because the same people who scream for civil rights at all costs, complain when the necessary actions to preserve those rights are used or worse yet, complain when their way of life is affected by a terrorist/ 3rd country actor who uses the same civil rights to commit attacks. I'm not suggesting a police state and believe there should be reasonable limitations, but never forget that Freedom, despite it's base root word, is not Free. Also consider that although we as Americans may have worked our way to a level of civility that those living in caves haven't quite mustered, it doesn't change the fact that the cave dwellars will still kill our civilized people all the same, but with a lot less guilt afterwards. I also think it's interesting that no one has pointed out that she hung all her other "conspirators", by her admittance, which was clearly a pre-emptive plea just in case bad things happen. The good news is that her career will be over, by admitting to the program, so the strength and secrecy of the agency has only improved, by her weak-willed and self serving action. Good news for all of us is that, all in all, this story will fade into history and the peace and security we all enjoy, will continue unaffected. Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

cochiserocks
Nov 5, 09 9:53 AM CST

wow -"... we're talking about non-Americans who have nothing but hate for us..." You don't really think that do you? I hate to break this to you, but for most of the world, America is about coca-cola, Tom Cruise and Britney Spears. Those smart enough to recognise the incredible experiment in democracy that the United State of America has been running since its foundation are not so dumb as to 'hate' it. Envy, maybe, resent (when the price of rice increases because biofuels are taking up crop space for example), perhaps, - but most of the world is too busy surviving to really care about much outside of water, shelter and not getting hurt. As to the freedom you enjoy - while you may be ahead of the pack - there's still mountains to climb - and part of that mountain is how a country founded on freedom defends itself without becoming hypocritical. Don't ignore the challenge, don't feel threatened by it - rise to it.

IN RESPONSE:

Middleman
Nov 5, 09 7:51 AM CST

I can assure you that you'll find the dead bodies of these agents long before they are ever allowed to be turned over for extradition. This is Italy (or some other interested party) bringing it to light in order to attempt to divert this techniques future use. Spies don't go to jail, they simply disappear.

| 0 minutes ago

Face-Of-RNC
Nov 5, 09 6:03 AM CST

Punishment for crimes will hopefully give pause to those future agents who are ordered to carryout illegal missions by a rougue government. Punishment of the criminal administration is a totally different question. The fact that they remain free after what they've done to the country and the world is a crime in itself. Hate fom around the world is the reward for American exceptionalism. Our people and our government should submit to the law, even if we are strong enough not to. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

HarloweThrombey
Nov 5, 09 8:41 PM CST

WE NEED NAMES. Who are the traitorous superiors who ordered CIA agents to break laws, both American and foreign. These individuals are still in power ! (some of them) Time to expose every rotting parasite there is! Names! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 35 comments »

CIA • rendition • Italy • kidnapping • House Intelligence Committee • harsh interrogation • terror suspects • extraordinary rendition • Pete Hoekstra • Sabrina DeSousa

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CIA Officer: We 'Broke the Law' With Kidnapping

She's one of 23 Americans convicted in Italy for 2003 rendition

Italy Convicts CIA Agents of Kidnapping

2003 case is first to challenge practice of extraordinary rendition

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CIA • rendition • Italy • kidnapping • House Intelligence Committee • harsh interrogation • terror suspects • extraordinary rendition • Pete Hoekstra • Sabrina DeSousa

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CIA Officer: We 'Broke the Law' With Kidnapping

She's one of 23 Americans convicted in Italy for 2003 rendition

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Italy Convicts CIA Agents of Kidnapping

2003 case is first to challenge practice of extraordinary rendition

MORE ABOUT: CIA • rendition • Italy • kidnapping • cleric • terror suspects • extraordinary rendition

'Tortured' Rendition Victim Told He Can't Sue

Canadian sent to Syria plans to appeal

MORE ABOUT: CIA • rendition • Syria • Canada • lawsuit • terror suspects • Maher Arar

Memos: CIA Kept Prisoner Awake, Chained for 6 Days

MORE ABOUT: CIA • torture • Osama bin Laden • sleep deprivation • harsh interrogation • terror suspects • detainees • enhanced interrogation techniques • Mohammed Rahim al-Afghani • Central Intelligence Agency

CIA • rendition • Italy • kidnapping • House Intelligence Committee • harsh interrogation • terror suspects • extraordinary rendition • Pete Hoekstra • Sabrina DeSousa

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MORE ABOUT:
CIA • rendition • Italy • kidnapping • cleric • terror suspects • extraordinary rendition

'Tortured' Rendition
Victim Told
He Can't Sue

Canadian sent to
Syria plans to appeal

MORE ABOUT:
CIA • rendition • Syria • Canada • lawsuit • terror suspects • Maher Arar

MORE ABOUT:
CIA • torture • Osama bin Laden • sleep deprivation • harsh interrogation • terror suspects • detainees • enhanced interrogation techniques • Mohammed Rahim al-Afghani • Central Intelligence Agency