Dermot Ahern - "put his neck on the chopping block" to cover up extrodinary rendition

Spacedog

Holy Balls! Found this on Wikileaks tonight...

source link

Dermot Ahern - "put his neck on the chopping block" to cover up extrodinary rendition through Shannon.

"Ahern said that several alleged rendition flights had been
inspected during the past year and fully cleared; the last
flight, he wryly noted, was carrying six touring golfers

Here read it for yourselves, read Section 2 (C) specifically...

VZCZCXRO6799
RR RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHDL #0916/01 3541546
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 201546Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8798
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DUBLIN 000916

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECIN PBTS EAIR ECON PKFK EUN
TT, EI
SUBJECT: TOUR D'HORIZON WITH IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER

REF: A. DUBLIN 900

¶B. DUBLIN 899
¶C. DUBLIN 888 NOTAL
¶D. DUBLIN 851
¶E. DUBLIN 849

Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Foley; Reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).

Summary

---

¶1. (C) Ambassador Foley met with Irish Foreign Minister
Dermot Ahern on December 19 to discuss a wide range of
issues. In recent days, Ahern has tamped down the public
reaction to a report of the Irish Human Rights Commission
(IHRC) on extraordinary renditions. Ahern indicated that the
3500-strong EU peacekeeping force for Eastern Chad, led by
Irish Lt. General Pat Nash and including 450 Irish troops,
will be deployed in January or February 2008. He stated that
Ireland, the Framework Nation in Kosovo, intends to remain in
Kosovo on the basis of the pre-December 10 mandate and plans
to contribute to the planned EU ESDP police mission there.
Ahern revealed that the Department of Foreign Affairs
Conflict Resolution Unit will tackle East Timor as its first
venture into international conflict resolution intervention.
Regarding the EU Reform Treaty, Ahern predicted that there
will be a tough battle to get out sufficient "yes" votes. He
predicted that the recently proposed DHS full pre-clearance
agreement with Ireland will be substantially altered by the
Irish Attorney General. The Ambassador thanked Ahern for
accepting ten Cuban refugees currently encamped at
Guantanamo. Ahern advised the Ambassador that the Department
should liaise with Ambassador Michael Collins in planning the
2008 St. Patrick's Day bilateral. He once again raised the
Irish Government's concern about the status of Irish illegal
aliens in the U.S. Ahern's warm, open welcome of the
Ambassador is a measure of the importance the Irish attach to
the bilateral relationship with the U.S. End summary.

Extraordinary Renditions

---

¶2. (C) Ambassador Foley thanked Ahern for his staunch
rejection of the Irish Human Rights Commission's (IHRC)
demand that the Irish Government inspect aircraft landing in
Ireland that are alleged to have been involved in so-called
extraordinary rendition flights (Ref . Ahern declared that
the IHRC report contained no new information, but warned that
opposition parties Fine Gael and Labour could be expected to
continue to raise the issue from time to time in efforts to
politically embarrass the Fianna Fail-run Government. Ahern
said that several alleged rendition flights had been
inspected during the past year and fully cleared; the last
flight, he wryly noted, was carrying six touring golfers.
Ahern said that a public response by the Embassy would not be
useful, but suggested that the Ambassador personally engage
Fine Gael leadership to explain the U.S. position.

¶3. (C) Ahern noted that he had "put his neck on the chopping
block" and would pay a severe political price if it ever
turned out that rendition flights had entered Ireland or if
one was discovered in the future. He stated that he "could
use a little more information" about the flights, musing that
it might not be a bad idea to allow the random inspection of
a few planes to proceed, which would provide cover if a
rendition flight ever surfaced. He seemed quite convinced
that at least three flights involving renditions had refueled
at Shannon Airport before or after conducting renditions
elsewhere.

¶4. (C) Comment: While Ahern's public stance on
extraordinary renditions is rock-solid, his musings during
the meeting seemed less assured. This was the only issue
during the meeting that agitated him; he spent considerable
time dwelling on it. Ahern seemed to be fishing for renewed
assurances from the Ambassador that no rendition flights have
transited Ireland, or would transit in the future.
Highlighting the recent attention drawn to renditions by the
IHRC report, later the same day the Parliamentary Foreign
Affairs Committee held a hearing on the matter. The hearing,
attended by POLOFFs, generally confirmed the Government's
view that there is no evidence that rendition flights have
transited Ireland. The hearing, which was barely reported by
the press, failed to achieve any traction for critics of
American policy. End comment.

Chad/Darfur

---

¶5. (C) In November, Ahern visited Chad in preparation for

DUBLIN 00000916 002 OF 003


the deployment of a 3500-strong EU peacekeeping force, led by
Irish Lt. General Pat Nash and including 450 Irish troops.
Ahern, who also visited Darfur in 2006, indicated that the
situation in Eastern Chad is not as dire as Darfur, but that
conditions are deteriorating. He said that the Government of
Chad, unlike the Government of Sudan, is reasonably positive
about the intervention of the EU force. He stated that force
equipment requirements, which have somewhat delayed the
mission, have been sorted out and that force deployment would
begin in January or February 2008.

¶6. (C) In an aside on Sudan, Ahern expressed despondency
about progress in Darfur, saying that he didn't believe the
leaders of Sudan, including President al-Bashir, were serious
about resolving the Darfur situation. He labeled al-Bashir
and Sudanese Foreign Minister Ismail as untrustworthy, saying
they had both lied to him. He described Khartoum as booming
and al-Bashir as scoffing at Western sanctions. "The Chinese
are everywhere in Khartoum," he said.

Kosovo

---

¶7. (C) Ahern said that Ireland intends to remain in Kosovo
under the pre-December 10 mandate. (Note: Ireland is the
Framework Nation in Kosovo, responsible for commanding,
controlling, and directing operations of the multilateral
peacekeeping force (KFOR) operating there. End note.)
Ireland also intends to contribute to the EU ESDP police
force recently authorized for Kosovo, according to Ahern.
While Ireland is worried about the repercussions of a
unilateral declaration of independence in Kosovo, Ahern
indicated that he sees independence there as inevitable. If
the EU decides to recognize an independent Kosovo, he said,
Ireland will go along (Ref D).

¶8. (C) In a separate discussion on December 20 with Jim
Kelly, Director, Europe Division, Department of Foreign
Affairs, Kelly told POLOFF that assessments of the legality
of continuing the pre-December 10 mandate had been positive.
He indicated that the door was now open for UN Secretary
General Ban to signal a green light for the ESDP policing
mission. Kelly commented on meetings that Minister of
Foreign Affairs Ahern and he had held about November 9 in
Kosovo and Serbia with Kosovar Prime Minister-elect Hashim
Thaci and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. Kelly
characterized both leaders as wary of precipitous action. In
spite of Thaci's public rhetoric, Kelly noted that Thaci was
privately talking about "managed" independence rather than a
"unilateral declaration" of independence. Similarly, Kelly
said that Kostunica indicated he was not willing to use
military force to retain Kosovo, though Kostunica said he
would utilize any measure short of military action, including
an economic blockade.

Conflict Resolution Unit (CRU)

---

¶9. (C) Ahern revealed that the Government has decided to
focus the efforts of the newly formed CRU, which is housed in
the Department of Foreign Affairs, on East Timor. He
indicated that the Government of East Timor is favorably
disposed to the intervention, in part because of good
relations built up with Timorese Government officials during
Irish troop engagements in the past. Ahern reiterated that
he would welcome collaborative Irish/U.S. conflict resolution
initiatives there. (Comment: Ahern will lead a team to Dili
in February or March 2008. Embassy Dublin will liaise with
Embassy Dili to arrange meetings for Ahern with Ambassador
Klemm and other U.S. officials. End comment.)

Reform Treaty Referendum

---

¶10. (C) Emphasizing that the Government of Ireland is
calling the EU treaty the "Reform" Treaty rather than the
"Lisbon" Treaty, Ahern indicated that the constitutionally
mandated referendum would likely be held during the first
half of 2008 and would be linked with a referendum on a
constitutional amendment on children's rights (Ref E). He
predicted a hard battle, which, he said, would be joined by
treaty opponents from across Europe. He said that in spite
of the fact that the Irish people are generally supportive of
the EU and the Reform Treaty, getting out the "yes" vote
might be a problem.

Pre-Clearance Agreement

---

¶11. (C) Ahern indicated that he had reviewed the draft DHS
agreement to establish a full U.S. pre-clearance facility in

DUBLIN 00000916 003 OF 003


Ireland (Ref C). He was generally supportive of the proposed
agreement, calling it "significant and practical."
Nonetheless, he was skeptical of certain provisions, e.g.,
that Ireland would be responsible for any radioactive waste
discovered, and predicted that the draft agreement would be
much altered after the Irish Attorney General reviewed the
document.

Cuban Refugees

---

¶12. (C) Ambassador Foley thanked Ahern for the Irish
Government's willingness to accept ten Cuban refugees
currently encamped at Guantanamo. (Note: A team from the
Irish Ministry of Justice visited Guantanamo the week of
December 10 and identified the refugees who will be settled
in Ireland. End note.) Ahern's view of the post-Castro
future of Cuba was uncertain; he indicated that Ireland would
be guided by the EU on future relations with the Cuban
Government.

St. Patrick's Day Bilateral

---

¶13. (U) Ahern advised the Ambassador that he and the
Department should liaise with Ambassador Michael Collins in
Washington in planning the 2008 St. Patrick's Day bilateral.
While Ahern agreed that, in light of the progress in Northern
Ireland, the format of the bilateral could be somewhat
revised (such as the stations of the cross), he noted that
the shamrock ceremony, which has a long tradition, should not
be altered.

Undocumented Irish

---

¶14. (C) Ahern once again raised the Irish Government's
concern about the status of Irish illegal aliens in the U.S.
(Ref A). He said that political opponents are accusing the
Government of ignoring the problem, when, in fact, there is
nothing the Government can do influence U.S. immigration
policy. He asked the Ambassador to meet separately with
opposition leaders to explain the U.S. Government's position.

Comment

---

¶15. (C) Ahern genuinely welcomed the Ambassador. He
appeared engaged, warm, and open, acting as if he had all the
time in the world. Such demeanor is a measure of the
importance the Irish attach to the bilateral relationship
with the U.S.
FOLEY

orourkeda

Good riddance to Ahern.

Monty Burnz

Fianna Failure minister takes a principled stand - in the interests of another nation, and lying to the Irish people. Where did we here that before? Oh yes, it was when we agreed to the ruinous bailout conditions that bailed out German, British and French banks at the cost of the Irish taxpayer and his grandchildren...

What a bunch of scumbags. I hope voters remember what Fianna Failure did to this country for many years, instead of demonstrating their usual electoral amnesia. The Irish public is like a victim of spousal abuse - after years of beating, they finally leave their abuser, only to return to them when the abuser promises that they have changed. Then the beatings resume and the cycle starts again.

Mark my words, Fianna Failure will be back in government after a term on the sidelines.

Elevator

off with his head!!

Star Bingo

turkey neck

starbelgrade

That reads like the episode of Father Ted, where Father Cagney comes to visit only here, the parish pump politician is in awe of the flashy, suave, US Ambassador...

US Ambassador: "I know they're gonna love ya in the States, Dermot. You put on a show! But remember, it's a competitive market! You'll be up against Billy Graham and those Nation of Islam guys! You gotta get your own inch, you gotta grab 'em! You know where to grab 'em?"

Dermot Ahern: "Yeah, by the balls!"

US Ambassador: "I was gonna say by the shoulders..."

mgmt

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Fianna Failure minister takes a principled stand - in the interests of another nation, and lying to the Irish people. Where did we here that before? Oh yes, it was when we agreed to the ruinous bailout conditions that bailed out German, British and French banks at the cost of the Irish taxpayer and his grandchildren...

What a bunch of scumbags. I hope voters remember what Fianna Failure did to this country for many years, instead of demonstrating their usual electoral amnesia. The Irish public is like a victim of spousal abuse - after years of beating, they finally leave their abuser, only to return to them when the abuser promises that they have changed. Then the beatings resume and the cycle starts again.

Mark my words, Fianna Failure will be back in government after a term on the sidelines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6_Z7eE3uBxM#t=458s

Biggins

Maybe he was warned this might be coming out?
Better to say "I will not be standing again" as TD than be voted out?

Ali Babba

What? A lying Fianna Failer? Well I never............... Is it any wonder he's jumping ship, he was always a smart arse with a smirk on his face, typical FF material. It looks like they're all jumping ship now anyway, Cooper Flynn announced today she was quitting and Dempsey is on the way too, there must be some virus doing the rounds in government...........

Atlantic Dawn

He was symbolic of everything that destroyed us as a country in the last 10 years, cheerio his achievements recorded in history will be very limited ....

mgmt

Ali Babba wrote: »

What? A lying Fianna Failer? Well I never............... Is it any wonder he's jumping ship, he was always a smart arse with a smirk on his face, typical FF material. It looks like they're all jumping ship now anyway, Cooper Flynn announced today she was quitting and Dempsey is on the way too, there must be some virus doing the rounds in government...........

Hopefully it will spread to the greens too.

Rubik.

Did he really though? The severe political price, in the unlikely event that Dermot Ahern would be the first Irish politican to resign over being caught doing something that he shouldn't, would be an initial tax-free golden handshake of 177,636 euro and an annual pension of 128,291 euro.

AntiMatter

Nice work, OP.

sdanseo

Used to think this chap was all right. One of the good eggs. Thought the same of Bertie.

I will find it extremely hard to trust another FF politician ever again.

Arrogant, thieving, lying, treacherous, country-destroying, economy-flogging, hooligan scumbags.

General General

Vote for whoever will deny, or at the very least, curtail these ****ers their pensions.

General General

Biggins wrote: »

Maybe he was warned this might be coming out?
Better to say "I will not be standing again" as TD than be voted out?

Makes you think what wikileaks must have on Cooper Flynn.

IvySlayer

Our Minister or Justice, Equality and Law Reform everyone!

danniemcq

Can we put his head on the chopping block yet? along with Harney and the 2 brainless brians and then keep going?

Nodin

Ahern noted that he had "put his neck on the chopping
block" and would pay a severe political price if it ever
turned out that rendition flights had entered Ireland or if
one was discovered in the future. He stated that he "could
use a little more information" about the flights, musing that
it might not be a bad idea to allow the random inspection of
a few planes to proceed, which would provide cover if a
rendition flight ever surfaced. He seemed quite convinced
that at least three flights involving renditions had refueled
at Shannon Airport before or after conducting renditions
elsewhere.

Yep, thats the kind of two faced double dealing, trousers down for the big dog shite you'd expect...

Biggins

Ali Babba wrote: »

...there must be some virus doing the rounds in government...........

Yea, its called "the truth" and they don't like it!

---

Its a wonder the Irish papers haven't jumped all over this!!!

Have seen nothing in the papers yet about this latest leak. Maybe boards yet again has got there first with a scoop!

Good for the OP and boards!

(Dear Boards, expect the CIA now to come knocking on your back door!
Hell! They might not even knock!)

AntiMatter

Having read through the cable again, in the stone cold sober light of day, it doesn't seem as revealing as I thought last night.

He just seems to be saying his neck would be on the block if rendition flights were discovered, which none have been, afaik.

Nodin

Biggins wrote: »

Yea, its called "the truth" and they don't like it!

---

Its a wonder the Irish papers haven't jumped all over this!!!

Have seen nothing in the papers yet about this latest leak. Maybe boards yet again has got there first with a scoop!

Good for the OP and boards!

(Dear Boards, expect the CIA now to come knocking on your back door!
Hell! They might not even knock!)

Its in the indo....

Biggins

...if it ever turned out that rendition flights had entered Ireland...

Then see: http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0624/rendition.html
or
http://info-wars.org/2010/12/17/dermot-ahern-cia-rendition-flights-did-land-in-ireland/

Even the European parliament gave out to us about it!
http://www.avalon5.com/editorials/world-domination/european-parliament-spanks-ireland-on-cia-rendition-flights/

Sample:

# Where as it was noted that the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs testified to his unequivocal criticism of the process of extraordinary rendition, it was also noted that he failed to answer all the questions posed by the committee in relation to concerns that Irish Airports were being used by CIA aircraft travelling to or from extraordinary rendition missions (as in the case of Abu Omar).
# It was also noted that the Irish Government had ignored the recommendation of Irish Human Rights Commission in respect of the current policy to take diplomatic assurances as proof that no rendition flights or activities were in fact taking place at Irish Airports.
# The committee stated that there were 147 stopovers made at Irish Airports by the CIA-operated aircraft and expressed serious concern about the purpose of these flights which were linked with extraordinary rendition activities elsewhere.
# The report considered it ‘deplorable’ that stopovers in Ireland were permitted for aircraft which have been shown to be used by the CIA for the extraordinary rendition of Bisher Al-Rawi, Jamil El-Banna, Abou Elkassim Britel, Khaled El-Masri, Binyam Mohammed, Abu Omar and Maher Arar and for the expulsion of Ahmed Agiza and Mohammed El Zari

---

JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern believed at least three US flights involved in so-called extraordinary renditions landed on Irish soil, a confidential diplomatic memo reveals.

Mr Ahern's suspicions that CIA flights refuelled at Shannon Airport before or after conducting renditions prompted him to ask the US ambassador if Irish officials could conduct random inspections of aircraft.

This, he said, would "provide cover" should it ever be proven such fiercely controversial flights had passed through Ireland.

Publicly, Mr Ahern has always said he accepted US assurances that the CIA had not used Shannon for rendition operations.

However, a leaked US embassy cable published by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks reveals that Mr Ahern expressed serious concern on the issue in private meetings with US officials.

According to a cable written by former US ambassador Thomas Foley in December 2007, Mr Ahern "seemed quite convinced" that at least three flights had refuelled at the Co Clare airport either en route to or returning from rendition missions.

The memo was forwarded to then US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and to other American embassies in the EU.

It shows that Mr Ahern, who was then Minister for Foreign Affairs, while acting somewhat deferentially to US interests, expressed concern about the political impact for him if it were proven a rendition flight had actually used Shannon.

Resign

In conversation with Ambassador Foley, Mr Ahern is said to have indicated he might have to resign if US assurances proved to be false.

The ambassador wrote: "Ahern noted that he had 'put his neck on the chopping block' and would pay a severe political price if it ever turned out that rendition flights had entered Ireland, or if one was discovered in the future.

"He stated that he 'could use a little more information' about the flights, musing that it might not be a bad idea to allow the random inspection of a few planes to proceed, which would provide cover if a rendition flight ever surfaced."

The meeting came not long after Mr Ahern had staunchly rejected demands by the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) for aircraft inspections.

The ambassador noted: "Ahern declared that the IHRC report contained no new information, but warned that opposition parties Fine Gael and Labour could be expected to continue to raise the issue from time to time in efforts to politically embarrass the Fianna Fail-run Government."

Mr Foley continued: "While Ahern's public stance on extraordinary renditions is rock-solid, his musings during the meeting seemed less assured. This was the only issue during the meeting that agitated him."

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/wikileaks-memo-tells-of-aherns-rendition-fears-2464703.html

bonerm

I don't suppose we could book Ahern himself on one of these flights? (with typical US 'hospitality' for him upon arrival of course)

Son Of A Vidic

Isn't it amazing the lengths our little government go to, to serve the interests of our foreign masters. Whether it be the US, the IMF or the ECB.

Spacedog

For me it's always been obvious that FF have been doing everyting in their power to quell public criticism on the issues of both Shannon and Corrib.

During their negoations with the Greens, FF ground rules were that these two issues were not even on the table.

The leak from Nigeria about Shell infultrating all offices of government there should be noticed by us in this context. If Shell are willing to actively spy and influence the Nigerian Government, Why would they stop with the Irish Government to secure a favorable margin on natural resources?

Also the previous leak regarding the governments attitudes to Shannon indicated that the government were getting diplomatioc concessions from the US in return for the use of Shannon Airport. It has also been mentioned briefly by Bertie that Ireland benifets politically from allowing access, but exactly how has never been outlined publically.

flutered

danniemcq wrote: »

Can we put his head on the chopping block yet? along with Harney and the 2 brainless brians and then keep going?

the one part of all them lying bastads that will never be hurt or broken is their necks.

Monty Burnz

Spacedog wrote: »

For me it's always been obvious that FF have been doing everyting in their power to quell public criticism on the issues of both Shannon and Corrib.

There are dark rumours about the involvement one of Tony O'Reilly's companies and exploration rights/giveaway prices put on our natural resources. O'Reilly's Irish Indepenent has been backing Fianna Fail for a long while now, but they have suddenly started being as critical as you might expect of the guys who bankrupted the country - they know FF are on the way out regardless now.

I wouldn't be astonished to learn that O'Reilly bought favourable treatment for his oil company with support for FF in his newspaper, or more direct means.

Ali Babba

The sooner people wake up to the fact that politicians in general are corrupt and only in it for their own profits at the cost of the taxpayer, the better. Thanks to the likes of Wikileaks we're now seeing a clearer picture as to how corrupt politicians really are and to what lengths they go to to cover their tracks.
Personally I doubt i'll ever vote for any of them again or if there was a means of protesting to them other than spoiling a vote i'd do it.

Monty Burnz

Ali Babba wrote: »

The sooner people wake up to the fact that politicians in general are corrupt and only in it for their own profits at the cost of the taxpayer, the better. Thanks to the likes of Wikileaks we're now seeing a clearer picture as to how corrupt politicians really are and to what lengths they go to to cover their tracks.
Personally I doubt i'll ever vote for any of them again or if there was a means of protesting to them other than spoiling a vote i'd do it.

Simple solution - demand honest guys, and vote for them. Irish people have been accepting Fianna Failure corruption for decades.

We have the politicians our electorate deserves. You can change one part of that equation, and the other one should fix itself.

Biggins

Well he's going now so thats that. Right... whos next to go on the list?
What was that you said Mr Dempsey?

ChopShop

Anybody who genuinely believes Shannon hasn't been used for rendition flights is blissfully naive.


And i find Ahern loathsome, nevermind his homophobic comments.

Svetti Arss

Ahern should be on a rendition flight himself and then tied to the floor in a dark room in Guantanamo and forced to listen to Crystal Springs 24 hours a day.

bonerm

Svetti Arss wrote: »

Ahern should be on a rendition flight himself and then tied to the floor in a dark room in Guantanamo and forced to listen to Crystal Springs 24 hours a day.

Ah! Water torture. I like it.

Svetti Arss

bonerm wrote: »

Ah! Water torture. I like it.

No worse than water torture. Much worse.

Seaneh

you people don't seem to know the difference between rendition and extraordinary rendition...

Spacedog

Seaneh wrote: »

you people don't seem to know the difference between rendition and extraordinary rendition...

You don't seem to know the terms of the agreement and the legal aspects regarding allowing the transport of weapons, military vehicles and prisoners through irish duristiction. Dermot Ahern, however, can't claim the same ignorance.

BluePlanet

Pretty scant mention of this in the media.
Compared to the Ahern allegations against SF and the NI Bank robbery.

Spacedog

Yep,

The Ra > Human Rights and Corruption in Government

The traditional media know which side their bread is buttered and are nothing more than stenographers for for the rich and powerful.