[The CIA has released 262 pages of files relating to the Lockerbie bombing. They can be downloaded from the Paperless Archives website or directly here. The following are excerpts from that website's introduction to the documents:]
The files date from 1984 to 1999. This
set of files is unique because it includes memos on the direct handling
of an intelligence source. This type of information is exempt from the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and is not often released by the
Agency. (...)
An article appearing in the May 11, 1989
issue of The Washington Post reported that the Central Intelligence
Agency had concluded that the Iranian government was responsible. The
CIA believed that Iran hired a Palestinian group operating in Syria to
perform the bombing. Eventually responsibility would be attributed to
Libya.
On November 14, 1991 the United States and Britain announced criminal charges against two Libyan intelligence officers, Abdel Basset Ali Al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah. In August of 1998, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi announced that his country would accept the United States and British plan to put the two suspects on trial by a Scottish court convened in the Netherlands. On April 5th, 1999 the two suspects were transported from Libya to the Netherlands. After a 40 week trial, on January 31, 2001, a three judge panel returned a guilty verdict against Abdel Baset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi. The panel acquitted Al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah.
On November 14, 1991 the United States and Britain announced criminal charges against two Libyan intelligence officers, Abdel Basset Ali Al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah. In August of 1998, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi announced that his country would accept the United States and British plan to put the two suspects on trial by a Scottish court convened in the Netherlands. On April 5th, 1999 the two suspects were transported from Libya to the Netherlands. After a 40 week trial, on January 31, 2001, a three judge panel returned a guilty verdict against Abdel Baset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi. The panel acquitted Al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah.
This set of files covers the practice of
Libya supplying weapons to terrorist groups. The files contain CIA
reports created in the years before the Pan AM 103 bombing, covering
Libya's methods of sponsoring terrorism. The files contain information
on the assassinations of Libyan dissidents living abroad. One document
contains a chronology of Libyan-sponsored assassination attempts from
1980 to 1985.
Memos outline contacts with a Libyan intelligence agent working for Libyan Arab Airlines in Malta. He first contacted the CIA on August 10, 1988. He described Malta as "a primary launching point" for Libyan intelligence and terrorist teams en route to and from Europe. Two months before the bombing, a CIA memo mentions information from the informant about a Libyan intelligence officer, Abdelbaset Mohmed Ali al-Megrahi, and the recent removal of explosives from storage in Malta. Al-Megrahi was eventually convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103.
Memos outline contacts with a Libyan intelligence agent working for Libyan Arab Airlines in Malta. He first contacted the CIA on August 10, 1988. He described Malta as "a primary launching point" for Libyan intelligence and terrorist teams en route to and from Europe. Two months before the bombing, a CIA memo mentions information from the informant about a Libyan intelligence officer, Abdelbaset Mohmed Ali al-Megrahi, and the recent removal of explosives from storage in Malta. Al-Megrahi was eventually convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103.
[The "Libyan intelligence agent working for Libyan Arab Airlines" is Abdul Majid Giaka, who gave evidence at Zeist and whose evidence was dismissed by the judges as wholly lacking in credibility. The documents in the current collection contain the CIA cables relating to Giaka that were (eventually) placed in evidence before the court. The remaining documents (which are heavily redacted) mainly consist of general background information about Libyan invovement in terrorist activities.
Dr Ludwig de Braeckeleer informs me that these documents have not been newly released, but have been declassified and in the public domain since 2008. However that may be, a press release was issued only today.]
Dr Ludwig de Braeckeleer informs me that these documents have not been newly released, but have been declassified and in the public domain since 2008. However that may be, a press release was issued only today.]
I'll have to take a look at this stuff sometime soon. Hard to say from that alone how detailed this gets, and how useful in our sphere.
ReplyDeleteDo we know why they chose now? Right after Gaddafi seems to be finished? It seems to "confirm" a lot of the stuff the CIA might've framed Gaddafi with for years even before Lockerbie. So it helps justify what we just did. Okay that makes sense.
But just by letting out new info on Giaka, we have to be getting somewhere. I've been wondering if, with no more Gaddafi to hang this on, the truth would be permitted to start leaking.
If so, look out Iran, Especially is the Syria situation starts to go like Libya did. (A lot on the ground already matches).
Also, I dig the new look. Cheerio.
Hmmm... my PDF was one blank page. ??
ReplyDeleteCaustic, I've inserted a direct link to the PDF. Hope this works for you.
ReplyDeleteStill no luck here - it's the PDF itself. But I'm seeing no other complaints, so as long as it's working for others, I'm almost too busy to read it anyway. I need to know now how the rebels got ahold of Abu Salim trauma hospital. Ddid the old staff run away or were they shot dead before rebels started dumping dead black men there?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting message dated the 22.12.88 concerning movement of Libyan officials through Luqa in December 1988 and allegations of corruption amongst Immigration at Luqa.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise a lot of material to support my view that Libya was blamed for reasons largely unrelated to the bombing itself.i