It's not surprising that the France-based Council of Europe would issue a press release bashing the Bush administration and European governments that cooperate with the US. What is surprising is that the release would contain such blatant hogwash [emphasis added]:

[24/01/06 09:00:00] It is highly unlikely that European governments, or at least their intelligence services, were unaware of the ''rendition'' of more than a hundred persons affecting Europe, according to Council of Europe investigator Dick Marty, whose interim assessment was made public today in an information memorandum. Citing statements made by American officials and others, Mr Marty also said there was ''a great deal of coherent, convergent evidence pointing to the existence of a system of 'relocation' or 'outsourcing' of torture''. He welcomed the arrival yesterday of detailed information he had requested from Eurocontrol and the EU's Satellite Agency. At the opening of the debate this morning, Dick Marty expressed his concern at the pressure put on the media in the United States not to report on this affair. ''Our aim is to find out the truth that is being hidden from us today'', he said.

Putting "pressure" on US mainstream media not to publish something damaging to the Bush administration is like trying to beat off a shark with a severed limb.

Few Americans are naive enough to buy the idea of American reporters bowing to government "pressure". This statement is a clear indication that the Council's press release was aimed at a European audience, which begs the question, why does the Council feel it necessary to shade the truth for Europeans? In other words, what is the Council of Europe up to?

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto and Vince Aut Morire.

Posted by: Bluto at 09:38 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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