In this piece which has generated follow-up pieces in both Time and Mother Jones it is revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency has Detention Facility/Counterterrorism Training center at the Mogadishu Airport. Those individuals that are being trained are members of the fledgling Somali Intelligence Services. The training just happens to include how to capture and interrogate insurgents as well.
Another site that is being used to detain captured members of Al-Shaabab or those suspected of supporting them is in the basement of the National Security Agency (Somali Intelligence). It is believed that several individuals who have been taken off the streets in neighboring Kenya have been taken to this facility for questioning. The First Question that I have is how many Yemenis have ended up in this facility? A second question is with the History that Ethiopia has had in Somali affairs is whether or not they are a factor in the Operation of this facility?
It is also the location where AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) Peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi receive training for their operations. It is also believed that the DGSE (French Intelligence) is also assisting the CIA with Prisoner Interrogations inside the facility.
The timing of this report is unique. Several Human Rights Groups have called for the arrest of the Individual in charge of planning the Drone Attacks in Pakistan. Within the last couple of weeks there has been a Drone Strike in Somalia as well. I have yet to hear or see any criticism from groups that have in the past criticized the United States for having secret interrogation sites in Afghanistan, Iraq, Rumania and Poland. Then again they may still be formulating their response to this report. President Obama has signed an executive order calling for the closure of several detention centers earlier in this term.
Another fact that may prove to be interesting is the strategy that is currently being employed by the CIA in Mogadishu. Instead of dealing directly with the Transitional National Government the agency would rather pay $200 a month to the Somali Assets currently on the agency’s payroll. We have heard Secretary Clinton speak of the commitment that the Administration has towards the TNG. Obviously the CIA is not buying into it and has been nurturing its own contacts.
This report raises another interesting area of concern. Several Governments in the region have Prisons that for the lack of a better term have horrible conditions. The Facilities in question here are in poor condition and infested with mosquitoes. Does this mean that the Company will be able to control by proxy other prisons in the reason by using Aid, Training and Intelligence support?
The Author publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet. It can be found at confusedeagle.livejournal.com
By Scott A Morgan
