CIA Rendition and covert aircraft still using Shannon airport

by Edward Horgan - PANA Sat Jul 15, 2006 17:02

The following additional information on aircraft no. N368CE clearly shows its CIA credentials

http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

May 1, 2006 -- CIA Boeing 737 still flying secret prisoners around Asia and Europe. A Boeing 737, tail number N368CE, registered to a shadowy company called Premier Aircraft Management and incorporated in North Las Vegas, Nevada, has been sighted in Frankfurt, Germany, Luxembourg, Baghdad, and Kabul in recent months. The Boeing is ostensibly owned by Wells Fargo Bank and was based in Wilmington, Delaware until 2004. The plane was previously registered to a Malaysian firm called Country Heights, based in Seri Kembangan, Malaysia and operated under registration number 9M-LKY. The Boeing has had an interesting history. Once known for flying around VIPs such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kofi Annan, the plane has been used by the CIA to fly around renditioned prisoners and their CIA captors.

In 2005, the home base of the plane was shifted from Wilmington to Frankfurt, Germany. Recently, the ownership of the Boeing was shifted from Premier Aircraft Management to a sister company called Vision Airlines. The owner of both companies is William Acor, whose airline business has largely encompassed sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon. The registered secretary and treasurer of Premier is Chong How Kiat while Acor is treasurer for Vision. Vision's secretary is listed as Steven Acor. According to FEC records, Acor donated to the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2004.

Premier Aircraft Management appears to be an umbrella company consisting of firms and branches in Nevada, Canada, Luxembourg, and Malaysia. Another Boeing 737, tail number N34315 and registered to Wilmington Trust, in Wilmington, Delaware, has been spotted at Luxembourg's Findel Airport along with N368CE. There are reports of a cooperative arrangement between these aircraft and Luxair, which is based at Findel.

CIA uses Boeing 737 owned by company connected to Malaysia. Malaysia was the site of the Jan. 2000 Al Qaeda summit that planned the 9-11 attacks. The CIA and Malaysia's Special Branch conducted surveillance of the meeting, which included future hijackers Khalid al Midhar and Nawaf al Hazmi, in a posh Kuala Lumpur suburb. The CIA sent the warning to the FBI, which ignored it.

According to European sources, N368CE had the following flight itinerary earlier this year:

Jan. 8, 06 -- Kabul to Frankfurt, Germany
Jan. 9, 06 -- Frankfurt to Baghdad
Jan. 06 -- Frankfurt to Baghdad and Baghdad to Frankfurt
Frankfurt to Kabul and Kabul to Frankfurt
Feb. 1, 06 -- Frankfurt to Kabul
Feb. 2, 06 -- Kabul to Frankfurt

N368CE also had an interesting itinerary just prior to the U.S.-backed coup against Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez in April 2002:

Mar.-Apr. 2002 -- Los Angeles to Toluca, Mexico; Caracas, Venezuela to New York City; New York to Managua, Nicaragua; Brownsville, Texas to Managua; Washington, DC to Shannon, Ireland; Gander, Newfoundland to Washington, DC; Washington to Houston; Houston to Washington.

Beginning in Feb. 2003, the Boeing made some other interesting stops: Miami to Managua; Miami to Wilmington, North Carolina; Wilmington, NC to Baltimore; Baltimore to Basseterre, St. Kitts; Atlanta to Gander, Newfoundland; Gander to Shannon, Ireland; Athens, Greece to Shannon; Shannon to Gander; Gander to Atlanta; Washington, DC to Santa Maria, Azores; San Juan, Puerto Rico to Washington, DC; Newark, NJ to Inverness, Scotland; Inverness to Gander; Gander to Newark, Newark to Wilmington, NC; Wilmington, NC to Houston; Houston to Gander; London to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Larnaca, Cyprus to Shannon; Wilmington, NC to Columbus, Ohio; Columbus to Pittsburgh, PA; Pittsburgh to Shannon, Larnaca, Cyprus to Shannon; Los Angeles to Brownsville, Texas; Brownsville to Port of Spain, Trinidad; Trinidad to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Montego Bay to Washington, DC; Wilmington, NC to Providence, Rhode Island; Providence to Mosstown, Great Exuma, Bahamas; Mosstown to Basseterre, St. Kitts; Basseterre to New York City; New York to Wilmington, NC. Some of these routes are known to be used by couriers transporting large amounts of cash from of-shore bank haven to haven (Larnaca, St. Kitts, Bahamas, e.g.). In April 2004, the Boeing flew from Wilmington, NC to Washington, DC to Guantanamo, Cuba and returned to Wilmington via Washington.
Related Link: http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1042281&WxsIERv=O...ODMg=

by Coilín Sun Jul 16, 2006 00:43

Perhaps all this extra security is because there is a fear that the Pitstop Ploughshares are now finally going to be acquitted at a fair trial, so the security forces think that more activists may try to disable aircraft involved in criminal activities.

But if the police waste their resources trying to follow harmless, peaceful people like yourself around town, what hope have they of keeping the airport secure from radical Christians bearing inflatable hammers? Or even unarmed backpackers shouting "Abu aker"?

Best,
Coilín.

by Seán Ryan Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:37

Well done Ed... Again...

Twould be nice to see the Ploughshares aquitted. I'd organise a party to celebrate the victory - in Shannon. One can presume the ban on any of them entering Shannon would be lifted if they were aquitted.

However, whether or not they are aquitted is a moot point. It's obvious to any right-minded person that Shannon Warport is a violation of everthing that is moral and good in our Irish culture and mindset. Activists should be in Shannon regularly, regardless as to whether the Ploughshares are there to do some handholding or not.

I propose establishing a permanent peace camp. Ed has suggested a raft. I don't care whether this camp is on water or land, as long as it's close to the Warport. I'd be willing to make a substantial committment to manning this camp, and would hope that others would do likewise or at least turn up now and then.

Let's do it. And let's stop talking about doing things!

by Edward Horgan - PANA Peace and Neutrality Alliance Sun Jul 16, 2006 16:42

I strongly support Sean Ryan's suggestion for the re-establishment of a peace camp at Shannon airport. Even if US troops stop using Shannon aiport when they finally admit defeat and withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan, we must continue to acknowledge and atone for the innocent deaths that the Irish Government contributed to in Iraq and elsewhere. There will also be the substantial matter of compensation for the survivors in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the survivors or relatives of the victims of the US torture rendition programme. See page 8 Sunday Tribune, 16 July 2006, "US lawyers may sue Ireland over 'rendition'. Also of interest is the "invitation" to Irish Foreign Minister, Dermot Ahern to 'account for his movements' before the EU TDIP torture rendition committee in September. This will be public meeting of the committee, and as many peace actrivists as possible should attend. More on this later.
Meanwhile lets get this peace camp 'back on the road'.
The idea of a permanent peace camp may be logistically difficult but by no means impossible. A flexible approach may be more productive with a variety of options being used, whenever suits those who are available to sustain a peace camp. Such a peace camp can be anything from one person holding a lighted candle, or a bunch of flowers, to a thousand people blocking the entrance to the airport to prevent its use for facilitating mass murder.
Dont lets just talk about it, do something practical to reverse the evil-doing of our present government. We also need to do it now and ensure that the Shannon airport becomes an election issue next year. Otherwise, a Fine Gael led alternative government will do the same or worse than the present bunch of complicit criminals. Fine Gael have already announded their intention to abandon Irish neutrality, thereby confirming what the Fianna Fail / PD government have done in practice by inviting 1,000,000 US troops to pass through Shannon on their way to and from unlawful wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It will also be important to make the passage of 1,000,000 US troops through Shannon. Since well over 900,000 have already gone through, my estimate is that the 1,000,000 number will be reached in mid-September 2006.
Those of us who wish our hands to be free of the stains innocent blood must continue to protest and take positive actions to prevent these continuing crimes against humanity.

by Donegal Doctor Sun Jul 16, 2006 18:18

Yes. Let's organise a peace camp. I know of several citizens who will help fund and support it and we have a growing media and logistics network that can offer long-term support.

The existing 'anti-war movement' is a failed force. However, there is a growing awareness of what needs to be done and I believe that we can make Shannon an election issue.

I hope the Plougshares get aquitted but I don't believe it as been a fair trial given that the events in question took place over 3 years ago, 2 ministers accused them of hospitalising a Garda (in the press) and the judge does not appear to want Kathy Kelly to be heard by the jury.

Whether these brave folk are acquitted or not, let's raise the tempo on this. Let's start walking the walk and engaging in serious non-violent direct action at Shannon. Let's a national movement that highlights Ireland's direct support of an illegal war. Let's shame the politicians. Let's expose the Americans. Let's get results on this.

by Jimmy K. Sun Jul 16, 2006 18:24

If the Shannon 5 people get put in jail (or if any of them do....) then I think this will really highlight what's going on at Shannon, expose the yanks and their local stooges and also show the Irish public what the Irish legal system is all about. In fact, jailing them could be a complete blessing for the anti-war movement!!! I don't like saying that as I don't want to see them jailed but I believe they aren't afraid of imprisonment. I can see the 'Free the Shannon 5' graffitti already! We should know this week what will happen.

by Edward Horgan Sun Jul 16, 2006 18:38

Does anyone recognise what type of aircraft is shown in the second photo above. Conor Cregan says it may have just taken off in the past hour, sunday 16 july and gives registration no as XA A51. XA is the official prefix of commerical Mexican aircraft (as distinct from private or government owned). If so why the Irish army military guard???

by Tim Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:29

Just like ATA use to bring troops through. This might be one of their birds. I'll check the FAA registry and get back to you.

by Edward Horgan Mon Jul 17, 2006 13:37

The aircraft number XA A51 refers to a separate aircraft seen at Shannon on Sunday 16 July and not to the aircraft on photo 2 above photographed by on Thursday 13 July.

by Edward Horgan - Pana Mon Jul 17, 2006 13:49

This aircraft is a Lockheed Tristar L-1011.
See photo at Schipol airport
http://picavia.foxalpha.com/picture.php?Aircraft=47&id=...ize=m

Notice the ATA. American Transair Colours on all parts of the Aircraft including the engines, but all ATA logo removed.
ATA is still one of the troop carrying charters going through Shannon.
Was this aircraft carrying something or someone special that required an Irish army special guard?
The Irish army do not normally provide guard duty on aircraft carrying US troops though Shannon. Presumably this is because each such troop carrying chartered plane carries up to 200 troops armed with M-16 automatic rifles and buckets of 5.56mm ammunition.

by dergland Tue Jul 18, 2006 05:25

You actually managed to work out the model of an aircraft that has been flying through shannon for years. Funny you didn't highlight that AN72/AN74 (orginally designed as a military cargo aircraft) in the background of 4th picture. Is this plane carring munitions to Chavez? (Not likely however on the basis of needing to inspect aircraft, all aircraft that land in Ireland would have to go through the same procedure) A guy who is creating his own authocratic rule (fogot can't critize as will be protrayed as being facist)

The AN124 aircraft has been using Shannon as a base for years. How many times has it carried munitions trough Shannon? How many times have there been protests or is it just US/Nato aircraft you disagree with. As a fromer Army officer you should be well aware of the fact that Shannon was used as a warport by the russians during the 1980' with no complaints. Althought I don't have access to a link there is photographic evidence that dedicated military aircraft flew through Shannon in Civilian colours without any hint of protest.

I find it ironic that when those trying to escape Cuba etc were forced back onto planes at shannon little protest was raised, unless of course they got luckly, however now we actively support opening our arms to anyone who proclaims they are persecuted, proof doesn't really matter any more.

Couple of intersting points:
On a previous tread the view of the Dublin Airport Authority was highligted(and effectively the dublin community)....funny since they have been dying to close down shannon for decades. Efforts to develop shannon's reach have been shot down.
The Plowshares only act in open societies such as the US/Ireland/Auz etc, I wonder when they will organized in such places as Sudan, China, Iran etc Or is it that they know that they will not have any support in those countries?

Go ahead flag/delete this post, I'd actually be disappointed if it wasn't!

by Seán Ryan Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:07

Let me examine your argument a little, dergland.

You're annoyed because you think think the USA warmachine is getting criticism but other warmachines aren't.

Wrong, no warmachine is supported. I've personally had this particular argument with Detective Sergeant Houlihan in Shannon Warport.

However you seem to recognise that foreign warmachines are not welcome - by you at least. Why do you support the American warmachine if this is the case?

by anon Tue Jul 18, 2006 13:42

As a fromer Army officer you should be well aware of the fact that Shannon was used as a warport by the russians during the 1980' with no complaints.

I find it ironic that when those trying to escape Cuba etc were forced back onto planes at shannon little protest was raised..

Proove to us this is the case. You keep saying noone protested why are you so sure of that.

by A10 Tue Jul 18, 2006 13:53

Go to the Granary libary in Limerick,achive section on micro fiche,dig up any of the Limerick Leader copies of about the mid eighties ,and you will find plenty of stories about the shameful treatment of people trying to get out of workers paradises around the world.And the TOTAL silence from human rights campainers,that are oh so vocal nowadays,but said diddly squat when this was concerning their leftist communist brothers!!
Just the usual two facedness Irish hyprocrisy of the ant i American movement here.

by anon Tue Jul 18, 2006 14:01

Ill take my presumption that people did some speak out if they knew about such things under I see proof otherwise.

by Edward Horgan Tue Jul 18, 2006 23:09

To whom it may concern,
I have always condemned human rights violations and mass murders regardless of who committed them.
Like many other Irish soldiers I risked my life in the cause of peace in Cyprus and the Middle East as a military peacekeeper and later as a civilian election monitor in Bosnia, Croatia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Indonesia and East Timor. I condemned the activities of the IRA and loyalist groups in Northern Ireland, privately and publically. I organised seminars on the Holocaust to highlight Hitlers murderous crimes and I have also spoken out publically and lectured on the evils of the communists crimes committed by both Stalin and Chairman Mao.
I have researched in great detail the military use of Shannon airport since World War II. There is no evidence that I know of that the USSR used Shannon airport to transport military equipment through Shannon between 1945 and 1989. All the evidence that I am aware of points to the fact the USSR military support for Cuba was delivered by ship and submarines, or in later years by long range aircraft that did not land at Shannon. I have several hundred documents produced by the Irish Department for foreign affairs in the High Court case I took against the Irish Government. If any USSR military aircraft had used Shannon during these times, I have no doubt the Irish Government would have gleefully exposed this in 2003.
I have also condemned mass murders by the likes of Saddam Hussein, and was expelled from Zimbabwe by Rubert Mugabe because I was helping to expose the rigging of elections there.
I will continue to condemn murder, torture and human rights violations regardless of who commits them, and will continue to take risks to expose the truth.
I challenge all others to do likewise.

by R. Isible Wed Jul 19, 2006 03:33

Where was your protest when the Gardai battered Kurdish refugees back onto their Aeroflot flight at Shannon? Hypocrisy is a word you throw about freely, but let's see if your moral standing even allows you to mouth it.

(Apart from that Chavez is a DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED ruler of a sovereign state and has had NO PROVEN ACCUSATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES levelled against him.) Come on, how many people has Chavez killed compared to Bush? How many Iraqis have been raped by Venezuelan troops? Pfffft.

The central point is that WE KNOW that the Americans are MURDERING Iraqis right now. All we have as regards Chavez is your anonymous word (which you won't even back up with specifics).

No War in Iraq. No Warplanes in Shannon.

by dergland Wed Jul 19, 2006 05:38

Yes Chavez is democratically elected even considering a sizable percentage of the population decided to not to vote. I didn't state there were human rights abuses all I implied is that weapons could be being transiting through Shannon without the inspections you demand for other nations. A point your ignoring.

I did protest about the abuses of human rights at Shannon, even though I was in my early teens.

Ed.I don't doubt your service and your committment to peace. However a few points.
1.The Irish government had to be forced to sent representatives to Croatia and Bosnia. The left in this country opposed such action.
2. I very much doubt that the USSR actually provided the Irish Government with documentation of all weapons that passed through for third countries and freedom(?) forces, not just to Cuba.
3. I did state before there is photographic evidence of USSR Military aircraft flying in civilian colours passing through Shannon, a breach(in my opinion) of irish neutrality however I'm unaware of any protest.

I have protested against human right absues and I have found that many organisation are only interested in attacking those nations that don't have a left wing view. I have never heard anyone defend those being persecuted in Vietnam because they didn't support the socialist government. When I did join some organisations it was made quite clear that only certain causes were worth supporting and was made quite clear I should tow the party line. I will continue to protest human rights abuses however will do it on a personal basis as I won't be used as a tool for activists of any persuasion. Unfortunately I see the issue of Shannon being one of those cases were it is being used for idealogical reasons (i.e. hard left wing)rather that humanitarian reasons.

by anon Wed Jul 19, 2006 06:53

2. I very much doubt that the USSR actually provided the Irish Government with documentation of all weapons that passed through for third countries and freedom(?) forces, not just to Cuba.

So we both agree that they should have done so and should do so in the future, well done.

3. I did state before there is photographic evidence of USSR Military aircraft flying in civilian colours passing through Shannon, a breach(in my opinion) of irish neutrality however I'm unaware of any protest.

As I said gives a heads up the next time, tell us where we can find this info and we'll see, its amazing how you keep stating there was no protest perhaps it was because the government was keeping it quiet and only through court cases by the 'easily rattled' does this info come out.

Unfortunately I see the issue of Shannon being one of those cases were it is being used for idealogical reasons (i.e. hard left wing)rather that humanitarian reasons.

As you said yourself there are many people with many reason including yourself, if you protest then there is a protest.

by A10.2 Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:59

Go to the Granary libary in Limerick,achive section on micro fiche,dig up any of the Limerick Leader copies of about the mid eighties

The LIMERICK LEADER? Are you kidding me? You know how hard it is to get the Limerick Leader to carry any articles critical of Shannon Traffic? They didn't cover any protests about Shannon until the other (further flung) media did first.

People have gone public criticising all military traffic through Shannon, the decision of the main stream media to ignore this is a failure of the media, not the peace activists.

A10 (noun) notorious military aircraft used in Iraq to blow up camels, US tanks, British APCs, and to generally distribute depleted uranium to the population.

by Sir Pete antic Thu Jul 20, 2006 01:47

The A10 is also the best road to get one from Kings Lynn to Cambridge....

by thetruthztold - Vision Airlines, Las Vegas NV Mon Jul 24, 2006 09:57

I have passed being amused by your silly stories of my employers CIA prisoner transport aircraft. At first, I was mildly amused, but anymore I am just damned irritated with your persistance of labeling my employers, their company and their aircraft in such a negative, rude and degrading manner. Whats more, I have grown tired of friends and family showing me the published lies that you and several others have written. Where is it that you have any evidence of torture victims, prisoners or anyting CIA connected? What? Because some moron in the US said it...is that all you have? Let me shed some light on this for you so you may sleep well at night and not worry that some innocent victims of the US war machine are being endlessly tortured onboard...after all, if we wanted to do that, we'd simply give them your writings wouldn't we?

CE is a 737 that was indeed in Malaysia and owned by Country Heights, (sorry, no conspiracy here, just a company that builds some of the worlds most extraordinary golf courses and properties) Anyway, the aircraft cost a great deal of money to operate as do all large aircraft. So a little company in Las Vegas, Nevada, built a charter program around the 737...yes, a charter company. The aircraft has flown some of the most famous people in the world and although most have been the hollywood type, there have been many political leaders as well, that is why all the secrecy. For example, the Rolling Stones (yes they have been on this plane as has Ozzy Osbourne and family, Cher, The Bulls and so many others..) Anyway, given the fame and huge fan base of the Stones, could you imagine the secrecy that we are held to in order to protect the passenger? We don't dare breathe a word about who is onboard for obvious reasons, and if we were to leak to the press that such a famous band or person were on board, well, let's just say unemployement sucks...

On a final note, the airplane has always had green in the paint scheme. It was two tone green at first, then changed to green and gold...so what? Do you really think that painting an airplane with gold and green gets it into Ireland undetected? Wow! I hope you didn't spend too much time coming up with that one. What color do we use when go into France? How about Canada? Also, please stop refering the any of the companies as "shadowy". Where in the hell did you get that from? Let me guess...Wayne "the original moron" Madsen? Premier and all of the companies are registered, pay taxes, employ people and have a physical address...and guess what else? A telephone, which you clearly never called or you would have learned that it is a company, not a conspiracy, not a CIA covert operations company or a prisoner transporter....in fact you would have learned that you really are just paranoid and trying to stir up yet another vicious rumor about the US and US based companies.

Chances are, you'll never post this comment, but in any event, you still read it and now know the TRUTH!!!

by anon Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:10

http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:1V2uks9zFj0J:www.d...cd=36

by wackey Mon Jul 31, 2006 01:48

as a former soldier you should know that sitting at a airport photographing equipment and movements of a military nature ,logging times and giving such information on a public board would in fact constitute a breech of security in a sensitive area,i deem this behavour very irresponsible and in fact give enemies of peace some comfort as they would in fact not need to have any personnell on the ground as you sir are in fact doing all the donkey work for them.
You have on many ossasions lamented the fact that these planes landing and refulling are inviting a terrorist attack but by your actions you are giving such a attack on irish soil against our allies and indeed our troops a helping hand unwittingly or not.
indeed i am intrested to know how you could spend do much time around shannon airport without having to do all those mundane thing like you know {working for a living} and wonder if when you decided to give back your service medels you also gave back your officers pension which i doubt your friends in the movement would know the value of but i would say gives you great comfort in these dark days.
incidently maybe you should mention that the said pension comes fron the same government department as all those war supplies that is needed to protect the democracy that you and the movement enjoy .
anyway how about copping on a bit.
Sir.

by Seán Ryan Mon Jul 31, 2006 05:45

Well wackey, you sure live up to the name you've chosen for yourself tonight.

Ed has answered the questions you've asked about the medals and the pension many times over - I suggest you do a bit of searching.

With regard to your other non points, allow me to clarify for you:

You suggest that checking out Shannon and reporting on the planes and troops that land there constitute a risk to 'our' troops.

Would you feel enlightened any if I were to suggest that anyone could do this. In fact anyone could do this and attack these carriers whilst they're transitting through shannon. Wanna know how to break a chain? Choose the weakest link. Shannon's that link.

This is a point activists like Ed have been making for years now. And it seems to be paying off, in that it's finally getting through to your dulled senses. Shannon is only being used as a military base - it's not an actual military base and is undefended and unguarded. A muppet throwing a rock at the right time could hit the runway and cause a carrier to crash. Do you think the Ploughshares were paying lip service when they argued that they were protecting Irish lives and American lives as well as Iraqi lives?

So wackey as you pointed out - copping on is very important - you just failed to note that it is you and other wacky people like you, ie our Government and our Gardaí, that need to cop on.

Wakey wakey wackey!

by E/O Edward Bell - Irish Defence Forces Veterans U.K. Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:01 edward_g_bell at yahoo dot co dot uk

Shannon,London,Rome or Paris. If a CIA plane lands why tell the world? As a Veteran you should know the meaning of Security(keep your mouth shut and look the other way)
Terrorist have no fear,Except from other terorist.
The Irish and the British know from 1916 to 1921 one was as bad as the other exept the Irish were fighting for freedom. (My father was British but fought for Irish freedom )
The CIA = G2 irl =MI5&6 =DSD Aus =CSE Can =GSG Nz & NSA should be left alone to get on with there job to keep your children and mine safe,and not by helping Terrorist by telling them where our security service are.
Edward.