Could they by chance be connected?
Missing US diplomat found dead in Cyprus
By George Psyllides, Associated Press Writer
Published: 03 July 2007The US defence attache in Cyprus was found dead in a remote rural area of the Mediterranean island on Monday, four days after he disappeared with his diplomatic car, sparking an island-wide search.
A postmortem showed Lt. Col. Thomas Mooney, 45, bled to death from a cut to the throat, according to a police statement released late Monday. It did not clarify whether foul play was suspected, adding that the diplomat was identified by his dental records.
However, a Cypriot official involved in the autopsy said the diplomat fatally wounded himself.
“There is no evidence of foul play,” the official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. “He had a wound in the neck which is compatible with self-infliction.”
Mooney disappeared with his car, a black Chevrolet Impala, on Thursday, and a ground and air search operation turned up nothing until Monday.
Police said Mooney’s decomposed body was found near his car, which was parked on a dirt road in the Lefka area, a remote region of rugged, hilly terrain around 28 miles west of the capital, Nicosia.
Hours later the US Embassy confirmed that the dead man was Mooney – who is married with children.
“After the notification of next of kin, with deep sadness, I announce that Lt. Col. Thomas Mooney, who served his nation with distinction as our defence attache, was found dead by Cypriot authorities on Monday,” US Ambassador Ronald Schlicher said in a written statement..
And this:
Greece, Cyprus may have allowed secret CIA flights: European MPs
Greece and Cyprus are among 14 EU member-states suspected of turning a blind eye to secret CIA flights taking terror suspects to countries where they could face torture, according to a report approved by a majority of MEPs in the European Parliament on Wednesday.
The EU parliament voted to accept a resolution condemning member states who accepted or ignored the practice, according to Athens News Agency reports.
The EU report said the US had operated 1,200 flights, flying suspects on to states where they could face torture.
The report was adopted by a large majority, with 382 MEPs voting in favor, 256 against and 74 abstaining.
A paragraph referring to Greece said that aircraft used by the CIA had made 64 stops in Greek airports. It expressed grave concerns regarding the purpose of flights coming from or flying to countries linked to the CIA’s “extraordinary renditions” circuit, as the prisoner transfers were termed.
In the case of Cyprus, the report pointed to 57 stops at Cyprus airports of CIA-operated planes.
The US embassy in Cyprus gave this statement:
The US State Department said there was no indication of terrorist involvement.
“I wouldn’t point you in the direction of an act of terror,” US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
Well, no, of course he wouldn’t and for once I agree: sounds like either revenge or remorse to me.
