Swiss neutrality is an article of faith among the people of that country, which is why something of a civil war has erupted between Switzerland’s collective head of state and its judiciary over whether documents, which are rumored to show CIA meddling in Swiss national affairs, should be destroyed.
In a nutshell, the documents involve Swiss nationals who helped Pakistan nuclear scientist A. Q. Khan develop the Islamic bomb – and whether the Swiss, in collusion with the CIA, have sought to keep embarrassing details of the case, including about the activities of CIA operatives in Switzerland, secret.
For Nachrichten, columnist Patrik Etschmayer captures the popular outrage when he writes in part:
“After the quarrel that erupted last week among the Federal Council [the Swiss collective head of state], the Federal Criminal Court and Parliament, Swiss citizens have likely asked themselves if they are residents of a banana republic. … The fidelity of the Federal Council to the wishes of the U.S. administration is shocking. It’s only logical that the U.S. would seek to protect its interests by stating its demands. But the fact that these requests were met with minimal resistance from our government raises questions: How independent is the Swiss judicial system? How sovereign is our government and what are the threats against it? What would be the consequences if real resistance were shown? Does the CIA have a free ride in Switzerland? And if this is the case, why not just join the Union as the 51st State? Then, at least, we’d know where the government really sits.”
By Patrik Etschmayer
Translated By Patrik Etschmayer
July 13, 2009
Switzerland – Nachrichten – Original Article (German)
After the quarrel that erupted last week among the Federal Council [the Swiss collective head of state], the Federal Criminal Court and Parliament, Swiss citizens have likely asked themselves if they are residents of a banana republic. Two of the highest government agencies are warring with one another over files that should no longer exist, since they were supposed to have been shredded long ago. These should be put to use in a trial process centering on nuclear arms smuggling, spying, counter-espionage, the Tinner family and their small high-tech firm in the Rhine-valley, thanks to which Pakistan obtained a nuclear bomb and much later – Libya was prevented from doing so.
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