Wikileaks - 139461

VZCZCXRO6207
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCP #0038/01 0311312
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 311312Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4029
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COPENHAGEN 000038 
SIPDIS 
SIPDIS 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, DA 
SUBJECT: DANISH DOCUMENTARY REVIVES CALLS FOR INQUIRY ON 
CIA FLIGHTS 
Classified By: DCM Sandra Kaiser, reasons 1.4b,d 

1. (C) Summary: A documentary aired January 30 on Danish 
state television alleges that civilian aircraft operated by 
the CIA have routinely transited Danish airspace in support 
of renditions. The film has provoked strong reaction from 
the Danish opposition and officials in Greenland, where the 
flights allegedly landed, prompting renewed calls for an 
independent investigation of possible CIA flights. Danish 
government officials have expressed their concerns about the 
allegations publicly, but have indicated to us privately 
their interest in quieting the matter as quickly as possible. 
The Danish government is now working to hold together a thin 
majority to block expected moves for an inquiry in 
parliament. Our response has been to say as little as 
possible, downplaying the film and the issue when raised. 
End summary. 

2. (C) Largely a rehash of previous accounts of alleged CIA 
renditions, the Danish documentary, "The CIA´s Danish 
Connection," also presents new allegations of flights 
transiting Danish territory in Narsarsuaq, Greenland. The 
film details the CIA´s alleged use of private air companies 
as fronts for the transportation of detainees and includes 
the journalists´ (ultimately unsuccessful) efforts to track 
down individual pilots in the U.S. It features retired CIA 
officers making assertions that these flights could have been 
used for renditions. The documentary also contains a long 
interview iwth Khalid Al-Masri, and links the names of CIA 
contractors allegedly associated with his case to the 
Greeenland flights. The documentary relies on tenuous 
connections and leaps of logic (its narration frankly 
concedes that its allegations cannot be proven), but has 
offered enough new information to prevent the Danish 
government from dismissing it as old news. 

3. (C) Predictably, the documentary drew an immediate and 
sharp reaction from the center-left opposition, which had 
called for investigations into previous allegations of CIA 
overflights, but had been unable to secure majority backing 
for measures in parliament. This time, however, the 
government has even fewer seats -- since November 2007 
elections -- and may not be able to count on the support of 
the otherwise-allied New Alliance party (which had featured 
concerns about renditions in its electoral platform). 
Greenlandic politicians added their voices to the debate, 
with Greenland Home Rule FM Aleqa Hammond charging that 
Greenland had been "misled and misused," and demanding an 
investigation. 

4. (C) The Danish government also moved quickly to address 
the controversy, issuing a joint MFA-Transportation-Justice 
Ministry statement late the evening of the broadcast. In it, 
the ministers sought to assure the Danish public that it 
takes the documentary´s allegations seriously and will look 
into the matter further, including with the American 
authorities "if needed." The statement recalled that Denmark 
had previously outlined its concerns about possible 
overflights to the U.S. government and made clear its 
opposition to use of its airspace in violation of 
international law. The statement rejected calls for an 
independent investigation, insisting that there is no 
indication of Danish complicity, a position reiterated the 
following day by both FM Per Stig Moller and Prime Minister 
Anders Fogh Rasmussen. 

5. (C) Privately, Danish officials have made clear their 
interest in making this issue go away as quickly and quietly 
as possible. PM National Security Advisor Thomas Ahrenkiel 
and MFA Undersecretary Michael Zilmer-Johns told us 
separately that the controversy surrounding the film has put 
the government under considerable pressure and that they are 
working hard to calm the situation and avoid a mandatory 
investigation in parliament. Zilmer-Johns noted that "we 
have been through this before" and stated flatly that the 
Danish government doesn´t require anything from the U.S. on 
this -- for now, anyway. In an unrelated meeting with the 
Ambassador January 31, Danish intelligence and security (PET) 
chief Jakob Scharf appeared unconcerned by the story. 

6. (C) Comment: Our response to media and official interest 
has been to say little, beyond noting that we do not comment 
on counter-terrorism matters and suggesting that we regard 
the documentary´s conclusions as thin. The Danish government 
clearly shares our desire to get past this latest flare-up of 
the overflights/renditions issue and together we will work to 
avoid keeping the story alive in the media. If the 
government prevails in blocking an inquiry and satisfying the 
Greenlanders (FM Moller reportedly called Greenland PM Hans 

COPENHAGEN 00000038 002 OF 002 

Enoksen to assure him of the Danish government´s plans to 
review the matter), then this controversy could be over 
within a few days. If not, such an investigation could prove 
an unhelpful distraction for months to come. 

CAIN