Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph L. Romano is an officer in the United States Air Force and one of 26 American nationals charged with the 2003 kidnapping of Italian cleric Hassan Nasr as part of an alleged covert CIA operation.
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Background and career
In his own words, Romano comes from a family with a legacy of military service, to include his father who served as a Corporal in the Korean War.[1]
Recent activities
Investigation by Italian authorities
At the time of the Hassn Nasr kidnapping, Romano was commander of the 31st Security Forces Squadron stationed Aviano Air Base near Venice. On June 27 2005, he was made subject of a Europe-wide arrest warrant,[2][3] centering on contentions of Italian authorities that he was in charge of security operations during the kidnapping of Nasr in February, 2003. The subsequent formal transmission of the arrest warrants to the Eurojust judicial coordination office meant that they became immediately effective throughout all E.U. member countries, and that Romano and all 22 other U.S. nationals named in the warrant were subject to immediate arrest within their respective jurisdictions. Among the evidentiary points cited in the warrant, issued by the Tribunale di Milano, were the fact that one of the four subscribed numbers traced by authorities as having transmitted from the scene of the kidnapping to Aviano was "assigned to, owned and used by" Col. Romano.[4] A formal indictment was issued by Judge Caterina Interlandi on February 16, 2007.[5] Romano – the only military officer among the 26 U.S. nationals indicted – has refused to comment on the allegations. “I have nothing to say,” he has said, referring questions about the “alleged incident that I’m supposedly involved in” to Air Force senior leadership and the service’s public affairs office.[6]
Deployment in Iraq
Romano commanded the 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron that deployed to Camp Bucca in December 2004.[7] The unit, was activated in October 2004 and originally called the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron; in March 2005 the unit was renamed the 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. The unit was assembled in 45 days and consisted of security forces personnel from 17 bases representing every major command in the Air Force. The Airmen performed three of the Army's traditional missions--detainee operations, patrolling duties, and convoy escort duties. In an unusual move, the airmen also helped provide force protection for the Army camp.[8]
Transfer to the Pentagon
Since 2005, Romano has worked at Section 31P of The Pentagon.[9] In August 2006, he selected for promotion to Colonel,[10] but as of December 2006 he was still holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
See also
- Background article on the Imam Rapito affair, regarding the aftermath and political context of the Hassan Nasr kidnapping
- Extraordinary rendition
References
- ^ http://www.kwva.org/graybeards/gb_0610/gb_0610_final.pdf
- ^ http://www.watchingamerica.com/corrieredellasera000006.html
- ^ http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/08/321321.html
- ^ Tribunale di Milano, Felony ex Arts, No. 10838/05
- ^ Barry, Colleen (2007-02-17). Alleged agents of CIA charged. Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
- ^ Ex-Aviano officer won't comment on alleged abduction. Stars and Stripes (2006-12-10). Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
- ^ http://www.wood.army.mil/mpbulletin/pdfs/Oct%2005/Romano-Dains-Watts.pdf
- ^ Lobb, Jerry (2005-06-03). Airmen guard camp, detainees in Iraq. Air Force Link. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
- ^ http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77073
- ^ http://www.dcmilitary.com/stories/083106/beam_20060831006.shtml
