I hope the time soon comes when Italy needs the help of the USA and the US can tell them where to get off. Same goes for the double dealing Switzerland who,s conduct during WW2 was a disgrace. This just reenforces the argument for getting out of the EU and away from these cowardly liberals who would appease terrorism

D Case, Newquay, UK

Saying that Italy and Switzerland do not have the moral right to voice an opinion on the matter is absurd. If Britain could not get involved in countries where its morals were "questionnable" in the past, we could not get involved in 1/2 the states n the world - including the US. The fact that a state (America) has violated another states sovereignty (Italy), is the main issue here, and is entirely a resent day issue, not a historical one. The fact the Italians were watching the suspect shows they are also no havan to terrorism. It is unbelievable that America could not use the official channels in such matters. If Russia came into the UK to get its many citizens who have assylum here, there would be an international outcry, not least from America. We should not forget the international, agreed rights that we have sworn to protect during this war on terror. As G. Roddenbury put it, "In our quest for humanities future, let us not forget out humanity". Perhas the CIA should consider that

Liam Halliday, Farnborough, UK

Mr Elliot is spouting much of the idiotic American flag-waving nonsense that has caused this situation to arise in the first place. America has been pushing other nations around to protect its own interests more and more and finally there is a possibility of Americans learning that talking does more use than throwing your weight around. The decline of American economic and military power means that America is willing to seek to any level, even that of the terrorists, to achieve their aims. The Bush administration has frequently opposed terrorists abducting people in the night in Iraq and Afghanistan, but they are doing the same thing. It is also hard to take seriously an American claiming that Italy and Switzerland have no 'credibility on righteousness', both being Christian nations with excellent human rights records. To dismiss terrorists as 'nasty people' is grossly oversimplifying the matter and thinking it is an Italian ploy to prevent terrorist attacks is pure paranoia.

Gavin Le Boutillier, Hull, East Yorkshire

Individual CIA agents should not be penalized for implementing the policies of the US administration. Responsibility should be levied on people who set the policy.

I am happy thwarting terrorism is a higher priority than it was before 9/11. But I agree with Adam Ali in that the rule of law should not be suspended thwart terrorism.

While I agree with gathering intelligence about people with hostile intentions before they commit a crime, I'm concerned about targeting people and persecuting them before a crime is committed. What's next, going after thought crime?

Peter Cooke, Allen Park, MI, USA

Joe Elliott, WW2 ended over 60 years ago. And anyway, what does WW2 have to do with breaking the law? How would you like it if Italian agents came over to your and began to kidnap Americans to Iran or North Korea so that they could be beaten up on suspicion of committing criminal acts?

M. Aloisio, Siracusa, Italy

It is a pity that the terrorists do not consider the human rights of their innocent victims. These people make a laughing stock of western governments.

These radicals choose the soft-touch western democracies because they know that there behaviour would not be tolerated in their home countries.

Tim Irwin, St Helens, UK

The CIA could benefit by studying the methods of German intelligence under Admiral Canaris when he directed the Abwehr in the early 1940's. He managed to infiltrate the Soviet General Staff and didn't need to snatch people off the street to find out what the other side was planning.

Ken Yeager, St.Paul,

Although largely symbolic this case does show the neo-con administration in the US for what it really is, namely an out of control faction believing it can do whatever it likes anywhere in the world. Their total disregard of the rule of law should not be allowed to be ignored as it has been by the likes of Blair and if US-Italian relations are strained it will be a good thing to make the next administration approach difficult issues in a more consensual manner. When the CIA kidnap a large number of people purely on a fishing expedition and they never see a court room, this cannot be a democratic process. Coincidentally the Spanish authorities are currently having a trial over the Madrid bombings, and wanted assistance over a known terrorist the US has incarcerated somewhere. Unfortunately the co-operation against terrorism only goes one way to selfishly help the American administration but not its allies.

Mike, Denia, Spain

I agree with Italy. Why is America in their business?

Shawn, Schaumburg, IL

Italian judge orders first 'rendition' trial of CIA operatives

I think every one is upset about the hidden prison leave aside the prisoners. They may be alive at least if they are in Gaunatanamo Bay or Abu Garib but in the vanishing prisons. This is a magician’s act.

Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD, Dar-Es-Salaam , Tanzania

This is absurd. Italy seems to have already forgotten the beheading of one of their own ministers on video. And as for Switzerland. Neither one of these countries have much credibility on righteousness looking back to WWII. Terrorists have demonstrated that they are nasty people, and any terrorist suspect has that potential. This seems to be an Italian ploy to appease terrorist so that they won't strike in Italy.

Joe Elliott, Washoe Valley, Nevada

There needs be a rule of law in this world. This type of extra-judicial rendition is akin to Gustapo and KGB and as citizens of the "free" world, we can not let these neo-cons take away our constitutional and international rights to due-course and presumption of being innocent until proven guilty. These are some of the key tenents that seperates us from what we intend to change in the world and we can not let these rights be "raped" so easily. These people including people from CIA and Adminstration should be accountable to somebody - they sure are not accountable to US citizens perhaps they may be accountable to international rule of law.

Adam Ali, Chicago, USA