By Rick Anderson, Seattle Weekly. 12/2/06

A British author and an ex-prisoner’s attorney say that records uncovered by Spanish investigators show Boeing has a direct role in “extreme renditions” — planning and organizing the flights through a unit of its Seattle commercial airplane division.

Since 2003, human-rights investigators and news media reports have described a Boeing Business Jet as one of the most-dreaded planes in the Central Intelligence Agency’s clandestine air force. The modified 737 — a model rolled out in Renton in 2001 — was built for executive fun and comfort. But it is alleged to be the flagship of the CIA’s “extreme rendition” squadron, ferrying suspected terrorists to secret agency prisons or countries where the U.S. is said to outsource torture.

The use of this jet, with a 6,000-mile flying range and plush customized cabin, has until now been Boeing’s only connection to the prison airlifts. But a British author and an ex-prisoner’s attorney say that records uncovered by Spanish investigators show Boeing has a more direct role — planning and organizing the flights through a unit of its Seattle commercial airplane division.

Full article: alternet.org