Posted on 07/11/2007 10:36:27 PM PDT by george76
Extremist cleric's release from UK prison to come 6 months after hostage's release.
In exchange for the release of BBC reporter Alan Johnston, Britain told the Hamas terror group through mediators it would free from jail an extremist sheik accused of serving as al-Qaida's spiritual adviser in Europe, Palestinian sources involved in the negotiations claimed to WND.
The sheik, Abu Qatada, is accused among other things of advising 9/11 terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui and attempted shoe-bomber Richard Reid. Qatada's sermons were found among the possessions of 9/11 operational leader Mohamed Atta.
The Palestinian sources involved in the Johnston negotiations claimed the British government pledged through a third-party mediator to release Abu Qatada after six months so the release wouldn't appear connected to Johnston's freedom.
Qatada has been detained in Britain as a terror suspect but was not tried or sentenced.
A number of senior Israeli defense officials told the Jerusalem Post today they believed Hamas paid a substantial ransom – possibly millions of dollars – to Johnston's captors in return for his release. The officials told the Post the fact that the Army of Islam captors released the BBC journalist without a fight indicates the terrorist group received something in return.
Qatada is wanted on terrorism charges in Algeria, the U.S., Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Jordan.
Nineteen videotapes featuring Qatada's sermons were found among the possessions of 9/11 ringleader Atta. A Paris-based terror cell accused of plotting to blow up the U.S. embassy in France in 2001 reportedly was headed by a follower of Qatada.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
Former Home Secretary David Blunkett once described him as the most significant extremist preacher in the UK.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4141594.stm
Slammin’ my head on the desk.
Idiots. This will only bring on more hostage taking and more attacks in the future.
Claim !
Lets see if it actually happens
I seriously doubt it
If by ‘release’ they mean ‘deport to Jordan so they can lock him up’ then this claim may be true. But that has been in process for some time.
Wonder if there is going to be more reporters kidnapped in the future?
Deport to Jordan so he can be locked up? Or handed a big fat check and hailed as a hero to Islam?
I guess that is up to the Islamic King of Jordan isn’t it?
Well hell, that’s a great precedent to set.
Let’s play make a deal with terrorists.
From 'ruling the waves' to 'we are now slaves'.
King Abdullah is a right guy. If he does end up in Jordanian
hands it would suck to be him.
Indeed the King of Jordan has had to build palaces in souther jordan as the northern part has gotten too hot for him. The Palestinians have taken over.
Ouch! You know that the end of the British empire was when they betrayed the Jews in Israel with the Trans Jordan treaty? The lions share of Israel was given to Saudi Arabia to make Jordan. As the bible says, what you do to Abraham will be done to you, the lions share of Brittany was taken away.
Now the United States has done this to Israel with the Gaza road map. I hold my breath, for the hammer WILL fall on the United States. Soon to be the divided states. My guess is military occupation and the loss of Hawaii.
“Deport to Jordan so he can be locked up? Or handed a big fat check and hailed as a hero to Islam?”
Jordan already tried, convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment, in his absence.
You don’t need military occupation.
We are surrendering California, the Gadsden Purchase, and most of Texas to Mexico.
My actual point is that these are just rival gang turfs in the empire of Islam. When push comes to shove they will all agree on only one thing, the whole rest of the world is the enemy.
That includes us. For the US to trust our relationship over their relationship with their God, is a mistake. If we want justice, we need to administer it ourselves, not trust the enemy to administer it to himself. The war is with the empire, not its vassal states.
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