Posted on 10/02/2006 5:12:55 PM PDT by blam
Britain to US: we don't want Guantánamo nine back
· Documents reveal secret talks in Washington
· British residents have no right to return say officials
Ian Cobain and Vikram Dodd
Tuesday October 3, 2006
The Guardian (UK)
The United States has offered to return nearly all British residents held at Guantánamo Bay after months of secret talks in Washington, the Guardian has learned. The British government has refused to accept the men, however, with senior officials saying they have no legal right to return. Documents obtained by the Guardian show US authorities are demanding that the detainees be kept under 24-hour surveillance if set free - restrictions that are dismissed by the British as unnecessary and unworkable.
Although all are accused of terrorist involvement, Britain says there is no intelligence to warrant the measures Washington wants, and it lacks the resources to implement them. "They do not pose a sufficient threat," said the head of counter-terrorism at the Home Office. The possible security arrangements appear to have caused months of wrangling, but senior UK sources have told the Guardian the government is interested in accepting only one man - Bisher al-Rawi - who is now known to have helped MI5 keep watch on Abu Qatada, the London-based Muslim cleric and al-Qaida suspect who was subsequently arrested.
At least nine former British residents have been detained without trial at Guantánamo for more than four years after being taken prisoner in the so-called war on terror. Their lawyers say some have suffered appalling mistreatment.
With the US government anxious to scale down and eventually close its prison at the Cuban base, however, the US state department is putting pressure on the British government to allow some to return. Foreign Office officials have denied that any talks have taken place.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
So we're setting them up for the new military tribunals. Good!
"With the US government anxious to scale down and eventually close its prison at the Cuban base..."
Did I miss something?
No. Bush has already been talking about shutting it down.
"Bisher al-Rawi - who is now known to have helped MI5 keep watch on Abu Qatada, "
Well if the Islamofacists didn't know who the 'insider' was, they sure do now.
The MSM doesn't care who gets maimed or killed, as long as they get their 'story'!
Jerks!
Regards, Ivan
Until the ragheads spill the beans they are given bread and water and no blanket, no toilet paper, and no quaran.
Once they spill the beans they are tossed out the back and into the Atlantic.
Sounds like a plan to me. :-))
I don't know about that, but, I remember his talking about maybe it was time to close it. I'll se if I can find the article.
Sounds like a plan I could live with.
Works for me.
And me. How I wish it were so.
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