British Gitmo prisoners to be released
Anti-terrorism police are drawing up plans for the return to the United Kingdom of the remaining four Britons held as terrorist suspects in Guant\ufffdnamo Bay.
Four Muslim men have spent up to three years imprisoned in tiny cages without charge or trial. They are expected to be released within days of their arrival back on British soil.
It is really on a matter of time before they are released. Unlike the people from smaller countries, these guys will not be entirly forgotten.
The above article doesn't mention it, but an Australian prisoner is also scheduled for return, and rumor has it that a several hundred are liable to be sent home in the next few months. The apparent plan being to clean house of the minor players to get the prisoner count down while making the argument for life detention without appeal or trial.
Last March five Britons were transferred by the US from Guant\ufffdnamo Bay to the UK. After several days of questioning by anti-terrorism officers they were all freed without charge.
The source said the same was expected to happen this time, though there remained the slim possibility that during interviews admissions could be made that could lead to charges.
The four Britons include Feroz Abbasi, from Croydon, south London, and Moazzam Begg, from Birmingham. In July 2003 Mr Bush designated these two Britons to face military commissions, but the plan was abandoned after an outcry led to the British government condemning the US plans.
While the outcry was important, that is not what stopped the trials. British intelligence showed the CIA and Military guys evidence proving the confessions that had be forced out of the prisoners under torture where not correct. This forced the US government into some quick back tracking and the entire prosecution thing was dropped.
The deal between London and Washington could still go sour. Despite more than a year of talks, with the attorney general Lord Goldsmith leading for the British, confusion surrounds what has so far blocked the return of the Britons.
Britain has said the US had "security concerns' about releasing the four Britons, but that seemed at odds with the earlier US offer to send them home. Up to 550 men are still held at Guant\ufffdnamo Bay.
The rumor is that that the stumbling block is some assurance from the British government that these guys will not be allowed to splash their stories all over the place. The American government wants the British government to lean on these gusy, with threats of more jail time if they go public. I doubt that it will work though, as Blair's government wouldn't dare really throw them in prison.
Jay