time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/08/the_uk_terror_p.html
has been charged in the alleged terror plot to blow up several airplanes across the Atlantic. No evidence has been produced supporting the contention that such a plot was indeed imminent. Forgive me if my skepticism just ratcheted up a little notch. Under a law that the Tories helped weaken, the suspects can be held without charges for up to 28 days. Remember: the British authorities had all these people under surveillance;
Craig Murray was Tony Blair's ambassador to Uzbekistan whose internal memo complaining about evidence procured by out-sourced torture created a flap a while back.
Money quote: None of the alleged terrorists had made a bomb. Many did not even have passports, which given the efficiency of the UK Passport Agency would mean they couldn't be a plane bomber for quite some time. In the absence of bombs and airline tickets, and in many cases passports, it could be pretty difficult to convince a jury beyond reasonable doubt that individuals intended to go through with suicide bombings, whatever rash stuff they may have bragged in internet chat rooms. What is more, many of those arrested had been under surveillance for over a year - like thousands of other British Muslims. Nothing from that surveillance had indicated the need for early arrests. Then an interrogation in Pakistan revealed the details of this amazing plot to blow up multiple planes - which, rather extraordinarily, had not turned up in a year of surveillance.
As I witnessed in Uzbekistan, you can get the most extraordinary information this way. Trouble is it always tends to give the interrogators all they might want, and more, in a desperate effort to stop or avert torture. We then have the extraordinary question of Bush and Blair discussing the possible arrests over the weekend. I'd be interested in the number of plotters who had passports. How could they even stage a dummy-run with no passports? the British authorities have produced no evidence so far. If the only evidence they have was from torturing someone in Pakistan, then they have nothing that can stand up in anything like a court. I wonder if this story is going to get more interesting. I wonder if Lieberman's defeat, the resilience of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the emergence of a Hezbollah-style government in Iraq had any bearing on the decision by Bush and Blair to pre-empt the British police and order this alleged plot disabled. I wish I didn't find these questions popping into my head. But the alternative is to trust the Bush administration.
Andrew Sullivan Questions The Timing Excerpt: I just asked, in the post below, if Andrew Sullivan would call the UK a rogue nation because they're holding the SkyBomb terorists in custody without charges.
Sullivan: "The Alleged UK Terror Plot" Excerpt: You have got to be kidding me. But then again, in retrospect, I guess we all should have seen this coming since the Guadian just reported that information about the terror plot "may" have been obtained "in ways entirely unacceptable...
Sullivan: "The Alleged UK Terror Plot" Excerpt: You have got to be kidding me. But then again, in retrospect, I guess we all should have seen this coming since the Guardian just reported that information about the terror plot "may" have been obtained "in ways entirely unacceptable...
However, the Damage is Already Done Excerpt: The two men who some woman fingered as terrorists because they bought many cheapo cell phones (burners for you Wire fans) were released. The British authorities behind the investigation into the Sunny Delight bomb terrorism plots have man...
Andrew Sullivan Dementia Watch Excerpt: That UK terror plot? Sullivan remains unconvinced that such a thing even existed. In fact, Andrew appears to be leaning toward the position that the whole thing was a bit of cynical political theater a thesis that would require Bush to co...
Excerpt: Craig Murray, former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan who got fired for complaining about evidence obtained through torture: None of the alleged terrorists had made a bomb.
Genius at Work Excerpt: In what is increasingly looking like some sort of sad experiment to see how many times one man can jump the shark in the course of one career, Andrew Sullivan suggests that he thinks there's something hoax-ish about the 8/10 bust.
Because ad hominem attacks are still in style Excerpt: Our friend Karol Sheinin just got trashed by both Andrew Sullivan and Glenn Reynolds for suggesting that the pakistanis interrogating a terror suspect is ok to save lives. The original post is available on Michelle Malkins blog here.
Sanity Lost Excerpt: When every event that occurs throughout the world is a conspiracy, how do you know what is real and what is fake? Well you listen to the liberal left of course, because apparently they hold some magic talisman that allows them to see the truth that c..
Andy and his Tin Foil Hat Excerpt: Andrew Sullivancommentson the lack of publicized evidence which led British and US authorities to bust-up a terror plot whose triggerwas to be pulled today (allegedly, of course).
Intriguing questions Excerpt: So it looks now like the British bomb plot was a big to do about not very much. British author and diplomat Craig Murray asks some interesting questions about the arrests, and reassembles the facts without the political spin.
Sullivan has some questions Excerpt: Sullivan on the British bomb plot: So far, no one has been charged in the alleged terror plot to blow up several airplanes across the Atlantic. No evidence has been produced supporting the contention that such a plot was indeed...
Chicken Little Politics - Another Miami Seven Excerpt: It's really hard to take high profile "terror threats" seriously. When the recent terror plot was announced in London the first thing that came mind was the Miami Seven. Although they may have had the desire there was no possibility they could ev ......
Terror and Facts Excerpt: Clintonian understatement Bill edition: The Republicans should be very careful in trying to play politics with this London airport thing, because theyre going to have a hard time with the facts.
Like a Viking Excerpt: Ace has been relentless today, just beating the hell out of one of his favorite targets, Andrew Sullivan, who wrote this incredibly stupid post, basically "questioning the timing" on the UK terror bust.
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