UK: US Undercut Terror Arrests

Recriminations flew across the Atlantic on Tuesday, a day after London jury failed to convict eight men of an alleged plot to bomb trans-Atlantic airlines. British police said U.S. officials pressed them to arrest the men too soon, weakening the court case against the suspects.

The top U.S. homeland security official denied the claim, saying everyone was "on the same page" about the timing of the arrests.

Investigators said a decision to prematurely arrest suspects in August 2006 came after U.S. officials pressed for one of the men's alleged accomplices to be arrested in Pakistan.

Keep reading here.

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Watch a video report on the UK accusations from CBS.

Comments

[ZenJu]

Meanwhile, here in the UK, there are unemployed Islamist fanatics who openly express no loyalty whatsoever to the Queen or the UK government (while living on the dole) and feel that Islamist terrorists are "totally praiseworthy." Some UK officials bend over backwards to "accommodate" Islam to the expense of Christians, Jews, and atheists.

[Horst]

The British have assumed the supine cockroach position when it comes to dealing with the estimated 16,000 hard core Islamic radicals living in the UK. Must be the after effects of the Diana Bereavement Complex. If you say that Islam is not the religion of peace you run afoul of the hate speech laws....if you blow up a bus you get acquitted.

[Horst]

The British have assumed the supine cockraoch position when it comes to dealing with the estimated 16,000 hard core Islamic radicals living in the UK. Must be the after effects of the Diana Bereavement Complex. If you say that Islam is not the religion of peace you run afoul of the hate speech laws....if you blow up a bus you get aquitted.

[tstrimling]

I heard a version of this story on NPR (Fresh Air with Terry Gross I believe) a month or so ago (not withstanding the trial) and was initially amazed at our government's quickness to act despite the pleas from Britain. But when you take into account the manner in which we blundered the post-war reconstruction of Iraq, I am not surprised in the least that our government, under George Bush, would act so reckless. The need to get a brief positive headline was more important than getting the "evil doers." If Britian got in the way of our ability to get one of the 9-11 highjackers, our citizens would be eating "Freedom" fish and chips and "Freedom" muffins and burning pictures of the Queen. Change is possible folks...volunteer with your local Obama campaign office; talk to your friends and neighbors; and if you live in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado. or Florida, rev up the message and make sure the truth is told all voters.

[Liam]

Didn't this happen with the London bombings?

This would be our "Tough on terror" government. Pick the timing to LOOK tough, rather than actually doing anything to BE tough.

People need to open their eyes!

[Liam]

Oh, never mind. This is the same one, just finally working its way through the courts.

Still, it was insane then, it's insane now. The party of the war on terror indeed... so long as it's convenient or profitable for them and doesn't get in the way of winning elections and things.

[Smirk]

Investigators said a decision to prematurely arrest suspects in August 2006 came after U.S. officials pressed for one of the men's alleged accomplices to be arrested in Pakistan."

Hmm, what on earth could've been happening, say in November of 2006, that might've put the Bush administration in a rush? It's not like they'd put politics above national security. Oh, wait....

[abouttime]

Oh, could you be refering to the mid-term elections?

And now the Repubulicans under McCain are saying they would rather loose the election if it meant winning the war. I say Bull Sh*t.

This type of politcal maneuvering is a disgrace!

[Smirk]

Amen.