Habib's return delayed by US demand for shackles

[rooboy]

The repatriation of Mamdouh Habib from Guantanamo Bay to Australia is being delayed because of demands from the US that he be shackled on his flight home, and that his aircraft not fly through US airspace.

According to a report in The Washington Post, which quoted unnamed Australian diplomatic officials, US military officials were concerned that if Mr Habib - who is being released by the Americans without charge - was not shackled, Australian authorities would be unable to prevent him from leaving the plane during refuelling stops.

The report also said Australia had declined to shackle Mr Habib, but that it had agreed to avoid US airspace.

A spokesman for the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, said yesterday that whether Mr Habib was restrained on his flight home came down to the airline and the captain of the aircraft.

Asked whether the US had requested Mr Habib be shackled, the spokesman said "that one is for the Americans to answer".

According to Mr Ruddock's spokesman, the US has indicated that, because it still considers Mr Habib to be an "enemy combatant", if he steps foot on US soil it would be obliged to rearrest him.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Global-Terrorism/Habibs-return-delayed-by-US-demand-for-shackles/2005/01/20/1106110882400.html

[Rose Siding]

1. Idiots

I remember when the US would berate NK or China over crap like this. Has the military lost all of its independent thinkers?

[velvet]

2. so that's

why Ruddock was humming and hawing about "difficulties over the flight plan for Habib's return" the other day.

"Obliged to re-arrest him" - what a steaming pile of crap.

[rooboy]

3. kick. n/t

[NYC]

4. Do we fear him so much?

?

[Gusto md]

5. Re-arrest him?! WTF?!

So even though the US found him innocent of all charges, he is still considered guilty cos they couldn't prove it, or, gasp, he actually was innocent?

Is that how justice works now?!

[420inTN]

6. He is still considered an "enemy combatant"...

and as he is foreign national, he doesn't have to be allowed into the country. Basically, he is considered persona non grata. If he steps onto US soil, he will be arrested like other foreign nationals suspected of espionage or other criminal actions.

[Gusto md]

7. But.....

haven't they already suspected him of crimes, and if he truly was involved (I'm sure they would have found out .... electrodes and all), why would he be walking out of gitmo? (in shackles no the less)

A foreign national who is denied access to a country is usually turned away on the first plane out of there.... ?

[420inTN]

8. The only "crime" he had to be suspected of was being a Taliban soldier...

I have no idea why they are releasing him. Perhaps they've extracted all useful information from him. Or, he's just a small fish, and don't see him as much of a threat anymore, as long as he's not in the US. Or, the US is throwing a bone to the Howard administration and releasing him. Or, it's possible that he was detained without reason, and they don't want him in the US because he's pissed off and now has reason to attack the US.

[Gusto md]

9. Yes

I agree with the pissed off part...

But as for the 'throwing a bone'... JH wanted him locked up prob more than *W*

In fact, Mr Habib can possibly take leagal action against the Aust government for slander and the like, having labeled him a terrorist over the last few years. Haven't heard if this is going ahead, but was bought up as an option.