Observer:US pushed MI5 into airport terror swoop

[cal04]

Fight over suspect in Pakistan revealed as Musharraf quashes terror claims
The US warned Britain that it was prepared to seize the key suspect in the UK's biggest ever anti-terrorism operation and fly him to a secret detention centre for interrogation by American agents, even if this meant riding roughshod over its closest ally, The Observer can reveal.

American intelligence agents told their British counterparts they were ready to 'render' Rashid Rauf, a British citizen allegedly linked to al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and who was under surveillance in Pakistan, unless he was picked up immediately. Rauf is the key suspect in the alleged plot to detonate explosives on up to 10 transatlantic planes that was exposed in August and, according to the police, would have brought 'mass murder on an unimaginable scale'.

The Americans' demand for Rauf's quick arrest dismayed the British intelligence services, which were worried that it could prompt terrorist cells in the UK working on separate plots to bring forward their plans or go underground. In the weeks preceding his arrest it is understood that MI5 and MI6 discussed with their US counterparts the best way to dismantle the alleged plot. Britain wanted more time to monitor Rauf, but the US was adamant that Rauf should be arrested immediately.

The revelation casts new light on the nature of America's relationship with Britain in the war on terrorism and provides further evidence of its suspicions that Pakistan was not fully committed in the war against al-Qaeda.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1885053,00.html

[Straight Shooter]

1. The bush administration needs to "stop this shit," or else other countries

are going to withhold the critical info from us, for fear the bush administration will strong-arm everybody again.

This isn't the first time they've screwed the Brits' well-laid plans.

[leftchick]

2. "The Plot.....

That Was NOT"! :eyes: