Well, Now We Know Part Of The Story
I just got an email from my friend and fellow blogger from Thailand, Agam, that informed me that a question from yesterday has been answered, at least in part. I mentioned that a terror suspect released from Guantanamo Bay and returned to Britain had been promptly arrested by the Brits, then just as promptly bailed out by unknown an unknown person or persons. It seems we now know one of the people who bailed this guy out.
Two suspected al-Qa'eda operatives released from Guantanamo Bay have walked free from court although they are still wanted in Spain on terrorism-related offences.
One of the men, who is accused of distributing extremist propaganda produced by Osama bin Laden, had half of his £50,000 bail surety met by the actress Vanessa Redgrave.
Jamil el-Banna, 45, who was said during a brief court hearing to have helped run a cell called the Islamic Alliance, recruiting people to fight jihad in Afghanistan and Indonesia, returned to his London home tonight.
The other man, Omar Deghayes, 38, a Libyan national freed from Guantanamo and allowed into the UK because he once lived here, is said to have had links to the same al-Qa'eda cell. He was also released on bail.
Spain issued European arrest warrants for both men within hours of their arrival in Britain last night from the Cuban detention centre. Miss Redgrave said: "It is a profound honour and I am glad to be alive to be able to do this.''
She added: "Guantanamo Bay is a concentration camp. It is a disgrace that these men have been kept there all these years."
But the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court heard of their alleged links to al-Qa'eda, which raised fresh questions over why the British government interceded on their behalf to allow their return here from Guantanamo.
Although the men have been resident in the UK and have family here, they are not British citizens.
Trotskyist Redgrave has been a disgrace for years, Britain's Jane Fonda, if you will. Agam also pointed out in his email that Jamil el-Banna looks like a refugee from The Lord of The Rings. But she has been a fond supporter of thugs and thuggishness in the past. Not really surprising, I suppose.
War, World news | Gaius Friday, 21 December , 2007
By Maggie, Friday, 21 December , 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Go ahead and just pass me up, Santa …
Okay, how “ugly” and “bad” am I to be sitting here hoping that IF another attack happens in Great Britain it happens in close proximity to this … this … woman …
By martian, Friday, 21 December , 2007 @ 3:12 pm
She is as much a disgrace to her nation as, if not even more of a disgrace than, Jane Fonda is to the US. I always wonder though, these are two very rich women. If they really believe all of that Marxist crap they spew out, why don’t they go and live in a communist country? China is still (nominally) communist although they are in a headlong rush towards a market economy (and having a heck of a time trying to balance a real economy with their communist philosophy), so maybe they’re not a good choice. There’s Cuba - the workers’ paradise. I’m sure Castro would welcome them both - and all of their money. They could go to live in Venezuela with that hero of the common man, Hugo Chavez. There they could actually help CREATE a communist paradise. But do they? No. They just want to talk about what a terrible place the US or the UK is. They don’t actually want to give up any of the comforts and conveniences their riches provide - that’s for other people. What a monumental pair of hypocrits!
By Maggie, Friday, 21 December , 2007 @ 3:49 pm
“What a monumental pair of hypocrits!”
martian -
You are kinder than I …
I typed “woman”, but was thinking (something else). Are you fonda BUNT cake, martian? ; ^)
By martian, Saturday, 22 December , 2007 @ 2:18 pm
It IS the Christmas Season, Maggie, I was being charitable.