Americans worry Cameron wouldn't accept Gitmo suspects too

A Foreign Office statement, put out last night by the Press Association, confirms that the FCO expect Britain to step in to help the US close Guantanamo Bay by accepting foreign detainees. A spokesman said:

We recognise the US will require assistance from allies and partners to shut the camp

We've also had some indication on how the government would will attempt to play the decision in the public arena. Apparently would compare any new arrivals to the non-British citizens who were arrived back in Britain last year "who we were not really legally obliged to take". So it's happened before, and there's nothing unusual about it. Not sure a lot of people - including those who have already commented on TimesOnline [the first post says "this is crazy, I don't believe it] - will see it that way.

Over on the American CBS network website,

If the Conservative party were to come to power, it's very unclear whether would-be Prime Minister David Cameron (at left) would share Brown's apparent enthusiasm for helping Obama out of his jam.

The Tories have asked for urgent clarification this morning of what's going on, but no put down no definitive suggestion of where they stand. The CBS comment perhaps ignores the fact the issue would likely have to be settled this year, where there is no anticipated general election. What happens after this is, like so much else, unclear.

Comments

[Straight Talk, South Yorkshire, Britain]

Quite simply the message from the Conservatives should be clear and unequivocal :

Britain must not accept any of these people.

The fact that some people who were originally held in Guantanamo and released went on to be come suicide bombers.

The risks are too high and Britian must now put its citizens first and not indulge itself in vague concepts of Human trights about non British citizens

[Alloy Chang]

If the George Bush and his cronies are so keen to rid themselves of the inmates but don't want them on the mainland then why don't they just relinquish "ownership" of Guantanamo Bay to the detainees and then retreat back to where they came from.
Better still surrender the place to the Cubans subject to the right of the inmates to live there in harmony for the rest of their lives.

[Edward Brookes]

"The fact" is that only one releasee is claimed to have become a suicide bomber and even that has not been verified. Just because Dick Cheney claims such things does not make it "a fact".

In comparison a large number of those released have been declared non-combatants by the USA itself. If there is any evidence against these people lets throw the book at them. Otherwise they should be released.

[dee]

We must not accept these people with the extended families they will bring with them remember if they come here we the taxpayers will have to pay for them also our soldiers which they tried to kill will have to pay for them this country is in a form of MADNESS it must stop

[dee]

We must not accept these people with the extended families they will bring with them remember if they come here we the taxpayers will have to pay for them also our soldiers which they tried to kill will have to pay for them this country is in a form of MADNESS it must stop

[JayTee]

Why doesn't the good ol' US of A bring them ashore, put them on trial (if there's a credible case against them), jail those convicted and and let the rest go free. Isn't the US bound by the same human rights laws as the UK? What's teh UK's concern in this (except to support the trials)?

[tone]

this is george bush's mess and he has to take responsibility for it. if brown accepts any people from it there will be a huge backlash. we haven't forgot the london bombings.

[David]

Why cant the US simply dump these folks back where they were originaly picked up? I'm sure they will find a ready welcome in Afghanistan, Iraq etc.

[Winston Smith]

So hold on a minute....
The UK is not allowed to expel Islamic terrorists but we have to allow them in?
We have around 4+ million(not 1.8million as the government predicts) Muslims in the UK. At least 60% of them want Islamisation of the UK and are sympathetic to the Islamist cause. Our government is allowing 5k Pakistani Halal butchers into the UK with their families even though we are supposed to have changed to a points based entry scheme that they do not pass.
We are importing Saudi Arabian Wahabism and the government does nothing. And now we are going to allow terrorists into the UK from Guantanamo Bay?
Who really British wants to live here anymore? I certainly don't. Is this all part of the government's plan to remove British people from the UK and build a new multicultural paradise doomed to all out future war as cultures start fighting one another for supremacy(No doubt Islam will be winner there).

This is madness.
Then again our society deserves the government they vote in. If the UK is to fall unto a quagmire of Islamic terrorism and chaos, then you have yourselves to blame and not the government. Why? You voted them in to reap this destruction of your culture. Do something about it and vote them out. And I suggest also not voting for the Conservatives or the Liberals. They are no different to NuLabour and will continue the destruction of the UK. There will be only one benefit and that will be to the newly elected government members whose wages and perks will go up drastically.

[erica]

You can be absolutely sure that they will be better treated by the British Government than our own servicemen.Thats Labour.

[rick]

Nu labours UK
The dustbin of the west...

[LaurieMac]

Why can't the inmates be sent back to their own countries?

[paul nosworthy]

there should be the biggest mass demonstration on the streets of this country against allowing these people into this country thats ever been before, This should happen sooner rather then later before they become a burden to the british taxpayer.

[Straight Talk, South Yorkshire, Britain]

"The fact" is that only one releasee is claimed to have become a suicide bomber and even that has not been verified. Just because Dick Cheney claims such things does not make it "a fact

Posted by: Edward Brookes | 1 Jan 2009 14:38:49

So what do you see as being the benefit to Britain of bringing some of these people here. Please elaborate ? No doubt you'll be offering to accodomate 1 or 2 of them?

[carlyle]

never ever thought I would say it ,but I cant wait until we have a BNP government.
just to end this lunancy.

[Dave]

No uk or non uk nationals caught fighting UK forces should be returned here. To accept such individuals constitutes a threat to our security and is a gross and blatant infringement of my human rights

[Winston Smith]

Carlyle,

I think you are not alone in your views. I think the UK is about to get a shock come next election. I also do not think that Conservatives will get the votes they are hoping for from disgruntled inhabitants of the UK. Many are realising that it will be the same old, same old with the tories, who incidentally set the ball rolling in the destruction of the UK.

[roberto]

They should be allowed in to become investment advisors to the Church of England. They look like enviromentalists and the Archbisop needs advice.

[Steven]

Has this loathsome Government any regard whatsoever for us?

[Martyn Chapman]

This is the fruits of madness. It is not our problem and these people have no right to come here. Let them settle in Texas!

[ELI SORDO]

What is to happen to the prisoners in prisons across the globe?

[Matt]

Of course the UK govt in its Obama love-fest will seek to help him in any way it can...

But taking in terrorists into the UK (when we are struggling to expell -any- of the ones in our midst already!?) is sheer madness!!

At least I hope they target Parliment rather than the rest of us first..!
(fat chance of that, the politicians in this country look after themselves!).

The conservatives should unequivically state that they will NOT accept any non-UK nationals, and will push forward laws to deport any such people in the future.

[mattbramall]

I can't belive that this negative response. The fact of the matter is that there is no evidence whatsoever that those being held in guantanamo represent a threat to our country, otherwise they would have been tried. (Of course they may be so inclined now having been treated so cruelly for years for no reason, but that is not something we should assume)

Secondly, if those of you who agree with the infantile suggestion that we should not take those released due to the 'them coming over ere and taking our taxes' argument stopped to think for a second of the amount of taxes so few people would require and how desperately they require it, and compare that with how much tax money is spent on phony wars then you might get a little perspective on the matter.

I am franly disgusted that so many British people can so completely lack compassion, understanding.

[mattbramall]

And Dave, if you could tell me exactly which human right is grossly and blantantly infringed by allowing people who aren't terrorists into the country, it would be appreciated.

[Dave]

Suggest we house em on HMP Rockall

[j alderson]

i think i hardly need add my comment, having read those which have gone before. however, for the record, i believe it would be a disgrace if we were to accept any of these people in to our already overstuffed country which is currently under attack from within. when will the government start listening to the taxpayers - the people who pay for all their lunatic schemes?
now seems like a great time to emigrate. at this rate, england will end up as a country inhabited by muslims and governed by scots!

[m wilson]

An immigrant, even an illegal immigrant can claim a jobseekers allowance and family allowance and housing benefit far in excess of my 80% war disability pension. Where is the logic in that?

[Quin Williams]

mattbramall - Are you living on cloud cuckoo land like Labour, have you forgotten about the innocent people who lost their lives in the suicide bombings in London. Do you really think these inmates are not Islamic extremists. UK security is a priority then suspected terrorists.

The Netherlands has made a stance, ruling out accepting any Guantanamo inmates. Also Dutch Immigration Service has expelled 1,475 people in 2008, the authorities expel foreign residents who have been sentenced to 1 month in prison or community work. The Dutch put their country & citizens first and if the Conservatives want my vote then they should be clear on putting British citizens first for security and welfare and tightening the Human Rights act to make it easier to expel suspected terrorists and foreigners declared persona non-grata.

[Stephen Jones]

Same old, Same old, from the good ole US of A...they make a mess and ask others to clean it up.

Just for once can somebody in authority do a Harold Wilson and use the small but effective word of "NO"!

[Andrew Taylor]

Quin Williams,

I assume since you are against accepting so-called "suspected terrorists" into the country, that if you were suspected (falsely) of a terrorist plot then you would accept in good grace your own deportation, illegal detention and torture as the price you pay for everyone else's freedom and security, yes? Presumably when it emerged that there was no evidence against you you would not begrudge this or any other country for refusing to let you live there? That's mighty patriotic of you.

[ebin donk]

Don't worry folks, Nu-poodley-Labour will take any one, including those from Guantanamo Bay. And yes they will be better treated than the folks who live here and pay taxes.

[BL@KBIRD]

Britain has been chosen because it is most terrorist friendly of all the western nations. Generous govt. benefits and hundreds of thousands of like minded "Asians" to make your new guests feel at home and relaxed. Lots of social contacts among the cream of diversity assets that "speak the lingo" of the recently freed innocent Angels of Guantanamo. Congratulations Britain you have worked hard and deserve another helping of diversity!

[MikeMca]

Americans are not concerned about whether or not Cameron will accept Gitmo prisoners. In fact most Americans could not care less whether or not Gitmo is closed. The east coast liberal extremists, those who publish and read the New York Times, are about the only ones who care and they live in a world all alone.

[Quin Williams]

Evidence!!! these were plucked in a battlezone or hiding amongst a civilian population, its not a murder mystery party. Detainees are held for having "associated" with the Taliban or al-Qaida but the US lacks hard evidence i.e photos of foot solders at a jihadist training camp or gathering DNA evidence after succeeding in blowing up civilians etc to lodge any war-crime charges.

Therefore by trying these detainees the US diminishes their status to the level of common criminal, any such trial must meet basic criteria of fundamental fairness and due process.

This is where Gitmo fails, not because they are innocent tourists, the verdict would lack legitimacy, the court system itself would be put on trial, rather than the detainees it is designed to try!.

Because of the above, yes close Gitmo but they should return to their own country or if they know they cant have a fair trial of crimes committed in their own country then drop them in a Taliban area.

The UK is overrun with radical foot soldiers, especially with the human rights protection. Britain poses a greater threat then al-Qaida.

For all the liberal minds, lets agree to disagree but hope that all Gitmo detainees will live a good life and die old peacefully instead of rejoining as foot solders to kill innocent victims around the world.