NBC NEWS: US wanted Britain to Bust Airplane Bombers Sooner

[kpete]

NBC NEWS: US wanted Britain to Bust Airplane Bombers Sooner
Source: U.S., U.K. at odds over timing of arrests
British wanted to continue surveillance on terror suspects, official says

A senior British official knowledgeable about the case said British police were planning to continue to run surveillance for at least another week to try to obtain more evidence, while American officials pressured them to arrest the suspects sooner. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.

*****

At the White House, a top aide to President Bush denied the account.

*****

Another U.S. official, however, acknowledges there was disagreement over timing......

The British official said the Americans also argued over the timing of the arrest of suspected ringleader Rashid Rauf in Pakistan, warning that if he was not taken into custody immediately, the U.S. would "render" him or pressure the Pakistani government to arrest him.

British security was concerned that Rauf be taken into custody "in circumstances where there was due process," according to the official, so that he could be tried in British courts. Ultimately, this official says, Rauf was arrested over the objections of the British.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14320452/

[babylonsister]

1. CNN just 'mentioned' this in passing. The US had a timetable, ya

think?:argh:

[Imagevision]

2. They should have waited until they attempted to buy plane tickets

then nabbed them all in the act, with the knowledge of who they were and what they looked like the Brit's acted too soon!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. You mean, *before* the Connecticut primary?

[kpete]

5. yep

Hail Mary pass for the CT Primary...

Almost worked...

[spindrifter]

4. The London Times said

that one of the reasons for the timing of the UK arrests was fear that the arrest of the Rauf brother in Pakistan might result in the guys in the UK freaking out if they couldn't reach him by phone for a prolonged period. Authorities were afraid they would then step up their timetable.

[flyarm]

9. without passports???????..

how fast do they get passports in the uk???????

and would someone not be looking for them to apply for them??

this is utter bullshit!

fly

[bleever]

17. This story stinks more and more each day.

No passports??

And the WH didn't request an earlier move; they were leaking info that endangered the operation, and made the British jump before they planned to.

[The_Casual_Observer]

15. Or that they would get wise & would fold the con.

This story in unraveling faster than a spool of anchor chain. Where are the bombs?

[flyarm]

6. ok women..be honest ..how pissed would you be if you had to throw

all your expensive make-up and perfume out ?? to find this out now..and also to find out it is now being sold on ebay???????????

thought so!!

fly

[Imagevision]

7. Timetable? yeah right, as both Bush & Blair were on vacation

even while Blair knew of the impending...? bust? can't say that yet because no-one has been actually arrested as of yet - they're currently only being detained - so we'll see how real this foiled plot is?

[leesa]

8. I doubt it. It came before the implications of the Supremes slap-down

on Bush's illegal wiretapping is explained to Congress. Wasn't that part of the goal, to be able to go "see we need wiretapping to fight terriers"

[Imagevision]

10. No-one has been arrested yet folks... detained yes.

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. Sure seems like somebody was arrested for the biggest plot

since 9/11 with all the TSA fanfare & media circus.

[The_Casual_Observer]

11. Thus jr's pre scripted comment "This is a stark reminder"

A reminder of the mistake they made for voting for Lamont.

[annabanana]

12. k&r. . . . . n/t

[ovidsen]

14. No tickets. No passports.

No money? Just how dopey are these "dangerous" dudes?

Were they set up in a bust that was rushed by Bush?

I was ready to think these British suspects were the real deal. Really I was. But I'm starting to wonder if this is the Blair version of that "terrorist" bust in Miami last June.

Gonzalez and the Justice Department crowed about the arrests of 7 guys who wanted to blow up things (like the Sears Tower) REAL good, and what did we end up with?? 7 dweebs with no cash, no supplies, no plan, all pumped up by an informant who basically tricked them into pledging allegiance to Osama.

I mean, the Miami "plotters" didn't even have money for SHOES!!!

WOnder if the London bunch is of the same caliber?

[deminks]

16. More political games with our lives. And "rendering".

(snip)

In contrast to previous reports, the official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports.

So if the plot is real, what did we lose by jumping the gun? We certainly would not have been able to prosecute this alleged ring leader once we had "rendered" him. Is this an admission that the coalition renders people? and that the US threatens people with rendering?

[kpete]

18. Lisa Myers on NBC

Lisa Myers on NBC now

"Scotland Yard was forced to move prematurely"

"British courts require higher level of proof and US is haunted because of 9/11"

Blair on vacation too...

"concerns they don't have enough evidence to prosecute or charge them "

[uppityperson]

19. so Mr.bush is hardly capable of keeping a secret? "we are patient" not.