You're right -- something does indeed stink about this whole affair (especially John Reid's speech the night before, the apparent discussion of the matter by Bush and Blair ahead of time, and so on
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Yes - the two versions live side by side on this morning's Independent - on one side, the police had been investigating for months and had to move quickly because of the Pakistan arrest. On the other side, it all started from Pakistan...
My mother pointed out the findings of "explosive-making material". I pointed out that my orchid fertilizer probably qualifies too. I am very eager to see those martyrdom videos. I mean, it would really, honestly reassure me to know that the British police is not asleep at the wheel and they managed to stop the bad guys before they acted. I want to belive that.
One can but hope -- IIRC, there was a previous major arrest in Pakistan that blew a bunch of investigations in England, so this could be "getting it right this time".
I just hope the English legal system operates with more openness than ours has in the U.S. lately.
You won't see those tapes until the trial, I'm afraid, as they might prejudice the jury. Of course it will probably be a long time before any trial comes up.
But how else would you make sure these people get a fair trial?
If this is a screw up we'll soon see many of those arrested released again, or fitted up with lesser charges as may have happened with Forest Gate. The one thing they can't afford now is another failed bug terrorism trial, as happened with the 'ricin plot' and the 'red mercury plot', so if they aren't sure of getting convictions these people will be released.
Well, the suspects haven't been charged yet. Showing any evidence in public would at the very least prejudice their trial and might even be contempt of court. I would be surprised if it happens before any trial is completed. (If I was a suspect, and apparently incriminating evidence about me was shown on TV before my court case, I would be getting my lawyer to ask for the case to be thrown out or at least to be preparing grounds for an appeal
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Faced with the possibility of 3,000 dead passengers, I would act anyway, no matter how iffy I thought the tip-off from Pakistan. And, since I do believe that there are people out there who would dearly love to pull off something like that, I would be immensely relieved if this was shown to be a real plot that the police really thwarted. Which is why I think it very important that such reassurances be quick in coming.
Two points: First, they've arrested 24 people. Bound to be some innocent ones mixed up in that unless they're extraordinarily lucky -- because they'll err on the side of arresting too many people rather than too few. It's quite right that they do this, in fact: which is why it's of utmost importance that people are treated decently when being questioned or on remand.
Second, we know from July 7 that the killers' friends and relatives reacted with dumbfounded incomprehension. We surely shouldn't think that the reading of lightweight fantasy provides immunity against extremism (especially as the report is that a friend pressed books on the chap, which he said he read and enjoyed; all quite consistent with presenting a non-extreme persona).
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My mother pointed out the findings of "explosive-making material". I pointed out that my orchid fertilizer probably qualifies too. I am very eager to see those martyrdom videos. I mean, it would really, honestly reassure me to know that the British police is not asleep at the wheel and they managed to stop the bad guys before they acted. I want to belive that.
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I just hope the English legal system operates with more openness than ours has in the U.S. lately.
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If this is a screw up we'll soon see many of those arrested released again, or fitted up with lesser charges as may have happened with Forest Gate. The one thing they can't afford now is another failed bug terrorism trial, as happened with the 'ricin plot' and the 'red mercury plot', so if they aren't sure of getting convictions these people will be released.
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First, they've arrested 24 people. Bound to be some innocent ones mixed up in that unless they're extraordinarily lucky -- because they'll err on the side of arresting too many people rather than too few. It's quite right that they do this, in fact: which is why it's of utmost importance that people are treated decently when being questioned or on remand.
Second, we know from July 7 that the killers' friends and relatives reacted with dumbfounded incomprehension. We surely shouldn't think that the reading of lightweight fantasy provides immunity against extremism (especially as the report is that a friend pressed books on the chap, which he said he read and enjoyed; all quite consistent with presenting a non-extreme persona).
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