"A Mate" wrote ...

The individual in question is a SUSPECT!!!

Americans in these post 9/11 days have developed a propensity to forget
that one of the basic tenets of British based legal systems is the
Presumption of Innocence. Suspects are innocent until found guilty in a
Court of Law.

....and with a warrant for his arrest issued/arrived after he had been
allowed to board and the flight had flown off.

You do understand that even in British courts with the similar presumption
of innocence, warrants are issued for "suspects" as a matter of routine
unless they are standing on the steps of the police station, arms
out-stretched for the cuffs. Everybody arrested is a "suspect", and those
who attempt to flee jurisdictions may (under both of our legal systems) be
held without bail.

As for being overwrought about GITMO, you do remember that back in 1945, the
UK and US didn't release all the German POWs at the end of hostilities.
Investigations and war crimes trials went on for several years.

Now, we might debate over which of the prisoners at GITMO were combatants,
since none had uniforms, but neither of us (and the Australian and other
troops in Afghanistan getting shot out/targeted by bombs) would allow that
the "war was over", so it seems to me, aside from those apprehended who
weren't combatants (and since 6 of those released earlier ended up showing
back up in Afghanistan and getting killed in combat, that's tough to
decide), I'm of the opinion we ought to simply follow precedent and keep'em,
GITMO being a nice warm place even in the winter (although they don't get to
use the pretty beach and the golf course (which I have, having been there
long ago with the Navy).

Are they mistreated? Accounts vary. They certainly are clothed, fed,
provided water and indoor plumbing, occasional showers, religious materials
and opportunity to practice the religion. None of the various outside
inspectors have managed to provide much if any evidence of "durance vile",
although keeping the prisoners separate and not allowing them a structured
military organization violates Geneva and other accords. Of course, nobody
wants to admit being a "senior officer", so allowing them to exist as part
of a military organization simply doesn't happen. Orange jump suits? Well,
unlike military prisoners in uniform (or who may be supplied replacement
uniforms by their own country), these folks had no uniforms, and no parent
military or country to send them uniforms. When assigned to duty aboard an
a/c in the Navy, I was issued (admittedly, a long time ago) an orange flight
suit to wear, same colors as those of the prisoners. I suppose we could
have issued them pink ones. Flip-flops? 'Bout right for GITMO's climate,
although you wouldn't want to run through the cactus in them.

I do recall that the wool Winter uniforms in which many German and Italian
prisoners were captured in weren't comfortable in the Texas Summers. I do
recall (as a youngster) seeing them working (the Italians with no fences,
and constantly escaping, not to go home, but to stay) in the fields clad in
US Army fatigues with big "P" stenciled on them. Were those more "legal" or
"suitable" than orange jump suits? I also recall the murderous riots (at an
island prison camp operated by the ROK and Allies, inc. Australia) among the
Korean war NK and Chinese POWs, busily murdering who didn't want to be
returned in droves. Prisoners are not always quiet, docile and
non-dangerous. The ones in GITMO are on the record pretty bad about
assaulting guards, throwing urine and feces, etc., not actions designed to
get you shipped home with a new set of clothes and a $10 bill...

TMO