February 03, 2009

"Anywhere But Yemen"

A good analysis from the Weekly Standard on the issue of the difficulties of repatriating Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo Bay detention facility: There are two obvious problems with releasing the Yemeni detainees from Guantánamo: the detainees and Yemen.

I like the section on detainee Hilal because its important that more people understand that a top member of the Yemeni government, close to President Saleh, seemingly had foreknowledge of 9/11. Tom and Steve's write up:

Al Hilal worked for the Political Security Organization (PSO), which is an intelligence agency that reports directly to President Saleh. The PSO operated an official government "deportation" operation, in which veteran mujahedeen were relocated. The U.S. government says al Hilal has admitted that he was tasked with keeping tabs on al Qaeda operatives for Saleh's government. The U.S. government also charges, however, that al Hilal was really an al Qaeda member who used his position of authority to assist his fellow terrorists.

According to the U.S. government, al Hilal facilitated the movement of terrorists around the globe and admits that he and the deputy chief of the PSO were paid "to release extremists held in Yemeni prisons." Some of the terrorists the U.S. government claims al Hilal worked to release are well-connected al Qaeda associates....

During one wiretap session, recorded before the 9/11 attacks, they (the Italian government) captured a conversation between al Hilal and a senior Egyptian al Qaeda member. The contents are chilling.

"Well, I am studying airplanes! If it is God's will, I hope to bring you a window or a piece of a plane next time I see you. .  .  . We are focusing on the air alone. .  .  . It is something terrifying, something that moves from south to north and from east to west: the man who devised the program is a lunatic, but he is a genius. It will leave them stunned. .  .  . We can fight any force using candles and planes. They will not be able to halt us, not even with their heaviest weapons. We just have to strike at them, and hold our heads high. Remember, the danger at the airports. If it comes off, it will be reported in all the world's papers. The Americans have come into Europe to weaken us, but our target is now the sky."

In 2002, al Hilal was lured to Egypt on the pretext of doing business and captured by the Egyptian authorities. He was eventually transferred to U.S. custody and Guantánamo.