James G
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Post by James G on Mar 7, 2019 20:47:42 GMT
I'm not sure if this is true, but I do remember many years past reading that during the Battle of Tora Bora inside Afghanistan in 2001, Bin Laden was spotted escaping by an SAS team. They were on over-watch and reportedly saw him. If I recall correctly, the story was that they were told to leave him to the Americans... who then failed to capture him.
I am not sure if this is all true but I am sure this is how I remember the situation.
What if the SAS did capture him, alive too? What is his fate when in custody?
Furthermore, would there be political ramifications in the UK should he be handed over to the US, as I would expect, and the Americans set out to try him with the end result planned being the death penalty?
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 7, 2019 20:53:52 GMT
I'm not sure if this is true, but I do remember many years past reading that during the Battle of Tora Bora inside Afghanistan in 2001, Bin Laden was spotted escaping by an SAS team. They were on over-watch and reportedly saw him. If I recall correctly, the story was that they were told to leave him to the Americans... who then failed to capture him. I am not sure if this is all true but I am sure this is how I remember the situation. What if the SAS did capture him, alive too? What is his fate when in custody? Furthermore, would there be political ramifications in the UK should he be handed over to the US, as I would expect, and the Americans set out to try him with the end result planned being the death penalty? Where do you want to trial him, New York, Den Haug, Londen if the British want to keep him in custody. |
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James G
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Post by James G on Mar 7, 2019 21:01:36 GMT
Whatever the circumstances, his trial in this scenario would be in New York.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 7, 2019 21:08:58 GMT
Whatever the circumstances, his trial in this scenario would be in New York. Think his lawyers will make a point that no jury in the United States will be neutral. |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Mar 7, 2019 22:07:44 GMT
There is likely to be repercussions in that Britain will be markedly higher on the target list for more terrorist attacks. Also expect some people to moan about handing him over to the US.
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forcon
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Post by forcon on Mar 7, 2019 22:45:48 GMT
I think it was technically the SBS who were in that situation. They were the ones running around Tora Bora with Delta Force & 5th Group with the fighting there. IIRC the SAS went in first but there wasn't much for them to do, so they were sent home and then the SBS went in and got involved in the worst of the fighting. The SAS did do a HALO jump into Afghanistan and got into a heavy fight either in late 01 or in early 2002 though.
If they'd got him, I cannot see Blair refusing to hand him over to the US. An international trial might be preferrable, but the Americans would seek the death penalty which would probably be frowned upon in the Hague.
Could it be possible for Osama Bin Linen to get a military tribunal? Only the President can convene those. I think it was done in WW2 with Nazi sabatuers in the US. It was a long time since I read that though so don't qoute me on it.
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James G
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Post by James G on Mar 7, 2019 22:51:50 GMT
It was the SBS: I got that mixed up. I understand the idea of an international trial but I can see him in a US trial in New York.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2019 1:31:15 GMT
There is likely to be repercussions in that Britain will be markedly higher on the target list for more terrorist attacks. The U.K. and it's interests will be targeted by professional terrorists, not chancers like the shoe bomber and the 7/7 bombers Truck bombs into British embassies and airliners blown up. expect some people to moan about handing him over to the US. Considering the number of U.K. dead in the WTC attack, I don't think they'd get much coverage. |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Mar 8, 2019 9:56:41 GMT
There is likely to be repercussions in that Britain will be markedly higher on the target list for more terrorist attacks. The U.K. and it's interests will be targeted by professional terrorists, not chancers like the shoe bomber and the 7/7 bombers Truck bombs into British embassies and airliners blown up. expect some people to moan about handing him over to the US. Considering the number of U.K. dead in the WTC attack, I don't think they'd get much coverage.
a) Agreed its likely to be much worse, including more home grown failures as well as a lot of foreign planned attacks.
b) They won't get listened to by the government but a lot of people will be concerned, especially with the death penalty being pretty much a certainty.
How many people even outside the US remember that there were a hell of a lot of non-American victims, other than the friends and family of the dead? It generally gets overlooked. 
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