Tappin is due in court next month.

His alleged co-conspirators were another Brit who plead guilty and got 24 months in 2007, and an American who was also convicted in 2007 and got 20 months.

The wonderful irony of this case is that these powerpacks were for Hawk missiles sold to Iran in the 1980's by the US/Israel as part of IranContra with the proceeds funding "terrorists" (depending on individual bias) in Nicaragua. All involved were either pardoned or got off on technicalities and Reagan bluffed his way through it all. His TV address post the Tower report was classic Reagan bluster and consummate political CYA stiuff.

1980's USA was a prolific supplier, supporter and finder to terrorist/insurgent groups around the world from Nicaragua to Afghanistan to Northern Ireland. It would be interesting to work out how many people were murdered in Northern Ireland by US supplied and financed weaponry. One friend of mine was murdered with an M60 and he certainly was not the only one.

I am no knocker of the US but the support for the IRA (or PIRA to be precise) at the individual, institutional (many elements of police and fire departments were prolific fund raisers) and political levels still sticks in the craw.

Immediately post 9/11 I had a fascinating conversation with a senior NYC fire officer who said how ashamed he was by their earlier support for the IRA now they had seen first hand what terrorism was all about.

The good news is that today, finally, Abu Hamza and 4 of his "associates" are en-route to the US after failing in their final appeals against extradition.

And about time too !

I've put a new peg for my keys in the garage.

I know - I'm sick.

It seems Mr Tappin has entered into a plea bargain.

Weapons accused Christopher Tappin to enter guilty plea

A retired businessman extradited to the US on charges of selling weapons parts to Iran is to change his plea to guilty after reaching a deal with prosecutors.

Christopher Tappin, 65, had always denied trying to sell batteries for surface-to-air missiles, claiming he was the victim of an FBI sting.

The BBC's Alastair Leithead said Mr Tappin would enter a guilty plea when he appears in court next week.

Mr Tappin, from London, was due to go on trial in Texas on 5 November. His family confirmed a plea bargain. His wife Elaine Tappin said: "From the moment Chris was put on a plane all we ever wanted was his swift and safe return. "However upsetting, this is the beginning of that process.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst the court has yet to establish Chris' fate."

Full story:- http://www.bbc.co.uk...ngland-20091548

What I found strange is the following in that article is that Karen Todner, Mr Tappin's UK lawyer, who also represented computer hacker Gary McKinnon in his successful fight against extradition, said "98% of people who enter the US justice system enter into a plea agreement." She also went onto to say "The odds are so heavily stacked against a defendant who chooses to plead not guilty and then is subsequently found guilty that the vast majority of people facing trial in the US opt to take a plea agreement," she said.

I'm not so sure I like the US legal system.

It seems Mr Tappin has entered into a plea bargain.

Weapons accused Christopher Tappin to enter guilty plea

A retired businessman extradited to the US on charges of selling weapons parts to Iran is to change his plea to guilty after reaching a deal with prosecutors.

Christopher Tappin, 65, had always denied trying to sell batteries for surface-to-air missiles, claiming he was the victim of an FBI sting.

The BBC's Alastair Leithead said Mr Tappin would enter a guilty plea when he appears in court next week.

Mr Tappin, from London, was due to go on trial in Texas on 5 November. His family confirmed a plea bargain. His wife Elaine Tappin said: "From the moment Chris was put on a plane all we ever wanted was his swift and safe return. "However upsetting, this is the beginning of that process.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst the court has yet to establish Chris' fate."

Full story:- http://www.bbc.co.uk...ngland-20091548

What I found strange is the following in that article is that Karen Todner, Mr Tappin's UK lawyer, who also represented computer hacker Gary McKinnon in his successful fight against extradition, said "98% of people who enter the US justice system enter into a plea agreement." She also went onto to say "The odds are so heavily stacked against a defendant who chooses to plead not guilty and then is subsequently found guilty that the vast majority of people facing trial in the US opt to take a plea agreement," she said.

I'm not so sure I like the US legal system.

The idea of having a potential sentence bandied around by a judge before a preliminary hearing is a nonsense....but it must keep court and jail costs lower....its the only possible reason for it.

So maybe 3-5 years with time off he'll be home in 18 months. Sounds better than 50 years with no parole I suppose in a heavily weighted judicial system and lawyer costs estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars area.

Justice for the rich!

So - nine months on remand, under strict confinement, for an offence that is in reality no offence, and if he admits to guilt then he may get out in a couple of years - otherwise he'll die in prison.

This is not justice.

This extradition treaty is too one sided. It needs either renegotiating, or tearing up.

As an aside the leader of the EDL Tommy Robinson is in jail on remand accused of recently entering the U.S without proper ID. I suspect the U.K authorities would love to have him extradited to the U.S on this charge, though I wonder whether he could get extradition delayed for 7 years by employing captain Hook's lawyer.

So - nine months on remand, under strict confinement, for an offence that is in reality no offence, and if he admits to guilt then he may get out in a couple of years - otherwise he'll die in prison.

This is not justice.

What is justice?

It reminds me of Bacon's comment, which I hope I'm quoting correctly,

"What is truth, said jesting Pilate, and staied not for an answer."

As an aside the leader of the EDL Tommy Robinson is in jail on remand accused of recently entering the U.S without proper ID. I suspect the U.K authorities would love to have him extradited to the U.S on this charge, though I wonder whether he could get extradition delayed for 7 years by employing captain Hook's lawyer.

What delicious irony!

The delightful, self appointed leader of the EDL and your favourite BF, and spawn of a staunch Irish republican (aka IRA sympathiser) family, is remanded in custody till Jan 2013 for a multitude of charges ( which will just add to his already lengthy rap sheet from his street brawling activities).

Entering the US on fake papers to attend a meeting of Islamophobes, thank you ms Geller et al for such a great early Christmas present. The irony? That such a Republican sympathiser might well be extradited to New York, the city that hosted and refused for 9 years to extradite the convicted murderer of my buddy in 1980 with a US supplied M60. Not only was Doherty supported by over 100 congressmen but NYC even named a street after him. As per my earlier post on this subject, things changed for the better post 9/11, atleast in how terrorist scum were viewed by certain sections of the NYC community.

I wonder who the man with many names (Robinson, Lennon, Yaxley-Lennon to name a few) gets to share his cell in HMP Wandsworth with?

All we now need is for those who supplied the Hawk missiles to Iran that Tappin was sending the power packs for, to really face justice. To date the only person to see the inside of jail in relation to Iran-contra was the guy who stole the street sign (and held it for a ransom of $30 million, the same amount of funding sent to the Nicaraguan insurgents/terrorists), of the street named after Poindexter in his mid-west hometown!!

What goes around.......

As an aside the leader of the EDL Tommy Robinson is in jail on remand accused of recently entering the U.S without proper ID. I suspect the U.K authorities would love to have him extradited to the U.S on this charge, though I wonder whether he could get extradition delayed for 7 years by employing captain Hook's lawyer.

What delicious irony!

The delightful, self appointed leader of the EDL and your favourite BF, and spawn of a staunch Irish republican (aka IRA sympathiser) family, is remanded in custody till Jan 2013 for a multitude of charges ( which will just add to his already lengthy rap sheet from his street brawling activities).

Entering the US on fake papers to attend a meeting of Islamophobes, thank you ms Geller et al for such a great early Christmas present. The irony? That such a Republican sympathiser might well be extradited to New York, the city that hosted and refused for 9 years to extradite the convicted murderer of my buddy in 1980 with a US supplied M60. Not only was Doherty supported by over 100 congressmen but NYC even named a street after him. As per my earlier post on this subject, things changed for the better post 9/11, atleast in how terrorist scum were viewed by certain sections of the NYC community.

I wonder who the man with many names (Robinson, Lennon, Yaxley-Lennon to name a few) gets to share his cell in HMP Wandsworth with?

All we now need is for those who supplied the Hawk missiles to Iran that Tappin was sending the power packs for, to really face justice. To date the only person to see the inside of jail in relation to Iran-contra was the guy who stole the street sign (and held it for a ransom of $30 million, the same amount of funding sent to the Nicaraguan insurgents/terrorists), of the street named after Poindexter in his mid-west hometown!!

What goes around.......

I've little doubt that you would accept the entire politically motivated tissue of trumped up charges against Stephen Lennon at face value with no further investigation. To be charitable I could observe that politically active so called anti-fascists are unwittingly acting as an arm of state led suppression. Have you any idea at all what Mr Lennon was arrested for and whether his treatment is in stark contrast to that of individuals who have committed far worse crimes but who don't threaten the state sanctioned mythology? It is a strange irony that I would not sanction the export of a potato peeler to Iran yet do sympathize with the chap who was extradited seeing as he was given far less access to legal defense than the UK hating Islamists get, and his guilt is almost assured seeing as in the U.S plea bargaining results in many people who are innocent pleading guilty to avoid being banged up for life.

Hopefully you and your ilk will come to see the error of your ways before the UK does indeed lose it's last vestiges of freedom of speech.

http://www.spiked-on.../article/13036/

As an aside the leader of the EDL Tommy Robinson is in jail on remand accused of recently entering the U.S without proper ID. I suspect the U.K authorities would love to have him extradited to the U.S on this charge, though I wonder whether he could get extradition delayed for 7 years by employing captain Hook's lawyer.

What delicious irony!

The delightful, self appointed leader of the EDL and your favourite BF, and spawn of a staunch Irish republican (aka IRA sympathiser) family, is remanded in custody till Jan 2013 for a multitude of charges ( which will just add to his already lengthy rap sheet from his street brawling activities).

Entering the US on fake papers to attend a meeting of Islamophobes, thank you ms Geller et al for such a great early Christmas present. The irony? That such a Republican sympathiser might well be extradited to New York, the city that hosted and refused for 9 years to extradite the convicted murderer of my buddy in 1980 with a US supplied M60. Not only was Doherty supported by over 100 congressmen but NYC even named a street after him. As per my earlier post on this subject, things changed for the better post 9/11, atleast in how terrorist scum were viewed by certain sections of the NYC community.

I wonder who the man with many names (Robinson, Lennon, Yaxley-Lennon to name a few) gets to share his cell in HMP Wandsworth with?

All we now need is for those who supplied the Hawk missiles to Iran that Tappin was sending the power packs for, to really face justice. To date the only person to see the inside of jail in relation to Iran-contra was the guy who stole the street sign (and held it for a ransom of $30 million, the same amount of funding sent to the Nicaraguan insurgents/terrorists), of the street named after Poindexter in his mid-west hometown!!

What goes around.......

I've little doubt that you would accept the entire politically motivated tissue of trumped up charges against Stephen Lennon at face value with no further investigation. To be charitable I could observe that politically active so called anti-fascists are unwittingly acting as an arm of state led suppression. Have you any idea at all what Mr Lennon was arrested for and whether his treatment is in stark contrast to that of individuals who have committed far worse crimes but who don't threaten the state sanctioned mythology? It is a strange irony that I would not sanction the export of a potato peeler to Iran yet do sympathize with the chap who was extradited seeing as he was given far less access to legal defense than the UK hating Islamists get, and his guilt is almost assured seeing as in the U.S plea bargaining results in many people who are innocent pleading guilty to avoid being banged up for life.

Hopefully you and your ilk will come to see the error of your ways before the UK does indeed lose it's last vestiges of freedom of speech.

http://www.spiked-on.../article/13036/

So you are saying that having been refused entry into the US in Sept 2010 due to Tommy/Stephen Robinson/Lennon/Yaxley-Lennon's criminal record, he was able to slip through to attend Geller's love-in this September? Having been arrested for possession of a fake passport which he has presumably used to gain entry into into the US is silly/the height of arrogance, but will come at a considerable price, and if you honestly think that the entire US and UK government/institutions are persecuting poor little Tommy you do need a holiday. This modern day Brownshirt-like thug is an embarrasment to any rational human being irrespective of political leaning. If you want to associate/support/sympathize with such people you should really consider where you are heading...

As an aside the leader of the EDL Tommy Robinson is in jail on remand accused of recently entering the U.S without proper ID. I suspect the U.K authorities would love to have him extradited to the U.S on this charge, though I wonder whether he could get extradition delayed for 7 years by employing captain Hook's lawyer.

What delicious irony!

The delightful, self appointed leader of the EDL and your favourite BF, and spawn of a staunch Irish republican (aka IRA sympathiser) family, is remanded in custody till Jan 2013 for a multitude of charges ( which will just add to his already lengthy rap sheet from his street brawling activities).

Entering the US on fake papers to attend a meeting of Islamophobes, thank you ms Geller et al for such a great early Christmas present. The irony? That such a Republican sympathiser might well be extradited to New York, the city that hosted and refused for 9 years to extradite the convicted murderer of my buddy in 1980 with a US supplied M60. Not only was Doherty supported by over 100 congressmen but NYC even named a street after him. As per my earlier post on this subject, things changed for the better post 9/11, atleast in how terrorist scum were viewed by certain sections of the NYC community.

I wonder who the man with many names (Robinson, Lennon, Yaxley-Lennon to name a few) gets to share his cell in HMP Wandsworth with?

All we now need is for those who supplied the Hawk missiles to Iran that Tappin was sending the power packs for, to really face justice. To date the only person to see the inside of jail in relation to Iran-contra was the guy who stole the street sign (and held it for a ransom of $30 million, the same amount of funding sent to the Nicaraguan insurgents/terrorists), of the street named after Poindexter in his mid-west hometown!!

What goes around.......

I've little doubt that you would accept the entire politically motivated tissue of trumped up charges against Stephen Lennon at face value with no further investigation. To be charitable I could observe that politically active so called anti-fascists are unwittingly acting as an arm of state led suppression. Have you any idea at all what Mr Lennon was arrested for and whether his treatment is in stark contrast to that of individuals who have committed far worse crimes but who don't threaten the state sanctioned mythology? It is a strange irony that I would not sanction the export of a potato peeler to Iran yet do sympathize with the chap who was extradited seeing as he was given far less access to legal defense than the UK hating Islamists get, and his guilt is almost assured seeing as in the U.S plea bargaining results in many people who are innocent pleading guilty to avoid being banged up for life.

Hopefully you and your ilk will come to see the error of your ways before the UK does indeed lose it's last vestiges of freedom of speech.

http://www.spiked-on.../article/13036/

So you are saying that having been refused entry into the US in Sept 2010 due to Tommy/Stephen Robinson/Lennon/Yaxley-Lennon's criminal record, he was able to slip through to attend Geller's love-in this September? Having been arrested for possession of a fake passport which he has presumably used to gain entry into into the US is silly/the height of arrogance, but will come at a considerable price, and if you honestly think that the entire US and UK government/institutions are persecuting poor little Tommy you do need a holiday. This modern day Brownshirt-like thug is an embarrasment to any rational human being irrespective of political leaning. If you want to associate/support/sympathize with such people you should really consider where you are heading...

I shall respond to your deluded hyperbolic rant about someone who would not even remotely reach the 12 bottles of bleach entry level of sundry jihaddists. However in the meantime here we have news amply supporting the premise that it's better to be a major terrorist agitator than be classed as an undesirable by the UK government, especially when the E.U gets to meddle as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20307580

You've guessed it, Abu Qatada, he's out on bail to continue racking up one million pounds and counting cultural enrichment and financial impoverishment on the UK taxpayer. P.S And why again is Tommy Robinson in jail with no bail?

I shall respond to your deluded hyperbolic rant about someone who would not even remotely reach the 12 bottles of bleach entry level of sundry jihaddists. However in the meantime here we have news amply supporting the premise that it's better to be a major terrorist agitator than be classed as an undesirable by the UK government, especially when the E.U gets to meddle as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20307580

You've guessed it, Abu Qatada, he's out on bail to continue racking up one million pounds and counting cultural enrichment and financial impoverishment on the UK taxpayer. P.S And why again is Tommy Robinson in jail with no bail?

Sadly Abu Qatada has not apparently committed any offences here (unlike in Jordan), while delightful Tommy has. Given the latter's lengthy criminal record and his recent stunt in travelling with false documents means that being held on remand is hardly a surprise.

You've guessed it, Abu Qatada, he's out on bail to continue racking up one million pounds and counting cultural enrichment and financial impoverishment on the UK taxpayer. P.S And why again is Tommy Robinson in jail with no bail?

I cannot understand why we have allowed any person to be extradited to the US when we have human rights laws that restrict the British government's right to transfer non-citizens to locations where there are warrants against them.

The origin of this thread was regarding the extradition of a UK citizen, who had commited no offence in the UK, to the US, where he was treated in a manner not consistent with UK standard of justice and forced to plead guilty in order to mitigate a sentence threatened (but not pronounced, as he was still un-tried) for a non-offence according to UK law.

This man has been ill-served by the Home Office, just as the British public has been ill-served in the Abu Katada business.

It's no good being a UK-born citizen, better to grow a beard and preach death and destruction to the people giving you shelter.

And sure enough, I'm not even surprised any more.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21955844

Home Secretary Theresa May has lost her appeal against a ruling preventing the deportation of preacher Abu Qatada.

She acted after the Special Immigration Appeals Commission said the radical cleric could not be returned to Jordan.

But surely the solution is just to put him on a plane to Jordan and then say <deleted> to any complainants?

In their judgement, Lord Dyson, sitting with Lord Justice Richards and Lord Justice Elias, said the appeals commission was entitled to think there was a risk the "impugned statements" would be admitted in evidence at a retrial. This meant there was "a real risk of a flagrant denial of justice".

The judges said the court accepted that Qatada "is regarded as a very dangerous person", but that was not "a relevant consideration" under human rights laws.

(Quote from the BBC link)

What about the human rights of the people he's dangerous to?

I agree with you, HB. Ship him out first and argue afterwards.

Abu Qatada has agreed to be deported under a promise of fair treatment in Jordan. At last!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/14/abu-qatada-extradition-theresa-may

What perhaps nobody realised was how much his deportation has cost. GBP647,000 in legal aid for Abu Qatada for a start!

But the FBI used a sting (entrapment) to catch this guy - in other words he was approached and agreed to act in concert with the people who trapped him.

Such methods are illegal in the UK.

Al Qatada is not allowed to be repatriated to Jordan because of the possibility that the methods used to obtain evidence against him in Jordan (i.e. torture) are illegal in the UK.

How does the government explain this?

Like with Bliar and other Prime Ministers of the UK, they just drop their trousers and bend over whenever the US President coughs.

The last British PM with balls was a woman.