Gonzales Asked Germany To Hold Hijacker

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 12-21-2005 | Ann Gearan

[blam]

Gonzales Asked Germany to Hold Hijacker

Wednesday December 21, 2005 11:16 PM

By ANNE GEARAN

AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales personally asked the German government not to release a terrorist accused of killing a Navy diver, but was rebuffed, the Bush administration said Wednesday.

Mohammed Ali Hamadi was freed on parole by German authorities after serving 19 years of a life sentence for the 1985 hijacking of a TWA plane during which a U.S. Navy diver was killed. The 17-day ordeal riveted the United States and brought Middle East terrorism home for many Americans.

``We did, at senior levels at the U.S. government, contact the German authorities to emphasize that we thought it was important that he serve out his entire term, but we did so with a full understanding that under German law it was highly likely that he was going to be released,'' State Department Sean McCormack said.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions are ongoing, said the United States believes Hamadi was released from temporary custody in Lebanon and has disappeared.

Lebanon is an emerging U.S. ally in the volatile Middle East, with a new democratically elected government and growing diplomatic and economic ties with the West. Lebanon's Syrian-allied president remains in office, however, and the country is still largely defined by sectarian politics.

The United States has no extradition treaty with Lebanon.

[blam]

"Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem, 23, was killed and his body dumped on the Beirut tarmac."

I'll never forget that sight.

[MARKUSPRIME]

Thanks alot germany.So damned annoying.

[msnimje]

Did the Germans give him a medal before they released him?

[iPod Shuffle]

Munich all over again. Will we do what the Israelis did when the Krauts let the killers loose?

[Meadow Muffin]

What can you say other than their are ingrates who kiss the rear end of the terrorist.

[vigilence]

That's the thanks we get for saving their collective butts from the Soviets throughout the Cold War.

[Dog Gone]

Germany slapped us in the face here. If it becomes provable that they did this in exchange for the German hostage in Iraq, the perfidy will be complete.

Not liking this at all. I thought things would change after Schroeder was gone.

[Publius6961]

If it's not too much trouble, can anyone remind me what, if anything, there is that I can do that would truly annoy the Germans and Germany?

[Publius6961]

If it's not too much trouble, can anyone remind me what, if anything, there is that I can do that would truly annoy the Germans and Germany?

[fooman]

ping

[EagleUSA]

My dislike of Germany and France grows daily. Just wait until they call for help when the Muslims take them over...

[operation clinton cleanup]

Hamadi was released from temporary custody in Lebanon and has disappeared.

I'm sure he is enjoying a hero's welcome in Syria.

[injin]

damn krauts....I hope we have an extra-judicial unit that can track people like this and make them disappear.
That would please me very much ! and to hell with the hand wringers.

[injin]

what there is that I can do that would truly annoy the Germans and Germany?

openly boycott visiting the country , stop buying German beer s and wines and other food products , subject them to MUCH closer scrutiny when they apply for visas to visit the US and deny all US visas to moslems masquerading as German citizens altogether .

[Michael.SF.]

I say we close it. Tell Germany we got a better offer from Poland:

[injin]

and vacate the US bases there right away instead of in the distant future.... really pull the rug on these forgetful and complacent 'allies' ....

[infidel29]

Time to close some more military bases in Germany.

"F" you and your economy, Krauts.

[clee1]

They've made their choice.

Any and all aid to Germany should be halted. Trade between our nations should be severely restricted, and diplomatic relations should be terse and tense.

[Buck W.]

Andrea Merkel is off to a bad start.