but this is just all so, ah, unusual.
Four Uighurs have been transported to Bermuda; another 13 more are due to leave for the Pacific island country of Palau.
They will not be allowed into the US, as was previously desired by the Obama administration.
For a bit of background, the Uighurs live in China, but have not been, shall we say, happy under Chinese rule. All of these men are implicated by China as terrorists in the Uighur separatist movement, which China deems responsible for over 200 attacks since 1990, and China wants them back for trial. The US doesn't want to return them to China for fear they will be tortured and executed.
As for our side, the State Department has concluded that these men are not enemy combatants.
Of concern, however, is that the 4 men now in Bermuda, while at Guantanamo, admitted to being part of a UN-designated terrorist organization associated with the Taliban and al-Qaeda. They were trained in the Tora Bora terrorist camp, and admit to knowing Abdul Haq, recently added to the terrorist list by the US Treasury Department.
Of further concern is the ticklish international situation caused by the State Department. British officials feel a bit miffed, for example, at not being told that these four men were being taken to Bermuda, which is a British colony. From the Independent, "One senior official said: "The Americans were fully aware of the foreign-policy understanding we have with Bermuda and they deliberately chose to ignore it. This is not the kind of behaviour one expects from an ally." " Apparently trying to smooth ruffled feathers, the State Department says that they had been discussing this with the Bermuda governor, stating "We did talk to them before the Uighurs got on the plane." Bermuda insists they were only told the morning of the transfer.
The Brits are concerned that these men could eventually get British citizenship and move to the UK. The people of Palau are also a bit worried over the 13 men that are due to arrive there. And there may be some--what would you say-- suspicion? questions? concern?--about the 200 million dollars of aid the US has just set aside for Palau.
Not to mention that China wants these men back for trial and are a bit miffed about their transfer to Bermuda.
I won't mention that these 4 men are at a resort in Bermuda at taxpayer expense, where they hope to learn to drive, scuba-dive, and bowl.
Sources: The Independent
Investor's Business Daily
The Daily Mail
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