United Kingdom

Jeneral2885

(1,354 posts) Tue Jun 3, 2014, 10:11 AM Jun 2014

If Bowe Bergdahl was a British soldier

Would there be such an outcry the British media and the public? I don't know--does the UK have a Guantanamo or any "terrorists" that could have been exchanged if the guy was a British solider?

Am asking this due to an online debate I'm having....

3 replies

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If Bowe Bergdahl was a British soldier (Original Post) Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 OP

No known equivalent of Gitmo here in the UK. dipsydoodle Jun 2014 #1

Ok thanks Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 #2

It's often quoted as a principle, but I don't know how many UK politicians muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #3

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

1. No known equivalent of Gitmo here in the UK.

Reply to Jeneral2885 (Original post)

Tue Jun 3, 2014, 10:23 AM

Jun 2014

Here we give them local authority housing and social benefits instead.

The UK simply became party to / allowed the US to rendition all and sundry.

The current subject would be classed as negotiating with terrorists which the UK doesn't seem to do at least not overtly.

Jeneral2885

(1,354 posts)

2. Ok thanks

Reply to dipsydoodle (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 3, 2014, 11:19 AM

Jun 2014

I wonder if there's any UK politician who would scream the same "we should not negotiate with terrorists" as the Tea Pparty has done

muriel_volestrangler

(101,311 posts)

3. It's often quoted as a principle, but I don't know how many UK politicians

Reply to Jeneral2885 (Reply #2)

Tue Jun 3, 2014, 11:49 AM

Jun 2014

would be loudly criticising a government for this trade. I can't think of direct equivalents, but with some similarities:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Iranian_seizure_of_Royal_Navy_personnel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Amenas_hostage_crisis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Waite

On the whole, I don't remember a lot of carping from opposition politicians about how badly these kind of things get handled; most seem to recognise there are rarely 'obviously correct' solutions.

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