One time terrorist recruiter and Al Q fund raiser Hassan Butt was discussed tonight on Newsnight. On opposite ends of the debate was a woman who was in the 7/7 bombings and who represents some of the other survivors of the bombs and Patrick Mercer.
The woman (who's name escapes me) was of the opinion that by de-radicalising some of the young men who had been fed extreme Islamic claptrap and had become fundementalist, Butt was providing us with a valuble asset. (Butt lost the last of His fundamentalist zeal with the actions of the 7th of July, and the duplicity of Al Q was brought home to Him when He went to the Middle East thinking that His leaders were going to try to allay His misgivings but found they were attempting to send Him to Iraq).
Patrick Mercer on the other hand wanted the guy investigated and if He had done anything illegal (which Butt was not denying - He was forthcoming about His misdeeds) then He should be charged and locked up. He was scathing of McNulty for meeting with Butt.
The reason for this thread is to discuss the relative value of having Butt on our side and the possibility of losing Him if He gets locked up and becomes disallusioned with helping our fight against radical Islam.
The woman (who's name escapes me) was of the opinion that by de-radicalising some of the young men who had been fed extreme Islamic claptrap and had become fundementalist, Butt was providing us with a valuble asset. (Butt lost the last of His fundamentalist zeal with the actions of the 7th of July, and the duplicity of Al Q was brought home to Him when He went to the Middle East thinking that His leaders were going to try to allay His misgivings but found they were attempting to send Him to Iraq).
Patrick Mercer on the other hand wanted the guy investigated and if He had done anything illegal (which Butt was not denying - He was forthcoming about His misdeeds) then He should be charged and locked up. He was scathing of McNulty for meeting with Butt.
The reason for this thread is to discuss the relative value of having Butt on our side and the possibility of losing Him if He gets locked up and becomes disallusioned with helping our fight against radical Islam.