From CNN:
A Hezbollah militant sentenced to life in Germany for murdering a U.S. Navy diver during the 1985 hijacking of a U.S. jetliner has been freed, officials said.
The German government denied on Tuesday the release was related to the freeing of a German hostage in Iraq.
Mohammed Ali Hamadi was released Thursday and allowed to return to his native Lebanon on the next day, after qualifying for parole after 19 years in prison, said Ulrich Hermanski, spokesman for the North Rhine Wesphalia state justice ministry.
“There was no special treatment,” Hermanski said in a telephone interview.
The decision was a state, not federal one, said federal Justice Ministry spokeswoman Eva Schmierer told a news conference.
“The federal government has nothing to do with it,” she said. She denied reports the U.S. government had an extradition request for Hamadi.
Hamadi was convicted in 1989 in Frankfurt, Hessen state, for the beating and shooting of Robert Dean Stethem, a 23-year-old U.S. Navy diver whose body was thrown on the tarmac at Beirut airport during the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
The U.S. Navy has named one of its ships after Stethem, who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The German government also denied there was any link between Hamadi’s release and the freeing of Suzanne Osthoff, a German archaeologist, in Iraq last week.
Still pissed about Normandy, I see…
Or maybe I’m just being too hard on the Germans, here. Perhaps Hamadi is simply rehabilitated. Like, y’know—maybe he found god in prison.
Oh wait —
(via Gail Hapke; more here; see also, Ace and LGF)
The Christian Democrats take over, and this is what happens?
Another argument for capital punishment.
F’king Europeans. Just like the Italians who freed the hijakers from our agents at gunpoint back in the ‘70s. Gutless shits.
Hunt the bastard down and air him out.
No. Another arguement for troop withdrawal… from Germany.
Debka has a detailed article about the shakeup in German intelligence which they think may be responsible for the willingness to deal with Hizbullah et al.:
It’s called Realpolitik
I hear that his conflict-resolution textbooks are the bomb.
Point of interest: USS Stethem is armed with Tomahawk missiles and should be able to hit a target anywhere in Lebanon.
“Hamadi was convicted in 1989 in Frankfurt”…
“Hamadi was released Thursday and allowed to return to his native Lebanon on the next day, after qualifying for parole after 19 years in prison…”
One question.
Does anyone know how to count?
Sixteen years is all I can squeeze out of those dates.
CNN reports, you decide….
Let’s see……German hostage released in Iraq….Islamic Jihadist released from German Prison next day……hmmmmm.
No. That’s not a duck, I don’t care how it quacks and how it waddles….it’s just some chicken.
tw: said – After all, they said it was a coincidence.
I can just see the judge saying, “I hereby sentence you to life in Germany!”
The Navy diver’s name was Robert Dean Stethem.
Thank you Alan
Do we have any Germany hating murderers we can release? At least it wasn’t a deal for another murderer/terrorist.
Or maybe I’m just being too hard on the Germans, here. Perhaps Hamadi is simply rehabilitated. Like, y’knowâ€â€maybe he found god in prison.
Oh wait —
That’s pretty darn funny.
Forbes, he was probably captured in 1986. It would have been nice information though.
This is more proof that the law-enforcement model doesn’t work against terrorists. Germany wouldn’t give him to us because we might execute him but they will release him so he can kill more people.
Some days I wish we were imperial war-mongers.
Three years during the trial?
Scott, removing troops from Germany is probably a good idea. They’re needed elsewhere. But the only real effect of removal on the Germans is the bite out of their economy.
No, no, no.
Hamadi wrote some children’s books while in the slammer. Clearly he should be set free.
Totally unrelated I’m sure.
I can see it now:
German Official: “So sorry, all a mistake you understand, what with the name Mohamad and all.”
Mohamad:…
German Official: “I mean, you folks all pretty much have the same name, we got you mixed up with another Mohamad.”
Mohamad:…
German Official: “Well, you folks DO all pretty much look alike and…oh never mind. Here’s a Jetta, please leave Germany and don’t hurt us.”
German Official: “And ummm, DEATH TO AMERICA AND THE ZIONISTS and all that.”
Yeah…our “allies” in the War On Terror.
Poland has better marches and, so I hear, better beer. Move everyone over there.
Just what I needed, a fresh reason to hate Germany’s government.
Attila, is that a bug or a feature?
Man, there is absolutely nothing I’d like better than to see Germany and France go at it again. That would be so great! Granted, it wouldn’t be as good as the first and second installments of the series, but hey, even Rocky III had some quality moments.
Oh, and don’t forget the debilitating mental strain it would put on the Democrats. I mean, who would they back? One more issue the SurrenderMonkeys wouldn’t be able to figure out a position on.
This has so much potential. Anyone know if Rove is working on this?
Islamist Childrens’ books? Why, don’t mind if I do?
Horton Hears A Jew
The Evil Zionist Bernstein Bears
Oh The Places You Will Blow (Up
Heather Had Two Mommies Until We Beheaded Them for Sodomy, and Now Mohammed is Her Husband
Sha’ria for Kids: Mommy, Why Are They Cutting Off My Hand?
Man, there is absolutely nothing I’d like better than to see Germany and France go at it again. That would be so great! Granted, it wouldn’t be as good as the first and second installments of the series, but hey, even Rocky III had some quality moments.
Oh, and don’t forget the debilitating mental strain it would put on the Democrats. I mean, who would they back? One more issue the SurrenderMonkeys wouldn’t be able to figure out a position on.
This has so much potential. Anyone know if Rove is working on this?
What a great idea! You’re right, the first 2 World Wars were so fun and entertaining! HA HA!
Since they don’t seem to be very good at any other sport, including cycling, perhaps they should schedule another franko-prussian war every 5 years and sell tickets. Winner gets a case of Coors beer and a case of Napa wine.
Attila (The Pillage Idiot)—That’s the point. Want to hurt a socialist? Take away his free money.
And it’s long past time.
Did somebody nominate Hamadi for the Nobel Peace Prize?
You think that by now I’d know better, reading you while drinking coffee is NOT good for my keyboard or screen.
“Like, y’knowâ€â€maybe he found god in prison.
Oh wait—“
That was a good one…ya got me.
I figure Tookie’s got a lock on it for next year, awarded post-humously of course.
Maybe 2007 Hamadi’ll have a shot.
does anyone know the name of the movie that this was made into. As bad as i hate the islamic terrorists I would like to infuriate my family. You know There is only one way to truly defend America and that is to export all of them from the country and defend our borders in time of war with our troops. send a strong message to anyone sneaking across we are at war and if you try coming here in the cover of night, you may be considered hostile and may be shot on sight, but let me ask you. With the way our country has become do you think our gov has the balls to do it, NOT…..