 MAMDOUH Habib could be returned to Australia on a specially chartered Qantas flight costing up to $250,000, as the federal Government finalises plans with the US to bring him home.
| Boy, won't that make the taxpayers happy... |
The Attorney-General's Department is understood to have held talks with Qantas about sending a taxpayer-funded plane to pick up the Sydney father of four. If a deal goes ahead, it is believed the aircraft will have to return via Mexico because it will be prohibited from crossing US airspace with Habib on board. The US has insisted that Australia provide an armed security detail of police, or soldiers, to escort Habib back to Sydney. The size of the detail is yet to be determined. It is understood he will be returned within one week, with the Howard Government prepared to use a military aircraft if plans with Qantas fall through. Habib, 48, will be subject to a full psychological screening when he arrives in Sydney, after multiple reports from his lawyers and released Guantanamo Bay detainees that the former Sydney cleaner had been traumatised by his ordeal in captivity.
"Doctor! What are the results of his psychological screeening?"
"Well, it's kind of complicated..."
"Can you put it in layman's terms?"
"Oh, of course. He's a nut." |
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