The capture of Abu Abbas

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IAIN WATSON:
When is a terrorist not a terrorist?

The usual answer is when he's a freedom fighter. But in the case of Abu Abbas, perhaps it is when he has retired.

He was apprehended by the Americans at this comfy suburban home in Baghdad, and was paraded as evidence of Saddam's links to terror groups.

Not everyone agrees with his significance.

Brigadier General VINCENT BROOKS:
He was found in Baghdad, we have said for a long time that Baghdad and the regime that no longer exists have harboured terrorists, have provided a safe haven for terrorists.

DR YEZID SAYIGH:
Capturing Abu Abbas today and saying that this is some how an important achievement in the global war on terror, is like arresting the driver of the getaway car of Briggs Great Train Robbery and saying it is a blow to the Colombian drug terror, it is about the link of that.

WATSON:
Abu Abbas founded the Palestinian Liberation Front in 1976.

Nine years later their most infamous operation was the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, the Achille Lauro.

Leon Klinghoffer, an elderly handicapped American was killed and thrown overboard in his wheelchair.

Abu Abbas wasn't on board the ship but claimed to broker a deal with the Egyptian Government to end the hijack.

The Italian Government let him go before going on trial in Sicily, then convicted him in his absence.

His defenders say he's a reformed character supporters say's who long ago renounced violence.

SAYIGH:
Since 1993 when the PLO entered into the agreement at Oslo, he disappeared from politics, took up residence in Baghdad and is living in retirement.

This is not someone who is part, or ever has been part of a global terrorist network.

He has nothing to do with Al-Qaeda, or Islam for that matter. In a sense that he is in fact married to a Christian.

He is the sort of person who would have a whiskey at the end of the day.

WATSON:
In 1995 an agreement was reached between the PLO and Israel as part of the peace process, which said: (on screen).

At the time the Israelis described Abu Abbas as not a threat.

In 1996 allowed him into the Gaza Strip, right on Israel's doorstep. But all this won't necessarily save him from prosecution now.

HAGAI M SEGAL:
The 1995 agreement is strictly a bilateral agreement between Palestinian and the Israelis, there are no other signatures to it.

Therefore, Italy has no obligations under that accord to give immunity to people.

Neither does the United States.

WATSON:
After the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in 1985, the then US President had this message for terrorists.

GEORGE BUSH:
You can run but you can't hide.

WATSON:
But it was only after the shock of September 11th that the Americans really decided to make this stick.

Cynics, however, say that to justify the war in Iraq the US finds it rather easy to track down an ageing terrorist than weapons of mass destruction.

On 4th of April containers of suspicious white powder were found by American troops, it turned out to be non-chemical explosive.

On the 7th of April two suspect barrels were found at an empty Iraqi training camp. It was subsequently said were more likely to contain pesticide than chemical weapons.

On the 10th of April drums of radioactive material were uncovered at an underground laboratory, but the international Atomic Energy Authority said they almost certainly contained low-grade uranium that couldn't be used to make nuclear weapons.

DANIEL BYMAN:
In Iraq there has been a desire to find, not only weapons of mass destruction, but as many terrorists as possible, to get them off the street, and to show politically this has been a worthwhile war.

WATSON:
The capture of Abu Abbas may amount to a lot more than a propaganda exercise. Although he has no known links to Al- Qaeda, he was close to Saddam.

The Americans hope that any information that this terrorist tiddler has may lead to the landing of bigger fish. His detention may have a wider symbolic significance too.

Abu Abbas may be part of the past, a terrorist who long ago traded his Kalashnikov for a quiet life. In detaining him the Americans may have one eye on the future of the Middle East.

With the promised publication of a new roadmap for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis, the UN could be attempting to reassure a sceptical Israeli Government that they will continue to have a staunch ally against any Palestinian violence, past, present or future.

SEGAL:
The Palestinian Authority are going to have to make clear an obvious decision to end violence and go after parties pursuing violence.

Absolutely by getting someone like this they are linking it with that agenda and establishing the perameters for which they will pressurise the Palestinian Government.

WATSON:
The passing of time hasn't blunted the pain of the family of Leon Klinghoffer, whether he is seen as a superactive or superannuated terrorist, they will still want Abu Abbas brought to justice for his part in the Achille Lauro hijack.

This transcript was produced from the teletext subtitles that are generated live for Newsnight. It has been checked against the programme as broadcast, however Newsnight can accept no responsibility for any factual inaccuracies. We will be happy to correct serious errors.