Bush had other things to worry about, like helping his friend, Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, appease a public that overwhelmingly objected to British citizens being prosecuted
in American
military courts. Upon their release
in January 2005 — which was opposed by the Pentagon, the C.I.A. and the F.B.I. — Mr. Begg and Mr. Abbasi were taken in for questioning by British authorities. Both were released the following day without charges. (Mr.