By Niall O’Dowd

Most people’s image of a terrorist is a bin Laden type, a religious fundamentalist ready to do his worst and wreak havoc on western civilization as we know it.

Yet terrorists come in all shapes, ethnicities and sizes. Consider the convicted terrorist Sir Mark Thatcher, 51, son of the famous Margaret, who pleaded guilty to such charges last week in South Africa.

Sir Mark — the title was handed down from his father — plea bargained his way to freedom last week in a South African court after agreeing to turn in other conspirators in a plot to overthrow the government of another country, and paying a large fine.

It appears Mark and friends, including many mercenaries, decided it might be a good idea to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea, a tiny West African country. In return for installing a friendly regime Mark and his buddies would have access to oil rights, no small matter in a country that supplies the U.S. with 15% of its oil imports.

Mark agreed to supply $275,000 to the plotters to finance the overthrow. The money would go for helicopters to provide air support when the coup began.

Unfortunately for Sir Thatcher, the scheme went awry when Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea police intercepted the mercenaries before they completed their plot.

Sir Mark faced the music in South Africa last week and, in return for a plea bargain, pleaded guilty, paid a £265,000 fine and received a suspended four-year prison term. As part of his plea bargain Sir Mark agreed to inform on all the other members of the coup that he personally knew.

“Mr. Mark Thatcher has agreed to fully cooperate with the investigations, so we are happy. He has spoken to our investigating officer about other people who were involved in the coup plot and he is continuing to speak to us,” said prosecutor Sipho Ngwema.

In court Sir Mark stated he was heartily sorry for his deeds and said all he wished to do was fly to the U.S. to be with his wife and kids in Texas.

Here is where it becomes interesting. Sir Mark is not an American passport holder — indeed, he needs to apply for a visa to enter the country. He is currently in Frankfurt awaiting the processing.

Now, we can only imagine his mother’s indignation if she was still British prime minister and someone had wished to enter Britain after taking part in a coup attempt in another country. Maggie was always fond of saying that a “terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist” and doubtless, given her son’s conviction, she now has one in the family.

I’m sure in this case Margaret would have been on the wire to the U.S. president if it was anyone else but her son, recommending that such a dangerous person not be admitted to the country, or indeed, any country for that matter.

That was the thing about Margaret. She stood tall against terrorists, even when it meant they starved themselves to death as in the Irish Hunger Strikes. Doubtless Margaret would feel the same way about her son.

Well, not really. It appears when her son was facing the charges Margaret moved heaven and earth to try and get him off the hook. Lady Thatcher visited him at Christmas in South Africa and they discussed the case fully. 

After the sentence Lady Thatcher stated, “This has been a difficult time for all of the family. Obviously I am delighted it has been brought to an end.” 

Hmm, not a word there about condemning terrorism or seeking to overthrow governments. What a change in attitude from the Iron Lady.

Now imagine if this was anyone else but Sir Mark. American authorities would doubtless give short shrift to a visa application for a man convicted of fomenting the overthrow of a government and who had admitted terrorist charges.

If the American government has any sense it will refuse Mark Thatcher admittance into this country. In an age where every undocumented immigrant in the U.S. is treated like a likely terrorist, it seems absurd that a real one could come and go with impunity. 

As he is not in prison Sir Mark belongs back in Britain with his ailing mother, who has suffered several small strokes. He has no place in America post-September 11.