Lockerbie Victim's Mom Upset with Obama

Calls President's Remarks over Release of Pan Am 103 Bomber Soft

(CBS/ AP)  The mother of a young woman killed in the Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 was blunt in her anger over seeing the mastermind of the attack return home to cheering crowds.

"I was furious and I was sick," Susan Cohen, whose daughter Theodora, then 20, died on the flight.

Cohen reserved some of her anger toward the Obama administration as well. Thursday, President Obama called the release of Libyan Abdel Baset al-Megrahi after serving eight years of a minimum 27-year sentence in Scottish prison, a "mistake."

Cohen called Mr. Obama's remark "soft," during an interview with CBS' "The Early Show" Friday, adding that she has pushed the president to do more. There is "no one even in prison for the crime," she said.

Later Friday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration had registered its outrage with Libya and thought the images of the bomber's homecoming were "outrageous and offensive."

He said the administration would continue to watch the actions of the released bomber and the Libyan government.

Cohen and other relatives said they believe al-Megrahi was released to appease Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi because access to his nation's oil is so important.

Across the U.S., other family and friends of Pan Am 103 victims expressed shock and disgust over al-Megrahi's release. Some stared at their televisions in disbelief. Others were too furious to process the news.

Scottish officials said the former Libyan intelligence officer has advanced prostate cancer and was given only months to live. They said they were bound by Scottish values to release him.

Asked about al-Megrahi's condition, Cohen was unmoved. "It doesn't matter to me," she said. "He's a terrorist."

More than two decades after a terrorist bomb blew a Pan Am jetliner out of the sky, victims' relatives watched in anger as the only man ever convicted in the attack boarded another flight to his freedom in Libya, then arrived home to a hero's welcome.

"This is not fair to the families," said Stan Maslowski, whose 30-year-old daughter Diane was returning from London for Christmas when Flight 103 went down on Dec. 21, 1988. "This shows a terrorist can get away with murder."

Maslowski and his wife, Norma, turned on the TV at their Haddonfield home to watch the developments. "You get that lump in your throat and you feel like you're going to throw up," Norma Maslowski said.

"He got on the plane looking fairly ill, and he got off the plane looking like he could do a dance," said Joanne Hartunian of Delmar, N.Y., who lost her daughter Lynne, a student at the State University of New York at Oswego. "It just made me physically ill."

"It brought it all back to Day One," Hartunian said. "I thought we had gotten past that horrible, horrible pain that we felt, but I felt the same pain today."

Many struggled to explain their feelings.

The bombing turned the families of some of the 270 victims into activists who became deeply versed in terrorism policy, international relations, airline security and victim compensation.

The families, which organized as Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, have evolved from communicating through phone trees to keeping in touch through Facebook.

From the beginning, many were bitter that neither the United States nor other nations spoke out more strongly about the attack, although the White House on Thursday said Scotland should not have released him.

President Barack Obama called the release a mistake and urged the Libyan government to place al-Megrahi under house arrest.

Thursday's release is likely the end of the legal saga.

"Twenty years later, this is the last sad chapter where government leaders have no moral backbone," said Bert Ammerman of River Vale, whose brother Tom was killed on the flight.

Still, the victims group intends to go on. They planned a conference call Friday to discuss what to do next, and expect to join protests next month when Gadhafi is scheduled to visit New York, said Bob Monetti, whose brother was on the flight.

Monetti said he was disappointed but not surprised by the welcome al-Megrahi received in Libya. He hopes as many people will come out to protest Gadhafi in New York as came out to celebrate al-Megrahi's return home.

Peter Sullivan, a college roommate of victim Mike Doyle, said the criminal case does not have to end.

"I would like to see the United States expeditiously indict al-Megrahi and seek his extradition for trial in the U.S. for the murder of 189 innocent Americans," said Sullivan, of Akron, Ohio.

But not all the relatives thought the release was wrong.

"This is just one little thing that says this is not going to hurt any of us for him to be released and go die with his family," said Caroline Stevens of Little Rock, Ark., whose son Sandy Phillips died in the bombing. "We've got to look at one another in a more compassionate way and not rely on war and revenge and all that."

Ann Rogers said she had not been aware that al-Megrahi was close to getting his freedom. Her 21-year-old daughter died in the bombing.

"We haven't thought about him in a long time," said Rogers, of Olney, Md. "Whatever happens to him, the bottom line is Luann's still gone."

[proudscot]

and another thing. When an American warship blew an Iranian passenger plane out of the sky, killing all 290 on board, what was the punishment for this act of terror? A hero's welcome and medals for the perpetrators

[proudscot]

judging from the level of vitriol from people on your side of the Atlantic most of you have failed to read the evidence or you'd realise al Megrahi was almost certainly innocent.
But worst of all you have shown how utterly hypoctical America is when it comes to violence. Torture in Guanatanamo and abhu graib, covert terrorism in South and Central America, blockading Cuba for decades and bombing countless millions of people worldwide. USA! USA!

My word, we all know that this was a big mistake to release a man who is responsible for all of the deaths of those innocent people. But, Obama is only a man. Does he have to work 3-4 times harder than anyone else. Everyone complains about everything that he does. He is not God. Give him a break.

[denise_1900]

Let's see. How many American presidents have we had since 1988? Four over a 21 year period: Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Obama.

I think this grieving (rightfully so) parent is looking for someone to blame.

[chonder2]

He should have invaded Scotland.

[rwsmith29456]

Whatever Obama says I think the prisoner should have been left in jail to rot.

[facefacts]

Too bad GWB normalized relations with the mastermind and sponsor of this mass murder, Muammar al-Qaddafi.

From Fox News, November 19, 2008:

"President Bush called Libya's Muammar al-Qaddafi to voice his satisfaction with a $1.5 billion payment that Tripoli made to settle a long-standing dispute over terrorist attacks, including the bombing a Pan Am jet over Scotland, the White House said Monday.

In their conversation, Bush and Qaddafi "discussed that this agreement should help to bring a painful chapter in the history between our two countries closer to closure," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a statement.

Libya's Oct. 31 payment cleared the last hurdle in restoration of full normalization of diplomatic relations between Washington and Tripoli."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,453024,00.html

And John McCain met with Qaddafi in Libya last week, and announced on twiiter, "Late evening with Col. Qadhafi at his "ranch" in Libya - interesting meeting with an interesting man."

But Obama is disgusting, weak, etc. Who is 'palling around with terrorists' now?

It's a curse to have a memory that stretches back more than 30 seconds.

[tigerrram9]

People are so ignorant sometimes that their hate for someone always shows up in blaming that person. Why are these people blaming our President? What do you want him to do "Go to War against Scotland" to prevent the release of a terrorist? Mr. GOP lover, What would you have done if you were President? What?What? You igno's, know what they say about OPINIONS, Opinions are like______everone has one. Stop blaming our President for every damn thing that happens in the NEWS. Americans need to unite behind our President, so the world can see our Unity. The old Sun Tsu Arts of War...divide and conquer..Let America be the leader of peace in the world. Unite behind our President. Show the world that America is the best country in the world. God Bless America and all Americans.

[allan3876]

I have already posted a comment stating my anger about the release. He should not have been. The Scottish government (my government) should be ashmed of themselves. We have always been known as a friendly nation, but this is a bit too much. The sight of that terrorist landing in Libya to a heroes welcome was disgusting and hurtful to watch. Please do not forget that people from Lockerbie in Scotland also died, now i know it cannot be compared to the loss of many us families, but our country still suffered loss. No matter what is said, it was down to the Scottish government to decide whether or not to release him and no amount of criticism or appeals from other countries to reject the application would have made them change their minds. The British government has denied any involvement in the matter and in all honesty the Scottish government and Westminster do not always get along.

[pepperwood2]

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration had registered its outrage with Libya and thought the images of the bomber's homecoming were "outrageous and offensive."

It is comforting to know that Obama Administration THOUGHT the bomber's hero's welcome were "Outrageous & Offensive". Rest assured that the Obama Administration is DEFINITELY appalled & angry that these scenes are televised & reported to The American People & around the World. Steps have been taken so that this won't happen again.

Obama has warned the Media & Newspapers that he will not Bail them out if this kind of journalism continues.

[hockeymom441]

Shame on Scotland! Does this mean now all prisons who are knocking on death's door should be release! It's incredulous that they'd start this new program w/ a terrorist! How about a plain on murderer who's dying....?!?

This is insane and I cannot imagine what a crazy precedent it has set!

[allan3876]

Actually it did not start with a terrorist. 30 applications have been made over the past decade and 23 were approved. This is just more publicised! It's not Scotland alone, England also does this. Type in Ronnie Briggs (he was the great train robber) he was released only a week ago.

[winslowe1]

There is talk of releasing tens of thousands of criminals (the numbers run between 27,000-40,000 in California alone), yet the protest is about the release of one half-dead terrorist from another country. America is indeed the land of the hypocrites.

[velma179]

by winslowe1 August 21, 2009 1:23 PM EDT
There is talk of releasing tens of thousands of criminals (the numbers run between 27,000-40,000 in California alone), yet the protest is about the release of one half-dead terrorist from another country. America is indeed the land of the hypocrites.

***********

The inmates being released in CA are all "non violent offenders".

[mikeinIowa]

I am a compassionate conservative and I think this man should have been executed for his most heinous crime. However, as sympathetic as as I am with the families; their outrage with the President is highly misplaced. The President or the American government had nothing to do with this monster's release. This was the Scottish government. These families should direct their anger to the Lybian government and to the Scottish authorities who made this possible.

[StevenW314]

Get over it Susan. Jesus Christ. Enough is enough. America has been droping bombs and killing innocent and terrorizing Iraqis and Afgans for the last 5 years. Get over yourself.

[jbright9]

Give the livid right a chance and they will always take a cheap shot at the President. These same people fly the flag and think they are patriotic. I am sick to death of them. Blame the Scot who made the decision.

By the way, I am white and over sixty. Thankfully, I am not one of the undereducated, bigoted, mean members of the GOP.

[hagar39]

Helloooo SCOTLAND! And I can't comment because I was not at the trial.
I didn't hear or listen to all the arguments at the trial.
How many on this board was at the trial?

[rafterman1]

What was Obama supposed to do, declare war on Scotland?

[robo1415]

What do we expect from Obama?A weak stupid man....

[wahoosam2]

What's with these loons on here trying to blame Obama? The decision was made in Scotland and the White House voiced its strong disapproval.

[crispy-gmx]

There is more than one side to this story, many people in Scotland believe al-Megrahi was a scapegoat, and are not convinced he was guilty. I have no idea if he is or is not guilty, but assuming he is, then he should not have been released.
Those angry at President Obama are focusing their anger at the wrong person. There is only so much the US can do in this case. What do you suggest, that we punish the UK, one of our strongest allies?