Scots: Libya Broke Lockerbie Promise

Scottish Official Says Libya Assured a Low-Key Welcome, Stands Firm on Release

(AP)  Scotland's justice minister is standing by his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber, but says Libya broke a promise by giving the convicted terrorist a hero's homecoming welcome.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill says the warm welcome for Abdel Baset al-Megrahi breached assurances from Libyan authorities that the return would be low-key.

Scotland's parliament was recalled from its summer break Monday for an emergency debate on the decision to free al-Megrahi. His release has provoked fury from the United States and criticism from the families of American bombing victims. President Obama called the release "highly objectionable."

Lawmakers want to question First Minister Alex Salmond's minority government about the decision, with some demanding that MacAskill resign.

Al-Megrahi - the only man convicted of killing 270 people in the 1988 airline bombing - was released last week on compassionate grounds because he is terminally ill with prostate cancer. He returned to a warm welcome Thursday night in his native Libya.

In a strongly worded letter to the Scottish government, FBI director Robert Mueller said al-Megrahi's release gave comfort to terrorists, while Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said releasing the bomber was "obviously a political decision."

Opening the debate in the Scottish parliament, MacAskill acknowledged Monday that the release was "a global issue" but stressed that the decision to free al-Megrahi had been his alone.

MacAskill has said earlier that he followed all the correct procedures under Scottish law and was not influenced by political considerations.

Some Scottish lawmakers want to distance themselves from the decision by Scotland's nationalist administration, which advocates full independence from Britain.

"Today is about showing the world that Kenny MacAskill did not speak for Scotland in making this decision," said Richard Baker, the Labour Party's Scottish justice spokesman.

However, former Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish slammed Mueller's criticism as "wholly wrong" and said the FBI chief should keep his thoughts to himself.

"The Americans have a right to make their views known, but I think it was wholly wrong for the director of the FBI to speak in such striking terms, which were personal, and which made a direct attack on the Scottish criminal justice system," said McLeish, who served as Scottish leader from 2000 until his resignation in 2001.

McLeish also disputed the notion that the Lockerbie bomber's release would poison relations with the United States. Web sites have been set up in the U.S. calling for a boycott of Scottish goods and visits to the country.

"I don't buy for a minute the idea that this is going to destroy our special relationship with the U.S., nor will it destroy trade between Britain and America," McLeish told the BBC.

As for a boycott, "it would bother me if I thought it was going to happen," he said, dismissing the idea as the brainchild of "certain newscasters and shock jocks."

On Sunday, Salmond said it was wrong to assume that all those affected by the bombing were opposed to al-Megrahi's release.

"I understand the huge and strongly held views of the American families, but that's not all the families who were affected by Lockerbie," Salmond told the BBC. "A number of the families, particularly in the U.K., take a different view and think that we made the right decision."

Scottish officials also have stressed the differences between British and American judicial systems. Compassionate release is a regular feature of the Scottish system when a prisoner is near death. Top British cancer specialists examined al-Megrahi and said he has less than three months to live.

Including al-Megrahi, 24 prisoners have been freed on compassionate grounds in Scotland over the last decade. Another seven applications were turned down because the medical evidence did not support the claim.

But some critics have accused authorities of approving the release to boost business ties between Britain and Libya, which has vast oil reserves. Such suspicions were heightened after Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi thanked Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Queen Elizabeth II for "encouraging" the Scottish government to free al-Megrahi.

Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said the suggestion there had been a deal was "completely implausible and actually quite offensive."

On Monday, a spokesman for Brown said al-Megrahi's release was "a uniquely sensitive and difficult decision" but he denied allegations it pleased terrorists.

"This was a decision taken by the Scottish Justice Secretary in accordance with the laws of Scotland," he said on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. "I don't see that anyone can argue that this gives succor."

The explosion of a bomb hidden in the cargo hold of a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, killed all 259 people on the plane and 11 on the ground in Britain's worst terrorist attack.

Britain and the U.S. have criticized the lavish reception al-Megrahi received when a flag-waving crowd of hundreds greeted him at Tripoli's airport. Britain is reconsidering a planned visit to Libya by Prince Andrew, a top British trade envoy, in response.

Some bereaved relatives, particularly in Britain, have disputed al-Megrahi's 2001 conviction, and a 2007 Scottish judicial review of his case found grounds for an appeal.

He was convicted largely on the evidence of a Maltese shopkeeper, who identified al-Megrahi as having bought a shirt - scraps of which were later found wrapped around the bomb.

Al-Megrahi has steadily maintained his innocence, but last week dropped his appeal so he could be released on compassionate grounds.

[hungry1968-16]

by TheMasses2000 August 25, 2009 9:58 AM EDT
Wm Henry Wallace, Battle of Varsailles and Albert Einstein dumba%$. Try again. Better yet - don't.







You have to go back as far as Einstein, to find a "smart conservative", (if he even was)?!?!


Bwaaa haaa haaa haaa!!!


What does THAT tell you?!?!

[hungry1968-16]

by jsd330 August 24, 2009 9:00 PM EDT
miami_don

You have that backwards it's th Liberals that think the republicans and independents aren't patriots, because they don't agree with Obama.







Republicans and conservatives aren't patriots, because their policies ALWAYS harm America.

They've done, and continue to do, far more damage to America than ALL other terrorist groups combined.

The protection of health insurance companies profits over the health and safety of America's citizens, is just one more example of that.

[hungry1968-16]

by Joe_NY_15 August 24, 2009 4:56 PM EDT
by kmccdoc August 24, 2009 4:53 PM EDT

Scottish soldiers ??? I just laughed so hard, I spit out my drink....no such thing.







True.

There's NO SUCH THING as "Scottish soldiers", "French Victories", or "Smart Conservatives".

[kmccdoc]

I will give you there are no smart conservatives - but really your comments about scottish soldiers shame you, your country and your own armed services - disgusting!

[johnbrown8888]

Scots are forgiving--of wrongs done to someone else.

They're still upset about Queen Victoria using the Stone of Scone as a footstool--and the battle of Culloden---don't even ask!

www.boycottscotland.com--check it out.

[tiggerhomemom]

I can not for the life of me comprehend such an action as releasing this man, because he will be dead soon due to cancer. I try to wrap my mind around our country allowing Reagans shooter go visit his mother and that blows my mind away. I want a return to the "good old days" where if one was convicted of a crime that was punishable by death, it was carried out in a weeks time. There needs to be a few days, just in case one is innocent ... however, make it public nad make it quick, not decades of sitting in a cell somewhere. I promise you that crime will decrease if there swift arm of the law is allowed to rule again. And yes, if someone I know was wrongly accused I would feel terrible if they were wrongly executed.

[kmccdoc]

What rubbish - most civilised countries gave up the death penalty decades ago - and in europe where there is no death penalty the numbers of murders are tiny in comparison to the us. You just have to look at the facts to see the death penaly does not work - it just debases the "society" that imposes it.

The US is one of the few countries in the world still using capital punishment and your are in the lovely company of Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Chad, Conga - does that not tell you something?

[amateurradio]

Mr. MacAskill seems to think the issue is whether Libya broke its word. It is not. Terrorists are terrorists - and we hould never believe that they can or will change. No, Mr. MacAskill, the issue is that you freed a cold-blooded, unapologetic, blood-thirsty mass murderer despite admonitions not to, and you did so accompanied by lies and prevarication. You claimed that Scottish law demands that you do this. That is a lie. You claimed to have spoken to the American families of the murdered and that they were OK with this - another lie. You, sir, have NO HONOR, NO ETHICS, NO HUMANITY. Had you the least shred of any of these, you would have resigned already. You have brought great shame to Scotland and you have damaged her standing in the world, perhaps irretrievably. You have given direct support and succor to terrorists - which in your OWN COUNTRY'S LAWS is TREASON. You should face the penalties for this crime.

[kmccdoc]

timothyjo

Actually 23 prisoners have been released in the last 9 nine years. Perhaps its because we have very few murders in Scotland.

How about you try to have a grown up conversation about this rather than name calling. You might learn something.

[timothyjo]

According to reports scotland has never pardoned released early a murderer why would they realease a man convicted of killing 290 ? shame on the scotish girls !! cheap and exspected by most americans I have never like scotland my self and no one else here in america has a good word for your sick country!!!

[timothyjo]

I have always thought scots were wierd would not buy any thing from them to start. Most postings are not from americans I am from america we will remember the weak minded scots we never forget or forgive ask japan !!We owe the scots a big one!!what do u exspect from men who ware skirts ( kilts) as gay community calls them LOL womens clothes cross dressers !

[kmccdoc]

racism and homophobia are not impressive at all

[Draconifer]

Does that also mean the Glasgow Airport terrorists will be released accordingto the same law? No because Scots nationalists view Americans as expendable.American tourists to Scotland are regularly confronted about their country's policy. They apparently "forgot " Tony Blair and Now Brown played a major part in the conflict. Their tourists should absolutely not get "a hero's welcome" in the states.

[creeper00]

MacAskill, you idiot. It isn't the welcome home people are so upset about. It's the fact that you sent him there in the first place.

With friends like you, who needs enemies?

[scotsdavie]

Robert Mueller said al-Megrahi's release gave comfort to terrorists, but what appears to escape him is the fact that the prisoner must get terminal cancer to get the comfort of release on compassionate grounds. Having the comfort of agonizing death without martyrdom is probably not a great deal.

[nestofkin]

the libyan was tried,and after a due process of law,he was convicted and imprisoned.this process of law,is not only due and moral it appears to be humane and as such provisions were made for the release of prisoners on compassionate grounds.the case in point is one,hence the minister acted as the rule of law prescribes.to condemn him is a sign of hypocrisy and double standards.remember the pilot who shot down an iranian transport plane filled with innocent civilians,he came home and we awarded a medal to him,not because what he did was right,but because we did not consider it relevant.

[kmccdoc]

To all those writing insulting comments about Scotland ask yourselves these questions.

Who fought alongside your troops in Iraq - British and Scottish Soldiers
Who is fighting alongside your troops in Afghanistan - British and Scottish Soldiers
Who committed more troops to both Iraq and Afghanistan than any other country in the world apart from the US - Britain and Scotland.
Scottish and British soldiers are dying every in for the war on terror.

Remember that before you write such disgusting comments.

[debinok1]

They found he had grounds for an appeal and he drops his appeal for release. Somebody knows something, and they DO NOT want that something getting out. Which makes one question, "What are they hiding?"

[hungry1968-16]

by xlib August 24, 2009 1:16 PM EDT
Love the apologists excuses, one after the other. Face it libs, the thug extended his hand and all he got back was the finger.
Now, if this had happened say, this time last year, I wonder what the posts would have looked like.
This thug is weak and the entire world knows it.







The Obama administration made it clear, that releasing this POS was a bad idea, and not in anyone's interest.

Scotland left it up to it's Justice Minister, and he released him based on his Christian beliefs.

Don't blame America, our president, our democracy, or anything else having to do with America.

Put the blame RIGHT where it belongs - organized religion.

[fedup12]

Dead on Hungry!

[notblue]

hungry, comparing all organized religion to a tiny minority of radical religious extremists is like stating all Muslims are terrorists. organized religions are the formost contributors in money and organized physical aide to groups and needy peoples throughout the world. Your ongoing false ideologically motivated generalizations are simply accussations similar to the KKK stating all jews, catholics, and blacks are the scourge of the planet, again completely false but a fair comparison to your own nonsensical diatribes against "organized religion" none the less . Are you so ignorant you cannot comprehend this comaprison or understand the utter hipocrisy of your statement? Guess so!

[credibility2]

Sometimes so-called compassion is the product of fools. The Scottish judge is a spineless immoral oil-grubbing mongrel. Close all embassies of Scotland and the UK that are operating in the US. Kick out all staff and send them back to their own miserable scraps of land. Close our embassies in Scotland and the UK and bring all the staff home.

[kmccdoc]

Oh dear oh dear. Before you spout forth such clap trap ask yourself this -

Who fought alongside your troops in Iraq - British and Scottish Soldiers
Who is fighting alongside your troops in Afghanistan - British and Scottish Soldiers
Who committed more troops to both Iraq and Afghanistan than any other country in the world apart from the US - Britain and Scotland.
Scottish and British soldiers are dying every in for the war on terror.

Remember that before you write such disgusting comments.

[credibility2]

Spare me your drivel. Big deal, so there are a few of your troops in both theatres. Paltry, given the total number of our troops in each one. What Scotland and the UK did with the Lockerbie situation is despicable. They sold the souls of that heinous crime for oil. Lest you forget, the majority of the 270 murdered were U.S. citizens, not Scots or Brits. My comments stand. Now, be a good little kiddie there and go back to your corner and finish your timeout and amuse yourself.

[zwaggsy]

Initially after the bombing most off the attention was directed at Syria, also in the frame was Iran as it was assumed that this was in retaliation for the shooting down of one of their airliners by the US Navy. This was the common perception over here until America decided that Libya was the culprit whereupon Maggie Thatcher's government promptly fell in line & started dismissing all notion of the Iran/Syria link with no real concrete reason given.

Over the years since Magrehi's imprisonment their have been issues raised over the quality of the evidence presented against Magrehi, some already mentioned here was alleged paying off a key witness. The main reason people in the UK have problems with this conviction however is mostly due to the actions of the British government. Magrehi's lawyers obtained evidence they claim dispels most off the evidence against their client, the UK government blocked this evidence citing national security BUT refused to drawn into any discussions as to whether or not the evidence cleared or condemned Magrehi.
Recently the Scottish Justice system decided that there was sufficient evidence amassed to justify an appeal during which (presumably)some off this new evidence would be made public for the first time, all of a sudden Magrehi is released on compassionate grounds & his appeal is dropped before any new evidence can be heard by the public in order for the rest of the world to make up it's own mind.

If Magrihi had died during this process & was later found to be innocent (or at the case against was significantly weakened) then the backlash against both the UK & the US would have been considerable & radicals around the world would gain another martyr. IF the UK government had pressured Scotland into releasing this man then I suspect it has more to do with preventing the release of inconvenient documents that would reflect badly on the way this tragedy was investigated by the parties involved, bear in mind this is the government that had no qualms about re-writing reports & skewing data to their satisfaction in order to justify the case for invading Iraq & when caught out put it all down to "an honest mistake".

[stupa2]

What is Bush's penance for his collateral damage of innocent Iraqi civilians? for his own personal zealot crucade!

[hockeymom441]

He has none... that's why Obama won. His party will have that blood on their hands for a long time.

[miami_don]

You are mixing issues.

[hockeymom441]

How many prisoners die everyday in jail..."this was not a political decision" is a flagrant insults to the world's intelligence.

Why aren't we letting all terminally ill prisoners out then!?!

Scotland's "trust" of Libya not having a hero's welcome... again, how naive can one country be!?!

[Ms_enza]

I dunno, we elected Bush... TWICE.

[miami_don]

right on the money.

[Illuminated1]

You elected bush, I voted for the other guys....you know the guys who actually won the elections?