A Hero's Welcome For The Lockerbie Bomber

[Seraphim]

I just watched the video of the martyr arriving in Libya. Has Scotland gone completely mad?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8213077.stm

What is going on in the UK these days? British soldiers returning home from Afghanistan to be spat on in their own city streets, while police officers stand idly by and do nothing. And now compassion for a mass murderer?

I'm hardly a conservative, but God help us all if this increasingly insane Western European style liberalism ever reaches Poland.

[jberryhill]

He has terminal cancer, and there seems to have been a deal to obtain a release on that ground in exchange for dropping an appeal, which was ordered by a Scottish conviction review commission.

However, and I have no opinion on this at all, there seems to be a dispute over the evidence used for the original conviction:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ers-guilt.html

Lockerbie: relatives of victims divided on subject of convicted bomber's guilt

...

But it cast doubt on some of the evidence that helped convict him – in particular the purchase of clothing in a shop in Malta before the bombing.

Fragments of the clothing were found in the suitcase that contained the bomb, and Megrahi was said to have been the purchaser on December 7 1988.

But the Commission said new evidence suggested it was bought at an earlier date, when there was no evidence Megrahi was in Malta.

Former Labour MP Tam Dalyell believes Megrahi was no more than a sanctions-buster, and that the bombing was instigated by Iran in revenge for the accidental shooting down of an Iranian airliner by the warship USS Vincennes in July 1988.

Apparently, the conviction of Megrahi hinged on an eyewitness ID by the Maltese shop owner several years after the alleged purchase of the clothing.

More stuff here: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n12/mile01_.html , but from the various news reports, there seems to be a contingent of victims relatives who are quite convinced that Megrahi was not involved, and that the focus on Libya was influenced for political purposes. I don't know.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...industry.libya

The key piece of material evidence used by prosecutors to implicate Libya in the Lockerbie bombing has emerged as a probable fake.

Nearly two decades after Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Scotland on 21 December, 1988, allegations of international political intrigue and shoddy investigative work are being levelled at the British government, the FBI and the Scottish police as one of the crucial witnesses, Swiss engineer Ulrich Lumpert, has apparently confessed that he lied about the origins of a crucial 'timer' - evidence that helped tie the man convicted of the bombing to the crime.

Weird stuff.

But what strikes me as odd is that after the review commission found there was enough for an appeal and the proceeding started, Megarhi drops his appeal and is then released. Sounds like someone made a deal.

[Seraphim]

Strange stuff indeed. I was briefly looking around the internet to see if I could dig up any other semi-recent examples of where the Scottish government released someone on the grounds of compassion, so far I haven't come up with anything. Will continue looking.

The political front is interesting too:

Libya, UK Trade To Get Boost

http://blogs.news.sky.com/cityblog/P...0-749b5f74f920

Libya
Major Industries: Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals
Major trading partners: Italy, UK, Germany, France, Turkey, and Spain.

[INVIGOR]

It's politically motivated. Nothing more.

[Acro]

Libya played their cards right, unlike Saddam. Gaddafi has been Libya's ruler since 1969. That's effing 40 years. I remember Ronald Reagan being president and how he wanted to oust him. Then after the Lockerbie incident Gaddafi changed his tune. Libya paid a huge fine to the families of the Lockerbie victims - they can afford it with all the oil supplies they're sitting on - and currently it's off the terrorist nations list.

For the fans of ancient history, part of Libya was colonized by the Greeks in the 7th century BC.

[jberryhill]

recent examples of where the Scottish government released someone on the grounds of compassion

You might not find high-profile examples, but the release of terminally ill inmates is a common feature of a lot of justice systems. (e.g. California Code of Regulations, Title 15, section 3076) As far as it being "compassionate", you have to consider that Scotland isn't going to be paying for terminal care of the guy's cancer.

I just find the timing interesting, because the case against him was on the skinny side to begin with, and parts of it seem to have become questionable. The result of the release is that the questions raised by the review commission are not going to be examined on the appeal that was dropped, apparently in exchange for the release. It's one of those things that make you go "Hmmm....", but it doesn't suggest to me that this was all a consequence of squishy-hearted Scottish lenience (heh, you don't know Scots), and there seems to be quite a contingent of the families who are convinced they got the wrong guy. But, like I said, this is on my "not sure" shelf.

[Gerry]

All you had to listen to was a few of the interviews today with the parents of some of the teens on that flight who were heading back to Syracuse.

Some heart wrenching moments.

And some of the stupidest asinine questions asked by some of the anchors.

[jberryhill]

All you had to listen to was a few of the interviews today with the parents of some of the teens on that flight who were heading back to Syracuse.

Which parents?

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...cal&id=6974957

But some victim's families disagree. Instead they support the decision.

British relatives of the Lockerbie dead have doubts about his guilt in the first place.

"I think it would be inhumane, in fact, downright cruel to keep the man in prison to die," Jim Swire, the father of a victim, said.

And, Seraphim, you were looking for other examples:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24...A17%3A12%3A143

Last updated: 06/08/2009 18:16:00
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs was today granted “compassionate release” from Norwich prison - only weeks after the justice minister ruled out the possibility freeing him.

Biggs, who turns 80 this weekend, was being cared in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. His condition is thought to have deteriorated and he was not expected to recover.

[Gerry]

Which parents?

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...cal&id=6974957

Sad, sad, sad.

[Seraphim]

BBC: UK Admits Lockerbie Trade Link

[Gerry]

The eye opener for me was listening to CNN interview the mother of one of the victims while showing the motorcade taking him to the airport.

She has attended every hearing, every court proceeding over this matter.

She was the first person I heard mention the BP oil connection and come right out and say this release was totally oil motivated and brought about by an agreement between the governments with BP the beneficiary to perks and concessions.

She stated all of this on the air live while this release was happening.