Alba an Aigh? (Updated)
To my friends in Scotland; the Scottish National Party, and Scottish Prime Minister, and the Foreign Secretary, I praise their courage for having proved their independence in decision making, despite the unacceptable and unreasonable pressures they faced. Nevertheless, they took this courageously right and humanitarian decision … my friend Brown, the Prime Minister of Britain, his government, the Queen of Britain, Elizabeth, and Prince Andrew, who all contributed to encouraging the Scottish government to take this historic and courageous decision, despite the obstacles.
–Muammar al-Gaddafi, Dictator of Libya
US Calls Libyan Welcome of Lockerbie Figure Outrageous, Disgusting – David Gollust, Voice of America.
The Obama administration has angrily criticized the warm welcome given by Libya to the convicted bomber of a US jetliner in 1988 who was released from prison by Scottish legal authorities Thursday because of ill health. State Department officials said the jubilant greeting given to Abdel Basset al-Megrahi calls into question Libya’s promises in recent years to be a responsible actor in world affairs.
Obama administration officials had warned Libya not to make a hero out of Megrahi, who was freed by Scottish officials because he is said to be near death from prostate cancer.
They are seething over television footage showing the former Libyan intelligence agent being cheered by a flag-waving crowd and showered with flower petals on his late-Thursday arrival in Tripoli.
President Barack Obama, in brief comments to reporters, called the greeting highly objectionable while his spokesman Robert Gibbs was more emphatic, describing the airport scene as outrageous and disgusting.
Senior administration officials had pressed leaders of Britain and the Scottish regional government not to free Megrahi, who had served eight years of a life sentence for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jumbo jet over Lockerbie Scotland that killed 270 people.
They have said that while they object to the decision to free Megrahi on compassionate grounds, they accept the legitimacy of the court and are contemplating no retaliatory move against key ally Britain.
However they say the treatment of Megrahi by Libya could have consequences for a US-Libyan relationship that has improved markedly since Libya renounced terrorism and weapons of mass destruction in 2003.
State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said Friday the images of the welcome given to what he termed a mass murderer were personally offensive, and that he could only imagine how relatives of the Pan Am victims felt. He said they call into question promises Libya has made in recent years to change its ways…
More at Voice of America.
Lockerbie Fallout Puts Scotland on the Spot – Wall Street Journal
Qaddafi Praises Britain Over Lockerbie Release – New York Times
US, Britain Criticize Celebrations for Lockerbie Plotter – Washington Post
New Questions in Lockerbie Bomber’s Release – New York Times
The Libyan Ultimatum – The Times
London Condemns Reception Bomber Received in Tripoli – Voice of America
Lockerbie Release Casts Dark Shadow Over Britain’s Ties With US – The Times
Papers: Bomber’s Release ‘a Betrayal of Justice’ – CNN
Scots Law Now ‘Laughing Stock of the World’ – The Scotsman
Trade ‘Link’ to Bomber’s Release – BBC
‘Deal in the Desert’ – The Times
British Firms Hope Lockerbie Release will Boost Business – The Guardian
British Trade with Libya Set to Soar – The Indpendent
Libya’s Gadhafi Welcomes Lockerbie Bomber – Associated Press
Gaddafi’s Son: Trade Link to Lockerbie Bomber’s Release – Daily Telegraph
Gaddafi Embraces Murderer, Thanks Brown – Daily Mail
Barack Obama Calls Tripoli Welcome ‘Highly Objectionable’ – Daily Telegraph
Anger as Americans Wake to Hear News – The Scotsman
Gaddafi Defies Criticism – Jerusalem Post
At Home With The Lockerbie Bomber – The Times
Lockerbie Bomber’s Release is a Scottish Decision – Christian Science Monitor
No 10 Facing Lockerbie Questions – BBC
So Why is Brown Silent on Release of Megrahi? – The Scotsman
US Lawmakers Condemn Release – Wall Street Journal
UK Govt Under Scrutiny Over Role in Lockerbie Release – Agence France-Presse
Scotland Official Talks of Lockerbie Release – CNN
‘Boycott Scotland’ Bid to Brand Nation a Global Pariah – The Scotsman
Most Families Outraged at Pan Am 103 Bomber’s Release – CNN
Victims’ Relatives on Opposite Sides – Washington Post
FBI Chief Condemns Lockerbie Bomber’s Release – Los Angeles Times
FBI’s Mueller Says al-Megrahi Release Is ‘Mockery’ of Justice – Bloomberg
FBI Chief Condemns Lockerbie Bomber’s Release – Los Angeles Times
US Families of Lockerbie Victims Plan Next Move – Associated Press
British, Libyan Leaders Spoke of Bomber’s Release Weeks Ago – Washington Times
Lockerbie Release Could Topple SNP Government – The Times
Pressure Mounting on Gordon Brown – Daily Telegraph
Lockerbie Minister Facing Critics – BBC News
Scot-Free – Washington Post editorial
‘Dear Moammar’ – Wall Street Journal editorial
Terrorists Go Scot Free – National Review opinion
SNP’s Libya Stunt Shamed My Nation – Daily Telegraph opinion
Stench of a Deal in the Lockerbie Release – The Times opinion
Lockerbie Defendant and “Compassionate Release” – Wall Street Journal opinion
The Brits Are Okay with It – The Corner
Scottish Sympathy & Libyan Perfidy – Blackfive
What a Wonderful World – The Belmont Club
Trade Lockerbie Bomber for Oil Contracts? – Hot Air
Letting Terrorists Go – Powerline
Mercy for a Mass Murderer? – On Faith
Al-Megrahi’s Comfortable Retirement Back Home – David Calling
Day of Shame for Scotland – Jawa Report
Anger at Welcome for Mass Murderer in Libya – PrairiePundit
The Problem Is Qaddafi, Not Megrahi – Contentions
Shell Has Been Stalking the Libyans – Royal Dutch Shell
Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 – Victims of Pan Am Flight 103
Boycott Scotland – Boycott Scotland
Scotland the Brave, indeed, as they will win few friends with this decision. In fact they seem happy to have the debate.
Perhaps we should consider a treaty amendment that protects our rights to try a murderer of Americans upon their release from other countries. We could then sweep him up and begin the process of trial that he would be unlikely to live through.
Without that all we can do is pass the hat and look for an out of work Xe longshooter.
In the meantime why dont you post a picture of Jessica Alba here to be fair with those who dont do Gaelic?
This goes well beyond outrageous and disgusting. Words fail me to describe how I feel about this mass murderer’s release and the effect it is having on the Pan Am Flight 103 families. Scotland and all concerned should be ashamed, very ashamed.
The 1998 Belfast Agreement, between Northern Ireland political parties and the UK and Republic of Ireland governments (with significant input from US government and organisations) had a key article – the early release within two years of terrorist prisoners. I note, with a fair degree of cynicism, that there was little or no outrage in US or other world governments and media about releasing mainly Irish Republican terrorists who had spent the previous 30 years perpetrating atrocities against mainly British citizens. The US government did not extradite one terrorist for trial in the UK. As a safe haven, the US welcomed Irish Republican terrorists to its shores and supplied significant monetary aid to their campaign.
It is extremely partisan of US commentators and others to criticise Scotland given the above history.
I thoroughly enjoy lurking on this site, having spent a quarter of a century as proud Ulsterman in Her Majesty’s Army.
Let us isolate the one issue that the Scottish Justice Minister had: whether to release a terminally ill prisoner serving a ‘life’ sentence before he died. Not ‘life’ sentences in the U.K. do not mean natural life and can be quite short, e.g. twelve years.
On that issue alone, enhanced by the prisoner not having his family close-by, I can understand why he was released.
Like many people I have doubts that the Scottish trial convicted the right man and suspect the truth will not be revealed to the public. It is unclear whether the now ceased appeal in Scotland would have proceeded that far.
How the Libyans reacted to the arrival of the released prisoner is a quite seperate matter. Libya is not a democracy or a free country like Scotland.
I must ask if the scenes to the mainly American victims families were so upsetting, why were they given such coverage in the USA?
Note I prefer his release now, than a coffin being returned to Libya and what scenes then would result?
Is mercy a sign of compassion, mercy or abject surrender to terrorism? I know my answer.
Whether “big business” had a part in the potentially murky U.K. government’s role is now emerging as an issue and is far from settled.
As for the ‘Boycott Scotland’ response, that is silly. There are ways of impacting the Scottish government – use those.
davidbfpo – fine and dandy. I actually was planning a trip to Scotland next year. I decided to cancel it in regards to this situation. No big deal, but I do feel better about it. Thank you for thinking me silly on this issue. I don’t feel silly and actually feel quite good about it. That is more important to me than your opinion.
Scotland should heed it’s old proverbs, one come to mind: Is trom snighe air taigh gun tughadh or in English raindrops come heavy on a house unthatched.
i am sure they have other people in prison who are on their death beds. Are they going to let them “go” as well? I mean it is only fair.