Decision in Lockerbie bombing case Thursday

[Jolie Rouge]

Decision in Lockerbie case Thursday
Ben Mcconville, Associated Press Writer
55 mins ago

EDINBURGH, Scotland – A decision has been reached in the case of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi and will be announced Thursday, the Scottish government said. British news networks reported that he would be released on compassionate grounds.

Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said he had informed the families of the victims that he had come to a decision about what to do with al-Megrahi and would make a formal announcement Thursday afternoon in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital.

Sky News television reported Wednesday that al-Megrahi will be released from prison on compassionate grounds. The BBC has also reported that al-Megrahi would be set free on compassionate grounds, adding that his release had been expected before the end of the week. Neither network cited the source of its information.

Al-Megrahi, 57, was convicted in 2001 of taking part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on Dec. 21, 1988. The airliner — which was carrying mostly American passengers to New York — blew up as it flew over Scotland. All 259 people aboard and 11 on the ground died when the aircraft crashed into the town of Lockerbie.

But a 2007 review of his case raised the prospect that al-Megrahi had been the victim of a miscarriage of justice, and many in Britain believe that he is innocent.

The former Libyan intelligence agent has terminal cancer and his lawyers say his condition is worsening. The question of whether to release him has divided the families of those who died.

The Rev. John Mosey, whose daughter Helga, 19, died in the attack, said Wednesday he would be glad to see al-Megrahi return home.

"It is right he should go home to die in dignity with his family. I believe it is our Christian duty to show mercy," he said.

But American families have largely been hostile to the idea. Seven U.S. senators and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have urged MacAskill not to release al-Megrahi.

"If he's released on compassionate grounds, who would provide comfort and compassion to the family members?" said Peter Sullivan, whose best friend Mike Doyle was killed in the bombing.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090819/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_lockerbie

[Jolie Rouge]

Scotland frees terminally ill Lockerbie bomber
Ben Mcconville, Associated Press Writer
2 mins ago

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Scotland freed the terminally ill Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds Thursday, allowing him to go home to Libya to die and rejecting American pleas for justice in the 1988 attack that killed 270 people.

As the White House declared it "deeply regrets" the Scottish decision and U.S. family members of Lockerbie victims expressed outrage, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi left Greenock Prison and flew out of Glasgow Airport on a Libyan Airbus plane.

"I think it's appalling, disgusting and so sickening I can hardly find words to describe it," said Susan Cohen of Cape May Court House, New Jersey, whose 20-year-old daughter, Theodora, died in the attack. "This isn't about compassionate release. This is part of give-Gadhafi-what-he-wants-so-we-can-have-the-oil."

Al-Megrahi, who had served only eight years of his life sentence, was recently given only months to live after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said although al-Megrahi had not shown compassion to his victims — many of whom were American college students flying home to New York for Christmas — MacAskill was motivated by Scottish values to show mercy.

"Some hurts can never heal, some scars can never fade," MacAskill said. "Those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget, let alone forgive ... However, Mr. al-Megrahi now faces a sentence imposed by a higher power."

Al-Megrahi, 57, was convicted in 2001 of taking part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on Dec. 21, 1988. He was sentenced to life in prison. The airliner exploded over Scotland, and all 259 people aboard and 11 on the ground died when it crashed into the town of Lockerbie.

The former Libyan intelligence officer was sentenced to serve a minimum of 27 years in a Scottish prison for Britain's deadliest terrorist attack. But a 2007 review of his case found grounds for an appeal of his conviction, and many in Britain believe he is innocent.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thursday the United States disagreed with the decision to free al-Megrahi.

"We continue to believe that Megrahi should serve out his sentence in Scotland," Gibbs said. "On this day, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families who live every day with the loss of their loved ones."

"I don't understand how the Scots can show compassion. It's an utter insult and utterly disgusting," said Kara Weipz, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, whose 20-year-old brother Richard Monetti was on board Pan Am Flight 103. "It's horrible. I don't show compassion for someone who showed no remorse."

MacAskill said he stood by al-Megrahi's conviction and the sentence for "the worst terrorist atrocity ever committed on U.K. soil."

He said he ruled out sending the bomber back to Libya under a prisoner-transfer agreement, saying the U.S. victims had been given assurances that al-Megrahi would serve out his sentence in Scotland.

But he said that as a prisoner given less than three months to live by doctors, al-Megrahi was eligible for compassionate release.

"I am conscious that there are deeply held feelings and many will disagree whatever my decision," he said. "However, a decision has to be made."

Al-Megrahi's return will be a landmark event in Libya and a cause for celebration. His countrymen see him as an innocent victim scapegoated by the West in a campaign to turn their country into an international pariah. Many will also view his release as a moral victory for their country.

It was not immediately clear exactly how al-Megrahi will be received at home. He could be taken to meet Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi or appear at an annual rally planned for Thursday night. The rally is held every year on Aug. 20 for Libyans to hear a progress report from Gadhafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, on projects he is working on.

However, al-Megrahi may also be taken directly to a hospital if he needs immediate medical care.

Gadhafi engineered a rapprochement with his former critics following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He renounced terrorism, dismantled Libya's secret nuclear program, accepted his government's responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and paid compensation to the victims' families.

Western energy companies — including Britain's BP PLC — have moved into Libya in an effort to tap the country's vast oil and gas wealth.

Gadhafi lobbied hard for the return of al-Megrahi, an issue which took on an added sense of urgency when al-Megrahi was diagnosed with cancer last year. His lawyers say his condition is deteriorating and doctors have given him less than three months to live.

Freeing al-Megrahi has divided the Lockerbie victims' families, with many in Britain in favor of it and many in the U.S. adamantly opposed.

Al-Megrahi had been a known figure in the Scottish community near his prison, receiving regular treatment at the hospital and was visited often by his wife and children, who lived in Scotland for several years.

Briton Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died on Flight 103, welcomed the Libyan's release, saying many questions remained about what led to the bomb that exploded in the cargo hold.

"I think he should be able to go straight home to his family and spend his last days there," Swire told the BBC. "I don't believe for a moment this man was involved in the way he was found to be involved."

Among the Lockerbie victims was John Mulroy, the AP's director of international communication, who died along with five members of his family.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090820/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_lockerbie

Pity that Abdel Baset al-Megrahi had no compassion for the 270 people who died because of his actions and all the families left to grieve because of his choices.

[Jolie Rouge]

Lockerbie bomber release stirs diplomatic dispute
Obama: Lockerbie bomber's homecoming 'highly objectionable'
Jill Lawless, Associated Press Writer
1 hr 17 mins ago

LONDON – The release of the only man convicted of blowing up a Pan Am flight in 1988 has brought high drama and controversy: the jeering mob outside a Scottish prison, the cheering crowd at a Tripoli airport, the furious families of the 270 people who died in the Lockerbie bombing.

Britain on Friday condemned the "upsetting" scenes of jubilation in Tripoli at the return of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi and considered canceling a royal visit to Libya as a sign of displeasure. President Barack Obama said the warm welcome in Libya was "highly objectionable."

Despite the strong words, the diplomatic end of the decades-long Lockerbie saga is unlikely to damage steadily warming relations between the West and Libya, a country once reviled as a pariah state.

"It will introduce a note of caution in the West's dealing with Libya," said Diederik Vandewalle, a Libya specialist at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. "I don't think it will have much of an impact at all."

Thousands of young men greeted al-Megrahi's plane at a Tripoli airport after he was released from a Scottish prison Thursday on compassionate grounds. Some threw flower petals as the 57-year-old former Libyan intelligence agent stepped from the jet.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband condemned the scenes as "deeply distressing," and said the way Moammar Gadhafi's government behaved in the next few days would help determine whether Libya is accepted back into the international fold.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown had written to the Libyan leader before al-Megrahi's release urging Libya to "act with sensitivity" when he returned.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said footage of al-Megrahi's arrival was "tremendously offensive to the survivors that, as I said, lost a loved one in 1988."

"I think the images that we saw in Libya yesterday were outrageous and disgusting. We continue to express our condolences to the families that lost a loved one as a result of this terrorist murder," he told reporters.

Gibbs said the White House had been in contact with Libyan authorities. "We've registered our outrage. We have discussed with the Libyans about what we think is appropriate. We'll continue to watch the actions of this individual and the Libyan government."

Yet by Libyan standards, al-Megrahi's welcome was relatively muted. Hundreds of people waiting in the crowd for his plane were rushed away by authorities at the last minute, and the arrival was not aired live on state TV.

It was an unusually low-key approach for a country that used to snap up any opportunity to snub the West and could easily bring out hundreds of thousands to cheer if it chose to. It suggested that Libya is wary of hurting its ties with the U.S. and Europe and had listened to Obama's warning not to give al-Megrahi a hero's welcome.

"It seemed as some form of last-minute compromise between those who felt it their patriotic duty to welcome him and those in the Libyan hierarchy who wanted to heed the demands of the U.S. that it should be low-key," said Richard Dalton, a former British ambassador to Libya.

"There was no Libyan dignitary to receive him, and no formal reception. This is compulsory in Arab hospitality, so the absence of a welcoming party is quite significant," he added.

Al-Megrahi is the only man convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The explosion of a bomb hidden in the cargo hold killed all 259 people on the plane and 11 on the ground in Britain's worst terrorist attack.

Libya and Britain have acted to make al-Megrahi's release as smooth and understated as possible.

Announcing it Thursday, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he was acutely aware of the bereaved families' pain, and stressed that he had made the decision only on narrow legal grounds. Cancer specialists have given al-Megrahi less than three months to live, and it is established legal practice to release prisoners that close to death on compassionate grounds.

There have been 30 requests for compassionate release in Scotland over the last decade, 23 of which were approved. Al-Megrahi also was released just in time to arrive home for the start of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.

MacAskill said while "those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget, let alone forgive ... Mr. al-Megrahi now faces a sentence imposed by a higher power."

Britain, meanwhile, walked a fine line — condemning al-Megrahi's reception without criticizing the decision to free him, which was made in Edinburgh under Scotland's separate judicial system.

The BBC reported that Britain was considering canceling a planned visit to Libya by Prince Andrew, who has visited the country several times in his role as a British trade ambassador. Andrew's office said a visit for next month was in the planning stages and that Buckingham Palace was taking advice from the Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office would not confirm that the visit would be canceled.

British officials also refuted claims the release was made to improve relations and bolster commercial ties — a view held by some victims' relatives in the U.S.

Miliband said any suggestion that the release was spurred by commercial interests was "a slur both on myself and on the government."

While Britain does have oil interests in Libya — notably a $900 million exploration deal between BP PLC and Libya's National Oil Co. — they are small compared to investments by Italy's Eni SpA.

Although the legal story of Lockerbie is now over, some argue that the full truth about the attack may never be known. Although Libya accepted formal responsibility for the bombing, many there see al-Megrahi as an innocent victim scapegoated by the West.

The Libyan's lawyers have argued the attack was the result of an Iranian-financed Palestinian plot, and a 2007 Scottish judicial review of al-Megrahi's case found grounds for an appeal of his conviction.

Some Lockerbie victims' relatives in Britain were disappointed when al-Megrahi dropped his appeal against his conviction, which he had to do in order to be freed. They had hoped new details about the bombing would come out at a future trial.

Even as he left prison, al-Megrahi protested his innocence.

"I say in the clearest possible terms, which I hope every person in every land will hear — all of this I have had to endure for something that I did not do," he said in a statement.

Scottish prosecutors formally dropped their appeal against the jail term imposed on the Lockerbie bomber. They had called the 27-year sentence too lenient and sought to have it extended.

Their appeal is now irrelevant. Al-Megrahi is free after serving just eight years.

Al-Megrahi's trial at a special Scottish court set up in The Netherlands, which came after years of diplomatic maneuvering, was a step toward normalizing relations between the West and Libya, which spent years under U.N. and U.S. sanctions because of the Lockerbie bombing.

Over the next few years, Gadhafi renounced terrorism, dismantled Libya's secret nuclear program, accepted his government's responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and paid compensation to the victims' families.

Western energy companies — including Britain's BP — then moved into Libya in an effort to tap the country's vast oil and gas wealth.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090821/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_lockerbie

[SurferGirl]

His release must be so heartbreaking to his victims families.

[speedygirl]

This will give you some insight to how they feel. I know of Mrs Boulanger through the medical community in the city.

This was in out local newspaper today.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20090821/NEWS/908210394

Parents troubled by release of plane bomber
Humanitarianism v. 270 lives


SHREWSBURY — Like the other family members of the victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Jeannine M. Boulanger received an e-mail Wednesday night informing her that the man convicted of the horrific bombing that killed her daughter, Nicole, and 269 others, would be released early from prison yesterday morning.

But she wasn't mentally ready to watch him on television board a plane to his homeland.

“The reality of vision compounds very strongly and I would rather not see it. I'm sure I will at some point. But, I couldn't this morning,” she said during back-to-back interviews with the media yesterday afternoon from the Independence Lane home she shares with her husband of 44 years, Ronald.

“Part of that is we have to put things aside until we're in a better place to watch. I knew I had to get through the day and that's how I handled it. I've learned to not do certain things until I am ready,” Mrs. Boulanger said.

Scotland, to the dismay of the American government and U.S. family members of the victims, yesterday morning released Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, 57, on compassionate grounds because he is terminally ill with prostate cancer.

He was sentenced in 2001 to life in prison after being convicted of the terrorist attack that killed 270 people in 1988. He was to serve a minimum of 27 years.

Mrs. Boulanger said she was not surprised, but she is “disappointed, angry and frustrated.” She said al-Megrahi, a former Libyan intelligence officer, should have been left to die in prison. But, if he were released, he should not have been allowed to return to Libya to spend his last days with friends and family.

“Two hundred seventy people were murdered, many of whom in a foreign country … not with their families present,” she said. “My daughter's body was never recovered. We don't even have a grave to visit. And, we're talking about compassionate release.”

Mrs. Boulanger said from what she has read on the Internet there are indications that British Petroleum's negotiations with Libya for oil may have something to do with the early release

Nicole Boulanger, 21, and Scott Cory, 20, were among 36 Syracuse University students on the Boeing 747 returning from studying in London when a bomb authorities said was in a Toshiba radio cassette recorder in a suitcase exploded, killing the 259 passengers, mostly Americans, and crew and 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, England.

Scott's parents, John and Doris Cory, residents of Old Lyme, Conn., at the time of the blast, later moved to Hopkinton and then to Shrewsbury after becoming close friends with the Boulangers. They have since re-located to Mystic, Conn.

They did not readily return a phone call seeking comments. Mrs. Boulanger said the two couples remain best friends and visit and phone each other often.

In an interview last week, Mr. Cory called the release of al-Megrahi “outrageous.” He and Mrs. Boulanger disagree with some British relatives of victims who have been convinced after a meeting with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi that al-Megrahi was not involved in the bombing. Mrs. Boulanger said some of the British relatives hold the United States responsible because Pan Am airlines was the official carrier of the American government and they believe there should have been better security.

Mrs. Boulanger, a retired nursing professor from Quinsigamond Community College, said, unlike some who have doubts, she believes al-Megrahi is indeed terminally ill with cancer. But she doesn't necessarily believe that he may only have three months to live as Scottish officials have said.

“Sometimes it's very hard to predict how long someone is going to live. And, I can tell you that in my work experience that many victims have long outlived the prognosis they have been given,” she said.

She and her husband have committed themselves to helping the community and others as a way of memorializing their daughter. They raise money for Toys for Tots and contribute to Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services. Scholarships in Nicole's name are given out at Holy Name Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School, where she graduated in 1985, and at Opera Worcester. Nicole was a promising musical theater student at Syracuse. But, nothing can bring closure, Mrs. Boulanger said.

“It's never behind you. I know people use the word closure. There's no closure. You still go through anniversaries, special holidays … Sometimes something that happens in a day becomes a trigger for you,” she said. “She's the first thought I have in the morning and the last thought I go to bed with at night.”

[krisharry]

270 people killed, yet they show him mercy, I don't get it, if he brutally murdered say by knife or gun 270 people would they be letting him out, murder is murder, this really disgusts me, not a good example to set

[tngirl]

I see no reason why he shouldn't have been allowed to die in prison. Has the man ever shown any remorse for his actions? No, so why would he be the least bit deserving of any humanitarian consideration?

[littlebuggy]

His vitims and their families never got any compassion from this man, why should he expect any in return?!

[Jolie Rouge]

Scottish govt defends Lockerbie bomber's release
Ben Mcconville, Associated Press Writer
47 mins ago

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Scotland's justice minister on Monday doggedly defended his much-criticized decision to free the Lockerbie bomber but said Libya had broken a promise by giving the convicted terrorist a hero's welcome.

Britain, meanwhile, scrapped a trade visit to Libya by Prince Andrew amid controversy over the release of convicted bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi and Scottish lawmakers came back from summer vacation a week early to debate the issue.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the warm homecoming welcome for al-Megrahi breached assurances from Libyan authorities that "any return would be dealt with in a low-key and sensitive fashion."

"It is a matter of great regret that Mr. (al-) Megrahi was received in such an inappropriate manner," MacAskill told the Scottish parliament. "It showed no compassion or sensitivity to the families of the 270 victims of Lockerbie."

The Scottish administration has faced unrelenting criticism from the both the U.S. government and the families of American victims of the 1988 airline bombing since it announced last week it was freeing al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. The terminally ill Al-Megrahi, who has prostate cancer, returned to his native Libya on Thursday, where he was greeted by crowds waving Libyan and Scottish flags.

The decision has prompted calls for a trade boycott of Scotland and widespread criticism of the nationalist government in Edinburgh.

In an emotional debate Monday, MacAskill said his decision "was not based on political, economic or diplomatic considerations."

"This was my decision and my decision alone," he said. "I stand by it and I live with the consequences."

Other lawmakers said the move embarrassed Scotland.

"Last week, the Scottish government made a wrong decision in the wrong way with the wrong consequences," Labour legislator Iain Gray told the parliament. He said Scottish people were ashamed "to see our flag flying to welcome a convicted bomber home."

The explosion of a bomb hidden in the cargo hold of Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie killed all 259 people on the plane — most of them American — and 11 people on the ground. Al-Megrahi, a former Libyan intelligence agent, is the only person convicted of the bombing.

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."

Scottish officials have held their ground against the criticism, stressing the differences between British and American judicial systems.

Compassionate release is a regular feature of the Scottish system when a prisoner is near death. Of the 31 applications over the last decade, 24 prisoners have been freed on compassionate grounds in Scotland, including al-Megrahi. Another seven applications were turned down because the medical evidence did not support the claim.

Top British cancer specialists say al-Megrahi has less than three months to live.

Scotland is part of Britain but has its own parliament — established in 1999 — with power over large areas of policy, including justice, health and education. The British Parliament in London retains primacy on all matters relating to Britain as a whole, such as defense, energy and foreign relations.

Scotland's nationalist administration has vowed to hold a referendum on full independence from Britain. Peter Lynch, senior lecturer in politics at the University of Stirling, said the controversy over al-Megrahi's release could imperil that project.

"If Scotland were to be independent, it would need the support of the international community, of the United States," he said.

Some lawmakers have called for MacAskill to resign over his decision. No vote was taken during Monday's 75-minute session, but some Scottish politicians say they will seek a confidence vote on MacAskill when the parliament begins its fall session next week — one that could potentially bring down Salmond's minority government.

The British government has remained largely silent amid the controversy. Some in Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour government may be enjoying the discomfort of their Scottish nationalist foes.

Officials in London also don't want to be accused of interfering in a Scottish decision — or blamed for freeing a convicted terrorist.

The British government has fiercely refuted claims that al-Megrahi's release was intended to boost business ties between Britain and Libya, which has vast oil reserves. Such suspicions were heightened after Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi thanked Brown and Queen Elizabeth II by name 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."

Prince Andrew has visited Libya several times in his role as a British trade ambassador and his office said last week that a trip for next month was in the planning stages. But Buckingham Palace said Monday there were no plans now for the prince to visit Libya.

A spokesman for Brown said al-Megrahi's release was "a uniquely sensitive and difficult decision" — and one for Scottish officials.

"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 (to terrorists)."

Scotland's government also got a boost from former First Minister Henry McLeish, a Labour Party member, who said the FBI chief's attack on the Scottish judicial system "was wholly wrong."

McLeish also disputed the notion that the Lockerbie bomber's release would poison relations with the United States, calling the alleged tourism boycott the brainchild of "certain newscasters and shock jocks."

Tourism and whisky are two of the major economic ties Scotland has with the United States. Each year more than 340,000 Americans visit Scotland — one out of every five visitors — and spend 260 million pounds ($425 million). The Scotch Whisky Association said Scotland exports 370 million pounds ($610 million) in whisky to the United States each year.

"We understand that feelings are running high over this issue but we are not seeing any surprise cancellations," said Barbara Clark, spokeswoman for the Visit Scotland tourist agency. "We continue to focus on our special relationship with the U.S."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090824/ap_on_re_eu/lockerbie

[Jolie Rouge]

Sick: Gadhafi wants to pitch a tent in New Jersey
By Michelle Malkin • August 24, 2009 11:41 PM

How much more suffering does the Obama administration want American relatives of Lockerbie bombing murder victims to take? Fresh off delivering a hero’s welcome for freed Lockerbie jihadist Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, blood-stained Libyan terrorist-enabler Moammar Gadhafi is headed to America next month.

And he wants to pitch a tent in upscale Englewood, NJ after speaking to the UN General Assembly. I wish it were just a sick joke. It’s not:


Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi will set foot on U.S. soil for the first time next month when he comes to address the U.N. General Assembly. Now he wants to put down stakes in the middle of American suburbia.

Plans to set up a tent and allow him to stay at a Libyan-owned estate in this upscale community 12 miles north of Manhattan were attacked Monday by neighborhood residents and public officials, particularly after the hero’s welcome Libya extended last week to the lone man convicted in the 1988 bombing of Pan American Flight 103.

The attack over Lockerbie, Scotland, thought to be the work of Libyan intelligence, killed all 259 people on board the flight, including 33 from New Jersey. Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was freed from a life sentence in a Scottish jail and returned to Libya on compassionate grounds because he is dying of cancer.

“Gadhafi is a dangerous dictator whose hands are covered with the blood of Americans and our allies,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, whose district includes Englewood. He promised there would be “hell to pay” if the U.S. State Department violates a long-standing deal barring the dictator from staying at the Libyan estate.

State department officials said no decision had been made on the issue.

A smack in the face of Lockerbie victims’ families — and all families who have lost loved ones to jihadi acts of evil:


“This is what happens when you have the path of appeasement,” said Susan Cohen, of Cape May Court House, N.J. “He’s getting everything he wants, and I guess that includes a trip to the state of New Jersey, which certainly doesn’t need this.”

Cohen’s 20-year-old daughter died in the plane bombing.

…”It’s very peaceful here and we’d like to keep it that way, but what can we do if the government lets him in,” said Bennie Wong, 58, who has lived across the street from the estate for 15 years.



Contact the State Department:

Main address:
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Main Switchboard:
202-647-4000

[Bahet]

Disgusting. We were having lunch in a British cafe when we heard about him being released. Let me tell you, the people there were NOT happy about it. The general consensus was they hoped he'd be killed before he even got to see his family again. Of course, then that person would be convicted of killing someone and would get 27 years in prison.

IMO that SOB should have gotten 27 years for every single victim. I'll even let him serve only 1/10 of that on humanitarian grounds (729 years).

[janelle]

I read the person who released him is very disappointed he went back home and celebrated. "He promised me he wouldn't celebrate." OMG, how can they be so stupid.

[pepperpot]

Beyond belief........ Has Obama commented on this?

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said footage of al-Megrahi's arrival was "tremendously offensive to the survivors that, as I said, lost a loved one in 1988."

"I think the images that we saw in Libya yesterday were outrageous and disgusting. We continue to express our condolences to the families that lost a loved one as a result of this terrorist murder," he told reporters.

Gibbs said the White House had been in contact with Libyan authorities. "We've registered our outrage. We have discussed with the Libyans about what we think is appropriate. We'll continue to watch the actions of this individual and the Libyan government."


Gee, I guess that's the best they could do. At least he could have called their actions 'stupid' or something. :rolleyes:

[hesnothere]

Beyond belief........ Has Obama commented on this?


Gee, I guess that's the best they could do. At least he could have called their actions 'stupid' or something. :rolleyes:

He did comment.


Washington, Aug 21 (IBNS) US President Barack Obama on Friday said releasing Lockerbie bomber, Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi, was a mistake and that he should be put under house arrest.

“We thought it was a mistake to release him,” Obama said in a radio interview as Megrahi reached his home in Libya.

Obama said his government had spoken to Scottish authorities indicating the US had objected to the release.

“We are now in contact with the Libyan government, and want to make sure that if in fact this transfer has taken place, that he’s not welcomed back in some way, but instead should be under house arrest.”

So did Hillary


On Thursday night, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a statement said: “The United States is deeply disappointed by the decision of the Scottish Executive to release Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for his part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which took the lives of 270 persons, including 189 Americans.”

“We have continued to communicate our long-standing position to UK government officials and Scottish authorities that Megrahi should serve out the entirety of his sentence in Scotland,” she said.

“Today, we remember those whose lives were lost on December 21, 1988 and we extend our deepest sympathies to the families who live each day with the loss of their loved ones due to this heinous crime,” she said.

[pepperpot]

"mistake" and "disappointed"....now that's harsh and showing our 'outrage'.....

[hesnothere]

What do you want? For him to declare war? I'm sure that personally he has a much stronger opinion, as do most of us, but he does have to be diplomatic in how he expresses himself.

Doesn't really matter what he says though, it's just never good enough for some.

[pepperpot]

What do you want? For him to declare war? I'm sure that personally he has a much stronger opinion, as do most of us, but he does have to be diplomatic in how he expresses himself.

Doesn't really matter what he says though, it's just never good enough for some.

His comments just seem to be a bit off target when he shows 'outrage'......there was more 'to do' and harsher words used when his big mouth non-compliant friend was rightfully asked to show ID. He certainly wasn't 'diplomatic' there. :nono

We've seen his 'diplomacy' with Brittan and again with the 'bowing' incident....again, misplaced 'loyalties' and misplaced respect.

Hillary also showed more 'outrage' when asked what her husband thought....:lol....diplomacy at it's best. :sigh

[hesnothere]

sigh, you proved my point.

[pepperpot]

sigh, you proved my point.

I absolutely don't expect war over this, but his inexperience and misplaced 'outrage' is evident.

Perhaps his comments/behavior are appropriate for this incident, but they certaily weren't in the other ones.....

ETA could be a 'teleprompter' issue....when he uses it vs off the cuff....:slueth

[janelle]

Doesn't really matter what he says though, it's just never good enough for some.

Now where have I heard this before????? Oh yes, the Republicans said it to the Dems whenever Bush said anything.


Funny how all these lines are now being said by the Dems when the Repubs use to say them. LOL

[hesnothere]

Now where have I heard this before????? Oh yes, the Republicans said it to the Dems whenever Bush said anything.


Funny how all these lines are now being said by the Dems when the Repubs use to say them. LOL

I actually kept my mouth shut for the first 6 years of his being in office, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt even though I knew better. Would be nice if "Repubs" could show the same courtesy.

[pepperpot]

I actually kept my mouth shut for the first 6 years of his being in office, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt even though I knew better. Would be nice if "Repubs" could show the same courtesy.

It goes against my grain not to 'sound alarms' (or voice my opinion) when I see a sinking ship or an impending train wreck. If we can stop a horrible tragedy, I think we should and not stand by silently so we can say, "I knew it would happen" after the fact.....

That's not 'courtesy' to me.......another word comes to mind.

[janelle]

The next elections are coming up in '10. We need to know before 6 years are up.

[hesnothere]

The ship sank while President Cheney was in office. We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for that administration.

[pepperpot]

The ship sank while President Cheney was in office. We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for that administration.

Nope, Obama has made it much worse......he's putting more holes in the ship instead of using a cork and shoring it up.

I can't change history, but I can help change the future......

BTW The Clinton era/admin passed on a lot of issues as well.....:agree

[Jolie Rouge]

The ship sank while President Cheney was in office. We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for that administration.

This started long before the previous administration :

Muslims, terrorist and the USA. A different spin on Iraq war.
Dr. Vernon Chong, Major General, USAF, Retired
Tuesday, July 12, 2005

To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it. Our country is now facing the most serious threat to its existence, as we know it, that we have faced in your lifetime and mine (which includes WW II).

The deadly seriousness is greatly compounded by the fact that there are very few of us who think we can possibly lose this war and even fewer who realize what losing really means.

First, let's examine a few basics:

1. When did the threat to us start?

Many will say September 11, 2001.

The answer as far as the United State is concerned is 1979, 22 years prior to September 2001, with the following attacks on us:


* Iran Embassy Hostages, 1979;
* Beirut, Lebanon Embassy 1983;
* Beirut, Lebanon Marine Barracks 1983;
* Lockerbie, Scotland Pan-Am flight to New York 1988;
* First New York World Trade Center attack 1993;
* Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Khobar Towers Military complex 1996;
* Nairobi, Kenya US Embassy 1998;
* Dares Salaam, Tanzania US Embassy 1998;
* Aden, Yemen USS Cole 2000;
* New York World Trade Center 2001;
* Pentagon 2001.

(Note that during the period from 1981 to 2001 there were 7,581 terrorist attacks worldwide).

2. Why were we attacked?

Envy of our position, our success, and our freedoms. The attacks happened during the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and Bush 2. We cannot fault either the Republicans or Democrats as there were no provocations by any of the presidents or their immediate predecessors, Presidents Ford or Carter.

3. Who were the attackers?

In each case, the attacks on the US were carried out by Muslims.

4. What is the Muslim population of the World?

25%.

5. Isn't the Muslim Religion peaceful?

Hopefully, but that is really not material. There is no doubt that the predominately Christian population of Germany was peaceful, but under the dictatorial leadership of Hitler (who was also Christian), that made no difference. You either went along with the administration or you were eliminated. There were 5 to 6 million Christians killed by the Nazis for political reasons (including 7,000 Polish priests).
(see http://www.nazis.testimony.co.uk/7-a.htm
<http://www.nazis.testimony.co.uk/7-a.htm> )

Thus, almost the same number of Christians were killed by the Nazis, as the six million holocaust Jews who were killed by them, and we seldom heard of anything other than the Jewish atrocities. Although Hitler kept the world focused on the Jews, he had no hesitancy about killing anyone who got in his way of exterminating the Jews or of taking over the world - German, Christian or any others.

Same with the Muslim terrorists. They focus the world on the US, but kill all in the way -- their own people or the Spanish, French or anyone else.

The point here is that just like the peaceful Germans were of no protection to anyone from the Nazis, no matter how many peaceful Muslims there may be, they are no protection for us from the terrorist Muslim leaders and what they are fanatically bent on doing -- by their own pronouncements -- killing all of us "infidels." I don't blame the peaceful Muslims. What would you do if the choice was shut up or die?

6. So who are we at war with?

There is no way we can honestly respond that it is anyone other than the Muslim terrorists. Trying to be politically correct and avoid verbalizing this conclusion can well be fatal. There is no way to win if you don't clearly recognize and articulate who you are fighting.

So with that background, now to the two major questions:

1. Can we lose this war?

2. What does losing really mean?

If we are to win, we must clearly answer these two pivotal questions We can definitely lose this war, and as anomalous as it may sound, the major reason we can lose is that so many of us simply do not fathom the answer to the second question - What does losing mean?

It would appear that a great many of us think that losing the war means hanging our heads, bringing the troops home and going on about our business, like post Vietnam. This is as far from the truth as one can get.

What losing really means is:

We would no longer be the premier country in the world. The attacks will not subside, but rather will steadily increase. Remember, they want us dead, not just quiet. If they had just wanted us quiet, they would not have produced an increasing series of attacks against us, over the past 18 years. The plan was clear, for terrorists to attack us, until we were neutered and submissive to them.

We would of course have no future support from other nations, for fear of reprisals and for the reason that they would see, we are impotent and cannot help them.

They will pick off the other non-Muslim nations, one at a time. It will be increasingly easier for them. They already hold Spain hostage. It doesn't matter whether it was right or wrong for Spain to withdraw its troops from Iraq. Spain did it because the Muslim terrorists bombed their train and told them to withdraw the troops. Anything else they want Spain to do will be done. Spain is finished.

The next will probably be France. Our one hope on France is that they might see the light and realize that if we don't win, they are finished too, in that they can't resist the Muslim terrorists without us. However, it may already be too late for France. France is already 20% Muslim and fading fast!

[Jolie Rouge]

Blood for Oil in the age of Hopium
Darleen Click

Oh my, remember the parades and demonstrations against the eeeeeviiiillllle Bush-Blair era and its “cowboy” and “muscular” way of confronting terrorists and terrorist regimes? Regardless of how many thousands of civilians were murdered by Islamist terrorists from 9/11 to 7/7, the charge was they were just an excuse.

But, ah, the Obama/Brown era! Hope and Change and Diplomacy so “they” will like us again! How’s that working out? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6814939.ece


The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.

Gordon Brown’s government made the decision after discussions between Libya and BP over a multi-million-pound oil exploration deal had hit difficulties. These were resolved soon afterwards. [...]

In a letter leaked by a Whitehall source, he [Jack Straw] wrote: “I had previously accepted the importance of the al-Megrahi issue to Scotland and said I would try to get an exclusion for him on the face of the agreement. I have not been able to secure an explicit exclusion.

“The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom, I have agreed that in this instance the [prisoner transfer agreement] should be in the standard form and not mention any individual.”

Within six weeks of the government climbdown, Libya had ratified the BP deal. The prisoner transfer agreement was finalised in May this year, leading to Libya formally applying for Megrahi to be transferred to its custody.

Saif Gadaffi, the colonel’s son, has insisted that negotiation over the release of Megrahi was linked with the BP oil deal: “The fight to get the [transfer] agreement lasted a long time and was very political, but I want to make clear that we didn’t mention Mr Megrahi.

“At all times we talked about the [prisoner transfer agreement]. It was obvious we were talking about him. We all knew that was what we were talking about. [...]

His account is confirmed by other sources. Sir Richard Dalton, a former British ambassador to Libya and a board member of the Libyan British Business Council, said: “Nobody doubted Libya wanted BP and BP was confident its commitment would go through. But the timing of the final authority to spend real money was dependent on politics.”

Hattip to Jules Crittenden who points out that under Bush-Blair we didn’t ever get “Blood for Oil”: http://www.julescrittenden.com/2009/08/30/blood-for-oil/


But in a new, gentler time, apparently it’s possible to swap mass murderers for oil.

Think of the possibilities.


Indeed.

It should also be noted that the “compassionate release” cover story is falling apart http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6812427.ece


It emerged that the prognosis that Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi had a life expectancy of only three months or less was supported by an unnamed doctor who had no expertise in terminal prostate cancer.

[Jolie Rouge]

August 30, 2009
Lockerbie bomber 'set free for oil'
Jason Allardyce

The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.

Gordon Brown’s government made the decision after discussions between Libya and BP over a multi-million-pound oil exploration deal had hit difficulties. These were resolved soon afterwards.

The letters were sent two years ago by Jack Straw, the justice secretary, to Kenny MacAskill, his counterpart in Scotland, who has been widely criticised for taking the formal decision to permit Megrahi’s release.

The correspondence makes it plain that the key decision to include Megrahi in a deal with Libya to allow prisoners to return home was, in fact, taken in London for British national interests.

Edward Davey, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: “This is the strongest evidence yet that the British government has been involved for a long time in talks over al-Megrahi in which commercial considerations have been central to their thinking.”

Two letters dated five months apart show that Straw initially intended to exclude Megrahi from a prisoner transfer agreement with Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, under which British and Libyan prisoners could serve out their sentences in their home country.

In a letter dated July 26, 2007, Straw said he favoured an option to leave out Megrahi by stipulating that any prisoners convicted before a specified date would not be considered for transfer.

Downing Street had also said Megrahi would not be included under the agreement.

Straw then switched his position as Libya used its deal with BP as a bargaining chip to insist the Lockerbie bomber was included.

The exploration deal for oil and gas, potentially worth up to &#163;15 billion, was announced in May 2007. Six months later the agreement was still waiting to be ratified.

On December 19, 2007, Straw wrote to MacAskill announcing that the UK government was abandoning its attempt to exclude Megrahi from the prisoner transfer agreement, citing the national interest.

In a letter leaked by a Whitehall source, he wrote: “I had previously accepted the importance of the al-Megrahi issue to Scotland and said I would try to get an exclusion for him on the face of the agreement. I have not been able to secure an explicit exclusion.

“The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom, I have agreed that in this instance the [prisoner transfer agreement] should be in the standard form and not mention any individual.”

Within six weeks of the government climbdown, Libya had ratified the BP deal. The prisoner transfer agreement was finalised in May this year, leading to Libya formally applying for Megrahi to be transferred to its custody.

Saif Gadaffi, the colonel’s son, has insisted that negotiation over the release of Megrahi was linked with the BP oil deal: “The fight to get the [transfer] agreement lasted a long time and was very political, but I want to make clear that we didn’t mention Mr Megrahi.

“At all times we talked about the [prisoner transfer agreement]. It was obvious we were talking about him. We all knew that was what we were talking about.

“People should not get angry because we were talking about commerce or oil. We signed an oil deal at the same time. The commerce and oil deals were all with the [prisoner transfer agreement].”

His account is confirmed by other sources. Sir Richard Dalton, a former British ambassador to Libya and a board member of the Libyan British Business Council, said: “Nobody doubted Libya wanted BP and BP was confident its commitment would go through. But the timing of the final authority to spend real money was dependent on politics.”

Bob Monetti of New Jersey, whose son Rick was among the victims of the 1988 bombing, said: “It’s always been about business.”

BP denied that political factors were involved in the deal’s ratification or that it had stalled during negotiations over the prisoner transfer talks.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman denied there had been a U-turn, but said trade considerations had been a factor in negotiating the prisoner exchange deal. He said Straw had unsuccessfully tried to accommodate the wish of the Scottish government to exclude Megrahi from agreement.

The spokesman claimed the deal was ultimately “academic” because Megrahi had been released on compassionate grounds: “The negotiations on the [transfer agreement] were part of wider negotiations aimed at the normalisation of relations with Libya, which included a range of areas, including trade.

“The exclusion or inclusion of Megrahi would not serve any practical purpose because the Scottish executive always had a veto on whether to transfer him.”

A spokesman for Lord Mandelson said he had not changed his position that the release of Megrahi was not linked to trade deals.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6814939.ece

[Jolie Rouge]

Libya says Lockerbie Bomber in hospital
[i]Alfred De Montesquiou, Associated Press Writer
2 hrs 59 mins ago

TRIPOLI, Libya – A Libyan official said the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing has been hospitalized and television footage showed him breathing through an oxygen mask, signs his illness from cancer may be worsening shortly after his early prison release sparked international outrage.

The Libyan Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Siala, said Monday that Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was in the hospital and described him as a "dying man."

"He is in the hospital, he is a dying man, it is normal than he came to spend his last few days in Libya," Siala told The Associated Press. His comments came after Britain's Channel 4 television Sunday night showed footage of the 57-year-old al-Megrahi in a Tripoli hospital bed propped up by pillows and wearing an oxygen mask while some members of his family stood nearby. A reporter can be heard asking al-Megrahi a question about his case but al-Megrahi appears too weak to answer.

Al-Megrahi was convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, killing 259 people on the plane and 11 on the ground. Scotland released him Aug. 20 on compassionate grounds because doctors said he was dying of prostate cancer.

His release and return to Libya where he was greeted warmly at the airport by hundreds of cheering supporters has led to outrage from many of the Lockerbie victims and questions about whether his release was secured in order to facilitate lucrative oil trade with Libya.

Both Britain and Scotland have denied that business had anything to do with allowing al-Megrahi to leave prison after completing only eight years of his life sentence.

There was no way to independently verify al-Megrahi's condition, and the Libyan official offered no further details. Al-Megrahi underwent extensive medical testing before Scottish officials confirmed his cancer diagnosis, but questions have been raised about the seriousness of his condition.

The London-based Asharq Al-Awssat newspaper last Wednesday quoted al-Megrahi's father as saying that the former Libyan inmate was not dying. "It is not that serious as some news media have been portraying," Ali al-Megrahi told the newspaper. "I see he is improving day by day, and he is better than the day he returned."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_re_af/af_libya_lockerbie


---------------------


The latest on Gadhafi’s blood-stained camping trip plans: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/opponents_to_gadhafis_planned.html


Community leaders in Englewood claimed victory Sunday in a battle to keep Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi from staying at a residence owned by the Libyan mission to the United Nations.

Some 200 people gathered at the home of Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a prominent radio and television personality who lives next door to the Libyan residence on East Palisade Avenue. Speakers, including Gov. Jon Corzine, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9th Dist.), a former Englewood mayor, repeatedly sent a clear message that Gadhafi was not welcome in Englewood — nor any other New Jersey town…

… Today, Wildes said, he will appear in Superior Court seeking an injunction on work at the Libyan residence, which has continued despite a stop-work order issued by the city for code violations. “I don’t trust a politician from the government of Libya, their emissaries or their agents,” Wildes said. The only assurances Wildes said he will accept are from the State Department in the form of a visa restriction that keeps Gadhafi in Manhattan.

“He should be arrested if brought onto U.S. soil,” Wildes said. “He should be put in the Englewood lockup.”

Nicole DiCocco, spokeswoman for the Libyan embassy in Washington, D.C., declined to comment.

[Jolie Rouge]

Wasn't he "near death" months ago ??

December 16, 2009
Mystery as Lockerbie bomber goes missing from home and hospital

Mystery surrounded the Lockerbie bomber last night after he could not be reached at his home or in hospital.

Libyan officials could say nothing about the whereabouts of Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi, and his Scottish monitors could not contact him by telephone. They will try again to speak to him today but if they fail to reach him, the Scottish government could face a new crisis.

Under the terms of his release from jail, the bomber cannot change his address or leave Tripoli, and must keep in regular communication with East Renfrewshire Council.

Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic and relatives of the 270 people who died in the 1988 bombing expressed anger about al-Megrahi’s disappearance. Richard Baker, Labour’s justice spokesman in the Scottish Parliament, said the whole affair was turning into a shambles and putting Scotland’s reputation at risk. “This flags up just how ludicrous it is that East Renfrewshire Council, a local council thousands of miles away from Libya, is responsible for supervising al-Megrahi’s conditions of licence,” he said.


Absence from hospital not a positive sign
Anger as al-Megrahi defies three-month prognois

Eliot Engel, a New York congressman, said: “I think it was a tremendous mistake to let him out in the first place. I don’t think a convicted terrorist has any integrity to abide by any type of agreement.”

Relatives of the victims were furious in August when Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, released al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds because he was expected to die of prostate cancer within three months.

On Sunday evening The Times called at the bomber’s home in suburban Tripoli. A policeman sitting on a plastic chair outside was asked to deliver a message to al-Megrahi. He spoke no English, but indicated that al-Megrahi was not there.

The next day The Times visited the Tripoli Medical Centre where alMegrahi was treated soon after his return to Libya. The receptionists said he had left the hospital some time ago.

Back at al-Megrahi’s home, there was no sign of activity. One of three security officers sitting in a grey Mercedes car outside said: “They’ve all gone.” He refused to elaborate.

Alerted by The Times, Jonathan Hinds, of East Renfrewshire Council, tried to telephone al-Megrahi at his home yesterday. He spoke to a Libyan man who said al-Megrahi was too ill to speak to him.

Mr Hinds has called al-Megrahi every other Tuesday since August, and has always been able to speak to him. Yesterday was not one of the regular Tuesdays, so al-Megrahi would not have been expecting a call.

“We will continue to attempt to call Mr Megrahi tomorrow and will then consider the situation,” a council spokesman said. If there were grounds for suspecting al-Megrahi was breaching the terms of his release, “we would report that to the Scottish Government and it would be up to them to decide what action to take”.

It is entirely possible that al-Megrahi was too ill to speak. Libyan doctors have sent monthly reports on his health to Scottish officials, but these have been kept private. Al-Megrahi has not been seen in public since September 9, when he briefly met a delegation of African politicians at the Tripoli Medical Centre. He was in a wheelchair, said nothing and coughed repeatedly. Observers said he looked frail. His older brother, Mohammed, has told The Times that al-Megrahi had been examined by Italian cancer specialists and that he was receiving his fourth dose of chemotherapy. He asked that he be left alone.

Tony Kelly, al-Megrahi’s Scottish lawyer, refused to discuss his client, and the British Embassy in Tripoli had no comment, but other British sources were adamant that al-Megrahi was terminally ill.

Even so, Bill Aitken, the Scottish Conservative justice spokesman, called for an immediate investigation. He said: “This is outrageous and there will be intense anger that Britain’s biggest mass murderer appears to be able to disappear.”

Pamela Dix, whose brother Peter died on Pan Am Flight 103, said: “I’d certainly wish to know what is happening to him. This is a demonstration of how it is almost impossible to keep tabs on him — but he could also be seriously ill, so that must not be ruled out.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6958291.ece

But.... wait ...

'Missing' Lockerbie bomber found
December 16, 2009 - 11:19PM
AFP

The Scottish authorities charged with supervising the Lockerbie bomber said they had contacted him in Tripoli on Wednesday, following concerns about his whereabouts.

Under the terms of his release from a Scottish jail on compassionate grounds in August, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi cannot leave Tripoli or change his address and must keep in regular contact with East Renfrewshire Council.

They were unable to contact the Libyan on Tuesday, while The Times newspaper could not track him down at either his house or the hospital where the terminal prostate cancer sufferer has had treatment.

"We have now spoken to Mr Megrahi, who is in his house. There is no cause for alarm, he is in his house," said a spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council in western Scotland. "He wasn't able to speak to us yesterday but he was able to do so today. We have spoken to him and we don't have any concerns. He is definitely at home in Tripoli."

The spokesman said that if staff had been unable to contact Megrahi this time, they would have reported the situation to the Scottish government.

The council is next due to speak to Megrahi next Tuesday.

Megrahi is the only person convicted over the December 1988 bombing of a New York-bound Pan Am Boeing 747 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, which killed 270 people.

He was freed on August 20 after doctors said he had only three months to live, and returned to a hero's welcome in Libya, angering relatives of those killed.

His release also caused tensions between Britain, the devolved Scottish government and the United States and sparked questions about London's growing trade relationship with Tripoli.


http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/missing-lockerbie-bomber-found-20091216-kxih.html


The council’s next scheduled call-in to Megrahi is next Tuesday.

Anyone else find this phone tag game with a murderous jihadists completely insane?

***

Doug Powers: ‘Monitoring convicted terrorists (sorry, “alleged man-caused disaster initiators’) on the honor system — What could possibly go wrong?”


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00660/Al-Megrahi_660293a.jpg

The freed Lockerbie bomber Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi with his mother and daughter

How nice that he got to return home to say his goodbyes to his family. So sad that the 270 peole killed by his actions were not afforded the same courtsey...

[Jolie Rouge]

Lockerbie release: So much for “smart diplomacy.” So much for “surprised.”
July 26, 2010 09:37 AM
http://michellemalkin.com/2010/07/26/lockerbie-release-so-much-for-smart-diplomacy-so-much-for-surprised/

Here is what Team Obama’s “smart” and sensitive form of diplomacy has wrought: A hero’s welcome home to Libya for the murderous Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, who was released last August claiming he had terminal cancer and three months to live. A year later, the jihadist is still alive http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2010/07/why-isnt-dying-lockerbie-bombe.html ; senators want an investigation http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/07/lockerbie-bomber-release/1 ; and The Australian reports that the Obama administration backed “compassionate release.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/white-house-backed-release-of-lockerbie-bomber-abdel-baset-al-megrahi/story-e6frg6so-1225896741041


The US government secretly advised Scottish ministers it would be “far preferable” to free the Lockerbie bomber than jail him in Libya.

Correspondence obtained by The Sunday Times reveals the Obama administration considered compassionate release more palatable than locking up Abdel Baset al-Megrahi in a Libyan prison.

The intervention, which has angered US relatives of those who died in the attack, was made by Richard LeBaron, deputy head of the US embassy in London, a week before Megrahi was freed in August last year on grounds that he had terminal cancer.

The document, acquired by a well-placed US source, threatens to undermine US President Barack Obama’s claim last week that all Americans were “surprised, disappointed and angry” to learn of Megrahi’s release.

Scottish ministers viewed the level of US resistance to compassionate release as “half-hearted” and a sign it would be accepted.

LeBaron’s letter was, in essence, a shrug of the Obama administration’s shoulders. Message: Who cares?

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air blasts White House incompetence: http://hotair.com/archives/2010/07/26/did-the-obama-administration-push-for-lockerbie-bombers-release/


The letter did not give a green light to Megrahi’s parole to Libya. Nevertheless, it shows the kind of ineptitude that has plagued the Obama administration’s diplomacy from the “reset button” with Russia to this day. LeBaron’s note was a clear signal to Scotland that the US had lost most of its interest in Megrahi; recall that the US had insisted originally that any parole must include extradition to the US. The Scottish government must have presumed that we would not strenuously object to their release of Megrahi to the Libyans after LeBaron failed to raise that point and demand Megrahi’s extradition.

Also, it shows that the Obama administration lied about being surprised by Megrahi’s release. They knew it was coming, and while they may have been surprised that he went to Libya, the White House knew Scotland was going to spring Megrahi one way or the other.

Yes. Liars. You’ve been called out.

[Jolie Rouge]

Lockerbie families raise new questions over bomber
David Stringer, Associated Press Writer – Sun Aug 15, 3:01 pm ET

LONDON – The regrets of a cancer expert who assessed the only man ever convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie jetliner bombing have intensified the anger felt by victims' relatives over Scotland's decision to release the Libyan on compassionate grounds.

Professor Karol Sikora and other experts had said Abdel Baset al-Megrahi probably had only three months to live when he was freed from a Scottish jail last August and allowed to return home to Libya. But one year later, Al-Megrahi, who is being treated for prostate cancer, is still alive.

Sikora, one of three experts who assessed al-Megrahi's health for Libyan authorities, was quoted by Britain's Observer newspaper Sunday as saying he should have been more cautious about the chances of survival.

"If I could go back in time, I would have probably been more vague and tried to emphasize the statistical chances and not hard fact," Sikora was quoted as saying.

"In medicine we say 'Never say never and never say always,' because funny things happen. All you can do is give a statistical opinion," said Sikora, dean of the School of Medicine at Buckingham University, in central England.

Scottish authorities deny that the opinions of Sikora and the other experts who advised Libya entered into the decision to release al-Megrahi, though families contend that the advice must have played a role.

"It's obvious the whole thing was flawed," said Frank Duggan, president of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, an advocacy group that represents some of the families of those killed.

Duggan said Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill had rejected a U.S. government request to commission an independent medical examination of al-Megrahi, and also has declined demands from families to publish in full the advice Scotland received from consultants.

"The Scottish government should be embarrassed and the U.K. government should be embarrassed," said Duggan, a retired lawyer from Rehoboth, Del., who advises some bereaved families. "It's no surprise to us that these doubts are coming out."

Al-Megrahi is the only person to have been jailed for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 above the small Scottish town of Lockerbie, which killed 259 people — mostly Americans — onboard and 11 on the ground.

He was convicted in 2001 and sentenced to serve at least 27 years in a Scottish prison, but released in August 2009 on compassionate grounds.

A report made public by Scottish authorities shows the Scottish Prison Service's medical chief, Andrew Fraser, was advised by four specialists at the time of al-Megrahi's release. The report described the three-month prognosis for al-Megrahi as "reasonable," but confirmed that none of those consulted ruled out that al-Megrahi might live longer.

Sikora said he was not taking responsibility for al-Megrahi's release. "No one asked me, 'Should we let him out?' All they said was, 'When do you think he will die?'" he was quoted as saying.

Rev. John Mosey, from Worcestershire, England, whose daughter Helga, 19, died in the bombing, said it was wrong to criticize those who had assessed al-Megrahi.

"The doctors in the case have been dragged through the mud, when really it is very difficult to assess how long someone will survive," he said. "It was a difficult decision to make and was made in good faith."

Susan Cohen, of Cape May Court House, N.J., whose 20-year-old daughter, Theodora, died in the attack, said Sikora's comments were the latest insult to the victims' loved ones.

"This is an added kick in the face and another example of them throwing rocks in the face of the families," Cohen said Sunday. "This whole thing is about business interests, money and making profits," she said, referring to allegations that oil giant BP pressured Scotland to free al-Megrahi so it could win access to Libyan oil reserves.

MacAskill has denied BP had any role in the release of al-Megrahi. Former BP chief executive John Browne, who stepped down in 2007, said Saturday he held two meetings with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi but never discussed the release of prisoners.

BP has acknowledged that it lobbied the U.K. government as Britain and Libya were negotiating a prisoner transfer agreement — known as a PTA — in autumn 2007, but said it had not raised al-Megrahi's case. Al-Megrahi was not released under the deal, as he was freed on compassionate grounds rather than transferred to serve out his sentence.

"The PTA happened after I left the company. I went to see Col. Gadhafi twice and I think I moved things forward, but there was no discussion about the PTA and no agreement for exploration made at that time," Browne said, speaking Saturday at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Last week, four Democratic U.S. senators — Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer of New York and Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey — sent a letter to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond asking that al-Megrahi's full medical records be disclosed.

"We've never seen that medical evidence. We now know from the prison doctor that the cancer experts were not absolute in their view that al-Megrahi only had three months to live, so there is a lot of confusion here," Annabel Goldie, a Conservative Party lawmaker in Scotland's Parliament, said Sunday.

Duggan said Scottish authorities have repeatedly cited patients' confidentiality as their reason for not disclosing the records.

Sikora told the Observer he remains certain al-Megrahi will die of cancer, "I suspect in the next few weeks. To tell the truth, I'll be quite glad because we can move on."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100815/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_lockerbie;_ylt=Ahix02wiEPADTXfPj3lD3i6s 0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFiMWwyYXN0BHBvcwM1NgRzZWMDYWNjb3Jk aW9uX3dvcmxkBHNsawNsb2NrZXJiaWVmYW0-

[Jolie Rouge]

The ship sank while President Cheney was in office. We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for that administration.

:confused: The Lockerbie bombing occured in 1988 - how does that "mess" fall on Bush/Cheney Administration ?

[Jolie Rouge]

Convicted Lockerbie bomber taken to hospital
By Ali Shuaib | Reuters – 1 hr 39 mins ago

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SW.xH9ahQbohY6S7crnUEA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzI5O2NyPTE7Y3c9NTUwO2R4PTA7ZH k9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD0zNzc7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/04/13/2012-04-13T171023Z-1-CBRE83C1BPD00-RTROPTP-2-LIBYA-BRITAIN-MEGRAHI-JPG_181021.jpg

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The former Libyan intelligence officer convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people was transferred to hospital on Friday after his health deteriorated quickly, his brother said.

Abdulbasit al-Megrahi was taken from his Tripoli home to a private hospital, his brother Abdulhakim told Reuters. "His health began to deteriorate quickly and we were worried about him, so took him immediately to the hospital where he is receiving a blood transfusion," he said.

Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 as it flew to New York from London. All 259 people aboard the airliner were killed and 11 others on the ground in the Scottish town of Lockerbie died from falling wreckage.

Britain freed him in 2009 on compassionate grounds because he was suffering from advanced terminal prostate cancer and thought to have months to live.

His release angered many relatives of the victims, 189 of whom were American, and the Obama administration criticized the decision. A number of U.S. politicians have pressed for his extradition to the United States, something Libya's ruling National Transitional Council said it would not do.

Megrahi, who served as an intelligence agent during the rule of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, denied any role in suspected human rights abuses in his home country before Gaddafi's fall and death in a popular uprising last year.

http://news.yahoo.com/convicted-lockerbie-bomber-taken-hospital-brother-173443204.html

comments

He should be dying in a Scottish prison. The Scots should never have let him go.

...

well, he had a long life after 1988! the passengers didn't....

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According to the conditions of his release, he should have died three years ago.

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My sympathies. To the families of those whose loved ones he killed. He, however, can rot.

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The one big mistake Britain made! He should have been shown the same compassion that was shown to the 270 lives he blew out like a match!

[Jolie Rouge]

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Lockerbie bomber dies in Libya hospital
By Dylan Stableford | The Lookout – 8 hrs ago.

Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, the former Libyan intelligence official who was sentenced to life in prison in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, has died, the Libyan government said on Sunday. He was 60.

The bombing of the Dec. 21, 1988 Pan Am transatlantic flight to New York from London as it flew over Lockerbie, Scotland killed 270 people--259 people on board and 11 people on the ground--making it the world's deadliest act of terror until the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Megrahi, the only person convicted in connection with the bombing, had long maintained his innocence. He was sentenced to life in a Scottish prison in 2001. Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, another Libyan intelligence official charged in the bombing, was found not guilty.

Remains of Pan Am Flight 103 in Lockerbie. (AP/File)

"He was too sick to utter anything on his deathbed," Megrahi's brother Abdulhakim, who was with him in a Tripoli hospital when he died, told Reuters. "We want people to know he was innocent."

Megrahi was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2009 and subsequently released from prison on compassionate grounds, sparking an international uproar fueled by allegations that it was motivated by British and Scottish interests in Libyan oil.

At the time, doctors had given the former security chief of Libyan Arab Airlines only a few months to live. When al Megrahi was released to Libya, he was given a "hero's welcome" at the airport.

In 2010, the Associated Press said Megrahi was "stirring outrage simply by surviving."

Of the 270 people killed in the 1988 bombing, 189 were American.

"This man was a horrible man," New York Sen. Chuck Schumer told CNN on Sunday. "It would have been better had he not died in freedom, but died in prison. That's what he deserved, and I still believe that the Scottish government, perhaps with the participation of the British government, created a major injustice when they let him out."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/lockerbie-bomber-dies-libya-151647480.html

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Megrahi death closes ‘unfortunate chapter,’ White House says
By Olivier Knox | The Ticket – 4 hrs ago.

The White House said Sunday that the death of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi closed "an unfortunate chapter" that opened when Scotland freed the former Libyan intelligence officer on humanitarian grounds in 2009.

"We have received confirmation from the Libyan government that Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi died earlier today," National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement. "Megrahi's death concludes an unfortunate chapter following his release from prison in 2009 on medical grounds--a move we strongly opposed. "As we have long said, we want to see justice for the victims of the Lockerbie bombing and their families," Vietor continued. "We will continue working with our new partners in Libya toward a full accounting of (slain Libyan strongman Moammar) Gadhafi's horrific acts."

The bombing of the Dec. 21, 1988 Pan Am 103 transatlantic flight to New York from London as it flew over Lockerbie, Scotland killed 270 people--259 people on board and 11 people on the ground--making it the world's deadliest act of terror until the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Megrahi, who was sentenced to life in prison, said he was innocent. Scottish authorities released him in August 2009 on humanitarian grounds after he was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, as doctors gave him just months to live. That decision drew an international uproar fueled by allegations that it was motivated by British and Scottish interests in Libyan oil.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/megrahi-death-closes-unfortunate-chapter-white-house-184808064.html

[3lilpigs]

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Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, the former Libyan intelligence official who was sentenced to life in prison in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, has died

:thefinger::thefinger: ADIOS MOTHER F*****!! :thefinger: