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WikiLeaks: Britain secretly advised Libya how to secure release of Lockerbie bomber
Telegraph ^ | Telegraph

Posted on 01/31/2011 3:16:23 PM PST by sunmars

Ministers secretly advised Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan regime how to secure the successful early release of the Lockerbie bomber, documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph have disclosed.

A Foreign Office minister sent Libyan officials detailed legal advice on how to use Abdelbaset al-Megrahi’s cancer diagnosis to ensure he was released from a Scottish prison on compassionate grounds.

The Duke of York is also said to have played a behind-the-scenes role in encouraging the terrorist’s release.

The Libyans closely followed the advice which led to the controversial release of Megrahi – who was convicted of the murder of 270 passengers on Pan Am Flight 103 – within months of the Foreign Office’s secret intervention.

The disclosure seriously undermines British Government claims that is was not complicit in the release of al-Megrahi, and that the decision to free the convicted terrorist was taken by the Scottish Executive alone.

It will also lead to renewed pressure from senior American politicians on David Cameron to release all internal documents detailing Britain’s role in the scandal. Last summer, the Prime Minister pledged to release the relevant information – but the publication has yet to occur sparking fears that a cover-up may have been ordered.

The Daily Telegraph today publishes more than 480 American documents detailing international relations with the Libyan regime over the past three years.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: almegrahi; assange; britishpetroleum; libya; lockerbie; megrahi; wikileaks
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To: sunmars
It was a British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, who said 1n Parliament in 1848:

... it is a narrow policy to suppose that this country or that is to be marked out as the eternal ally or the perpetual enemy of England. We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.
There is a good reason why people once spoke of perfidious Albion.
81 posted on 02/01/2011 3:44:24 AM PST by CatoRenasci (Ceterum Censeo Persae Esse Delendam -- Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit)
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To: Vanders9

So I’m supposed to give Hillary Clinton the benefit of the doubt?

Look, I’m for exposing all the evil all the governments are doing.

Our press is not doing their job, so we have to rely on people like Assange and his organization to publish what they do have.

The UK is the subject of this very post, so the US is not the only one they target. These guys also released some information about an African potentate a couple years ago. It caused a big controversy and may have swung an election.

We need more WikiLeaks type sites.


82 posted on 02/01/2011 3:53:27 AM PST by MichiganConservative (Terrorists don't commit genocide. That's what governments do.)
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To: Vanders9

I’ve been traveling to and living in Great Britain for over 30 years. I can assure you that the Brits - particularly the educated classes of England - do not like or understand America. In fact, most of them are completely unaware of our history. I just had a Cambridge friend ask me who “John Adams was?” He had stumbled upon the television series. And if you think the Conservative Party of Great Britain is anything like American conservative movement - you’ve gotta get out more.


83 posted on 02/01/2011 4:30:22 AM PST by miss marmelstein
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To: Wallop the Cat

In a perfect world, complete transparency in government would be a good thing.

But in a world where where WMD exist, and illiberal leaders rule illiberal people with designs on world conquest - secrets need to be kept.

One-way street transparency is a dangerous thing that has been and will continue to be used against us...


84 posted on 02/01/2011 5:03:02 AM PST by StatenIsland (If we insist that 99 1/2 wonÂ’t do, gotta have a hundred, we will again wind up with zero.)
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To: sunmars

BTTT.


85 posted on 02/01/2011 5:22:35 AM PST by mewzilla (Hey, Schumer, your Lockerbie report left quite a bit out.)
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To: MichiganConservative
No I'm not saying that at all. Hillary Clinton doesn't come well out of this whichever way you look at it.

What I am saying is that because the information is selective (because they don't have access to all of it), the impression that is given is also selective. What has been uncovered may be true, but it ends up disguising other truths.

86 posted on 02/01/2011 6:42:33 AM PST by Vanders9
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To: CatoRenasci

And this policy is different from that of every other nation in exactly what way?


87 posted on 02/01/2011 6:46:15 AM PST by Vanders9
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To: miss marmelstein
I have been living in Britain for nearly fifty years and, in all humility, I think I can say I know a good deal more about what Brits think of Americans. Judging by some of the comments I read on these boards Americans like and understand Britain on much the same kind of level.

I wasn't talking about THE Conservative Party. I said conservatives (small C) in both countries are opposed by "progressives" in both countries.

88 posted on 02/01/2011 6:52:56 AM PST by Vanders9
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To: Vanders9
I'm not suggesting it does differ (significantly), only that those who put too much stock in the special relationship between the US and Britain (on our side or theirs) should keep this in mind. The reason there is a special relationship as far as it goes is that more often than not, our permanent interests have been congruent, not identical.
89 posted on 02/01/2011 6:56:53 AM PST by CatoRenasci (Ceterum Censeo Persae Esse Delendam -- Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit)
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To: CatoRenasci

Absolutely, although I would add the caveat that shared language, history and a mutual dominant cultural inheritence do matter more than a little. Other than that, the relationship is only special because both sides strive to keep it that way. My only personal reading is that it has cooled considerably in the last couple of years, and I’m afraid the start was Obama’s assorted snubs (returning Churchill’s bust, handing crappy presents to Gordon Brown and the Queen, foisting Guantanamo prisoners on Bermuda without so much as a by your leave, and most tellingly, sucking up to the French). The Brits have retaliated with snubs of their own (no invite to M&O for the Royal wedding for example, and pointedly courting India as a new “special friend”). This is not a good trend. The UK may not be America’s closest ally, or its most important, but it is certainly the most important (and powerful) of its close allies.


90 posted on 02/01/2011 7:11:08 AM PST by Vanders9
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To: sunmars

Love how our corrupt biased media does not mention the fact bozo the clown and his admin knew about this all along.

I HATE OUR SO CALLED MEDIA


91 posted on 02/01/2011 8:11:48 AM PST by manc (Shame on all who voted for the repeal of DADT, who supported it or never tried to stop it. Traitors)
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To: Dacula

EXACTLY
Our corrupt media ignores how obama their messiah was told of this before hand and that he never did object to the release infact they did nothing.

Seems the so called media is trying to destroy our allies while making new allies like the muslim brotherhood .

Obama has now got google their hacks to set up social media in Egypt which then helps the muslim brotherhood , which begs the question what exactly did obama and his admin really get up to in that speech over there now

what is up is now down

IF YOU IN THE SO CALLED MEDIA WANT TO REPORT THEN REPORT THE TRUE FACTS AND ALL OF THEM , SO STOP PROTECTING YOUR MESSIAH


92 posted on 02/01/2011 8:15:17 AM PST by manc (Shame on all who voted for the repeal of DADT, who supported it or never tried to stop it. Traitors)
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To: Vanders9
Quite so. I would argue - consistently with you, I suspect - that our shared language, history, and cultural inheritance are aspects of the frequent and abiding congruence of American and British permanent interests. And, I agree that such congruence (which both sides should understand is never identity, and should not be expected to be) requires attention and fostering by both sides.

I would point out that in this particular case, it was the UK which perfidiously (from the American point of view) conspired with the Libyans directly contrary to what the British government must know was a point of great sensitivity to American opinion.

From my perspective, that suggests the Blair government intended it as a snub to the US for some reason, and that it was more than simply placing a permanent interest ahead of hits alliance with the United States. You cannot imagine the level of ill-will that generated here. I'm usually a strong Anglophile, but I thought that was very bad form.

No question that relations are deteriorating under the Kenyan (regardless of the birth question, on which I express no opinion, he is of recent colonial heritage) who clearly resents and dislike the British, perhaps for the way his father was treated.

93 posted on 02/01/2011 8:51:10 AM PST by CatoRenasci (Ceterum Censeo Persae Esse Delendam -- Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit)
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To: Benchim
Asange is pro truth.He is a hero to conservatives!!

Speak for yourself. Stretch his neck as far apart as east from west is what I say.

94 posted on 02/01/2011 9:15:19 AM PST by LowOiL ("Abomination" sure sounds like "ObamaNation" to me.)
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To: marron

It is showing everyone just how corrupt everything has become.


95 posted on 02/01/2011 12:04:19 PM PST by stockpirate (Hey congress, it's our government and our money, DO NOT RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT!)
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To: Vanders9

I stand by my own experiences. Why don’t you create a profile for yourself? I notice more and more people are not doing that.


96 posted on 02/01/2011 12:08:08 PM PST by miss marmelstein
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To: LowOiL

Why ? Because he exposed your government for what it actually is? Is anything not truth? Tell me what is not truth? Do you like truth?


97 posted on 02/01/2011 6:40:22 PM PST by Benchim
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To: Benchim
Why ? Because he exposed your government for what it actually is? Is anything not truth? Tell me what is not truth? Do you like truth?

First off, I am not English so "your government" does not apply.

Stealing is a sin truth most that claim to be Christian understand, Posting private property not released to you is stealing and treason. Yes, this time England is shed in a dark light, but that is irrelevant.

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Romans 3:8 (King James Version)

And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

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You can ignore the stealing if you want. I will not. Have a good day sir.

98 posted on 02/01/2011 7:27:54 PM PST by LowOiL ("Abomination" sure sounds like "ObamaNation" to me.)
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To: LowOiL

Are we forgiven of our sins?


99 posted on 02/01/2011 7:37:22 PM PST by Benchim
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To: sunmars

This really saddens me. But, hey, they did it on obastard’s watch after he insulted them.


100 posted on 02/02/2011 12:04:55 AM PST by ratsreek
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