Posted on 08/25/2009 7:58:22 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has said releasing the Lockerbie bomber was the "right decision", as criticism mounts from both sides of the Atlantic.
It follows an attack by the head of the FBI, who said freeing Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi made a "mockery of justice".
Scotland's former first minister Jack McConnell has called it a "grave error of judgment".
Mr Salmond said the release was correct within the Scottish system, adding: "We didn't do it to court popularity."
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is due to make a statement and face questions on the case, when the Scottish Parliament is recalled a week early on Monday.
Mr Salmond told the BBC the release decision was made because "it was the right thing to do in terms of the Scottish justice system".
He said Scotland had a "strong" and "enduring" relationship with the US, but it did not "depend on us always coming to agreement".
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
FLAMING MUSLIM Bootlicker trying to cover his Atrocity of Justice!
Well he did serve 13.3 days for each person he helped murder......what more do you want?
A bizarre turn of events. What is the real story?
Neither did the bomber. But in view of the Libyan trade issues I'd say everybody got what he wanted. Except for the murdered passengers, of course. Eggs and omelets, Mr. Salmond?
“A bizarre turn of events. What is the real story?”
Here is my take on events, copied and pasted from a few days ago:
This is a multi-faceted decision and I think there are three main (but not exclusive) reasons I think why this decision has been allowed:
1. The SNP are an other-worldly idealistic bunch. Being in charge of Scotland domestically but having no control over foreign affairs or defence has created a mindset that sees the world in terms of unbending principles. They are like adolescents who appease, not because they are bad people but because they believe being nice to your enemy works. If they were an independent government those tough choices would mature them.
2. The UK government, although an enemy of the SNP gave a nod and a wink (along with the US government who if privately had told the SNP it would be an act of an unfriendly executive would have backed down I am sure) so they could keep Libya out of Nuclear and Terrorist activities and gain trade deals.
3. This is the most important. Many within the Scottish Justice system really believe Megrahi was innocent and the guilty verdict very unsafe. As Megrahi was on appeal, they were terrified that it would show how unsafe the verdict was and this would destroy confidence in Scottish Justice.
Now let me be clear on this. For all their faults, they do not believe Megrahi was innocent as some sort of whacko anti-Americanism. In fact many believe it was the Syrians and Iranians who did it for revenge over the downed Iran Air Flight 655 and that the UK and US know this (hence the muted response).
So they pressured him to drop his appeal and the deal was that they would let him go as he was dying anyway.
This last part is speculation, but I have heard this from so many people and informed journalists over the years that I tend to think there is some truth in it. As I said last week, do you really think if Obama had phoned the SNP (who think he is the messiah) and really had a go at them that Megrahi would have been released?
Except the heroes welcome Libyans gave him petty much negated any gains in good will towards Libya.. It will likely result in demonstrations against Gaddafi when he visits the UN latter this summer. Libya went from almost out of the toilet, to right back in, and they dragged Scotland's reputation right down with them.
How many of the doctors who examined him and the tests are Muslim? Their names are blacked out on the reports at the Smoking Gun. It could be he has a completely treatable case of prostrate cancer and the test results were faked. Did he require that he be seen only by Muslim doctors as a concession to his religion?
Dictators don’t care about public opinion though. If privately they are getting a muted response or even support from the UK/US then they don’t care.
“How many of the doctors who examined him and the tests are Muslim?”
None, his Doctor was Dr Fraser.
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