Megrahi Leaves More Questions Than Answers
Having seen the one-man show Lockerbie: Unfinished Business at the Edinburgh Fringe two years ago, I have always been suspicious that Megrahi was the man behind the Lockerbie bombings.
In the meantime,nothing has convinced me, that he was guilty and I agree with the show, that it was more likely, Iran was behind the bombing.
Now that Megrahi has died, it makes it even less likely that the truth will be discovered.
If you have a view on this case, read this. If it changes your view, note why in your mind.
We Should Let al Megrahi Die in Peace
I’ve just heard the father of one of the Lockerbie victims say this on the BBC. He is right, as Megrahi does really seem to be close to death according to this typical report among many. After all as the victim’s father said, Gaddafi has killed a lot more of his own people than the number that died in the PanAm jet at Lockerbie.
However, we shouldn’t let up though on finding out who was ultimately responsible for Lockerbie. It is all too convenient to put the blame on Gaddafi, who surely will soon be dead, as I can’t see him being captured alive or escaping to a safe haven. And if he did the latter, he has made enemies, who would not hestitate to assasinate him.
After I saw Lockerbie: Unfinished Business at the Gilded Balloon last year in Edinburgh, I posted this. I stand by every word I said.
Popbitch on Libya
You can always rely on Popbitch to come up with an unusual take on the most serious of stories. This was in today’s edition.
Convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi has requested to be returned from Libya to prison in Scotland for his safety…
I wouldn’t think it’s true, but it could easily be argued that even the most violent prison in Scotland will be much safer than Libya.
Was Andy Murray Victimised Over Lockerbie?
I’ve just watched Andy Murray crash out of the tennis in Cincinnati. It was to be expected as it was his seventh successive start in the heat of the day. He did ask for a later start, but this was refused. Here’s what the BBC said.
The Scot was treated court-side for the heat in the second set, which Fish took with ease as Murray’s strength waned.
Murray showed immense reserve to force the final set to a tie-break but Fish proved just too strong for the Scot.
The players took to the court at 12pm local time (1700 BST) in temperatures reaching 33 degrees in the shade, after Murray’s request for a later start on Friday was rejected by tournament officials.
I wonder why they rejected his request?
Could it be that Murray was a Scot and the Americans wanted to vent their fury over the release of Al Megrahi on someone Scottish?
What’s the odds that he gets a terrible draw in the US Open?
No Smoke?
The Megrahi affair refuses to go away.
The Sunday Times says that Jack Straw.
Backed down citing “overwhelming” UK interests. A major oil deal was being discussed at the time.
So how much did Prudence and his cronies really know?
Prudence Gets Angry
Gordon Brown is now reported to be very angry about how the Libyans have feted Megrahi when he returned home.
But he has said nothing on his part in the early release of Megrahi except that it was all down to the Scottish government. That strikes me as a bit of a cop out.
The Daily Mail thinks he has something to hide. Perhaps, he doesn’t, as he has actually done nothing, which would be even worse.
I’m just waiting for the day his government goes and the next Prime Minister is able to unlock the files and see the truth about what has happened under this disastrous idiot.
A Legal View on Megrahi
My posts on Megrahi seem to be getting a lot of hits, as obviously and quite rightly people are concerned and interested in the case.
I found this post by Jonathan Mitchell, QC. It covers the law and some of the reactions in detail. This is the opening paragraph.
If Megrahi was indeed rightly convicted of mass murder, which I doubt, it is not in doubt that he acted on the orders of the Libyan government. He was a senior member of its intelligence service. Yet both the UK and US governments have for some years been on friendly terms with the people who, they say, ordered the destruction of PanAm 103. They dine with them. They have cocktails with them when they meet at mutual friends. The week before Megrahi’s release, as reported in the Washington Post, a delegation of four American senators led by John McCain met with Colonel Gaddafi to discuss the sale by the US to Libya of military equipment. In April, Hilary Clinton welcomed another member of the Gaddafi family, the régime’s National Security Adviser, to Washington. She said “We deeply value the relationship between the United States and Libya. We have many opportunities to deepen and broaden our cooperation. And I’m very much looking forward to building on this relationship. So, Mr. Minister, welcome so much here.”
Read the full article.
Libya, the West and Al-Megrahi
This is the headline of an editorial in the Khaleej Times, which is an English language publication in the UAE.
It sums up the issues well and doesn’t really take any particular point of view. But it does add a fact that a lot of people seem to be forgetting in the last paragraph. That is the shooting down by the USS Vincennes of an Iranian Airbus.
Most Western intelligence services saw the bombing of Pan Am 103 as an act of revenge, which obviously it was. The US warship Vincennes had shot down an Iranian Airbus five months before the Pan Am bombing, killing all 290 mostly Iranian passengers, and the Iranians were seen as getting even. Of course, this is not to suggest Teheran had been behind the bombing. As we have argued, there was no dearth of America’s enemies then, just as there’s no dearth of them now. Just about any body could have done it. This is why the Western nations and Libya would do well to exercise restraint. They mustn’t undo all the good work that has been done to bridge the gulf between the Arab country and the West.
The last point is also put very well.
What’s done is done and although it was horrific beyond belief, we all owe it to the world to move on.
Prudence Stays Silent
Gordon Brown has said nothing so far about the Megrahi affair.
Is he being Prudence?
I think though it is interesting to look at reactions on both sides of the Atlantic. Here we put the emphasis on justice and as I said in a previous post, I don’t think anybody got that. But a lot of the comment in the US seems to ignore the truth and put the emphasis a lot more on vengeance.
The Anonymous Widower 