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01 Sep 2009 21:31

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World: Libya was threatening the U.K. to release the Lockerbie bomber

  • The U.K.’s trying to dispel bomber-for-oil rumors. Libya warned the United Kingdom that there would be “catastrophic effects” to the relationship between the two countries if the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi were allowed to die in prison, dozens of pages of documents released by the U.K. say. From the sounds of things, Libya twisted Scotland’s arm really hard, and to grease the skids further, Britain and Libya have had warm relations of late. All of which likely helped along his release. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Aug 2009 09:54

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World: Was an oil deal behind the Lockerbie bomber’s release?

  • If so, expect a lot of angry people. The Sunday Times is reporting this morning that Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was released to Libya “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom.” Apparently the Brits and Libya had some negotiations about oil that stalled, and a prisoner-transfer deal with Libya greased the wheels. Sounds sketchy to us. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

25 Aug 2009 20:34

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World: Doctor to Lockerbie bombing judge: You done @!#(^!( up, idiot

  • It is clear to me from the medical reports and the opinion of the specialists that Megrahi could live for many more months. Kenny MacAskill released him apparently on the advice of just one doctor whose status is not clear and who is not named.
  • Scottish Labour Party politician Dr. Richard Simpson • Discussing the prognosis of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, which Scottish justice minister Kenny MacAskill believed would only give the Lockerbie bomber a short time to live. Simpson suggests that MacAskill’s information was incorrect. If Simpson is right, then the Libyan government just scored a huge coup. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Aug 2009 11:47

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World: Scotland defends its release of the Lockerbie bomber

  • We understand that, we recognise that … But the process of compassionate release doesn’t depend on the guilt or innocence of the party. It’s an evaluation based essentially on the medical condition of the prisoner.
  • Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister • Responding to criticism by the U.S., most notably FBI Director Robert Mueller, for allowing Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi to go free for medical reasons. In case you’re wondering (we certainly were), Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom but it has its own legal system separate from the rest of the union. So, it wasn’t the U.K. that made this decision – it was Scotland. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Aug 2009 09:30

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World: Britain: We shouldn’t have released the Lockerbie bomber

  • The sight of a mass murderer getting a hero’s welcome in Tripoli is deeply upsetting, deeply distressing, above all for the 270 families who grieve every day for the loss of their loved ones 21 years ago.
  • British Foreign Secretary David Miliband • Criticizing Scotland’s decision to let Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi go early. Many were critical of the U.S.’ why-didya-let-him-go feelings on the matter, until they saw that the Libyan government allowed for a rare public gathering outside of Meghrai’s plane to celebrate his release. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Aug 2009 09:56

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World: Families of Lockerbie bomber victims: He should’ve stayed in jail

  • My understanding is that the man (Megrahi) really is within three months of dying, which is one of the issues we wanted cleared up. At the same time, we have always maintained that he should remain in prison in Scotland and die there if it comes to that.
  • Frank Duggan, president of an organization representing American victims of Pan Am Flight 103 • Discussing the fate of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who will be returning to Libya to be with his family for the last few months of his life. The Obama administration has reacted with dismay towards the decision and protested his release, but the Libyan government has long fought for his release. Megrhai continues to argue he wasn’t involved but gave up his appeal so he could be released. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

20 Aug 2009 08:39

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U.S., World: The Lockerbie bomber is now a free (though very ill) man

  • Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was released by a Scottish court today. Megrahi, a Libyan national, is suffering from terminal prostate cancer and only has a short time to live. So the court set him free on compassionate grounds. He’ll likely be with family within hours. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was critical of the release before it happened, saying, “We are still encouraging the Scottish authorities not to do so and we hope that they will not.” The Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 killed 270 people in 1988. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
 
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