Wednesday, 8 October 2008

Democrats battle Bush over Libyan relations

This is the headline over an article on The Hill, a news website devoted to matters relating to the US Congress. The first few paragraphs read:

'Senate Democrats and the Bush administration continue to butt heads over Libya despite a historic, multibillion-dollar deal that settled claims made against the government of Moammar Gadhafi by terrorist victims’ families.

'The problem, according to lobbyists for the families, is that Libya has yet to pay into a $1.8 billion fund that was to be shared by the victims’ families. Libya agreed to set up the fund in exchange for victims’ families dropping lawsuits against the Libyan government.

'Representatives of the families argue the White House should not be cozying up to Libya when that country is not living up to its side of the bargain. They are turning to their allies in Congress to turn up the pressure on the administration.

'The families and members of Congress are irritated with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s September trip to Libya, the first visit in a half-century by a sitting secretary of State. They’re also unhappy that an assistant secretary at the Commerce Department went to Tripoli last week to help set up a commercial office in the country.'

The full text can be read here.

3 comments:

  1. Surely the relatives are aware that Megrahi's case has been referred to the court of appeal and that the UK government is holding up the hearing because it is afraid of disclosing something which may not only lead to Megrahi's innocence but to the real perpetrators of the crime.
    If I were a relative, I would like to know whether Megrahi was innocent or not before touching any of the money. If he is proved innocent, why should Libya be held to account? Would the families be happy taking money that should be used for the Libyan people who have already suffered severely under sanctions?

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  2. Some of the Lockerbie victims Families (PanAm 103 aircrash)
    say the cordial and truth words:

    It is to be believed absolutely that all relatives of the victims of Flight PanAm-103 would gladly repay any 'compensation' money from Libya if he could just have our loved ones back.

    To the memory:

    The trial under Scottish law, the accused Mr Al Megrahi was found guilty on Jannuary 31, 2001, of mass murder (270 killed) and is serving a life sentence (27 years) in Greenock prison at Glasgow in Scotland. Mr Megrahi and protests till today his innocence.

    The Scottish judicial review commission (SCCRC) came across important relieve-evidence (some that was available to prosecutors but not the defense during Megrahi's trial) suggesting that the Libyan was framed and the the legal judgement was in all probability a miscariage of justice!

    Entitled question for the Lockerbie victims Families group (PanAm 103 aircrash)?:

    Which will happened with the 'compensation' money of US$ 2,7 billion from Libya Foundation, if Mr Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, of the same Scottish jurisdiction, as innocent revived?
    I believe that the entire world population then expected, that then the unauthorized received 'compensation' will pay back to the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation from Saif el Islam Gaddafi.
    The reproach would be then incorrect that the survivors are greedy and have required on the back of their victims blood money.

    by Edwin & Mahnaz Bollier, MEBO Ltd

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  3. Real exonerating evidence like the MEBO material for the reappeal at the High Court is much more decisive than legal pingpong and it could have liberated the Libyan Official Mr. Abdelbaset Ali Al Megrahi a long time ago from a miscarriage of justice and an unjustified imprisonement.

    by Edwin Bollier, MEBO Ltd, Switzerland

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