[What follows is an editorial from the Pittsburgh Tribune.]
Libya is taking steps to welcome home one of its own -- the only person ever convicted of blowing Pan Am Flight 103 from the sky over Lockerbie, Scotland. His transfer would seal the mockery of justice for 270 victims, including four Western Pennsylvanians.
"Justice" is why Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, 57, has appealed for the second time his 2001 conviction. But he'll forgo that formality, and supposedly drop his appeal, if Britain allows his transfer from Scotland to Libya -- where he would "serve" the remainder of his 27-year sentence. Reportedly he's dying of cancer.
Even as his appeal goes forward, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has raised new questions about evidence in the 1988 jetliner bombing. Which might explain why Britain signed a prisoner-transfer agreement with Libya. The transfer application could take 90 days.
"(Mr. Megrahi) told me he wants to die among his family and friends in his country," says Abdel Atti el-Ubaidi, leader of a Libyan delegation to London. That's a far more humane fate than the jetliner's victims received.
Could Megrahi's return be, as some Libyan commentators suggest, a quid pro quo to Western companies for Libya's oil and gas reserves? Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi already has paid $2.7 billion to the victims' families to make the Lockerbie bombing go away.
Flimsy justice is a pathetic response to despicable terrorism. And that only emboldens tomorrow's terrorists.
Whilst I agree with the sentiments expressed in this editorial, it should be pointed out that Mr Salmond (Scottish First Secretary) may be contemplating the release of Mr Megrahi on compassionate grounds whilst the appeal process continues. As I understand it, even if al-Megrahi dies prior to the judgement, his family may chose to continue the appeal until a conclusion has been reached. This differs widely with the PTA (which obliges al-Megrahi to surrender his right to appeal), and potentially would allow his name to be cleared, not to mention giving Blair, London and Washington a bloody nose.
ReplyDeleteQuincey Riddle (aka: Robert Forrester).