Wednesday 1 September 2010

Things which don't go away

[This is the heading over an article by William Blum on the Global Research website. The section on Pan Am 103 reads as follows:]

The British government recently warned Libya against celebrating the one-year anniversary of Scotland's release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the Libyan who's the only person ever convicted of the 1988 blowing up of PanAm flight 103 over Scotland, which took the lives of 270 largely Americans and British. Britain's Foreign Office has declared: "On this anniversary we understand the continuing anguish that al-Megrahi's release has caused his victims both in the UK and the US. He was convicted for the worst act of terrorism in British history. Any celebration of al-Megrahi's release would be tasteless, offensive and deeply insensitive to the victims' families."

John Brennan, President Obama's counter-terrorism adviser, stated that the United States has "expressed our strong conviction" to Scottish officials that Megrahi should not remain free. Brennan criticized what he termed the "unfortunate and inappropriate and wrong decision" to allow Megrahi's return to Libya on compassionate grounds on Aug 20, 2009 because he had cancer and was not expected to live more than about three months. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement saying that the United States "continues to categorically disagree" with Scotland's decision to release Megrahi a year ago. "As we have expressed repeatedly to Scottish authorities, we maintain that Megrahi should serve out the entirety of his sentence in prison in Scotland." The US Senate has called for an investigation and family members of the crash victims have demanded that Megrahi's medical records be released. The Libyan's failure to die as promised has upset many people.

But how many of our wonderful leaders are upset that Abdel Baset al-Megrahi spent eight years in prison despite the fact that there was, and is, no evidence that he had anything to do with the bombing of flight 103? The Scottish court that convicted him knew he was innocent. To understand that just read their 2001 "Opinion of the Court", or read my analysis of it at killinghope.org/bblum6/panam.htm.

As to the British government being so upset about Libya celebrating Megrahi's release — keeping in mind that it strongly appears that UK oil deals with Libya played more of a role in his release than his medical condition did — we should remember that in July 1988 an American Navy ship in the Persian Gulf, the Vincennes, shot down an Iranian passenger plane, taking the lives of 290 people; i.e., more than died from flight 103. And while the Iranian people mourned their lost loved ones, the United States celebrated by handing out medals and ribbons to the captain and crew of the Vincennes. The shootdown had another consequence: It inspired Iran to take revenge, which it did in December of that year, financing the operation to blow up PanAm 103 (carried out by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine--General Command).

[A similar piece also appears on the Consortium News website.]

5 comments:

  1. I don't think so: This claim is nonsense:

    keeping in mind that it strongly appears that UK oil deals with Libya played more of a role in his release than his medical condition did.

    But it's a vert sensible point, which I agree with:

    It inspired Iran to take revenge, which it did in December of that year, financing the operation to blow up PanAm 103

    But it wasn't the PFLP GC (differnt race and religion), it was the US government.

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  2. it strongly appears that UK oil deals with Libya played more of a role in his release than his medical condition did.

    Maybe if the UK government had released Megrahi that might fly a foot or two.

    But it didn't.

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  3. Rolfe you pointed out a squillion threads ago that Blair didn't bank on an SNP government being in power when the time came. It was a very good point. Had that not been the case I think there is no doubt Megrahi would have gone under the PTA set up by Blair for that sole purpose: to get Megrahi home without the appeal being heard.

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  4. It might also be noted that the US Government and oil companies also were touting for Libyan favours and indeed one of the Senators leading the artificial row about Megrahi's release sponsored a resolution to the effect that Libya sould not be pressed for compensation for the Lockerbie victims.

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  5. I am glad someone has had the guts to mention IR-655. That was at the root of the Lockerbie atrocity in my opinion.

    You can find my views at adifferentviewonlockerbie.blogspot.com and they are causing a storm on the randi forum.

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