Barack Obama leads condemnation of Scotland for freeing Lockerbie bomber

Telegraph.com UK ^ | 10:00PM BST 20 Aug 2009 | James Kirkup

[UKTory]

“I am sure Obama knew before this ever took place publicly. The fix was in. I wonder what the quid pro quo was for that one.”

The quid pro quo is that Megrahi dropped his appeal and the documents that the UK government has sealed can remain safely locked up. So the chances of the public finding out the truth about what happened with regard to Lockerbie are lessened.

Apparantly the UK and US governments have an interest in that remaining the case.

[kabar]

Any speculation as to exactly what might be concealed? Couldn’t they have just as easily let the appeals process drag on unitl Megrahi died, or is he really terminally ill?

[UKTory]

“Any speculation as to exactly what might be concealed? Couldn’t they have just as easily let the appeals process drag on unitl Megrahi died, or is he really terminally ill?”

Well if you’re into the more elaborate conspiracy theories, then there are various varities concerning CIA personel who were on the flight, drugs smuggling and hostage bargaining, or South Africans who were supposed to be on the flight but cancelled late on.

More realistically, the documents are reputed to include an investigation by the US DIA which concluded that Iran, acting through the Popular Front For The Liberation of Palestine was responsible for the bombing (as was assumed by many at the time as a response to the shooting down of an Iranian airliner by the USS Vincennes) rather than Libya.

[UKTory]

“Couldn’t they have just as easily let the appeals process drag on unitl Megrahi died”

Sorry, forgot to respond to this bit. The appeal process would not necessarily have been ended by his death, it’s perfectly possible for a conviction to be reviewed after the death of the convict.

[Da_Shrimp]

Awww, poor President Obama.

I’m English rather than Scottish, but, hey, in order to apologise for the perfidy of our counsins over the border, I went out to the supermarket and managed to buy you a whole lot of DVDs that you can watch and take your mind off things. A real bargain, only a fiver for 20 movies!

OK most of them are quite old, but I’m sure you won’t mind.

[McGavin999]

Reminds one of an effective cartoon (can't remember the cartoonist's name) during the Carter years that showed a tiny presidential figure trailing a large number of individuals, crying something like,

"I am their leader. I must follw them."

I think the original saying is:There they go, and I must hasten after, for I am their leader"

LOL, one of my long time favorite observations