UK documents show Lockerbie bomber set free for oil contracts

Hot Air ^ | August 30, 2009 | ED MORRISSEY

[RobinMasters]

The Times of London continues to rip to shreds the official explanations from Edinburgh and London over the so-called “compassionate release” of Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi, the terrorist who killed 270 people, mostly Americans, in the 1987 bombing of Pan Am flight 103. The Scots insisted that the release was consistent with their “values”, while the Gordon Brown government insisted that they did nothing to influence the decision. New documents unearthed by the Times show both to be lying:

The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.

Gordon Brown’s government made the decision after discussions between Libya and BP over a multi-million-pound oil exploration deal had hit difficulties. These were resolved soon afterwards.

The letters were sent two years ago by Jack Straw, the justice secretary, to Kenny MacAskill, his counterpart in Scotland, who has been widely criticised for taking the formal decision to permit Megrahi’s release.

The correspondence makes it plain that the key decision to include Megrahi in a deal with Libya to allow prisoners to return home was, in fact, taken in London for British national interests.

[traderrob6]

This could bring down 2 governments.

[RC2]

Is there anyone that believes that our government didn’t know about this? Which Czar was involved?

[RummyChick]

I dont think the guy even had cancer.

[DownInFlames]

You are probably right on this one. This was done for OIL.

[RJL]

America truly stands alone, France sold us out for Saddam’s oil, now the UK sells us out for Libyan oil.

[awake-n-angry]

We sold ourselves out at the outset of the Iraq Warr when Ghaddafi bought his way back into the fold with cooperation. The Bush admin forgave him and western interests jumped at the chance to do business with Libya. You can bet that this deal will fill US petroleum coffers.

[lolhelp]

Bet Obama knew about it and was right up there agreeing with it.

[ColdWater]

America truly stands alone, France sold us out for Saddam’s oil, now the UK sells us out for Libyan oil.

This deal was vetted with the U.S. before it happened. Just like the Korean journalist deal was vetted before Clinton flew over.

[dfwgator]

That is true. I never liked letting Libya off the hook. It flew in the face of everything that stood for “The War on Terror”.

And judging by the hero’s reception the bomber got back in Libya, the tiger hasn’t changed their stripes.

[ozzymandus]

Perfidious Albion. I’m interested in seeing what the Brit posters say about this.

[YankeeBrit]

I would take this with a grain of salt Britain has loads of oil in the north sea. The British are extremely soft on crime, the things serious criminals get a slap on the wrist for is sickining. I'm surprised the British government didn't let this creep go earlier. This is a country where baby torturers and killers get 3 years ( google baby p)