I’m with you that this is big news frothing up.
One thing troubles me for which I seek further explanation. Why would quaddafi and/or Libya care all that much about one dying murderer? What’s the value of Megrahi to Libya that evidently it’s paying money and.or oil...some kind of cost.
I know that Bush and cheney got Quaddifi to buckle under like a canoe in a hurricane after 9-11. Could this be a way for Libya to regain its former prominant position in the world?
If not...again...why this rather pathetic prisoner?
But No. 10 doesn't go to "liar" from "disingenuous" as the truth could conceivably justify, but says only they were "said to have been ‘disappointed’ by the force of Washington’s response". To fit the facts put in public evidence thus far, the following is conceivable:
(Years-standing agreement to let the hijackers rot to the end of their lives in prison.)
UK->USA Megrahi's terminally ill and we're thinking of letting him go to visit his family in the last few months of his life.
USA->UK Did you forget about the rotting-in-jail thingie? We think what you're contemplating would be a mistake.
UK->USA Your comments are duly noted.
(UK/Scots release of Megrahi, press release to everybody simultaneously)
USA: We're deeply disappointed in the UK/Scottish decision.
UK: "Their reaction was ‘disingenuous’" and "we're surprised by the force of their response," given how we keep them in the loop.
There are perhaps more pertinent facts not in evidence, but I think if the UK/Scots were entirely in the right they'd be coming up with a stronger case.
HF
Perhaps it's simply an opportunity to thumb their nose at the west (particularly the U.S.).
They want America to appear weak; and they're succeeding.
Because he was a Libyan government agent who was carrying out the government's orders. In order to get people to go on these dangerous missions in the future, you must make every effort to get those who get caught back. It is done all of the time. We have done it numerous times exchaning their spies for out spies. In this case, Libya had some economic benefits to offer in exchange for their agent.