TWO CHEERS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION ON MEGRAHI

Powerline Blog ^ | July 26, 2010 | John Hinderaker

[RDangerfield]

TWO CHEERS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION ON MEGRAHI Powerline blog
    We noted yesterday the controversy over the Obama administration's reaction to Scotland's proposed release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohment al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds, i.e., the claim that he was about to die. Foreign newspapers quoted a letter from a U.S. Embassy official in London, Richard LeBaron, which said that the U.S. would prefer that Megrahi not be released, but that if he were to be let go, the Obama administration thought it was "far preferable" to free Megrahi than have him transferred to a Libyan jail. On its face, this preference seemed odd; many wondered whether the notoriously pliable Obama administration had used Megrahi's alleged illness as another opportunity for "outreach." But, as I noted last night, the full text of LeBaron's letter had not been made public, so it was difficult to judge. Today the State Department did release the full text of LeBaron's letter. In my opinion, it answers the questions we asked yesterday and reflects credit on the State Department and the Obama administration. The relevant portions are as follows:
[Excerpted for fair use rule]

[RDangerfield]

What a shocker, eh? Doesn't John Hinderaker and his Powerline blog usually go at Obama's throat for all the things he's failed about?

[Pikachu_Dad]

Doesn’t matter.

Read the letter - it is ok.

However, they still could have more forcefully opposed his release.

[supremedoctrine]

This guy’s way behind the learning curve on this story.
He should instead start investigating the considerable proof that the WH backed the release also, even as the NOW have to feign moral outrage about it.

[shibumi]

I don’t want to derail your thread, but I thought you might enjoy this -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSt2RoZ8Ek4

[ash-housewares]

The letter’s kind of weak tea. “we are not able to endorse the early release of Megrahi under any scenario”—why not just write, “We oppose releasing him early.” Full stop

[RDangerfield]

Thank you, Shibumi. You gave me the first laugh of the day. You must have read my profile, that I first posted when I joined the ranks in 2000. My hamster tag is based on a jazz dj at KPLU in Tacoma, who is sometimes credited with starting the sign-off line that many now use.

No hamsters were harmed or injured in bringing this show to you

[arthurus]

Yeah. After approving it or perhaps promoting it in the first place.

[dennisw]

The letter’s kind of weak tea. “we are not able to endorse the early release of Megrahi under any scenario”—why not just write, “We oppose releasing him early.” Full stop

It is passive feminine kind of phraseology. Men used to speak directly. Now they use weasely soft tones like Harry Reid and Tom Daschle. And such idiotic phases as "I am deeply saddened" by what xxxxxx said instead of saying "I disagree with what xxxxxx said"