FBI director launches scathing attack on Kenny MacAskill
And Edinburgh sources claim UK government urged them to send Lockerbie bomber home
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JEFF J MITCHELL / GETTY IMAGES
The memorial in southern Scotland to the 270 people killed when Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie in 1988
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The FBI director, Robert Mueller, has launched a scathing attack on Scotland's Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, for releasing the Lockerbie bomber and letting him return to Libya. Mr Mueller has written a highly critical letter to Mr MacAskill for sending back Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. He says the decision makes "a mockery of justice" and gives comfort to terrorists around the world.
The letter went on: "I am outraged at your decision, blithely defended on the grounds of 'compassion'. Your action in releasing Megrahi is as inexplicable as it is detrimental to the cause of justice.
"Your action gives comfort to terrorists around the world who now believe that regardless of the quality of the investigation, the conviction by jury after the defendant is given all due process, and sentence appropriate to the crime, the terrorist will be freed by one man's exercise of 'compassion'.
"Your action makes a mockery of the emotions, passions and pathos of all those affected by the Lockerbie tragedy ... But most importantly, your action makes a mockery of the grief of the families who lost their own on December 21, 1988. You could not have spent much time with the families ... You could not have visited the small wooden warehouse where the personal items of those who perished were gathered for identification – the single sneaker belonging to a teenager; the Syracuse sweatshirt never again to be worn by a college student returning home for the holidays; the toys in a suitcase of a businessman looking forward to spending Christmas with his wife and children ... Where, I ask, is the justice?"
The news came amid a welter of developments, including the recall tomorrow of the Scottish Parliament to debate the release; Gordon Brown issuing the text of a letter to Colonel Gaddafi; Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson denying the release was made in return for trade concessions; and, in the US, relatives of those killed when PanAm flight 103 was blown up over Lockerbie now planning to converge on New York City to protest against Colonel Gaddafi's speech at the United Nations in September.
In the first evidence of UK government interference in the decision to free Megrahi, it emerged last night that the minister responsible for Libya wrote to the Scottish Executive, allegedly urging officials to send the bomber home. The Foreign Office last night said Ivan Lewis's set out the legal situation in a letter to Mr MacAskill but did not make any representations. But sources in Edinburgh said it clearly expressed the hope that the Scots would agree to release Megrahi under the terms of a prisoner-exchange deal with the Libyan government.
Scottish officials said Megrahi, a former Libyan intelligence officer, has advanced prostate cancer and only months to live. They said they were bound by Scottish rules of compassion to release him, although he had served only eight years of a life sentence. Colonel Gaddafi, who met Megrahi on Friday, said on Libyan TV: "This step is in the interest of relations between the two countries ... and of the personal friendship between me and them and will be positively reflected for sure in all areas of co-operation between the two countries."
His son, Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, said whenever he had met British officials to discuss business, Megrahi's release had been a condition of any deal. Lord Mandelson's response was emphatic. "The idea that the British government, the Libyan government, would sit down and somehow barter over the freedom or the life of this Libyan prisoner and make it all part of some business deal ... it's not only wrong, it's completely implausible and actually quite offensive." Lord Mandelson said he had met Mr Gaddafi's son twice in the past year and the issue had been raised both times, but the release was not tied to business deals.
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Comments
LIBYA WILL BE IN A POSITION TO ASK FOR COMPENSATION FOR 11 YEARS OF EMBARGO, REPAYMENT OF $3.5 BILLION WHICH WAS PAID TO THE VICTIMS, AND MOST IMPORTANT WHO DID IT, AND WHO IS QADDAFI COVERING UP FOR. THIS IS THE BIG QUESTION.
DID SCOTTISH MINSTER HAVE A CHOICE.
AS FOR THE AMERICANS THEY BLESSED THIS MOVE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. JUST TO KEEP THE MONEY THEY GOT.
WHAT A HYPOCRISY
Dont tell other countries how to live their lives.
Dont try to bring everyone down to your level.
I say unto you - "William Calley"
What is sauce for the goose, is surely sauce for the gander, er?
It is none of the US governments business, nor Gordon Brown's, how family and friends and the Libyan government choose to celebrate the return of a wholly innocent man, ....... none.
It is EVERYONE'S business to find out who in the US administrations past and present have framed this man and continue to cover this fact up.
Americans waltzing off with bags and other belongings on the night of a crime scene in Scotland is a crime, when is the American government going to bring these people to book, ....... just following orders won't wash.
When are Americans going to stop treating the whole world as their colony? When are the USAF officers who threatened to have two Dingwall policemen shot for daring to want to investigate a USAF crash a couple of miles from Dingwall going to be brought to book? When are they going to apologise to those two officers?
In short when is the USA going to get off its high horse and realise the game is up? We don't want the bully in the playground so why don't they just piss off and die?
Jack McConnell should be ashamed of himself, a failed minister who who would never have had the courage to tell the Americans that there are higher principles than the one he sees of being a poodle of the USA. Then again he was so incompetent as a minister that he is hardly likely to recognise competence when he sees it so perhaps we should simply feel sorry for him as he crawls off back under the stone he came out from under.
The FBI has itself been a mockery of justice, ever since the days of the cross-dresser Herbert Hoover who denied that there was such a thing as the mafia till his dying day because the Cosa Nostra had photos of him with his tongue down his boyfriend's throat in garters and hose.
The FBI crime lab "lost" JFK's brain and the X-rays, all of which of course showed that he had been shot in the front of his head, not the back. The FBI failed to follow up any of tis field agents' appeals to nab the 9-11 hijackers, Yet these crumb bums still have the audacity to dump on other countries!
Perhaps he would like to do something about the people who have been detained for many years by the US justice without trial.
As I remember it the USA launched countless "terror" bombing raids on the people of Vietnam and Cambodia.
He talks about how jury trials - when al-Megrahi wasn't given a trial by jury.
He talks about the quality of the investigation (which he was a part of) - when both the CIA and the Criminal Cases Review Commission question the quality of the investigation and the soundness of the conviction.
He talks about others clearly not having spoken to relatives - when his own letter demonstrates that he clearly hasn't spoken to any of the many relatives of the victims who believe that al-Megrahi was wrongfully convicted.
He talks about due process - yet he ignores that consideration for release on compassionate grounds is part of due process in the United Kingdom.
He talks about due process - yet ignores the fact that, unlike in the United States, we don't incarcerate for punishment - we incarcerate to protect the public and to rehabilitate. What conceivable danger to the public is al-Megrahi?
We could go on for ever, but the truth of it is that there isn't a single paragraph of that letter where Mueller doesn't show his crass ignorance and make a laughingstock of himself.
When I read you letter my first reaction was anger at you impertinence at writing such a letter. My second reaction was incredulity at your display of selective amnesia. You talk about justice, let me remind you of a few things you have clearly forgotten.
Where was the justice for 300 people murdered by the US Government, represented by the deranged captain of the USS Vincennes, no investigation, prosecution, but then the perpetrators were American servicemen so that was OK
Where was the justice for the hundreds of my countrymen and women murdered by the IRA, a terrorist organisation openly and actively supported by misguided Americans through Noraid and other organisations, but then there were lots of votes at stake so it was OK to let the things carry on.
Where was the justice for the victims of 9/11 murdered by your friends in Saudi Arabia, no arrests. no prosecutions, no justice, but then you cannot upset the providers of the majority of your oil, so you did nothing
Do not have the gall to lecture us on justice until you have put your own revenge obsessed house in order
It is time that we begin to hear the truth from the horse's mouth, rather than through the back door.
"I am outraged at your country's decision, blithely defended on the grounds of "National Security". Your action in not prosecuting the Admiral Crowe of the USS Vincennes is as inexplicable as it is detrimental to the cause of justice.
"Your action gives comfort to terrorists around the world who now believe that regardless of the quality of the evidence, the terrorist Admiral Crowe of the aforementioned vessel will be always be free, even though he has since admitted the vessel was ilegally in Iranian territorial waters at the time.
"Your action makes a mockery of the emotions, passions and pathos of all those affected by the downing of Flight IR 655 by the terrorists whom you not only harbour, but also treat as heros in that the Admiral of the USS Vincennes and his crew were given military honours... But most importantly, your action makes a mockery of the grief of the families who lost their own on July 03, 1988. You could not have spent much time with the families ... You could not have visited the small wooden warehouse where the personal items of those who perished were gathered for identification ? the single sneaker belonging to one of the 66 children that were on board that aircraft; the clothing never again to be worn by a college student returning home for the holidays; the toys in a suitcase of a businessman looking forward to spending Christmas with his wife and children ... Where, I ask, is the justice?"
Why don't you Americans answer these questions before criticising the Scots? At least they convicted Al Magahri. We didn't see the same thing happen to Admiral Crowe - in fact you gave him full military honours for his service in Iranian waters at the time, which to the victims of Flight IR655 is outrageous, disgusting and clearly mistaken. Please rectify your own ways before pointing your finger at others. Would be grateful to receive a response. How about extraditing Admiral Crowe to Iran to face justice?
Yes we can see how your understanding of the concept of justice extends across the board NOT! Bush said "Those who harbour terrorists are as guilty as the terrorists themselves." in his war mongering speech after the 911 attacks without a hint of embarrasment regarding his blatant hypocrisy. The brits who know all about this uncontroversial case chose to keep its pie hole shut when usually its leading the voices of condemnation when a "designated enemy state" steps out of line.
And still we wonder why so many around the world hate us?? give me a break, the scumbag ruling elite do all this evil knowing full well that those who have to pay the price are the ones at the bottom because the war criminals will live a life of luxury in their gated developments guarded by special forces paid by the tax payer ie YOU and ME!
But besides that - if at least one part of the United Kingdom can show itself to be of independent mind rather than a puppet of the U.S.A then praise be to God.
Mandy - IF your unelected position in UK government is as BUSINESS Minister, WHY would Gaddafi's Son even bring up the issue of Magrehi's release if it were NOT related to your BUSINESS talks with him on 2 occasions in past year. Are you claiming he & his father are liers making the claims above, or both just crazy? If you are "offended" if we believe Gaddafi's statement AND his Son's (which make sense) rather than yours, I guess you must stand "Offended" as we Brits see you.