Do the Brits Have A Lot to Answer For

The London Times has a shocking article in which new details are discovered regarding the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber.

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.

If this report is accurate, it leaves no doubt that 1) the release of this mass murdere was orchestrated by Britain and not Scotland, and 2)it was done for cynical financial reasons. Of course, the Brown government has denied both issues. In fact, according to the letters, the current fall guy, Kenny McCaskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, appears to be acting on the orders of the British Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

It also raised questions of whether or not the bomber really is dying. After all, these correspondence start about two years ago. In them, clear quid pro quo is discussed. BP was struggling in finalizing an oil deal in Lybia. Meanwhile, Lybia wanted the bomber back. Now, the deal has been finalized and the bomber is free.

For all those that will rush to blame the Obama administration, remember these correspondence go back two years. As such, it's more accurate to blame the State Departments of both administrations for not making it more clear that Britain had more to lose by releasing the bomber.