So they have let the bomber go.
What a stupid country we have become.Soft touch to allcomers.
Released on the grounds of compassion.What about the feelings of the victims relatives.He should have served his time to the end.Justice should be seen to be done. >:(
I'm afraid I strongly disagree. The compassion shown is for his family - who have committed no crime.
What about the families of all his victims?
OIL
I don't believe he did it. Six months earlier the Americans shot down an Iranian passenger jet, and at the time they swore to get revenge.
There doesnt seem to be much evidence against Megrahe, and I dont think Nelson Mandela and Jim Swire (father of one of the victims) would have given this guy such public support had they been in any doubt of his innocence. I remember Jim Swire planting a fake bomb on a plane to prove how easy it was to do, and how slack security was.
Quote from: ACE on August 20, 2009, 16:09:27
OIL
Probably just 1 of the many reasons.
But having said that I didn't see any posts here when Ronnie Biggs was released on compassionate grounds :-X
Quote from: 1066 on August 20, 2009, 17:45:23
Quote from: ACE on August 20, 2009, 16:09:27
OIL
Probably just 1 of the many reasons.
But having said that I didn't see any posts here when Ronnie Biggs was released on compassionate grounds :-X
OIL IS THE ONLY REASON. Yes I am shouting, just in case some of you don't want to understand.
Biggs? Now was he done for mass murder?
He robbed the government, just like they are robbing us with their living allowance claims
I don't know what to think My sister lives in Lockerbie .now, although she was not there at the time of the plane crash ,and she has said that lot of people in Lockerbie are not happy with his release .
Maybe more has gone on behind the closed doors that we don't know about.
June.
I don't think that people should expect to take their vengence out on one single man. I do not think that there is enough proof of his guilt.
I had never heard before of this Iranian incident. Just been reading about it. Seem the Americans were in Iranian water and killed 248 Iranians and 38 other nationals on a charter flight. They paid $61m compensation to Iran and $40m to the others. Which appears to say that an Iranian is only worth 1/4. Bet that was not popular in Iran. Though I do not know why Iran had to pick on Lockabie.
It seems to be completely wrong that this Libyan has been held accountable.
i was never convinced this guy was guilty.
Digeroo, the Iranians or whoever didn't pick on Lockerbie that was just chance it could have been anywhere along the flight path. It was an American airline....best to avoid an American airline.
It is Ok to murder 270 people. Just don`t rob a train!!!!!.
This is not an act of compassion.It is a sign of weakness.
Our government is weak.
No wonder this country is in the mess it is in. >:(
I have to agree wholeheartedly with that statement.
I'm afraid we will have to wait and see what America decides we should do. Have to add now Ive just heard the news. It seems that the Scots have made their own decision.
Shirl.......I do not beleave for one moment that it was the scots own decision. >:(
I can remember coming back from Scotland a couple of days after what happened at Lockerbie and you could still smell the burnt aviation fuel in the air, but for my sixpenn'eth it is this, I have an extended family living in the states, personally I don't give a toss about the bloke but to hear and be dictated to again by the American government and of all people one of the Kennedy's crawling out of his hole and putting his name on some petition presented to the Scottish Parliament, also Channel 4 giving the jock guy stick on C4 news tonight can you imagine if the decision had been to keep him in prison? C4 would have been throwing the left wing towel all over the shop, we are up to our necks in Afghanistan been in the nuts in Iran just tabbing along on the yanks arsehole, I think I will give my sister a ring ;)
OIL!!
I'm with Ace on this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/3/newsid_4678000/4678707.stm
Quote from: Mr Smith on August 20, 2009, 20:15:29
I can remember coming back from Scotland a couple of days after what happened at Lockerbie and you could still smell the burnt aviation fuel in the air, but for my sixpenn'eth it is this, I have an extended family living in the states, personally I don't give a toss about the bloke but to hear and be dictated to again by the American government and of all people one of the Kennedy's crawling out of his hole and putting his name on some petition presented to the Scottish Parliament, also Channel 4 giving the jock guy stick on C4 news tonight can you imagine if the decision had been to keep him in prison? C4 would have been throwing the left wing towel all over the shop, we are up to our necks in Afghanistan been in the nuts in Iran just tabbing along on the yanks arsehole, I think I will give my sister a ring ;)
I have to agree. I assume you mention Kennedy because of his Irish associations and the hypocrisy he shows toward terrorism.
For my part I believe there should be a system of compassionate release in the judicial system. I am not a hard liner. But the Scottish justice secretary stated that to him the issue of compassionate release is a black and white issue - compassion or not. This is a stupid statement to make when the entire judicial system relies on grey areas and the discretion of judges, barristers, the CPA and the police in matters of compassion and much more.
IMO Al Megrahi does not qualify for compassionate release because he is a mass murderer - the worst of the worst. It doesn't matter to me all the conspiracies about whether he is guilty or not. The fact is he was found guilty in a fair trial plus he has lost one appeal already and now chosen not to appeal again to get out of prison.
i agrre with betula the guy should die the country where his victims died but i would have topped him if i had my choice >:( >:(
Not interested in the political/oil/eye for an eye side of it i just hope the rest of his living days prove uncomfortable for him it's no less than he deserves
An utter disgrace, makes me feel ashamed for all those families that lost someone in the disaster.
As said it's all to do with oil nothing whatsoever to do with compassion.
Whatever are we coming to?
Mind, one of my favourite sayings is " Lets hang the b****eds' ;D ;D ;D
i am on your side sinbad >:( >:(
Con vien i ent ly
Punk you hay Ted
£3 across; anag
greenhouse dweller
.
You said it ace........... OIL..........but remember westminster has been robbing scotland for years with oil
revenues.....it's also the reason that this was left to the scottish parly.........but to go back to the main topic I was never convinced the guy did it and terminal illness is a sentence within a sentence and to have a scottish court of law set up in holland was nonsical.
thats my tuppn'y worth
Quote from: betula on August 20, 2009, 15:13:10
What about the families of all his victims?
You are right he did (if he's guilty) did not show compassion for the families of the victims. That is why as a society we sent him to prison. If we then refuse to show compassion ourselves, we are no better and have no right to condemn his behaviour.
It is my belief you have to be hard line in matters such as this.You have to show the world there is zero tolerance.He was treated with compassion.He received good medical care.His family could have visited him.Life should be life.He was convicted in a court of law and until anyone proves otherwise that was good enough for me.
He had a great welcome when he got home.......quite the hero...........how stomach churning.Bet the Scots were proud to see their flag being waved on such an occasion. >:(
...And why did he get such a welcome? Who was really behind the Pan am bombing?
I have never felt Abdel Basset Al-Megrahi was guilty though and when there is so much doubt I agree that he should be released given that he is terminally ill.
IF IT IS TRUE AND WE DID HAVE THE RIGHT CULPRIT . He decided to act outside the realms of humanity so why should we have shown him any mercy.
Watching 'SKY NEWS' tonight they interviewed some yank muppet from a rag in the US, he started going on about this and that and the Libyans going around the world bumping people off, 'What just like the CIA' the guy from SKY said I love it, first time I have seen a yank on TV with his fat gob shut can't wait for GG to get in there ;)
Quote from: betula on August 20, 2009, 18:56:10
This is not an act of compassion.It is a sign of weakness.
Our government is weak.
No wonder this country is in the mess it is in. >:(
Spot on betula.
Caring sharing America what a load of mens bits, what about the NAZI scientists that ended up in the US after W2 at their invitation and have lived the life of riley getting the yanks on the moon but in my opinion it all happened in down town LA at United Artists, excuse me please can we have those war criminals back in the UK for the bombing of London and Coventry with their V1's and Doogle bugs, also what about the funding for the IRA that came out of the States any apology from them yet about the deaths in NI and the Brit mainland, aahhh no >:(
If I'd known how much this would annoy our "special" friends across the pond, I'd have been campaigning for years!!!
Me, I'm going to buy more whisky and Haggis in support of my home country!
My thoughts are with the mothers and Fathers.The sisters and the brothers.The sons and the daughters.The wives and the husbands.
How many people had there heart broken that day?
Now they have their faces pushed in it.
Disgrace
I disagree betula, if I was related to a victim I would want to know that whoever was prosecuted for their death was guilty beyond reasonable doubt. This guy was almost certain to win an appeal. You do know the main witness (who "remembered" selling the clothes the bomb was wrapped up in) was taken on a fishing holiday by Scottish police before going to court & then paid by the US authorities afterwards?!
There was no Lockerbie bomber, there was a team, of which this guy was unlikely to have been a part.
Lots of unfair things happen every day - sometimes you can find someone to blame, other times you can't. It doesn't change the loss & there is always a greater good & bigger picture argument.
Approximately 66000 people died in Hiroshima. They were innocent civilians and had no warning. That is the morality of the USA. Nobody went to court and nobody died in jail as a result. That is one example of many unwarranted attacks on civilians by USA. Let's not operate double standards.
The Scottish government, in my view as a Scottish citizen, has, perhaps for the first time, shown itself to put justice before vengeance. I salute the Justice Minister for his vision and his humanity.
Wonder who pulled his strings ? >:(
It wasn't me... ::) honest...
Funny you should say that.......I did have you on my list of suspects.......LOL ;D
A subject like this will always be emotive with strong feelings on both sides.
I have no opinions for or against but have followed the thread with interest.
I just hope that if there are further comments that they don't start to get too heated and continue to be thoughtful ones. Well done all!
I couldn't agree more. I've been reading and biting my tongue!! One salient point however. I don't know how much Scottish news is broadcast elsewhere. From the Scottish news is it clear that there is no love lost between the Scottish "Scottish Nationalist" government and the Labour government in Westminster. Indeed the Scottish Labour Party appears to be very much against the release of Mr Megrahi. I will accept the cynical view that the Scottish government was told what to do when I see the unexpected billions flowing into the Scottish coffers.
I have an answer that but as Flighty has said it could get over heated so I will leave it at that.
I've just read this post by a blog friend which I feel is better than anything I've seen in the mainstream media
http://irishpisky.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/what-to-think/
Quote from: labrat on August 20, 2009, 22:48:25
Quote from: Mr Smith on August 20, 2009, 20:15:29
IMO Al Megrahi does not qualify for compassionate release because he is a mass murderer - the worst of the worst. It doesn't matter to me all the conspiracies about whether he is guilty or not. The fact is he was found guilty in a fair trial plus he has lost one appeal already and now chosen not to appeal again to get out of prison.
There is a view that he got anything but a fair trial, major facts not revealed to the trial judges for example that the perimeter fence at Heathrow was breached on the day that Pan Am 103 took off - so the bomb could have been placed on board then and not in Malta as was claimed. Plus the guy who claimed to have sold the suitcase that contained the bomb to Al Megrahi was probably coerced. Plus the semtex traces found in the wreckage were from the same batch as a Palestinian terrorist sect that the West Germans had intercepted.... etc etc etc.
If he was involved at all then he deserves to rot in prison and should not have been released - but what if he wasn't involved?