Lockerbie bomber released

Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid

All the Oil giants, Shell, BP and the like have recently been in talks with the Libiyan govt.

Coincidence? I think not.

The west are running out of oil. Libya has oil. We want it, they want Al-Megrahi. Deal.

Whilst I agree that an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind, I think a mass murderer freed for oil is obscene.

So hearsay and conjecture.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by MiniMatt

And I'd say it was the opposite of a political decision - the political thing to do would be to appease the red neck yanks and keep him locked up.

FFS
The red neck yanks are over the moon he's been released. Now they can get Libyan oil. They just can't say so publicly.

Otherwise I would agree with you, Life sentence - well it's almost served if he's that close to death. Doubts over his conviction? well he's hardly got time to carry on with appeals.

At least us Scots can show compassion and remain one step above the terrorists.

I can only think how I would feel had I been the father of someone on the aircraft. Had my daughter been on it - OK, she wasn't born at the time, but if it happened now.

I think that 270 innocent people are pawns in this game of international relations.

I think that the American sense of outrage is justified.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by Ed

I can only think how I would feel had I been the father of someone on the aircraft. Had my daughter been on it - OK, she wasn't born at the time, but if it happened now.

I think that 270 innocent people are pawns in this game of international relations.

I think that the American sense of outrage is justified.

I hear what you're saying Ed but please do see my post earlier about how some of the families feel and innocent man has been jailed for far too long. And they were the ones who lost sons/daughter/father/mothers who feel that way.

...and Spidey, see the posts about how convenient it was for this man to drop his appeal.

[Bibio]

he was found guilty, he should serve his full sentence.

its not just those poor 270 individuals who lost their life because of the bombing of Panam flight 103 but some of those who helped 'clean up' after the incident. i knew a police sergeant in Edinburgh who hung himself a few years after because he could not live with the nightmares afterwords.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by Ed

...and Spidey, see the posts about how convenient it was for this man to drop his appeal.

yeh i agree, its all a game that security services and shadowy politicans are playing...at the expense of other peoples lives. Stuff like this makes me sick. But i dont honeslty know how i feel about his release tbh mate.

I have breifly read all this...

I would say there is a lot more going on; having read a small amount amount around this. Apprantly we are working with Libya and so is the US on some relationship, so go figure. This was a poltical manavoure at best.

But where does the violence stop? Someone has to step up and say enough is enough is... When has any form of violence solved any problem in the long run?

But working with people who have lost family through events such as this...gives you an insight of the otherside as well.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by Bluethunder

When has any form of violence solved any problem in the long run?

A fair few times in the history of oppressed people standing up for themselves since you ask mate, but i think that argment is digressing from the core issue here which ed brought up and tbh i;m still struggling with in my own mind... should a convicted murderer be released on compassinate grounds.

[Bri w]

I don't think the higher moral ground is of any benefit to the victims and their families, or those that work to preserve our society. Will standing on the higher moral ground protect us from crime and terrorism? Whilst i applaud the sentiment i question whether there is a place for it in the real world. Morals, yes, but I don't see the connection between morals and a moral high ground (Utopia?).

A strong, fair, justice system which protects and sends a message that if you commit a crime you will do the time. That fairness also includes the right to appeal, and the right by a victim and/or family to question the punishment.

In the name of political expediency our country has been letting criminals and terrorists go free far too early for more years.........bargaining chips in the game of politics. But the game they're bargaining for is our way of life and its protection.

Chris De Burgh did a song/ballad called Spanish Train in which God played cards with the devil for the souls of the dead. The devil won more souls but at least God played fair - maybe a poor analogy but sometimes you've got to act strong not turn the other cheek.