Finally something most of us can agree on. Ask any American and they will express their outrage over convicted bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi being freed to return home to Libya. Megrahi was convicted and imprisoned for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 that blew up over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 259 people aboard the plane and 11 on the ground in December, 1988.
Megrahi was freed because he is terminally ill with prostate cancer. He was given a hero’s welcome (despite President Obama’s warning to Libya that no hero’s welcome was in order) at home in Libya where he continues to publically whine about about his innocence.
Those 270 people who perished at the hand of this criminal would have probably have liked to have gone home and spent their last hours, days, months with their loved ones also, before being blown to bits. Most civilized people have no compassion for this killer. What on earth is wrong with Scotland for releasing him?
Megrahi is not worthy of a picture. He served 8 years of his sentence.
UPDATE 8/22/09
New York Times: New Questions in Lockerbie Bomber’s Release
This guy is a murdering pig. Why should he have any comforts. What was in it for Scotland to release him and send him home?
While watching TV coverage of the event in 1988, a reporter
was at the airport near the room where relatives were being given
the tragic news when a woman swung open the door and fled down
the hall sobbing and crying “My baby, my baby!”. She, I later
found out, was mother of one of the many Syracuse exchange students
that were killed. At the time, my two children were in college
and it really hit home – they are always your “baby” and you will
forever love and cherish them far more than your own life.
The anguish of losing a child is more than I can imagine.
The mass murderer may not have died in prison as he certainly
should have, but he will burn in hell for eternity.
For the first time, I am ashamed of my Scottish heritage.
The bagpipes should now play “Scotland The Cowardly”.
A very moving tribute, Poor Richard. Not a cryer here but your words made my eye balls sweat.
“Four hundred parents lost a child, 46 parents lost their only
child, 65 women were widowed, 140 people lost a parent, seven
lost both parents.”
Prosecutor Colin Boyd
Lockerbie trial, 2001
Where is their justice? Where is the compassion and mercy for them?
Shame on Scotland.
President Obama had scathing words for the entire situation.
There was no mercy for them. The world is enraged.
According to CNN’s website – Scotland is holding some “emergency debate” regarding the Lockerbie bomber. Not sure what that’s going to accomplish, given that they’ve already released him! Supposedly you can watch it live – just go to http://www.cnn.com – there’s a big banner at the top about it right now.
I heard that too, GR. However, that is like closing the barn door after the horse is out, isn’t it? I also heard that Americans are calling for a boycott on Scotch whiskey. That boycott wouldn’t last long in my house.
There’s an news item at http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/08/24/scotland.lockerbie/index.html that talks about the “emergency hearing” today. The gov’t official who made the decision defended it, and claimed he followed “due process”, etc. He also says Libya assured him that the bomber’s arrival in Libya would be “low key”, when it obviously wasn’t. He should have known you can’t trust Libya to keep its word, for one thing!
The article mentions Americans calling for boycotting Scotch whiskey, and in addition boycotting travel to Scotland. Somehow, I also doubt either of those boycotts will last too long.
Megrahi is unlikely to be guilty. The case is a scandal.