Lockerbie Bomber Given Hero's Welcome In Libya

Photograph of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, top left, accompanied by Seif al-Islam el- Gadhafi, son of Libyan leader Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, with many people cheering his welcome by Amr Nabil/AP

After the Scottish government released him on "compassionate" grounds, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was greeted like a hero in Tripoli, Libya, much to the dismay of U.S. and British governments. al-Megrahi was convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland; 270 were killed, 189 of them Americans. President Obama had said yesterday that al-Megrahi's release was a "mistake" and added, "We are now in contact with the Libyan government, and want to make sure that if in fact this transfer has taken place, he is not welcomed back in some way but instead should be under house arrest." However, as CNN described, "al Megrahi walked off a plane in his native country to a cheering crowd that waved flags and honked horns."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had also asked that al Merahi not be given a hero's welcome and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said, "Obviously, the sight of a mass murderer getting a hero's welcome in Tripoli is deeply upsetting, deeply distressing...I find it deeply distressing of course, as well." Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, noting al Megrahi's terminal prostate cancer relative to his life sentence, said that while the convicted bomber had not shown his victims compassion, "But that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days...Our justice system demands that judgement be imposed, but compassion be available."

The American relatives of victims are upset. NJ resident Susan Cohen, whose 20-year-old daughter Theodora died, said, For the families we have this thing that is so horrible to live with anyway, and now we have to live with this." And Paul Hudson, former chief attorney for the New York crime victims court whose 16-year-old daughter Melina died, told the Daily Times that it was a "miscarriage of justice at the highest level... Prostate cancer in the U.S. has about a 90 percent survival rate. Whether he’s at death’s door or not is a really open for questions. Allowing him to be released is a really major blow to finding out the full story of this mass murder conspiracy."

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By Jen Chung in News on August 21, 2009 9:55 AM

Comments [rss]

Os-Def

As a person of Libyan descent, I can assure you the crowd was hand-picked and the flag waving false and specifically required. Any objection would have been met with harsh punishment.

We are talking about a dictator. One that has held onto his seat for almost 40 years. A madman, a killer, a twisted deranged individual. The people of Libya hate him. The CIA loved, and continues to love him. The oil companies especially love him. It is all a game of politics, posturing and money. Nothing new.

glennQNYC

Nobody really thinks all the men cheering, throwing flowers, wearing the same shirt and hat aren't getting paid to do that shit. Do they?

I see this political theater as a big F-YOU to the United States and beyond. Not really that shocking considering we are talking Libya here...

What is the most interesting, is Scotland's decision to release this guy in direct opposition to the Obama administration's pleas.

Clarice City

Too bad his plane didn't blow up.

glennQNYC

Every time I see the picture of this disgusting a-hole wearing a cap with the swoosh logo, I wonder what Nike thinks.

NannyState

"Another $14.99 in the till".

cucarachita

You guys, you really believe this guy was not just a fall guy chosen by Qadafi to take the blame and get the USA off his back? How naive can people be? We got someone to convict and hate for all these years. It all looked like such baloney at the time, and I certainly haven't forgotten it.

hotstepper

so what's your theory then? i've heard disparate parties like iran, south africa, the PLO, and cia blamed which leads me to believe that the cynics don't have a clue on this one. especially since this guy is a former intelligence officer for libya.

Spirit of 76

I wrote yesterday that he'd get a hero's reception. He won't want for anything in his remaining time, and after he croaks, he'll be memorialized as a martyr.

Son of Spam

Photograph of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, top left, accompanied by Seif al-Islam el- Gadhafi, son of Libyan leader Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, with many people cheering his welcome by Amr Nabil/AP

He flew the plane home?

blondeinthecity

Why is the whole crowd dressed identically? Is there an official terrorist welcome wagon uniform in Libya?

Brooklynbobby

"After the Scottish government released him on "compassionate" grounds, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was greeted like a hero in Tripoli, Libya, much to the dismay of U.S. and British governments."

Reminds me of the black response to the release of O.J. Simpson after his first trial.

Soggy

In that both communities believed that the person was framed, and thus justly released? Good comparison.

MR.2U

supposedly that puppy kicking band surefire played at his welcome party party...bastards!!!!

maryjr

Was the hero's welcome really a surprise to anyone!?!? Bad judgment Scotland.

Cautious Pessimist

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, ... said that while the convicted bomber had not shown his victims compassion, "But that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days...

Yes. Yes it is.

grandzu

Also I think his cancer is in Stage 4, which, depending on treatment, gives him 2 months to up to 2 years.

valeriob

Maybe we can send Mrs. Clinton over to bring him back

cementer

Genius. Although i dont really think hes a big fan of the u.s thanks to past events.

grandzu

The victim's families are feigning anger while siting on their million dollar payout from Libya.

Spirit of 76

A million dollars is enough to make you forget your murdered child, brother, sister, mother, father? Not too fond of your family, I take it.

hotstepper

spot on detective. i'm sure the families are just faking it to generate snarky internet comments rather than feeling like an actual injustice has just occurred.

Peter

Scotch idiots. It's a safe bet that he is not on the verge of death, most men with prostate cancer live for decades until they die of old age.

Politburo

The cancer has metastasized. He will not live for a year, let alone decades.

The Scots didn't just set him free without a medical exam to confirm the claims. I'm not sure why various people are assuming that they overlooked such an obvious factor.

Splicer

A compassionate gesture by the Scots and Libya accepts it by spitting in their faces and the faces of all the relatives and friends of the murdered. It's rather pathetic that the Libyan government did exactly what everyone imagined they would do.

hotstepper

exactly why stereotypes are often useful tools.

Mr. Shankly

Where's Jack Ruby when you need him?

Qraymond

Infuriating.

FrankMartin

OIL, it's all about oil. In this case British interests in Libya.

So does that mean the Scots are less bleeding heart and more capitalist pig?

valeriob

PRESIDENT OBAMA - BRING BACK ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT!

Rfive

I'd rather he bring back the Fugees, or at least get Lauren Hill to put together a second album, but to each their own.

S.D.

IMO, this is all wrong. Life in prison means you stay till you die.

Do they release ALL prisoners that are dying?

Dead Himmler

We are all in some way or another dying.

hotstepper

this is shitty on so many levels. a killer gets freedom, the libyans greet a killer with a hero's welcome, and scotland is full of bleeding heart pansies. nice work assholes.