Something Rots Among the Scots

It's one thing to argue that we shouldn't torture terrorists. It's rather another thing to let one go to a hero's welcome. In case anyone missed it, Kenny MacAskill, Justice Minister for Scotland, ordered the "compassionate release" of Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi. Al-Megrahi was one of the persons responsible for the bombing Pan Am 103, which came down on Lockerbie. Two hundred and seventy people died, including eleven on the ground.

Al-Megrahi was apparently suffering from prostate cancer, and was said to have had less than three months to live. That three months is apparently key under Scottish "prison guidance," allowing but not requiring MacAskill to grant the murderer's request. MacAskill claims that he had a deal with the Libyans, who promised not to receive al-Megrahi with a hero's welcome. Well, guess what: they lied. The cutthroat returned home to cheering crowds.

Whatever one may think about the treatment of detainees, I am guessing that most Americans, and most folks in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, for that matter, would think that a Scottish prison was a comfortable enough place for a mass murderer to die. I certainly do. Such a person should never be released, for any reason. To think otherwise is to be softheaded about what terrorism means.

It gets better. The release aroused outrage in England. There is strong suspicion that this was part of a secret deal that won big oil contracts for England. Now it turns out that the release was suspect on its face.

One of Scotland's most respected legal figures has bitterly attacked Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Minister, for his decision to visit the convicted Lockerbie bomber in prison. From the London Times:

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, who as Lord Advocate was responsible for drawing up the indictment in 1991 against Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi and his co-accused, described Mr MacAskill's decision to go to Greenock Prison on August 5 as "absurd".

He would have done better, Lord Fraser argues, to go to America and explain the release to us. But apparently some hobnobbing with the hoodlum was more in order.

It gets better still. Apparently the report detailing Mr. al-Megrahi's medical condition was suspect.

It emerged that the prognosis that Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi had a life expectancy of only three months or less was supported by an unnamed doctor who had no expertise in terminal prostate cancer.

For all we know this guy has years left to be fêted. No doubt he will pose for a new Libyan postage stamp. The stink seems to go far enough that it looks to be a further blow to Gordon Brown's government, which is already about as popular as the Swine Flu. Good thing if so.  They have sat too long for any good that they have been doing.

This is very bad. To allow al-Megrahi to go back home to political glory (before being awarded his virgins), grants him a very visible moral victory. It demonstrates a weakness in the West that is very encouraging to our enemies. Terrorists 270, Scotland 0.

Comments

[Miranda]

Was MacAskill following any sort of precedent when he made this call, I wonder, or was his judgment completely arbitrary?

[jacob watson]

Go Vick I'm glad you made a big comeback...

[KB]

Miranda: As I understand it, the decision was discretionary. Apparently there were guidelines for compassionate release, but the way the British Press talks about it these seem to have been created for cover rather than for regulation. I am pretty sure that MacAskill was just channeling for Gordon Brown. The real deal was almost certainly brokered by Whitehall.