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CitadelGrad wrote:Thank you, President Obama.

In the letter, sent on August 12 last year to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and justice officials, Mr LeBaron wrote that the US wanted Megrahi to remain imprisoned in view of the nature of the crime.

The note added: "Nevertheless, if Scottish authorities come to the conclusion that Megrahi must be released from Scottish custody, the US position is that conditional release on compassionate grounds would be a far preferable alternative to prisoner transfer, which we strongly oppose."

The US administration lobbied the Scottish government more strongly against sending Megrahi home, under a prisoner transfer agreement signed by the British and Libyan governments, in a deal now known to have been linked to a pound stg. 550 million oil contract for BP.

It claimed this would flout a decade-old agreement between Britain and the US that anyone convicted of the bombing would serve their sentence in a Scottish prison. Megrahi was released by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on the grounds that he had three months to live, making his sentence effectively spent.

US President Barack Obama's claim last week that all Americans were "surprised, disappointed and angry" to learn of Megrahi's release.

dbackjon wrote:

CitadelGrad wrote:Thank you, President Obama.

Do you think President McCain would have done different?

CitadelGrad wrote:

dbackjon wrote:

Do you think President McCain would have done different?

Are you trying to hold McCain responsible for the actions of Obama?

dbackjon wrote:

CitadelGrad wrote:
Are you trying to hold McCain responsible for the actions of Obama?

No - I am asking what would have a McCain adminstration done.

dbackjon wrote:

CitadelGrad wrote:
Are you trying to hold McCain responsible for the actions of Obama?

No - I am asking what would have a McCain adminstration done.

dbackjon wrote:Interesting link, SK

dbackjon wrote:

CitadelGrad wrote:
Are you trying to hold McCain responsible for the actions of Obama?

No - I am asking what would have a McCain adminstration done.

CitadelGrad wrote:Thank you, President Obama.

houndawg wrote:

CitadelGrad wrote:Thank you, President Obama.

Are you trying to hold Obama responsible for the actions of the Scots?

CitadelGrad wrote:
Clearly, Obama tried to influence the outcome of this matter.

CitadelGrad wrote:

houndawg wrote:

Are you trying to hold Obama responsible for the actions of the Scots?

Clearly, Obama tried to influence the outcome of this matter. McCain, on the other hand, wasn't even a variable in this equation.

Wedgebuster wrote:Soon as Jerry Falwell gets his old butt buddy Fred Phelps back on his dick, thy universe shall be refreshed.

Need only to encourage Freddy to expedite his descent into the brimstone, let it be so..

From the class of 09 wrote:

Wedgebuster wrote:Soon as Jerry Falwell gets his old butt buddy Fred Phelps back on his dick, thy universe shall be refreshed.

Need only to encourage Freddy to expedite his descent into the brimstone, let it be so..

Wedgebuster wrote:Soon as Jerry Falwell gets his old butt buddy Fred Phelps back on his dick, thy universe shall be refreshed.

Need only to encourage Freddy to expedite his descent into the brimstone, let it be so..

houndawg wrote:

CitadelGrad wrote:
Clearly, Obama tried to influence the outcome of this matter. McCain, on the other hand, wasn't even a variable in this equation.

Would that be a "Yes, I hold Obama responsible for the actions of the Scots"? Or just a non sequitur?

CitadelGrad wrote:
No, I hold Obama responsible for the actions of his administration. He gave the Scots an easy way to get rid of the bomber when he said freeing him was preferable to transferring him to a Libyan prison.

-- The United States is not prepared to support Megrahi's release on compassionate release or bail. We understand that Scottish authorities are ensuring that Megrahi receives quality medical treatment, including palliative care, while incarcerated. The United States maintains its view that in light of the scope of Megrahi's crime, its heinous nature, and its continued and devastating impact on the victims and their families, it would be most appropriate for Megrahi to remain imprisoned for the entirety of his sentence. This was the understanding and expectation at the time arrangements were made for his trial in Scottish Court in the Netherlands, were he or his confederate to be convicted and their appeals upheld.

-- Nevertheless, if Scottish authorities come to the conclusion that Megrahi must be released from Scottish custody, the U.S. position is that conditional release on compassionate grounds would be a far preferable alternative to prisoner transfer, which we strongly oppose.

-- If a decision were made by Scotland to grant conditional release, two conditions would be very important to the United States and would partially mitigate the concerns of the American victims' families. First, any such release should only come after the results of independent and comprehensive medical exams clearly establishing that Megrahi's life expectancy is less than three months. The results of these exams should be made available to the United States and the families of the victims of Pan Am 103. The justification of releasing Megrahi on compassionate grounds would be more severely undercut the longer he is free before his actual death.

-- Second, the United States would strongly oppose any release that would permit Megrahi to travel outside of Scotland. We believe that the welcoming reception that Megrahi might receive if he is permitted to travel abroad would be extremely inappropriate given Megrahi's conviction for a heinous crime that continues to have a deep and profound impact on so many. As such, compassionate release or bail should be conditioned on Megrahi remaining in Scotland.

-- Again, while we are not able to endorse the early release of Megrahi under any scenario, we believe that granting compassionate release or bail under the conditions described (i.e. release with a life expectancy or less than three months and with Megrahi remaining in Scotland under supervision) would mitigate a number of the strong concerns that we have expressed with respect to Megrahi’s release.