The fact that Al Megrahi was released to die at home was the right outcome. Accusations about whether BP or Libyan oil deals were involved as well as even the question of his innocence or guilt are irrelevant. A prisoner facing death was allowed to go home and die among his loved ones that is what matters and that should be allowed to stand alone; it was the right thing to do whatever people’s reasons were for doing it.
We now have an unappetising squabble among countries and politicians over this and the stench of hypocrisy is overpowering. American politicians and the British Government are posturing to look tough when what they are really saying is “we have been cheated, we want a dead body; where is the corpse we were promised” Two thing here; there are votes at stake and this macho posing is not new, we have seen it all before and it is sickening. Some time ago Bill Clinton was running for the presidency and his opponents were trying to portray him as ‘soft on crime’ he interrupted his campaign in a massive blaze of publicity to fly home so he could personally sign a death warrant on a convicted murderer who had a mental age of 12 years. That shut his opponents up OK but what does it make Clinton?
Unfortunately David Milliband has seen fit to run with this bunch in an attempt to boost his chances of becoming Labour leader, he will have to do it without my vote; as will Ed. Balls who played the race card over immigration. Salmond is predictably seizing the moment to appear on the World stage like a fairground barker selling dodgy goods while the clown MacAskill continues to rattle on about Scottish compassion which is of course as much of a myth as German arrogance, Italian cowardice or Irish stupidity. It’s people who are compassionate; arrogant or stupid not countries or nations, MacAskill desperately claiming some special compassionate characteristic for Scotland is pathetic.
If people want a special enquiry then so be it but don’t let it interfere with the reason for Megrahi’s release, his name, his origins; even the crime itself should not come into this. Even if there was not one single voice claiming his innocence even if he admitted guilt he should still be where he is today, among his loved ones, that is compassion and no country or state has the exclusive right to claim it as theirs.
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25 comments:
I note Salmond claims the release was not linked to any oil deal
Do you believe him?
(Byeck) 10:21
I don’t know enough of the details of the case to say but I can definitely say that Salmond (the spiv) is the most duplicitous politician I have encountered in 45 years of involvement.
Terry, do you think that if Labour had been in power in Scotland, they would have released AL Megrahi?
(I'm glad you agree that the Scottish Government made the right choice. Pity you couldn't have said that in so many words, eh?)
(voiceofourown) 16:47
I think Labour would have released him and done it in a way which would have avoided what the SNP have left us with, which is a mess which they are now making worse.
Let’s get it straight the right decision was made but the Scottish Govt. managed to turn it into a 3 ring circus. 1/ He should have been released but kept here with Libya arranging along with the Scottish Govt. to have his relatives and loved ones given access to him. The celebrations the waving Saltires etc. in Tripoli FFS the SNP are a joke. 2/ someone should have got McAskill to hell out of the road he is clearly not up to dealing with such matters 3/ someone should have wrestled him away from the microphone when he started talking that sanctimonious s**t about Scottish compassion. Did no one know what the clown was going to say? what about COMPASSION for the victims did no one see that coming? the Americans must have cheered that own goal right? Is that enough words for you?
Whilst I agree with your comment about it being people who are compassionate rather than countries or states, the point which you seem to have missed is that we have the concept of compassionate release enshrined within our legislation. That is the reflection of our values which MacAskill is talking about.
It's very unlike you to confuse compassion for the victims of this heinous act with sating American bloodlust.
(Jim) 10:03
You agree that compassion is personal and nothing to do with a country yet like all misty eyed nationalists you still cling to it. Nationalism is not conducive to clear thinking.
Your last para. is unworthy if comment.
A misty-eyed Nationalist ;-)
Oh dear, with my head in the clouds how will we ever find common ground...
"I think Labour would have released him and done it in a way which would have avoided what the SNP have left us with, which is a mess which they are now making worse"
I think that you're very wrong here. It was Labour who came up with the PTA deal and It was Labour who were being lobbied by BP to release Megrahi. I think we're very lucky that it wasn't Labour's decision to make, as it would have been extremely difficult to distance his release from the murky business of Libyan oil deals. Whereas, the bluff and bluster currently coming from all angles is based on the frustrations of those who hoped to find MacAskill & Salmond less able than they have proven to be.
(Jim) 12:01
You start out to agree about compassion not being a national trait and immediately go back to claiming that it is, that’s typical of nationalism.
(Jim) 13:51
The fact that you are still regurgitating the same endless claim and counter claim suggests that you are stuck.
“Whereas, the bluff and bluster currently coming from all angles is based on the frustrations of those who hoped to find MacAskill & Salmond less able than they have proven to be”
If you genuinely think that Salmond and McasKill proved to be ‘able’ in dealing with this I would suggest that you seriously reconsider your accusation that I can’t judge them properly because of my bias, people in glass houses right?
"You start out to agree about compassion not being a national trait and immediately go back to claiming that it is, that’s typical of nationalism."
I start by agreeing that it's a personal trait, then point out that it is enshrined in our legislation (written by people).
It's typical of people suffering the cringe to want to talk down our achievements, but having such an act enshrined in law is a laudable achievement and we should strive to uphold the values which inspired such a progressive outlook.
"reconsider your accusation that I can’t judge them properly because of my bias"
It wasn't an accusation it was an observation.
"The fact that you are still regurgitating the same endless claim and counter claim suggests that you are stuck."
That's hilarious!
(Jim) 14:10
Are you now saying in your middle paragraph that you believe compassion is a Scottish trait?
That is demonstrably stupid.
“but having such an act enshrined in law is a laudable achievement”
No it’s not it’s meaningless. I cringe! when I hear people claiming national traits which are embarrassing and as I said demonstrably false.
(Jim) 14:13
You appear to be saying in your last post that Scots. ARE COMPASSIONATE and you think that this is hilarious.
I'm not claiming that compassion is in any way a uniquely Scottish trait. I am pointing out to you in as simple terms as I can muster that the facility for compassionate release is enshrined in our laws - that is not the case everywhere else. We are right to have it in our laws and it is vital that we should have the courage to act with compassion in the face of overwhelming opposition.
The fact that we have reached the point where we have achieved this is something which we can and should be proud of, sufferers of the cringe aside, who may wail their discontent to their pleasure... it's a free country!
(Jim) 27/07/10
“ I'm not claiming that compassion is in any way a uniquely Scottish trait”
A couple of posts ago you said compassion was a Scottish trait although you didn’t say unique.
You have said the rest of this before and it is still meaningless, every country in the world would claim to have compassion in their legal system, its a fig leaf.
Terry
Just quote the bit where I say compassion is a Scottish trait.
Find the sentence where you think I say it, hold down the left mouse button and drag it over the sentence. Release the mouse button (the text will be highlighted) and type Ctrl-C (that means hold down the Ctrl key and hit the 'C' Key). Then point the mouse into your comment box and type Ctrl-V.
I don't think I do say it, so it would greatly assist me if you would show where you think I do say it.
Jim
(Jim) 12:18
Here is your post, you start by agreeing that it is “PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE “and finish the same paragraph by saying “that is the reflection of OUR VALUES” which McasKill etc. etc. "OUR VALUES" you say.
“MY VALUES” would be valid “OUR VALUES” is not valid. Who are you talking about when you "OUR"?
Jim said...
Whilst I agree with your comment about it being people who are compassionate rather than countries or states, the point which you seem to have missed is that we have the concept of compassionate release enshrined within our legislation. That is the reflection of our values which MacAskill is talking about.
It's very unlike you to confuse compassion for the victims of this heinous act with sating American bloodlust.
Kenny MacAskill said:
"Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion be available. Our beliefs dictate that justice be served, but mercy be shown. Compassion and mercy are about upholding the beliefs that we seek to live by, remaining true to our values as a people. No matter the severity of the provocation or the atrocity perpetrated."
You are correct, when I said
"the point which you seem to have missed is that we have the concept of compassionate release enshrined within our legislation. That is the reflection of our values which MacAskill is talking about"
I did say our when I was talking about the Scottish legislation that resulted in Megrahi's compassionate release and I did use the possessive plural, meaning that it was our compassion, enshrined in our legal system.
I'm really not sure how else I could have put it, but you win, I surely did mean that it was Scottish Compassion that was enshrined within the Scottish legal system, it would be a strange sort of world if that wasn't the case.
Terry, to get these comments back on track, it looks as it Megrahi is going to live forever and his release was Libya's price for striking an oil deal with the Labour government.
Viva ethics, viva Brown, viva Salmond...the whole thing stinks to heaven.
(Byeck) 29/07/10
“it looks as it Megrahi is going to live forever”
How things ‘look’ to you is a never ending source of bewilderment to me. Perhaps if you pray for it hard enough God will end his life, then you can celebrate.
Kelly @ 10.35
Terry, my innocent, no sign of Megrahi falling off the twig, BP, Blair, Brown and Salmond all rejoicing for their own devious reasons and Obama biting chunks out of the carpet in frustration.
You work it out, but here's a clue..If it looks like a cow-pat and smells like a cow-pat, then the odds are, that's what it is.
Labour, bought and sold for Libyan gold, or, in this case, oil.
(Byeck) 30/07/10
How do you know these things?
Kelly @ 3.48
Terry, you unbeliever, I know thse things, because, being Tory, I was issued with brain cells and, - whisper it - I have a direct line to Mystic Meg
You've clearly got enough rope there - The Tory Party are many things most of them bad but you as a member come on.
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