Live and Let Die?
Storm still raging over Megrahi release
Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombings, has plagued the news yet again as America steps up the pressure for him to return to prison. The call comes amid a ‘cloud of suspicion’ regarding his release from the Scottish prison service, just over a year ago. The official reason for Megrahi’s release was under compassionate grounds because of his deteriorating health, giving him less than three months to live (prostate cancer – ouch). However, since his release and treatment doctors have re-evaluated his life expectancy to ten years or more. Obviously, much to American distaste and anger.
The release of Megrahi boiled down to these simple words from the British Government: ‘in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom’. Was his release an act to secure future British oil supplies? It seems likely considering his the decision of his release came shortly after discussions regarding a future multi-million-pound oil analysis and study between Libya and British Petroleum came to a Mexican standoff. Perhaps it was just nothing more than mere coincidence? I think not consider the Mexican standoff was resolved shortly afterwards. Megrahi was convicted of bombing Pan Am Airline Flight 103, killing 270 people including several US intelligence officers, a UN-Commissioner for Namibia and several students. John Lydon from the Sex Pistols was also booked on the flight but missed it due to delays. The previous high profile names have provoked many conspiracy theories and, there have been accusations of other American agents missing from the death toll.
Although convicted, Megrahi denied all charges against him during his trial and still protests his innocence today. He was refused an appeal in March 2002 by the Scottish courts, but does have some support however in Dr. Hans Köchler, one of the UN observers at the trial, who commented that there was a ‘spectacular miscarriage of justice’ during the trial. Americans
are however, convinced of his guilt.
are however, convinced of his guilt.
John Brennan, President Obama’s counterterrorist adviser in the last few weeks expressed a ‘strong conviction’ for Megrahi’s return to prison and he damned the release of the Libyan as an ‘unfortunate and inappropriate and wrong doing’. Some may argue that basing a war on oil is the same. Then America requested (summoned) Jack Straw, Britain’s former justice secretary, to appear before a US hearing, to explain the reasoning for Megrahi’s release. He politely declined the invitation. Kenneth Roy, from News Net Scotland wrote an article titled, It is time the Americans were summoned to Scotland to answer one or two awkward questions – but assured readers that he is not ‘anti-American’.
Is this the end of an era when the fading American superpower is failing to control global politics? I’m inclined to believe that the world for the foreseeable future will continue to run an economy of oil, where humans are used as bargaining chips. For those of you looking for answers, the likelihood when anything substantial will become available is when the documents are released under the freedom of information act. My advice, look busy and don’t blog on it or you’re sure to end up with your own folder with the American secret service. Oh, no!
CHOICE
