Scotsgait - the independent community for Scotland

The transatlantic row over the release of Al Megrahi took a new twist yesterday when the US bowed to pressure and published the letter sent to the Scottish government prior to the release.

bit.ly/9lIQeI
The letter makes clear that, if released from prison, the US would have preferred that Megrahi remain in Scotland. It also detailed concerns that US officials had over the reception that Megrahi may receive on arrival in Tripoli.

However it is the revelation that the Americans were vehemently opposed to the Prisoner Transfer Agreement resulting from Tony Blair’s secret ‘deal in the desert’ that turns attention onto the role of the Westminster government and will lead to renewed demands that London release all documentation relating to Labour’s Libya negotiations and the role of BP.

http://news.scotsman.com/world/AlMegrahi...st-days39.6438225.jp
LOCKERBIE bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is reported to be in his "last days" as he fights cancer at his home in Tripoli.
Megrahi, released from prison last year after being given just three months to live, has prostate cancer which has spread to his bones and spine.

A source close to the family said: "He does not have much time left. He has not been out and is being nursed through his last days by his loved ones. The word is he is now entering the final stages of the journey.

"The positive effects of his release have started to wear off. Nobody has seen him this month outside of immediate family and those supervising his medical care."
No doubt the ghouls in the US Senate are following his final sufferings with interest.

I caught the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 this afternoon, where an American Senator was berating those who wouldn't attend the kangaroo court, thus causing the whole thing to fold for now.

The elephant in the room that wasn't mentioned was the fact that Teflon Tony wasn't invited (or was he?) where he could shed the most light on the "trade in the tent".

It appears our American cousins are being fed a mishmash of BP, Lorkerbie and Al Megrahi all rolled into one, and they are "getting angry".

Would that someone would reveal the truth to all, irrespective of allegiance. I'd love to have a sneak peak of the history books on this part in world history.

dws commented:The elephant in the room that wasn't mentioned was the fact that Teflon Tony wasn't invited (or was he?) where he could shed the most light on the "trade in the tent".
Apparently the Senate committee couldn't make up it's mind! The increasingly farcical nature of the hearing was underlined yesterday after the committee in charge of the it was forced to withdraw a draft letter issued on Thursday which originally requested former prime minister Tony Blair's attendance.

Only hours after the letter inviting Mr Blair was released to UK media on Thursday evening, a spokesman for the Senate committee then declared "unequivocally" that the former premier had not been asked to attend.

The U-turn led to claims from SNP MSPs last night that the senators had come under pressure to remove Mr Blair's name from their list. They said the hearing was fast becoming a "ludicrous" spectacle.thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Straw-turn...s-back-on.6437910.jp

There is a similar report in the Telegraph:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/poli...omber-release.html