Obama & Cameron: Release of Lockerbie Bomber a ‘Bad Decision’
EmailFrom Karen Travers and Sunlen Miller
President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron today both agreed that the decision to release Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi last year was a bad decision, and Obama said he fully supports Cameron’s efforts to learn more about the about the release.
Answering questions in a press conference in the East Room of the White House – the leaders were questioned over the role that oil company BP had in pushing for the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi last year in order to help secure a lucrative oil exploration deal with Libya.
Libyan-born al Megrahi was convicted of masterminding the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 and sentenced to life in prison but was released and allowed to return to Libya last year on compassionate grounds after it was determined he had only months left to live.
Both BP and the current British government, which came to power only months ago, deny the company played any role in securing the bomber’s release last year.
Cameron insisted repeatedly today that the decision to release Megrahi was solely that of the Scottish government and he has not seen anything to indicate that they were swayed by any efforts by BP. He also said he did not think there was a need for a U.K. based inquiry into the matter.
“I don’t need an inquiry to tell me what was a bad decision,” he said. “It was a bad decision.”
The British Prime Minister did say that while there was “absolutely not harm to be done” by providing a full explanation into the circumstances, he did not think there was “any great mystery here.”
“There was a decision taken by the Scottish Executive — in my view, a wholly wrong and misguided decision, a bad decision, but their decision, nonetheless,” he said. “That's what happened, and I don't think we need an extra inquiry to tell us that that's what happened.”
Obama said he agreed that the release of Magrahi was a “bad decision,” but he said he fully supports Cameron’s efforts to learn more.
Cameron said that there should be no confusion between the oil spill and the Libyan bomber.
“That wasn't a decision taken by BP; it was a decision taken by the Scottish government,” he said. “We have to accept that under the laws of my country, where power on certain issues has devolved to Scotland, this was a decision for the Scottish executive — a decision that they took.
Read more on the British Prime Minister’s First Official Visit to the White House here.
-Karen Travers and Sunlen Miller
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Abdelbaset al Megrahi was only linked to the bombing based upon testimoney of a store clerk who testified that he “isn’t entirely sure” that he sold Megrahi the clothes that were wrapped around the bomb, and couldn’t remember the date they were sold.
He had been interviewed numerous times and gave inconsistent recollections.
He and his brother received $2 million dollars from the US for his testimony.
Posted by: Flash Override | July 20, 2010, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
I wonder if anyone remembers that high ranking members of the Obama administration were involved in the release of convicted terrorists from prison to facilitate a senatorial election campaign…
That would be the current Atty. Gen. Holder and Scty of State Clinton. The unrepentant terrorists were pardoned by Bill Clinton. The reason apparently was to facilitate Ms. Clinton’s run for the senate….
Posted by: Bad Decisions run rife | July 20, 2010, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
How do politicians “act tough”? By saying that an old man dying of cancer must do so in prison.
I don’t see the word ‘cancer’ in your blog post, Jake. Don’t you think it’s relevant?
I guess he hasn’t died fast enough.
As Flash Overdrive says, the original conviction is itself dubious. A storekeeper is supposed to recognize clothing _that was wrapped around a bomb_, and is supposed to remember who bought them.
One of the features of working in a clothing store (market, whatever) is that you sell a lot of _identical_ merchandise. And a feature of bombs is that they make things relatively unrecognizable.
Sure am glad that Obama is taking the easy way out.
Again.
Posted by: Whispers | July 20, 2010, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
Why wouldn’t Obama support this Lockerbie bomber investigation? It’s an excellent diversion.
Posted by: LongT | July 20, 2010, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
Easy way out? Osama Bin Laden got an easy way out! Thank you W. Bush, D. Cheney, C. Rice. You proved your loyalty wasn’t ever to the american people it was to money, your arab oil buddies and your christian ethics.
Posted by: lt munoz | July 21, 2010, 2:08 am 2:08 am
Folks: I hate to burst the bubble here but. The scottish government is no more than a puppet government, with England pulling the strings. The only part Scotland played in this was to do as they were told by London. I’m a Scot, me and the other almost 5 million Scots would have publicly skinned this guy alive with a blunt razor. There was less than zero support from the people of Scotland to let him go. Scottish parliament was told, they made no decision.
Posted by: Dan | July 21, 2010, 9:40 am 9:40 am
Why bring Bush into this, Clinton had the change to get Bin Laden and let him go because he was of no importance.
Posted by: Lizzie | July 21, 2010, 11:57 am 11:57 am
HELLO?? This “reporter” misses the most egregious and newsworthy part of the story (of course, because it doesn’t fit the socialist liberal storyline)…
“…was released and allowed to return to Libya last year on compassionate grounds after it was determined he had only months left to live.”
Um no, some doctor SAID he had months to live. He lives to this day, in comfort at home. It’s disgusting, just like our President.
Posted by: ds | July 21, 2010, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
“Folks: I hate to burst the bubble here but. The scottish government is no more than a puppet government, with England pulling the strings.”
If he’s a Scot, he hasn’t been home in a long time. What utter drivel, about as informed as the Senators’ letter. There is intelligent debate about this man’s release but not to be found here…
Posted by: JohnMcDonald | July 22, 2010, 7:10 am 7:10 am
Cameron is clearly saying BP were not involved and it’s all the nasty Scots fault. Jim Swire said last night the Scots were “sold a pup”.
Fact is Cameron’s party is unpopular in Scotland and regarded as anti-Scottish, so much that they will have to change their name up there to try and win votes. Ching!
Ask why Cameron was totally silent when PTA negotiations became public and his party never spoke out against it, despite being the opposite to Labour?
Labour’s Miliband made clear that the UK Government wanted Megrahi released to help business interests. There’s also Blair’s desert deal in Libya and much more.
I ask USA to look into these matters of 2007 by the UK Government. Forget the Scots release as they “smelt a rat” with UK’s dodgy dealings and refused PTA.
As said by Christine Grahame “…The UK Government had its own objectives when it came to Libya and was utterly hypocritical over Mr Megrahi’s release.”
Posted by: Bob | July 22, 2010, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Ask yourself why the British ambassador’s letter to the senators – where he calls the UK media’s own reports “untrue” – has not been reported by anyone in the UK?
What has happened is this rubbish, intented mostly for Scottish domestic use to turn people against SNP, has now found it’s way to you and duped the wrong people.
I hope Jake Tapper, ABC, and the senators keep pursuing this stuff. There is a lot more to it!
Posted by: Bob | July 22, 2010, 11:58 am 11:58 am