Now Fox News Has The Megrahigate Story....This Could Get Ugly

White House Reportedly Preferred Scotland to Libya for Released Lockerbie Bomber

Published July 25, 2010
FoxNews.com

The Obama administration told Scottish officials last August that, although it opposed any release of the Lockerbie bomber, it would rather see him released in Scotland than transferred to a Libyan prison, according to a secret memo obtained by The Sunday Times in London.
The publication of the memo's contents comes just days after President Obama, at a press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, said "all of us ... were surprised, disappointed and angry" by the Scottish government's decision to free Abdel Baset al-Megrahi last year.
Al-Megrahi's release last year was approved based on "compassionate" grounds, on the belief that he had months left to live. The case has sparked renewed controversy recently on reports that al-Megrahi may survive much longer.
According to The Sunday Times report, the Obama administration weighed in last year in the memo sent by Richard LeBaron, deputy head of the U.S. Embassy in London, to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and other justice officials. In the memo, dated Aug. 12, LeBaron argued against the release.
"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 memo reportedly said.
LeBaron pushed for the Scottish government to require al-Megrahi to live in Scotland, though al-Megrahi was ultimately returned to Libya.
According to The Sunday Times, Scottish officials viewed U.S. resistance to the release as "half-hearted." The Guardian reported on the existence of the memo last year, but the U.S. government reportedly has tried to keep its contents secret. The Sunday Times was the first to publish the memo's text.
Al-Megrahi was convicted in connection with the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland. The bombing killed 270 people, most of them American.
The release last year prompted outrage in the United States, where families of victims are still reeling from the tragedy. The controversy was stirred up again in recent weeks after a doctor said al-Megrahi could live another 10 years -- though the cancer-stricken convict was given just three months to live when he was released on compassionate grounds.
According to Britain's Daily Telegraph, Salmond on Sunday said the United States did not want al-Megrahi released. He clarified that the U.S. government was merely voicing a preference for "compassionate release" if the other option was a prisoner transfer to Libya.
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usafo4ret
Missouri
Does anyone have any doubt anymore that 0bama is a camel jockey at heart, NOT an American?
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 0:55 AM

macsimone

We were lied to with charisma and good sounding words and a liar was elected. We were lied to about health care, the stimulus, unemployment, TARP, abortion, change, healing, prosperity, about being in charge of the spill from day one, and now about having no part in the release of the killer of Americans. Shame on us for allowing such disgrace. Get ready to vote and please educate the ignorant ones who put a liar in office.
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 0:49 AM


johndeagun
Arizona
Have any of you noticed that even spell check doesn't recognize Obama and thinks we should replace him with a Bum or Batman?
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 0:22 AM

johndeagun
Arizona
Reports late today say Scotland is saying Obama wanted him released against their wishes ... stay tuned this could get very ugly for the ugly president.
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 0:21 AM

stevebaker

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE WORLD SEE'S OBAMA'S PRESIDENTY AS AN OPPORTUINITY OF WEAKNESS. AMERICANS SEE & FEEL MISTRUST AND INSECURITY FROM IT'S LEADERS. THIS LEAVES TO QUESTION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATIONS & IT'S FOLLOWERS LOYALTYS TO AMERICA......

twmmd

AMERICANS WERE KILLED BY THIS TERRORIST AND OBAMA ALLOWED HIM TO GO FREE !!??....I can only imagine what the family members think of these new revelations which points the finger at Obama who could have stopped it BUT HE WENT ALONG WITH IT....the worst possible decision ever by a sitting president.....and this terrorist should have been sent to a US jail if the Scottish authorities desired his release.
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 11:48 PM

dan87

What a sham. This entire "August Memo" bullsh!t is exactly that,....... a sham and you can tell it is simply by reading the stated "druthers". It doesn't make any sense. "Released into the Scottish community rather then prisoner transfer to Libyia"???? Who does the Administration think their fooling with this one. If he had been transfered to a Lybian prison and then released by the Libyians,.....the blame would have been on the Libyians. But ohhhhhh,.....Obama doesn't want us blaming those terrorist countries for anything,.....Even if they blow up airplanes in midflight or hijack airplanes and knock down buildings in New York. Instead Obama tries to blame BP for the release???? This Administration is the most underhanded, corrupt, criminal, cowardly, and dishonest Administration in the history of the world. Caligula had better leadership, honor, integrity and credibility then the Obama clown,........at least the people of Ancient Rome new Caligulas history. The American people have no clue of Obamas history because he spent nearly a million dollars to conceal his history. With all of these ridiculous policy decisions that we've seen from this administration over the past 18 months this provides further proof that Obama loves to antagonize the American people.
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 11:05 PM

mcampolongo

Obama would give himself a solid B+ for his Libyan decisions. Remember in November!!!
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 10:08 PM

coastie1
California
Well, this just proves that Obummer lies again!
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 9:59 PM

cincykid1

Why did Fox and Drudge take this story down from the top?
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 9:34 PM

ustothebone
Oklahoma
And everyone forgets about the numerous emails that were sent to MSM about the failing well, NO ONE is talking about those emails,, and we are constantantly being distracted by this who mismanagement. And now we have the same group who has been renamed, investigating the spill. Of course we are. Anyone buying into this is just stupid,, this USA deserves at least the same sanctions that BP has.
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 9:34 PM

ustothebone
Oklahoma
So, Obama KNEW about the release but NOW blames it on BP,, what a shock,, Who would have known, who would have thought,, once again, the real news is released. This is really old news,, the Chicago politics in action, who would be surprised. this President really did think we were stupid, and we aren't,,
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 9:30 PM

commentator31
Ohio
Thats our president, if his lips are moving, he must be lying.....
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 9:07 PM

justin007
Minnesota
last week...... As for the Lockerbie bomber, Gibbs said that "our viewpoint on this case last year was well known, and that was we opposed the release of the Lockerbie bomber." Addressing senators who last week called for an investigation into whether BP had a role in securing Megrahi's release, he replied, "I think in many ways that will be up to the British government to determine . . . I do not know the role that BP played. We were unaware of any role that they played in rendering an opinion. If they did, we certainly didn't agree with the opinion that he should be released, and that's what we enunciated to the government." I'm LMAO...not that they had any credibility but now???
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 9:07 PM

cincykid1

I agree with justin007 this story is a bombshell. Now everyone needs to call on the Obama admin to release their documents on the subject