Should the Lockerbie Bomber Have Been Set Free?

Abdel Baset al-Megrahi is terminally ill. Is Scotland's compassion warranted?

By U.S. News Staff

August 21, 2009 RSS Feed Print

Scotland this week released terminally ill Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the man convicted of blowing up Pan Am 103 on Dec. 21, 1988. As Robert Schlesinger reports: "The decision was made on the grounds of compassion—let him see his homeland one more time before he shuffles off this mortal coil. And not surprisingly the move has spurred howls of outrage (why should he get more compassion than the 270 people killed in that terrorist attack?). But there are some who believe that al-Megrahi should never have been convicted in the first place, that he was, to use the Lee Harvey Oswald-ism, a patsy." What do you think? Should the Scots have set him free? Did they have the wrong guy, or is that just another silly conspiracy theory? Weigh in below.

Previously: Why Are Obama's Poll Numbers Slipping?

Take our poll: Should the Lockerbie Bomber Have Been Set Free?

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IN COUNTRIES WERE THERE IS NO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,PRISONERS SENTENCED TO LIFE STAY IN PRISON FOR LIFE. IN SOME COUNTRIES, WHEN THE PRISONER DIES, THEY ARE BURIED AT THE PRISON. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE HERE!!!.

Gerald Wood of OH 11:24AM August 25, 2009

I am an American Citizen, was born is Scotland, have always been proud of my origins and the accent I cannot escape from. Today I am ashamed of the the Scottish courts. Scottish Law has been touted as the most democratic and fairest system throughout decades, it has been incorporated into the legal systems throughout the world. Our founding fathers based quite a portion of various documents, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Emancipation et., etc., on the Scottish legal system, there is a lot of heaving of disturbed graves over the decision to free a mass murderer. He had a fair trial, fairer than most! Other countries would have executed him long before now.

non hyphenated American of NY 11:10AM August 25, 2009

Compassion is an INDIVIDUAL virtue, not a State attribute. The State exists, at least in America to carry out the wishes of the PEOPLE, the real rulers of our proud country. The Scots, heirs to a proud history of warriors opposing the invading English, have become emasculated weinies! Shame on your government for this phony, PC act of cowardice, shame on your officials for wishing the Islamofascists a "Happy Ramadan"! Start reading Muslim history and the Koran, and you must come to the conclusion that this 'fossilised religion' was/is dedicated to world domination! Wake up fools!

ChristmasTree of NY 9:20PM August 24, 2009

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