# Releasing Al Megrahi. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 28, 2010, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282 "2010-07-28T09:07:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/41 "2010-07-28T13:52:01Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > You get to shut your trap and your whining about jurisdiction, because your own libel court thinks it has universal jurisdiction on matters of libel law. So shut your fucking trap. The English and Scottish court systems are more separate and different from each other than eg the systems of Ohio and Florida. Libel tourism happens in the English civil system. It is completely irrelevant when discussing a matter of Scottish criminal law and the Scottish court / justice system. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/42 "2010-07-28T13:53:35Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > > [@Alessan](#): > > > > Summoning him to appear before the U.S. Congress is, I agree, a silly request. However, if the Scottish Justice Minister ever sets foot in America voluntarily, he should be arrested immediately. > > What. The. Fuck. For? Wearing paisley with tweeds. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/43 "2010-07-28T13:54:29Z")
Aye, so up ye arse wi a 20lb haggis **Rune** , ye jumped-up fucking maggot! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/44 "2010-07-28T14:06:11Z")
Reading Rune’s posts make me glad that browsers do not have a spittle tag. Even via the written word, you can smell the phlegm. > [@Rune](#): > > You post in the pit, and then whine about four lettered words. Are all Brits as pathetic as you, or are you an exceptional pathetic specimen? Eh? What the wittering arse are you talking about? What whining about four lettered words? I’ve been throwing them around left, right and centre, what the fucking fuck are you talking about you silly cock? > [@](#): > > And by “a person with terminal cancer”, I take it you mean "a terrorist mass murder, with cancer which was not so terminal after all, but we shopped around a good bit and found some guy who’d be willing to write that he was dying provided we send him a nice bonus”. The obligation you had for the 270 killed persons and their families was to ensure justice had been served. In this you have failed miserable. That’s right. I do indeed mean a man found guilty of mass-murder of 270 people, who was found to have terminal cancer, and released from jail. Sorry if you think that somehow is a terrible injustice, but tough shit. The judiciary here doesn’t agree with you. They’ve explained their reasoning. So just what obligation do you feel is still outstanding? The level of arrogance really is quite impressive. All other countries should have the same legal system as the US, and punish people as the US would. Failure to comply with this shall result in demands that their officials explain themselves, personally, to the US senate. Any country that fails to do so has failed in some nebulous obligation they have to justice, as defined by the US. May I refer you to my previous request about shoving it up your arse? I do of course await your next reply with baited breath, particularly the rather predictable reference to UK libel law. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/45 "2010-07-28T14:06:14Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No, there isn’t. The verdict was correct and sustainable as a matter of law. The allegations that Al Megrahi was framed or otherwise railroaded are simply unsupportable speculation. Then why did SCCRC review his case in an 800 page report recommending an appeal (the same appeal he dropped after an unprecedented visit to him in prison by the Scottish justice secretary)? Why were CIA documents available to the prosecution, but not to the defence? > [@Hans Kochler to David Milliband](#): > > As international observer, appointed by the United Nations, at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands I am also concerned about the Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificate which has been issued by you in connection with the new Appeal of the convicted Libyan national. Withholding of evidence from the Defence was one of the reasons why the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred Mr. Al-Megrahi’s case back to the High Court of Justiciary. The Appeal cannot go ahead if the Government of the United Kingdom, through the PII certificate issued by you, denies the Defence the right (also guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights) to have access to a document which is in the possession of the Prosecution. How can there be equality of arms in such a situation? How can the independence of the judiciary be upheld if the executive power interferes into the appeal process in such a way? Why was testimony from a man who failed to identify the accused 19 times before the trial allowed (not just allowed, but formed a centerpiece of the prosecution’s case) to be heard in court? Why was the accused’s legal council imposed upon him, and why was he not free to choose his own defence lawyer? The whole thing stinks. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/46 "2010-07-28T14:11:25Z")
Not if you are used to wallowing in bullshit and actually think it’s quite relaxing. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/47 "2010-07-28T14:13:05Z")
> [@Scheidt-Hoch](#): > > The English and Scottish court systems are more separate and different from each other than eg the systems of Ohio and Florida. Libel tourism happens in the English civil system. It is completely irrelevant when discussing a matter of Scottish criminal law and the Scottish court / justice system. Do you really think it’s a good idea to post something logical where Rune might read it? You could be looking at the cerebral version of the big bang, as logic comes into contact with Rune’s anti-logic His/her entire psyche could be eradicated as a new one explodes into being. Actually, that’s not such a bad plan. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/48 "2010-07-28T14:51:12Z")
I imagine I’m wasting my time in posting something rational, but I’ll do so anyway. The Scottish authorities did in fact let the victims down, but not by releasing Al-Megrahi. They did so by convicting him in the first place, knowing he was innocent, and ceasing to look for the actual terrorists. Of course, the main reason they did this was pressure from America in the first place. Oh, and even if he is guilty, releasing him was the correct thing to do. If you disagree, cite the Scottish law that supports your point. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/49 "2010-07-28T15:07:15Z")
Let me just remind people that Senator Menendez, the guy who is raising the stink about officials from a foreign government not submitting themselves to congressional testimony, is the same guy who, three years ago, proposed to divert funds from US-Mexican border security efforts to build a fence between the US and Canada. In short, he will do anything to get in the news, and he’s not taken terribly seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/50 "2010-07-28T15:13:00Z")
Menendez is currently the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, so he’s not exactly small potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/51 "2010-07-28T15:16:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Menendez is currently the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, so he’s not exactly small potatoes. He is to us. [QUOTE=Bricker] No, there isn’t. The verdict was correct and sustainable as a matter of law. The allegations that Al Megrahi was framed or otherwise railroaded are simply unsupportable speculation. [/QUOTE] Oh right. I take it back. You aren’t savvy enough - my mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/52 "2010-07-28T15:31:38Z")
> [@Martiju](#): > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > Menendez is currently the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, so he’s not exactly small potatoes. > > He is to us. I mean in American terms. **Ravenman** ’s post makes it sound like he’s the equivalent of a backbench MP or something, which he isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/53 "2010-07-28T15:41:45Z")
This silly verbal back-n-forth ejaculation is a proof positive how best way to manage “free thinkers” is to pit them against each other. My God, what’s in it for you? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/54 "2010-07-28T15:42:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I mean in American terms. **Ravenman** ’s post makes it sound like he’s the equivalent of a backbench MP or something, which he isn’t. Yeah, but that doesn’t preclude him from being an attention-seeker all the same. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/55 "2010-07-28T15:45:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > [@Martiju](#): > > > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > > > Menendez is currently the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, so he’s not exactly small potatoes. > > > > He is to us. > > I mean in American terms. **Ravenman** ’s post makes it sound like he’s the equivalent of a backbench MP or something, which he isn’t. He is pretty much the equivalent of a back-bench MP. He’s not a Cabinet member ( not analogous between countries, but I mean in the sense of not being Secretary of State or something). The fact that he chairs some committee is not really relevant. Our parliamentary oversight committees are chaired by backbench MPs. His one just seems like a party-specific political one. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/56 "2010-07-28T15:47:19Z")
Isn’t Rune Danish? Shouldn’t he be sucking down a pickled herring? I only ask as Gary seems to think he’s a Yank. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/57 "2010-07-28T15:49:07Z")
> [@](#): > > He is pretty much the equivalent of a back-bench MP. He’s not a Cabinet member ( not analogous between countries, but I mean in the sense of not being Secretary of State or something). The fact that he chairs some committee is not really relevant. Our parliamentary oversight committees are chaired by backbench MPs. His one just seems like a party-specific political one. No, he’s not. Remember (or understand), legislators here _can’t_ serve in the Cabinet, unless they resign their elected offices. He speaks with the weight of, if not one of the important ministers, then certainly a party whip. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/58 "2010-07-28T15:49:11Z")
Oh and good to read you again Gary. It’s been a while. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/59 "2010-07-28T15:53:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I mean in American terms. **Ravenman** ’s post makes it sound like he’s the equivalent of a backbench MP or something, which he isn’t. He raises money for the Democratic Party and he has a chairmanship of a subcommittee of a committee that very rarely produces legislation. I’m not saying he’s a nobody, but he certainly isn’t particularly influential in terms of policy. I think most in Washington would regard him as being more of a showhorse than a workhorse. That’s why he has the job of raising money – it plays to his strength in politics, not policy. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282/60 "2010-07-28T15:56:18Z")
Fair enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/releasing-al-megrahi/548282.md?page=4)