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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it was "disturbing" that Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, a former Libyan agent jailed for life for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, got a hero's welcome on his return to Libya.
"It is disturbing to see images suggesting that Megrahi was accorded a hero's welcome instead of being treated as a convicted murderer," White House spokesman Bill Burton said.
"As we have communicated to the Libyan government, such a welcome sends the wrong message, and is deeply offensive to the families of the hundreds of people who lost their lives in the Lockerbie bombing."
Megrahi was released on the order of Scotland's justice minister because he is ill and believed to have less than three months to live.
Originally posted by john124
This is making a mountain out of a mole-hill. The guy will be dead in 3 months, he's hardly free and can hardly be seen as much of a hero.
By releasing him we are demonstrating that in the west we treat people with compassion, unlike he himself demonstrated.
Originally posted by buddhasystem
Originally posted by john124
This is making a mountain out of a mole-hill. The guy will be dead in 3 months, he's hardly free and can hardly be seen as much of a hero.
It is you who is trying to make a mountain look like a mole-hill. He was greeted by CROWDS, for gossake, and Qaddafi Jr helped him out of the plane.
By releasing him we are demonstrating that in the west we treat people with compassion, unlike he himself demonstrated.
Say that to families of those who he had mercilessly mass-murdered.
Originally posted by buddhasystem
Originally posted by john124
By releasing him we are demonstrating that in the west we treat people with compassion, unlike he himself demonstrated.
Say that to families of those who he had mercilessly mass-murdered.
I think that is the point. This man had no compassion for anyone, and yet if as a society we can show him compassion then we are better than him. Personally, I think he should have ben put to death years ago, but if the law is on the books to release prisoners hn they are dying, then someone thought it was a good idea at some point.
Don't like it? Take steps to change the law. If for some reason people agree with the law in most cases, then they have toa ccept it in all cases.
Originally posted by Finn1916
Originally posted by buddhasystem
Originally posted by john124
By releasing him we are demonstrating that in the west we treat people with compassion, unlike he himself demonstrated.
Say that to families of those who he had mercilessly mass-murdered.
I think that is the point. This man had no compassion for anyone, and yet if as a society we can show him compassion then we are better than him. Personally, I think he should have ben put to death years ago, but if the law is on the books to release prisoners hn they are dying, then someone thought it was a good idea at some point.
Don't like it? Take steps to change the law. If for some reason people agree with the law in most cases, then they have toa ccept it in all cases.
Originally posted by john124
The families cannot provide an objective opinion, so I accept they will be angry. But coming from different US govt. departments this shows a lack of restraint.
Originally posted by john124
This is making a mountain out of a mole-hill. The guy will be dead in 3 months, he's hardly free and can hardly be seen as much of a hero.
By releasing him we are demonstrating that in the west we treat people with compassion, unlike he himself demonstrated.
Originally posted by john124
The families cannot provide an objective opinion,
Originally posted by Wimbly
reply to post by john124
Basically, the terrorist won and will now motivate new terrorists. Instead of dying in prison, he got out and as far as those crowds are concerned he won a great victory. Think of all the people who now might take action, because they have been motivated by the weakness of their enemies.
It was a stupid, misguided move and people will more than likely die because of it.
"..More than 1,000 young Libyans gathered at an airport in Tripoli to welcome Megrahi and cheered and waved national flags as his car sped away. Pictures of the blue and white Scottish flag being waved were shown on British television.
Originally posted by FlyersFan
Originally posted by john124
The families cannot provide an objective opinion,
They are the victims and their opinion, and that of the law, are the only ones that matter. It's vile and disgusting, but not unexpected, that this mass murderer is getting a hero's welcome. I hope the white house is paying close attention. It's a cold hard slap in the face with reality as to the sort of people it has to deal with other there.
Originally posted by john124
By releasing him we are showing we are better than he was.
Torturing and murdering terrorists has shown not to reduce potential terrorists, but actually increase their numbers.
Originally posted by Wimbly
reply to post by john124
Basically, the terrorist won and will now motivate new terrorists. Instead of dying in prison, he got out and as far as those crowds are concerned he won a great victory. Think of all the people who now might take action, because they have been motivated by the weakness of their enemies.
It was a stupid, misguided move and people will more than likely die because of it.
Originally posted by Arbitrageur
Originally posted by john124
This is making a mountain out of a mole-hill. The guy will be dead in 3 months, he's hardly free and can hardly be seen as much of a hero.
By releasing him we are demonstrating that in the west we treat people with compassion, unlike he himself demonstrated.
John you seem to be missing the point in your own topic.
Maybe there was some objection to his being released at all (as you referred to above), however the real outrage is that he received a hero's welcome, not so much that he was released.
OK we release him, but it is worthy of telling Libya they shouldn't give the guy a hero's welcome. Whatever impact that admonishment has on our relationship with Libya, so be it.
Originally posted by FlyersFan
Originally posted by john124
By releasing him we are showing we are better than he was.
By releasing him they are spitting on the graves of the hundreds of people he murdered and they are slapping the faces of the relatives of the dead.
Torturing and murdering terrorists has shown not to reduce potential terrorists, but actually increase their numbers.
Having a mass murdering criminal actually do his life sentence in jail isn't 'torturing and murdering' him. And aving him spend life in jail was merciful enough. He deserved death a few hundred times over.
Originally posted by john124
When in actual fact some were carrying scottish flags and were celebrating the compassion not the terrorist attack.
It's cynical to assume that just because one Libyan committed mass murder, that all Libyans see him as a hero, when in fact they may be celebrating better relations between the two countries.
Originally posted by buddhasystem
Originally posted by Wimbly
reply to post by john124
Basically, the terrorist won and will now motivate new terrorists. Instead of dying in prison, he got out and as far as those crowds are concerned he won a great victory. Think of all the people who now might take action, because they have been motivated by the weakness of their enemies.
It was a stupid, misguided move and people will more than likely die because of it.
I never agreed with you on anything (and I doubt this will ever happen again), but on this one, you hit the nail on the head.
Scotch flowing freely in Scotland or something, but this is plain wrong.
Originally posted by buddhasystem
Originally posted by john124
When in actual fact some were carrying scottish flags and were celebrating the compassion not the terrorist attack.
Sure, you are gloating that you scored big with the extremists. Go ahead, suck up to them.
If they celebrated compassion, they would be doing that near the Scottish diplomatic mission or UN office or place of that nature, not welcoming the terrorist.
It's cynical to assume that just because one Libyan committed mass murder, that all Libyans see him as a hero, when in fact they may be celebrating better relations between the two countries.
It is cynical for you to assume that it's OK to have large crowds bussed to the military base to give terrorist a warm welcome. It is also cynical towards those Scots who perished in this mass murder. Shame on you.