What does Hillary know?

[hectormac]

So it looks like Abdelbaset Ali al_Magrahi is to be freed before the weekend. Compassionate grounds - he has less than 12 weeks to live. In Scotland, as elsewhere, the decision by Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill will be greeted with a mixture of outrage and "not before time".

We should not conflate the release on compassionate grounds

Comments

[camilov]

"compassion is what separates us from the terrorist. "

This is apparently an oft neglected mindset, at least here in a country where "not being Muslim is what separates us from the terrorist" reigns supreme.

[julietvalcouer]

Not blowing up airliners or driving car bombs into embassies is what separates us from the terrorist. Compassion shouldn't enter into it when it comes to dealing with the guilty

[hectormac]

It's interesting to watch that widely-circulating soundbite of Hillary Clinton on the issue. The body language and verbal fluency changes subtly from hesitant empathy and outrage when talking about the Syracuse families, to considered legalese precision when she mentions the criminal process. Not too much should be read into this, since there are diplomatic niceties to be observed, but you can see her gratefully falling back on a carefully prepared form of words.

[hectormac]

I've been searching for a site that pulls together the cogent highlights of the PA 103 trial in digestible form. Unfortunately, the best I can do is the Wiki summary:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103_bombing_trial

However, even accepting the strictures and short-comings of Wiki articles in terms of accuracy and impartiality, the article does highlight the inconsistencies in the conduct of the trial, both in terms of evidence adduced and the failure to draw out other strands.

In particular, weaknesses in the Malta evidence and the glossing over of the Heathrow evidence are, at least, disturbing. The article is a good starting point. At best (or worst) American faith in the integrity of the trial should be shaken.