Wikileaks: Megrahi (Lockerbie bomber) freed after Gaddafi threats - Polidicks

[B]US embassy cables reveal UK government's fear that Libya would take 'harsh and immediate' action if Lockerbie bomber was not released early[/B] [QUOTE] The British government's deep fears that Libya would take "harsh and immediate" action against UK interests if the convicted Lockerbie bomber died in a Scottish prison are revealed in secret US embassy cables which show London's full support for the early release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, made explicit and "thuggish" threats to halt all trade deals with Britain and harass embassy staff if Megrahi remained in jail, the cables show. At the same time "a parade of treats" was offered by Libya to the Scottish devolved administration if it agreed to let him go, though the cable says they were turned down. Britain at the time was "in an awkward position" and "between a rock and a hard place". The London charge d'affaires, Richard LeBaron, wrote in a cable to Washington in October 2008. "The Libyans have told HMG [Her Majesty's Government] flat out that there will be 'enormous repercussions' for the UK-Libya bilateral relationship if Megrahi's early release is not handled properly." ... The Megrahi cables may do much to explain why he was released in August 2009, supposedly because he was on the brink of death from prostate cancer. The decision incurred American wrath. More than a year on Megrahi is still alive, having been feted when he was escorted back to Tripoli by Gaddafi's son. Public congressional hearings in September were told by a US prostate specialist that the official reason for the compassionate release – that Megrahi was within three months of death – was "ridiculous". Anger with the British persists in some American circles, and UK ministers, Labour and Tory, have attempted to distance London from the release insisting it was purely a Scottish decision. In January 2009, six months before Megrahi's release, the US ambassador to Libya, Gene Cretz, confirmed that "dire" reprisals had been threatened against the UK, and the British were braced to take "dramatic" steps for self-protection. The Libyans "convinced UK embassy officers that the consequences if Megrahi were to die in prison … would be harsh, immediate and not easily remedied … specific threats have included the immediate cessation of all UK commercial activity in Libya, a diminishment or severing of political ties, and demonstrations against official UK facilities. "[Libyan] officials also implied, but did not directly state, that the welfare of UK diplomats and citizens in Libya would be at risk." The British ambassador in Tripoli, Vincent Fean, "expressed relief" when Megrahi was released, the US reported. "He noted that a refusal of Megrahi's request could have had disastrous implications for British interests in Libya. 'They could have cut us off at the knees,' Fean bluntly said." [/QUOTE] [URL=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/07/wikileaks-gaddafi-britain-lockerbie-bomber]The Guardian[/URl] [URL=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11944645]BBC News[/URL] [URL=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20024926-503543.html]CBS News[/URL]

Oh the media will wank over this.

Lockerpie.

I finished reading through the cables finally and there are far more interesting things in there than most news stations have covered yet. I feel bad for Assange but thats what happens when you take the blame for an organization that leaks confidential documents. [QUOTE=Coffee;26552499]Oh the media will wank over this.[/QUOTE] Way more where that came from

What horrible timing on Wikileak's part, you don't want to insult the country which is detaining your boss. Or least wait until maybe, the day after he was arrested?

Its fucking Libya. Why would the UK be worried?

[QUOTE=Zambies!;26552863]Its fucking Libya. Why would the UK be worried?[/QUOTE] Oil

[QUOTE=Zambies!;26552863]Its fucking Libya. Why would the UK be worried?[/QUOTE] Yeah, those guys can't even make a flag.

Bits and pieces of the plane landed quite close to my grandparents house (just in the field like 50 metres behind where they live, I think). One or two people they knew got killed by it on the ground. Pretty damn nasty event.

It was all a government setup to get oil. The British government was behind it WAKE UP.

Oh look, something leaked not pertaining to the US but the UK, somethings going on here.

[QUOTE=BANNED USER;26557908]Oh look, something leaked not pertaining to the US but the UK, somethings going on here.[/QUOTE] It's like Wikileaks is trying to martyr Assange

The United Kingdom is run by such a bunch of cowards these days.

[QUOTE=JLea;26559378]The United Kingdom is run by such a bunch of cowards these days.[/QUOTE] Except the dude was released on compassionate grounds, as he was only expected to have a few months to live. Gaddafi (dictator of libya) paid the victims of the families some 10 million dollars each, as well as the fact he denounced Al-Qaeda.

Oh wow I misread tittle and expected America hate well this is refreshing.

Man, all the juicy Wikileaks cables come out after I killed my thread covering all this... :smith:

[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;26559481]Except the dude was released on compassionate grounds, as he was only expected to have a few months to live. Gaddafi (dictator of libya) paid the victims of the families some 10 million dollars each, as well as the fact he denounced Al-Qaeda.[/QUOTE] What a nice guy

[QUOTE=JLea;26564114]What a nice guy[/QUOTE] Point is he's trying to prove he's not a terrorist dick.

Why did they not hang this fucker? How's that dumb? He killed 270 people.

[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;26559481]Except the dude was released on compassionate grounds, as he was only expected to have a few months to live. Gaddafi (dictator of libya) paid the victims of the families some 10 million dollars each, as well as the fact he denounced Al-Qaeda.[/QUOTE] "[Libyan] officials also implied, but did not directly state, that the welfare of UK diplomats and citizens in Libya would be at risk." Yeah, what a good guy, hey? [/sarcasm]

They [i]implied[/i] that british people living in their country are risk? Maybe it's because of the locals and not the government itself. The title is very misleading compared to what actually happened.

[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;26564203]They [i]implied[/i] that british people living in their country are risk? Maybe it's because of the locals and not the government itself. The title is very misleading compared to what actually happened.[/QUOTE] No, you've misunderstood it. What I quoted follows directly from: [quote]specific threats have included the immediate cessation of all UK commercial activity in Libya, a diminishment or severing of political ties, and demonstrations against official UK facilities.[/quote] If the Libyan dictatorship were threatening to impose sanctions, then you could assume that the implication of threats on UK citizens and diplomats were also there...