The BBC says:
The son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has insisted no deals were linked to the compassionate release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber.
The Daily Telegraph says:
Col Gaddafi’s son, made it clear that in all business talks with Britain, the release of al-Megrahi was always ‘on the negotiating table.’
Friday, 28 August 2009
Lost in translation?
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6 comments:
Both statements can be true and not mutually exclusive. The Libyans brought the matter to the table, but the British government would not - because they could not - take the matter any further, so no deals were linked to the release.
Longrider said...
Both statements can be true and not mutually exclusive. The Libyans brought the matter to the table, but the British government would not - because they could not - take the matter any further, so no deals were linked to the release.
Yup. And has any one any ideas how I can get rid of these sixteen meter wingspaned pigs that keep flying past my window?
In the absence of flying pigs, the only way for those two statements to be true is if the Scottish government did this entirely of its own volition. Which seems a tad unlikely.
Which seems a tad unlikely.
Evidence?
Scotland is a devolved administration and Westminster has no authority in this area. No need for flying pigs, the two statements as presented are perfectly compatible with each other. Unless you have evidence to the contrary?
Scotland is a devolved administration and Westminster has no authority in this area.
Ye the Scots have authority at Westminster. I feel a West Lothian coming on.
Congrats on your position on the list, by the way.
...but there are two issues relating to Libyan prisoners - prisoner transfer (which Straw has just admitted was discussed, and al-Megrahi was specifically not excluded) and compassionate release.
There is arguably the issue of al-Megrahi's appeal being dropped too.
So, yes, Jack 'weasel words' Straw can claim that no deal was done over compassionate release, since he knew full well that al-Megrahi would have to be released anyway on compassionate grounds (and Labour could pin the blame on the SNP), while at the same time telling the Libyans that al-Megrahi was elegible for prisoner transfer, to sweeten the negotiations.
Simples.
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