Common Sense Over Compassion

Since the purpose of this blog is to “shed truthful light” on today’s biggest issues, I feel the need to share my political musings on a recent, controversial topic that bothers me a great deal; the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
That kind of sounds like a title for an action/adventure movie, but it is all too real. On December 21, 1988, a bomb planted in the cargo pit of Pan Am Airlines Flight 103, exploded over the city of Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 crew members and passengers as well as 11 people on the ground. Libyan citizen Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was the only person convicted for this horrendous act of terrorism, and given a sentence of life in prison in 2001.
Al-Megrahi, age 57, is now a terminally ill cancer patient—doctors gave him approximately three months to live. Last Thursday, the man who took 270 lives twenty one years ago returned home to a “hero’s welcome” after being released on “compassionate grounds.”
The act of releasing prisoners that are close to death or, on “compassionate grounds” is, according to Associated Press, “an established legal practice” in Scotland.
Let’s think about this for a minute. Where is the fairness and justice in a justice system that rewards and sympathizes those responsible for heinous crimes? Al-Megrahi wished to die with his family back in Libya… what about the 270 victims killed when that airplane plummeted to the ground? I am sure they would have like to be with their families before they died, too. But they were not given that option, were they? The Scottish government is showing “compassion” to the wrong group in this case; al-Megrahi made the conscious decision to murder 270 innocent people by way of a brutal act of terrorism… where was his compassion?
Abdel Baset al-Megrahi received a jubilant welcome back to his homeland, despite a warning to Libya from Barack Obama not to give him such a return (which I am sure made a huge impact). Upon al-Megrahi’s landing in Tripoli, Libyans cheered, waved flags, blared music, wore al-Megrahi t-shirts. The convicted terrorist received treatment such as that of a hero. Something is not right here, people!
The Obama administration has taken an unusually firm stance on the issue of al-Megrahi’s release. From the Associated Press, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs commented that, “…the images we saw in Libya yesterday were outrageous and disgusting. We continue to express our condolences to the families that lost a loved one as a result of the terrorist murder.” I would commend the administration on their opposition to this matter, if it were not for one fact that sticks out to me like a sore thumb; honestly, there is very little difference between the release of al-Megrahi, which President Obama has denounced, and the closing of Guantanamo Bay.
Obama and his administration have led the controversial fight to close Gitmo, with the ever-present precept of “unfairly treated” prisoners; dispersal of these individuals around the world has also caused quite a stir in the political world. Yet the administration is up in arms over the release of al-Megrahi. Seems like someone cannot make up their mind! The prisoners of Gitmo took innocent lives, as did al-Megrahi. What’s the difference?
Leaders around the world need to take an adamant stand against terrorism. Those who choose to take lives should not be rewarded on any basis. In situations like these, I believe we must put common sense over “compassion.”

Sources: FoxNews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,540967,00.htm) and Associated Press "Lockerbie Bomber Release Stirs Diplomatic Dispute"