Again, the majority of those on that plane were American. The U.S. government should not have a say?

The prisoners that are about to die are the most dangerous- they literally have nothing to live for. Letting him out could prove to be a big mistake.

Decisions have diplomatic repurcussions. Of course the decision lies in the hands of Scottish officials, but that doesn't mean the US isn't allowed to scowl at Scotland and make its displeasure unknown. Scotland has the right to decide, and with it comes the responsibility to bear the consequences, which is this case includes a harsh letter from the FBI.

I bet it didn't even occur to Scottish officials that this man's release would be celebrated in Libya, but I'm not sure if it's as terrible as the director of the FBI thinks it is. I think if the West can manage to project a more merciful and compassionate image, it would hurt the recruitment efforts of violent Islamists who depend on an image of the West as being imperialist, paternalistic, and meddlesome.

As opposed to a terrorist being released to a hero's welcome?

The only evidence connecting Megrahi to the Lockerbie Bombing was a tiny piece of circuit board and a Maltese man claiming a person who looked like Megrahi had bought the clothing which had been rapped around the bomb, from his shop. The CIA planted the circuit board.

The group more likely to be behind the bombing are a Palistinian group hired by the Iranian government. Just before the Lockerbie Bombing, a US naval battle cruiser called the U.S.S Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf, killing 290 people. The US Navy claimed it was an accident. The Lockerbie Bombing was more than likely Iran's revenge.

Megrahi recieved a heroes welcome because he stood trail for a crime he probably didn't commit for the good of his country. The US blaimed Libya for the bombings (before Megrahi's trial) and (along with the UN (persuaded by the US)) had imposed crippling economic sanctions on Libya. If Libya claimed responsibilty for the Lockerbie Bombing, these sanctions would be lifted.

So much of this strife flows from a lack of forgiveness for the crimes of the past. Axes which are ground in perpetuity. There needs to be more forgiveness if peace is ever going to triumph, and Scotland offered this criminal a little bit of forgiveness on his death bed. I think that's important, and I hope that some of the more violent elements outside the West can see that and offer us a little forgiveness for our crimes.

I agree with the Scots on this one.

Megrahi was convincted on apparently quite flimsy grounds, and will die within three months anyway. Allowing the man a final respite (in house arrest, apparently) before the end is not only the right thing to do, but can also be used in building a more compassionate image of the West in arabic countries, like famousringo already said. And shooting a dead man isn't really going to change anything.

This quote from Mr. MacAskill sums up my thoughts quite nicely:

As I see it, you have a law that was written with good intentions that people will agree with its use in most situations being applied in a case that could be described as a worst case scenario. Not only was the man convicted of a callous and violent crime, his release undermines agreements with a major ally and allows him to be treated as a hero (potentially helping recruit more terrorists which would undermine the security of the western world).

This is truly the case. Religious zealots will hate us no matter how "compassionate" we are.

it took place in Scotland...he was tried...and put in prison....by Scotland...so no...the US does not have a say...in Scottish affairs...may it stay that way forever...

reading about the "evidence" they used to prosecute him also...sounds to me like it was a case of "lets blame someone...he'll do"