Newsweek Scotland: Lockerbie, unanswered questions
It is truly striking how certain themes weave themselves through the news and re-emerge in different forms. It's only a few weeks ago we were heavily engaged in argument over Lockerbie because of the anniversary and here we are, because of unrelated events in North Africa, with the same questions awaiting answer.
If defecting Libyan officials do know the inside story, will they be allowed to say? If, as some argue, it was committed on behalf of Iran with Syrian involvement, by Palestinians, does it suit a defector to say so, when his hosts would prefer confirmation of the Camp Zeist verdict.
If you were Moussa Koussa, desperate to please those from whom you seek sanctuary, would you spill the beans on an appalling atrocity if your story contradicted their conventional line? If Libya was truly not involved in the Pan Am bombing or even if it had some knowledge or a minor role in it, might Koussa still be tempted to say Gaddafi definitely did authorise it, in order to blacken the name of the man he wants to denounce?
On the other hand, how would he, as former head of the Libyan intelligence service, not have known all about it and therefore be open to prosecution? How could the UK not prosecute him especially after the furore the Prime Minister kicked up about Megrahi's release? Is it possible for David Cameron on the one hand to ridicule the Scottish decision while on foreign soil (in America) because of the gravity of the crime and at the same time to say Moussa Koussa has done us a favour by ditching Gaddafi so we won't bother prosecuting him for the same crime?
Among those worried may be intelligence officials who knew more than they told us in advance of the bombing...remember notices went up US embassies warning of an attack. Some staff cancelled flights, that's why there were empty seats available for the unwitting to book them. We'll mull over the implications of events in Libya with our former Ambassador Sir Oliver Miles.
Also this week we have a solution to those bank bonuses. Take them all back in tax. The Dutch have voted to do that retrospectively for any money paid out by banks given state support. We'll hear about that as well as a discussion on the Holyrood election with Angus Macleod and Professor James Mitchell. Oh, and we have advice on how to read a manifesto. I know that's been uppermost in your mind. A former civil servant gives us the lowdown. All that and much more ( I hope - it's the producer who does all the work).


Comments Post your comment