Hudson New York

The fanfare that met Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi seemed designed to embarrass the British government as much as possible.

Gaddafi is no ally, but a cunning individual with a keen sense for manipulating the West’s weakest points. “Europe is in a predicament, and so is America,” he once said, expressing his delight at the possibility of an Islamic Europe. For Gaddafi, the predicaments of others are opportunities to exploit. 

Last year, when his youngest son, Hannibal, was arrested in Switzerland for mistreating two of his domestic servants, two Swiss nationals were arrested in Libya - apparently in retaliation - although soon released. Libya then withdrew $7 billion from Swiss bank accounts, cut economic ties, and stopped supplying Switzerland with oil. This bullying had the desired effect, and the Swiss president was soon flying to Libya, to apologize for his country’s “unjust” arrest.

The release of al-Megrahi from his Scottish jail just over a week ago was greeted by open suspicion and contempt by the British public. Al-Megrahi’s prostate cancer, along with a hefty dose of “compassion,” was the official version, read out by Kenny MacAskill, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice. Accordingly, al-Megrahi - who was convicted of murdering 270 people (mostly Americans) by blowing up the Pan Am Flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 - was going home to die. The decision, MacAskill said at the time, was his, and his alone.

Much to the embarrassment of the Scottish and British governments, a few days ago, Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam strongly implied that the release had been down to a deal about oil. The Times of London has since corroborated this, revealing that the decision had been taken two years ago, when discussions between Libya and energy giant BP, aimed at securing a multi-billion dollar, oil exploration agreement, had stalled. Once al-Megrahi’s release was put on the table, an agreement between Libya and BP was reached.

According to one newly leaked letter from Justice Secretary Jack Straw to MacAskill, the British government believed it to be “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom.”

How many in the government think that now?

Before his release, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton publicly called for al-Meghari to serve the remainder of his sentence in Scotland. Perhaps, this might seem a bit rich, considering the Obama administration’s enthusiasm for closing Guantanamo Bay and downplaying the terrorist threat, but the Democrats have their finger on the pulse in this instance. Many Americans are simply enraged at the decision to free al-Megrahi, and websites have already appeared, calling for US citizens to boycott British goods.

Boycott’s don’t last. But, reputations do. Scotland’s and Britain’s have been badly damaged. Prime minister Gordon Brown - though characteristically AWOL as accusations began to fly - sent Gaddafi a letter, imploring him to treat al-Megrahi’s arrival in Libya “with sensitivity.” It was all supposed to be low key. Instead al-Megrahi was treated to a hero’s welcome.

The al-Megrahi affair has now left the Scottish and British governments looking like amateurs, outclassed by the same tin pot dictator. That it has placed even greater strain on the “special relationship” is deeply regrettable: with friends like Gaddafi who needs enemies?