Is it time for the PM to speak out?
Gordon Brown may face questions about the release of the Lockerbie bomber later today. The PM hasn't commented on the issue at all so far and, although it was a legal decision at the discretion of Scotland's Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, many people are criticising Mr Brown for not having spoken out in public. What would you want him to say?
And is this the Scottish Government's finest hour? Under great pressure from the public, the victims' families, the media and the United States, Kenny MacAskill says he took a decision on purely compassionate grounds. Is that something to be proud of or was it an error of judgement?
That's the phone-in on 5 live with Shelagh this morning.
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10:21 Fri, 27 Nov 09
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It would seem to me to be a waste of time. Do you think anybody is going to believe anything GB has to say?
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So the USA wish to boycott ALL Scottish goods and Services because we released Al Megrahi, on compassionate grounds, in accordance with Scottish law.That is their perogative .
They should however be consistant in their arguement and request that all Scottish soldiers be removed from Afganistan where they are fighting and dying to keep America free from Terrorism
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Charlie Wolfe is calm today. He is very measured compared what he used to be like on another talk radio station.
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Al Megrahi should be pleased he wasn't in an English gaol with Jack Straw making the decision. I am pleased the Scottish Justice Minister did what he did. It shows a compassion Al Megrahi did not deserve, which in my book is the correct way to go.
As far as the PM making a comment, he can't win any way he chooses.
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I praise the Scottish Parliament for making this decision. They were clearly in a no win situation given all the other political activity by the UK Government and the Royal Family to help and aid British companies in Libya. However, these activities were no different to what the Americans have been doing with other countries to support their own agenda such as Haliburton in Iraq. So at the end of the day this is yet again the hypocrisy that is the United States of America. They continued to raise funds for the IRA and refused extradication of terrorists when many troops and civilians were being killed and injured in Northern Ireland so well done Scotland for standing up to America and not pandering to their hypocritical ways.
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Aha! Just for once the cat-calling and brawling of 'PM's question time' might be of value. If Parliament were in session,and sadly it is not, Brown would have NO escape from being asked for his response in front of the entire nation.
Its ironic that the Scots had the courage to bring their parliament back early to discuss this. How does THAT reflect on 'the mother of parliaments?'
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Time will tell if this was the Scottish Governments "finest hour", if not it certainly was their bravest. I am proud of Kenny MacAskill and the SNP in ultimately making the right decision, in the full awareness of the political maelstrom that would invetiably follow. Now that takes "guts" something that is obviously lacking in our PM,Gordon Brown.
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"Charlie Wolfe is calm today."
he just got out of bed, but he is still on the fundamentalist neo conservative ideological bed .. when he gets his rants going.
the question is why does he get airtime whilst others might get 'banned' for being termed as radicals / fundamentalists with an opposing viewpoint.
its very interesting these bbc editorial decisions , as to what is a story and isnt and who is allowed to make commentary.
actually its not interesting its bias and agenda setting.
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so whilst this decision is a pretty much non-story it proves to be invaluable to the usa and uk govts since it hides the massive fraudulent elections in afghanistan with an estimated turnout of around 20% .
what no twittering, no videos on you tube .. no commentary from our govt, just the usual pr guff led by putting our soldiers in the media limelight .. where possible
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"It shows a compassion Al Megrahi did not deserve, which in my book is the correct way to go."
how do you know it wasnt deserved? what is your hard unrefutable evidence of his guilt other than the flawed judgement in a flawed trial with flawed evidence??
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"They should however be consistant in their arguement and request that all Scottish soldiers be removed from Afganistan where they are fighting and dying to keep America free from Terrorism"
they arent dying to free the usa from terrorism, they are fighting to control the resources and the people of afghanistan and the surrounding nations on behalf of the uk's neo con ideologues in govt. and the usa.
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hi all i hope everyone on this blog read this and begin to think wisely all politicians across the west are playing on our intelligence they knew the lockerbie bomber would be freed longtime ago, from the time gaddafi started visiting all the western leaders and they all welcome him was the begining of freedom for the convicted bomber also the families of the victims should not have received compensation from a gaddafi's regime since they are labelled terrorist, governments knew what they were doing seeking compensation and now they are critisicing the release my take on this is if someone commit a gravely crime against human the kind of compensation that would be just is death sentence ,life in prison or a compensation that would have impact or destroy the guilty person, now all the western countries are doing business with libya. life goes on my people and God bless the dead and pls dont take American words serious they are hypocrite as many people wrote on this blog they do what they like and expects other not to do the same
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What's the big issue over whether Gordon Brown speaks out or not? Can't his critics speak out for themselves? Politics is a collective thing, it's not about individual personalities running the show.
People who place so much emphasis in the conduct or performance of party leaders are usually those who are apathetic, incapable of self-reasoning and need the smokescreen of an individuals performance to cower behind to make themselves feel they're making a positive contribution.
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The only reason the likes of arch 'neocon' Charlie Wolfe and his ilk always agree to come on air, especially on phone in programmes like these is because they know they won't be facing any stiff political opposition, while all the telephone calls will be moderated over what's said to ensure they won't be politically challenged. If they do get into a rut then the presenter/host will intervene to protect them.
If these phone-in prgorammes were unmoderated, and run on a 'first call first serve basis where the presenters role is merely to introduce and end the session then these types like Wolfe would never be sen anywhere bear a radio station!
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Correction! ....these types like Wolfe would never be seen anywhere near a radio station!
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Richard:
Yes, the Prime Minister should have spoken out on this VERY SENSITIVE issue...Early!!!!
=Dennis Junior=
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