Stupid compassion

Good for FBI Director Robert Mueller!

There was nothing wishy-washy – or even "wee-wee-ish" – about his choice of words in the letter he fired off to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill last Friday.

It's also certain, Director Mueller won't "recalibrate" his choice of words in his denunciation of MacAskill's decision to release the mass murderer Abdelbeset Ali Mohamed al Megrahi.

Clearly, Robert Mueller disagreed and minced no words in the letter to MacAskill, which was posted on the FBI website.

He said the release makes a "mockery of the rule of law" and that
"I am outraged at your decision."

TRENDING: Is this what you voted for, America?

Al Megrahi is the former Libyan intelligence officer who was the only person convicted in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

There were 270 men, women and children killed in the mid-air explosion of the Boeing 747 – 189 were Americans, many of them college students. Eleven of the dead were people on the ground. They were murdered in cold blood by terrorists.

Sentenced to prison, supposedly for a life term but a minimum of 27 years, al Megrahi served just eight years and now is free as a bird and is being celebrated as a returning hero by Libyans.

We're told that al Megrahi has "terminal" prostate cancer and has just three months to live.

Anyone want to make book on that prediction?

MacAskill admitted al Megrahi showed no compassion to the victims or their families but added, "But that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days."

In his letter, Director Mueller said the "action rewards a terrorist" who didn't admit to a role in mass murder and that the release gives comfort to terrorists around the world.

"You have given the family members of those who died continued grief and frustration. You have given those who sought to assure that the persons responsible would be held accountable the back of your hand."

Wow! When was the last time you heard anyone in government speak with such direct honesty?

Mueller said the decision to release the prisoner "… makes a mockery of the emotions, passions and pathos of all those affected by the Lockerbie tragedy." Mueller recounted the personal items retrieved from the crash site, accusing MacAskill of not spending time there to gain a full awareness of the magnitude of the loss.

He also took MacAskill to task for not once seeking the opinion of the FBI or prosecutors in the U.S. and Scotland before making the decision. He has reason for being angry; Mueller led the Justice Department investigation and indictment of al Megrahi as an assistant attorney general.

So where is the American president in all of this? Barack Obama made his reaction known: "I think it was highly objectionable" and that using compassion as a reason was "a mistake."

Ooh.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs, reacting to the wild, flag-waving welcome al Megrahi got on his arrival in Tripoli, said it was "outrageous and disgusting."

Double ooh.

We're also told the president was in contact with the Libyan government requesting that al Megrahi not be welcomed and that he be placed under house arrest.

We see how effective and influential the U.S. president was in this matter.

Now, the British government is roiling under allegations that a deal was made with Libya involving oil and gas contracts and that original negotiations began with the Tony Blair government.

True or not, they also have to deal with a reported letter between Gordon Brown and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the bottom line being the release of al Megrahi. At this point, all those charges are being denied.

But as people are reminded of the horror of that bombing, the trial and now the consequences with the convicted murderer given a hero's welcome in Libya, voices are rising in anger.

But unfortunately, not enough of the right words are being heard from the United States and certainly, there's no real "outrage" expressed by the president.

Saying the release was "highly objectionable" and "a mistake" is about as weak as you can get. If that's the strongest emotion he can generate, expect to see more international footprints on his back as this administration continues. It smacks of appeasement, which never works.

FBI Director Robert Mueller told it like it is and used the "dreaded" but correct terminology: terrorists.

Will Obama demand that Mueller "recalibrate" those statements?

Will Obama ever have the courage to name our enemy?

The families of the Lockerbie dead are angry and appalled at the decision. The comments of two, as reported in the U.K. Daily Mail, are pointed.

Kara Weipz of New Jersey, whose 20-year-old brother, Rick, was one of those killed, questioned compassion being shown for someone with no remorse.

"I think he should have died in prison. Why should he be returned to Libya? That's not what we were promised. We were always told he would serve out his full sentence in Scotland."

Lesson: don't believe politicians and judges.

Paul Halsch's 31-year-old wife, Lorraine, was killed that day. He said he's "totally against" al Megrahi's release because "He murdered 270 people."

Then, Halsch added that he wanted al Megrahi " … returned from Scotland the same way my wife Lorraine was, and that would be in a box."

As FBI Director Mueller asked in his letter, "Where is the justice?"

None of those words need "recalibrating."