Somewhere, William Wallace is Weeping

The Scottish Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill (heh) decides that the interests of the 270 dead, and their survivors, matter less than the current suffering of the only man convicted in their deaths. But the decision wasn't really about Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, or his prostate cancer, it was about a politician and an attorney (surprise!) making a display, to the whole world, of his own moral splendor, his compassion and mercy shining like a peacock's feathers. Self righteousness, or to put it in Christian terms, pride, is at the heart of this . In this case, pride in his own compassion and mercy. Of course, that's assuming there isn't a Libyan oil money angle.

Another view, from Alan Black (who writes that al-Megrari is probably guilty, but convicted on marginally sufficient evidence) :

When the Libyan terrorist was accused, had the case been a regular one, the preponderance of evidence would likely have seen him walk, not proven. Much opinion was given to the security of the conviction at the time (many people thought Iran or Palestinian groups were involved.) Political pressure was enormous for a guilty verdict, and it was delivered, in a special court set up without a jury. Maybe the government feared the possibility of the third verdict. Had the suspect gone free, not proven, the desire for more investigation would have ratcheted up. Maybe another suspect would have been charged. Maybe not. One thing is for sure, the Libyan terrorist's burden of shame would have been meaningless in Libya. Like today, he would have been received as a hero.

The failure of the Scottish court to follow its own evidence standards has lead it to this shameful day. They made the bed. Now they have to lie in it. Coupled with Scottish isolation is the ridiculous nature of the nation's inferiority complex exhibited by the Scottish Justice minister in his television appearances. He preached to Wolf Blitzer on CNN like a Protestant minister delivering the self-righteous sermon in a dreary Scottish church. Ultimately, you can't rely on a country that isn't independent. Or a man who covers his weakness with the self-righteous cloak of phony principle. Scottish independence is needed immediately so that the current narrow form of Scottish nationalism can wither.

"When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities" said by David Hume, the 18th century Scottish Enlightenment philosopher.

Maybe the Justice Minister should have looked at his nation's greatest philosopher before letting the party begin in Libya.