CALEDONIAN COMMENT

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is facing fresh questions about the release of the Lockerbie bomber after it emerged that he discussed with Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi (both pictured above, Brown looking like a dog’s breakfast, Gaddafi like an ageing rock star) detailed conditions for the convicted terrorist’s return to Libya nearly 6 weeks ago, while senior New Labour politicians warned of an economic backlash from angry Americans “costing our country dear”. No.10 Downing Street has released the text of a cordial letter sent to the Libyan leader on the day that Abdul Baset al-Megrahi was released, asking that the event be kept low key because a “high-profile” ceremony would distress his victims and their families. But critically the letter also refers to a meeting between the leaders 6 weeks earlier at the G8 summit in Italy, adding that “when we met I stressed that, should the Scottish government decide that Megrahi can be released, this should be a purely private family occasion rather than a public celebration”.

Previously officials have said that the 2 men’s conversation in Italy at the beginning of July was brief and that, while the Lockerbie case was raised, Brown merely stressed the matter was one for the Scottish government to decide. However, this new letter, addressed to “Dear Muammar” and signed off by wishing him a happy Ramadan (how nauseatingly politically correct), suggests that the decision was well enough advanced and Brown well enough briefed to set terms for a homecoming. And of course, like everything else Brown tries to organise, he made a balls of it – as evidenced by a jubilant Libyan crowd, some waving Scottish flags, greeted Megrahi at the airport in Tripoli – and Gaddafi greeting the murderer (above) on Libyan TV. This whole business stinks. While they blithely send brave soldiers to die abroad, is there any limit to how low our politicians will sink when it comes to appeasing terrorists in return for the illusion of “peace and reconcilliation” and the prospect of oil ? 

The favourite son of Colonel Gaddafi, who played a key role in Abdel Baset Al Megrahi’s release (pair pictured above), has bought a £10 million home in one of London’s wealthiest and most prestigious suburbs. The neo-Georgian 8-bedroomed property bought by Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in a secluded road in Hampstead, North London, boasts a swimming pool, sauna room, Jacuzzi and suede-lined cinema room where he will be able to monitor world events. The house even has an electrically operated rubbish store, which raises and lowers 8 bins into the ground before a steel plate folds over to hide them discreetly. Talking of garbage, I wonder if the politicians here who colluded in freeing a convicted murderer will be invited to the house-warming ? 

And yet another delusional New Labour politician. This time it’s Margaret Beckett (pictured above), the former Foreign Secretary, who has launched a nonsensical defence of MPs’ expenses, suggesting their lavish allowances are not generous enough. In a letter to Sir Christopher Kelly, the Whitehall official charged with overhauling the discredited system, she complains about the “thousands of pounds” MP’s have to shell out on prizes and donations for their constituents, and the hardships of having a grace-and-favour residence, which she enjoyed for 9 years. This crazy woman says ministers assigned the grand, taxpayer-funded apartments face a tax penalty and are forced to pay their own utility bills. Imagine – MP’s forced to pay tax and their own gas and electricity bills like the rest of us mere mortals. How can they be expected to survive ? What an arrogant, stupid bitch.

The incumbent President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai’s main political rival yesterday accused him of  “stealing” last week’s presidential vote by orchestrating a campaign of massive electoral fraud. In an withering attack on an election process that Afghanistan’s international backers are desperate should be seen as legitimate, Abdullah Abdullah (pictured above) pinned the blame on Karzai and his team for what he claimed were fraudulent results emerging from all over the country. So this is the “democracy” that our soldiers are dying for ? Looks like Karzai’s interpretation of how free elections should be organised is based on the methodology of George W Bush in 2000 rather than a proper electoral system.

Pictured above is an example of how NOT to approach wildlife. A keeper at Murchison Falls National park, Uganda, disturbed a hippo having its lunch. The 3-ton beast took exception and chased him off. Considering a hippo can achieve speeds of 30 miles per hour and the keeper survived to tell the tale, he did well ! Very well.

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 24th, 2009 at 12:03 am and is filed under Daily Posts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.