I Shall Be Released
A whole bunch of American politicians, from the President on down, Democrat and Republican, have denounced the decision to free the Lockerbie Bomber, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. He's got terminal cancer, and his Scottish jailers have let him go home out of compassion.
He was sentenced to 27 years for blowing up Pan Am Flight 103, flying from Heathrow to New York, in 1988. His actions led to 270 deaths. He'd served 8 years so far. He's received a hero's welcome in Tripoli (sickening) and still protests his innocence (many people believe the CIA was behind the explosion).
Whether or not he should be freed should make us ask why we incarcerate people to begin with. There are a number of reasons (punishment, retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, moral lesson) and obviously how you feel about them will determine how you feel about the actions of the Scottish authorities.
I have no trouble with his release. I'm not saying justice demands it, but it seems to me that Scotland is just recognizing he's already got a death sentence, which is more important than where he serves it out. I can't see him causing any more trouble. The main question is what effect will this have on deterrence for such criminals. I find it hard to believe that this act of lenience will give terrorists the green light--no one's going to think "hey, I can get out if I get so sick I'm gonna die." (Regarding those who think he's innocent, that's a separate problem that exists whether he's freed or not.)
Some feel compassion is not only wasted on such a terrible villain, but is downright immoral. That it cheapens the act of compassion itself. And that it spits in the eyes of the victims. But the victims (those living who lost loved ones) know he'll soon be gone, and he'll be remembered as a criminal (and, unfortunately, nothing will bring back those he murdered--if hurting him more would do that, I'd be in favor). As for compassion, the quality of mercy is not strained. If we can afford it to the lowest and the worst of us, how much easier will it be when we try to help others. And in doing such actions, we don't vindicate his evil, we separate ourselves from it.
posted by LAGuy @ 12:27 AM
3 Comments:
Good post but a couple other points are also relevant.
1. There are complaints that this action is taken further oil diplomacy- i.e to curry favor with Kadafi to further economic interests (allowing Kadafi to have the celebration at home)- Have no idea if this is true but if there is any, certainly it diminishes any sense of justice.
2. Those who claim Megrahi is not the right guy are not necessarily blaming the CIA/. Many think he is some fall guy for Kadafi (or at most a midlevel order-taker in the operation) and the Libyan State (who are the real criminals) Again letting their fall guy go back to a celebration seems to undermine (further) what little justice was obtained from Megrahi's protracted prosecution.
Regardless, it seems like a good decision on a moral basis to let him go-on practical basis., it benefits no one to lock up (and pay the end of life care for) a dying man. Understand the anger of the families of victims who were not given the benefit of a similar compassion but it never hurts to show humanity (as long as that is not in any translated as support or sympathy for his "cause")
It's always amazing to me that people make these arguments about the poor criminals; look how they're suffering, can't be punsished any more than dying already, for gosh sakes, etc.
And where are the arguments for the victims? Why, we don't have time or interest for that. Hell, we haven't heard from them for a couple of decades by the time we get around to the debate.
Separating ourselves from evil, eh? I'd say we're jumping into bed with it, all the while proclaiming our righteousness and compassion.
"I'm not saying justice demands it, but it seems to me that Scotland is just recognizing he's already got a death sentence, which is more important than where he serves it out."
We've all got a death sentence. The only thing that matters is where and how we serve it out. I'd have let him rot.
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