SNP and BP = SNBP? A Libya and UK masterstroke?

[Thac0man]

Interesting twist this. US lawmakers are pushing for an inquiry into an oil deal between BP and Libya:

BBC News - Senators seek BP Lockerbie bomber probe

The allegation is that the UK, thats the Westminister government and the SNP, orchastrated the release of Libyian Al Magrahi, to secure a lucrative deal for BP in Libya.

No matter which way this goes someone is left swinging in the wind if all involved do not back each other up. The Torys, New Labour and the SNP all have knifes at each others throats and all will be keeping the others quiet. Salmond for once will have to shut up. All he can hope to achieve by being belicose is reinforcing the view that he and the SNP are stupid, having already been duped.

The SNP claimed to have acted on principle. Even here on P.ie that stance has been staunchly defended. But given evidence that has come to light the SNP are going to find it hard to justify their claims of acting on conscience. Even if they did, and I would not rule that out, their act itself may cover a deeper motive, one of oil contracts. In that the SNP has been taken for a ride and duped in spectacular fashion.

The UK government, after Tony Blairs 2004 visit to Col. Gadaffi, signed a prisoner exchange agreement which Al Magrahi was not excluded from. Media claims last night claim, without evidence, that BP lobbied for the inclusion of Al Magrahi under the agreement (or more succinctly his non-exclusion from it) and in exchange the UK stood to benefit from a windfall in Libyan drilling rights with hundreds of millions.

In all of this:

The SNP must defend itself and thus inadvertantly protect the deal. The integrity of the SNP is at stake.

The Whitehouse must defend the UK, as the UK has troops in joint operations worldwide with the US. House opposition have a green light to attack BP after the Gulf spill.

Those who defend Al Magrahi as innocent cannot probe top deeply either as they do not believe Al Magrahi was ever guilty. So if he was released whats the beef? According to them no one has done anything wrong.

This story breaks just after news that Al Magrahi may in fact live for another 10 years. Are Libyian docters that good or scottish ones simply that bad?

As for my own opinion, I think it is a political master stroke (taking aside any hollow moral judgement). Salmond and the SNP have been taken for a ride and paid for the privilage.

[Thac0man]

The Yanks are still 'expressing conern'. Here:

BBC News - Hillary Clinton raises Lockerbie bomber concerns

... but the SNP has finally reiterated its stance and is backing up its decision about Al-Megrahi. This may be a chance for the SNP to assert internationally Scottish self determination - but Pat Salmond seems to be unusually quiet (?). I draw no inference from his silence, but a more robust defence of the SNPs decision and more transparency of US claims would be most welcome at this point.

Salmond has a golden opportunity to 'slam dunk' the US senators, when Scottish men are dying in US led operations in Afghanistan.

[Thac0man]

A link to the SNPs denial of the US claims:

Scotland refutes claims of lobbying over Megrahi - Politics : news, world | euronews

Again the SNP are deploying statements rather than personalities to defend their decisions. It would be most helpful of Salmond was out front and a bit more vociferous in his defence of the SNPs decision.

[seanmacc]

Everybody in Scotland and the world outside the US believes al-Megrahi is innocent. Without sounding like a broken record, he was just a victim of British and U.S justice. Whenever something like the Lockerbie bombing, Birmingham Bombing, September 11 ect. happens, they need to get somebody for these things and are not fussy who it is. History has taught us this.

A lot of the Scottish families were even put on the record stating that they believed al-Megrahi to be innocent.

[Squire Allworthy]

Everybody in Scotland and the world outside the US believes al-Megrahi is innocent. Without sounding like a broken record, he was just a victim of British and U.S justice. Whenever something like the Lockerbie bombing, Birmingham Bombing, September 11 ect. happens, they need to get somebody for these things and are not fussy who it is. History has taught us this.

A lot of the Scottish families were even put on the record stating that they believed al-Megrahi to be innocent.

True he most likely was innocent and as you say a guilty person had to be found.

It is interesting to look at how European versus American interests are developing in this and nearby regions. The Europeans generally are playing a much cleverer game. Consider the actions of France and its pronouncements about the Mediterranean, The UK and the expansion of the EU, Germany's approach to Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Countering that is the American policy of mayhem. Now there are those who consider the greatest friend the US has is the Islamic extremists. These people simply destabilise. They have few friends in the region. They set nation against nation and colour relations between the EU and surrounding states

So question is who is financing them and why oh why does so much of that finance seem to come through Saudi? Who gains?

I think we in Europe need to fundamentally reconsider our relationship with the US ( I am sure it is happening) and some of the hostile press coverage that Obama is now receiving in Europe is a reflection of shifts in that relationship.

[Sync]

The SNP claimed to have acted on principle. Even here on P.ie that stance has been staunchly defended. But given evidence that has come to light the SNP are going to find it hard to justify their claims of acting on conscience. Even if they did, and I would not rule that out, their act itself may cover a deeper motive, one of oil contracts. In that the SNP has been taken for a ride and duped in spectacular fashion.

What evidence are you talking about? None of the links you've provided show a shred of evidence to suggest that the SNP haven't acted on their conscience.

[Thac0man]

What evidence are you talking about? None of the links you've provided show a shred of evidence to suggest that the SNP haven't acted on their conscience.

I never claimed, in this thread at least, they did otherwise. I would also point out that the lack of evidence of BP and SNP collusion is also alluded to in my above posts. Two days ago Channel 4 news was reporting that BP made representations in the Prisoner exchange agreement between Libya and Scotland. Two days later they seem to have lost the evidence to back that up.

But I will repeat, I find it strange that the camera licking sound bite spouting firebrand Salmond is nowhere to be seen. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy and his party, its just the frankly mawkish opportunism that is attached to him by P.ie posters is strangly absent aswell. No Scottish minister involved is putting the necks out in front of this. But none the less both BP and the SNP are at worst being strung together so a few US senators an fling mud. But with an enquiry underway it way toearly to dismiss alledged BP interferance in the Al-Megrahi affair. Al-Megrahi innocene or otherwise is not the issue either. This affair, at a few levels, is politics. Interesting to see who on P.ie excuses themselves from engagement.

[bananarepublic.ie]

BP is not the only company is doing business with Libya. Exxon and Chevron
is doing business, it is 100% pure redneck american company. Why dont they senators shout at Exxon and Chevron?

Who would here any body believe Exxon and Chevron are 100% Christian valued and caring companies? Its only beggers belief any oil company doing business with dictatorial regimes (Saudi, Burma and Libya) are not bending rules or granting wish of their regimes. Shame!!

This utter stupidness, there is mid-term election yankee land so every Tom and Dicky senator want grab headlines by shouting at BP. I am not big fan any OIL company but sheer dumbness of people really pisses me off.

Two weeks from now BP name completely wiped out from headlines its shares will raise again. Move along..

[Thac0man]

BP is not the only company is doing business with Libya. Exxon and Chevron
is doing business, it is 100% pure redneck american company. Why dont they senators shout at Exxon and Chevron?

Closer to home (US that is) the blow-out preventer that failed to stop the Gulf spill was provided by Haliburton I believe. The Deep Horizon rig itself was owned and run by another American concern.

[liamfoley]

Everybody in Scotland and the world outside the US believes al-Megrahi is innocent. Without sounding like a broken record, he was just a victim of British and U.S justice. Whenever something like the Lockerbie bombing, Birmingham Bombing, September 11 ect. happens, they need to get somebody for these things and are not fussy who it is. History has taught us this.

A lot of the Scottish families were even put on the record stating that they believed al-Megrahi to be innocent.

Well if they THINK he is innocent then it's obvious, he must be. Odd that a man that 12 months ago had 3 months to live is getting better. must be the Libyan healthcare system and all that Mediterranean air?