Lockerbie release

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Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, aka the Lockerbie bomber, is most probably going to be released and returned to Libya to die. He has little time left, having suffered from cancer for several years now. What intrigues me is why do British and US opinions vary so completely on this subject? In Britain, most people have grave doubts over his conviction. Yes, he was known to the British Secret Services but as an individual involved in Sanction-busting for the Libyan government, not as a terrorist. That said, he was convicted and that is a matter of record. Again, the majority here, possibly because of these doubts, believe that his release will be a humane and justified act by a western government (the Scottish one) befitting the UKs moral beliefs. In America, however, views are very different, with the majority believing that he should rot in prison. Fair enough, many US citizens were killed, including a number of young students from Syracuse. I have not yet heard any American citizens ask why the US government officers from Russia, several soldiers returning home to the USA and a couple of wealthy businessmen, all of whom were booked onto the flight, never boarded the plane. Coincidences can happen, but I feel that these are just too many people for it to be coincidence. Is it right for the US government to cherry pick who should die and who should not? Is a rich businessman worth more than a young student, who could be the next Gandhi, Hawkings or Obama? It seems very apparent that the US authorities were aware of an extreme risk to this particular flight. Wouldn't the vitriol that is often directed at al-Megrahi be better directed at the authorities for two reasons - 1/ If he is innocent (I acknowledge that this is an 'if') then the real guilty people are still at large, & 2/ the authorities for not sharing their concerns with the other people (particularly their own citizens) boarding the flight. That al-Mehrahis conviction paved the way for the UK and US to reopen relations with Libya and helped to bring Libya back in from the cold, which has indubitably made for a safer world, is irrefutable. But should this be at the expense of the truth, the name of one man and the secrecy of our authorities? This is not an attack on any ex-President, nor the USA, but I should like to understand the average American mindset upon this matter. So often, Brits and Yanks do agree, we share a language (almost) and visit each others countries for holidays, work and retirement, but on this matter we appear to be poles apart - I just want help understanding the opposite view. Thanks