FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: March 24th
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Cruachan - The Living and The Dead
  • Elles Bailey - The Caves, Edinburgh
  • Knowing Your Shit... 2022 In Review
  • King Kraken - MCLXXX
  • Hayley Griffiths (February 2023)
  • Steve Hill (January 2023)
  • WinterStorm 2023 - Legends and Legacies Announcement
  • 2023 Reviews
  • 2023 Featured Album Reviews
    • Heavy Metal Kids - The Albums 1974-1976
    • Anchor Lane - Call This a Reality?
    • Doomsday Outlaw - Damaged Goods
    • Hayley Griffiths - Far From Here Hayley Griffiths Band - MELANIE
  • 2022 Reviews
  • 2022 Featured Album Reviews
    • Moon City Masters - The Famous Moon City Masters
    • Steve Hill - Dear Illusion
    • Kira Mac - Chaos is Calling
    • EBB - Mad & Killing Time
    • The Commoners - Find A Better Way
    • Rebecca Downes - The Space Between Us
    • Erja Lyytinen - Waiting For The Daylight
    • Chris Antonik - Morningstar
    • The Milk Men - Spin The Bottle
    • SiX BY SiX - SiX BY SiX
    • Jeff Berlin - Jack Songs
    • Keef Hartley Band - Sinnin' For You The Albums 1969-1973
    • Toby Lee - Icons Vol.1
    • Montrose - I Got The Fire : Complete Recordings 1973-1976
    • Orianthi - Live From Hollywood
    • Valeriy Stepanov Fusion Project - Album No. 2
    • Dan Reed Network - Let's Hear It For The King
    • Ali Ferguson - The Contemplative Power Of Water
    • Edgar Winter - Brother Johnny
    • Joe Satriani - The Elephants Of Mars
    • Dave Cureton - State Of Mind
    • Larry McCray - Blues Without You
    • Tears for Fears - Tipping Point
    • Kris Barras Band - Death Valley Paradise
    • Dan Patlansky - Shelter of Bones
    • Black Lakes - For All We've Left Behind
    • Wille & The Bandits - When The World Stood Still
    • LALU - Paint the Sky
    • Various Artists - Revolt Into Style 1979
  • 2021 Reviews
  • 2021 Featured Album Reviews
    • Dave Bainbridge - To The Far Away
    • Lachy Doley - Studios 301 Sessions
    • Mark Pontin Group - Kaleidoscope
    • The Mentulls - Recipe For Change
    • Plush - Plush
    • Wayward Sons - Even Up the Score
    • Pat Metheny - Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)
    • Steve Hackett - Surrender Of Silence
    • Sweet Crisis - Tricks On My Mind
    • Amanda Lehmann - Innocence and Illusion
    • Chantel McGregor - Shed Sessions Volume One & Volume Two
    • Troy Redfern ...The Fire Cosmic!
    • NWOCR - Volume One
    • Jeff Kollman - East of Heaven
    • The Damn Truth - Now Or Nowhere
    • Dennis DeYoung - 26 East Vol 2
    • Mark Lettieri - Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol 2
    • Reach - The Promise Of a LIfe
    • Jane Getter Premonition - Anomalia
    • Mason Hill - Against The Wall
    • Lyle Workman - Uncommon Measures
    • Robert Berry - 3.2 : Third Impression
    • Lifesigns - Altitude
    • Jason Bieler and The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - Songs For The Apocalypse
  • 2020 Reviews
  • 2020 Featured Album Reviews
    • McCartney III
    • Gary Barlow - Music Played By Humans
    • Storm Warning - Different Horizons
    • Reb Beach - A View From The Inside
    • Lykantropi - Tales To Be Told
    • King King - Maverick
    • Jakko M Jakszyk - Secrets & Lies
    • Blue Öyster Cult - The Symbol Remains
    • Fish - Weltschmerz
    • Dyble Longdon - Between A Breath And A Breath
    • Jim Kirkpatrick - Ballad of a Prodigal Son
    • Abel Ganz - The Life of the Honey Bee & Other Moments of Clarity
    • Toby and the Whole Truth - Ignorance is Bliss (25th Anniversary Edition)
    • Everyday Heroes - A Tale of Sin & Sorrow
    • Skintrade - The Show Must Go On
    • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Last Light on the Highway
    • Pat Metheny - From This Place
    • Anchor Lane - Casino
  • Selected 2023 Gig Reviews...
    • The Wilson Brothers - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
  • Selected 2022 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender - Troon
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Paul McCartney - Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury 2022
    • Daryl Hall - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Eric Gales - Oran Mor, Glasgow
  • Selected 2021 Gig Reviews...
    • Sweet - The Garage, Glasgow
    • The Damn Truth - Now Or Nowhere Record Release Experiment Live
    • Anchor Lane - Lockdown Live, DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Laurence Jones - Live From Camden, Powerhaus, London
    • Joe Bonamassa - Austin City Limits, Live Stream
    • Todd Rundgren - Clearly Human Virtual Tour, "Pittsburgh"
  • Selected 2020 Gig Reviews...
    • Jared James Nichols - Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Oscar Cordoba Band - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes Band - The Ice Box, Glasgow
    • Ben Poole Trio - Room 2, Glasgow
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Aristocrats - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Fat Suit - Drygate, Glasgow
    • Francis Dunnery's It Bites - St Lukes, Glasgow
  • Selected 2019 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender IV - Troon
    • Hawkwind - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Opeth - SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice 'N' Sleazy Glasgow
    • Anchor Lane - G2, Glasgow
    • Stray - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Danny Bryant - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Talon - Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow
    • Lifesigns - Smiles of Musical Travel
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 3 - featuring Rattlesnake Tattoo, Prestwick
    • Chantel McGregor - Hard Rock Cafe Glasgow
    • Pete Way Band - Customs House Hotel, Greenock
    • Raintown and Katee Kross - Village Theatre, East Kilbride
    • Danny Vaughn - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • NR Rocks 2019 - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Arran Rock 'N' Blues Fest 2019
    • Cheap Trick - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • The Blind Lemon Gators - Tolboth, Stirling
  • Muirsical Conversations...
    • Rebecca Downes (December 2022)
    • Chris Antonik (November 2022)
    • Pat Travers (October 2022)
    • Robert Berry (August 2022)
    • JW-Jones (August 2022)
    • Mike Ross (July 2022)
    • Dan Patlansky - March 2022
    • Bernie Marsden (December 2021)
    • Robin George (November 2021)
    • Dennis DeYoung (June 2021)
    • Robert Berry (March 2021)
    • Dan Reed (February 2021)
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
    • Barbara Rubin (July 2010)
    • Alan Reed (June 2010)
  • FabricationsHQ Q&As With...
    • Jeff Kollman - August 2021
    • Lyle Workman (March 2021)
    • Jason Bieler (February 2021)
    • Félix Rabin (February 2020)
    • Chantel McGregor (August 2019)
    • Greig Taylor (July 2019)
    • Adam Norsworthy (June 2019)
    • Erja Lyytinen (March 2019)
  • Muirsical Articles...
    • 2019AB?
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Home of a Ramblin' Band (Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum)
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • KISS - Elder Statesmen, Elder Statement?
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings...
    • A Writer's Muirsings: Introduction
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Finger Pointing

Nearly one year on from the release of "The Lockerbie Bomber" Abdelbaset Ali al-Mugrahi by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, the story was back in the news.

But not just because Megrahi was still alive (having been given an estimated three months to live just prior to his release back home to Libya).
It also relates to the fact that in July 2010 a number of United States Senators started asking for an enquiry into whether BP had any involvement or influence over the release, in effect trading "justice for oil deals." 

BP are a topical and easy target, being under both the public eye and political hammer after the oil spill disaster at the Deepwater Horizon Rig off the American Gulf Coast. 
Let's make no mistake, it was a disaster, with thousands of square miles of sea, shoreline and natural wildlife affected. Local communities and livelihoods suffered in the wake of the accident.
I fully understand the negative, and in some places hostile, attitude towards BP.
And, as regards the spill, fingers should be pointed at BP, but some of those fingers need to be pointed elsewhere.

BP is 39% owned by American Investors and, although the Deepwater Horizon rig is leased to BP, it is owned by Transocean and was run by American management. The blowout valve that failed was manufactured and supplied by an American company (but possibly sub-contracted).
Although the rig was regarded as having a strong safety record overall there were failures in procedures and documentation.
If all equipment and related documentation was as it should have been, it's quite possible the tragedy could have been averted
 – a tragedy that cost he lives of 11 rig workers, sadly forgotten in amongst all the finger pointing. 

As regards BP of having anything to do with the Megrahi release?
They did lobby the British Government in 2007 when London and Tripoli were negotiating a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) but I find it extremely unlikely that BP had any influence in the release, which was on compassionate grounds, not a PTA.
But then it's also extremely unlikely all the facts of the Lockerbie Disaster will ever be known or disclosed. 
But there are those that are still trying to obtain just that.

I, along with a good friend of mine (members of what we term The Vocal Minority), would have written to the Senators ourselves in this matter (we have written letters to many in officialdom regarding the Lockerbie Disaster) but as it happens we didn't have to.
Because someone directly affected by the tragedy and far more knowledgeable on the subject than us did.

Dr Jim Swire lost his daughter to that horrifying 1988 event and since that time has become a spokesperson and key member of the 'UK Families-Flight 103' group.
He continues to enquire after the truth, much as the Senators are now doing.
Dr Swires wrote an open letter to Senator John Kerry in July and put a number of points and observations across that the Senators may be better served pursuing, rather than enquiring into the circumstances surrounding Megrahi's release.

I agree with the continued pressure for a full enquiry and a reopening of the entire case from disaster to conviction, but that may be difficult.
The British Government will see no reason to revisit what was an investigation that led to a conviction and the file now has what amounts to a 'case closed never to be opened' sticker on it.

Interestingly however, after First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond declined an invitation from the Senators to answer questions about Megrahi's release, he did make all documentation in the Scottish Government's possession available.
Something the British and U.S. Governments have yet to do.

Prime Minister David Cameron was happier reiterating his 2009 comments (when he was opposition leader) that he felt the release was the "wrong decision."
Interesting he just happened to be banging on about that while he was in the United States meeting, amongst others, President Obama, Wall Street CEO's (to discuss more trade and investment with the UK) and the four New York & New Jersey Senators who are pressing for a new investigation into Mugrahi's release.

Labour's David Miliband sang the same song and pointed the same finger at Alex Salmond and Kenny MacAskill, but seemingly failed to remember that in 2009 he stated that he felt (foreign) relations would be better served if Megrahi died in Libya and not a Scottish Prison.

Jack Straw, Labour's Minister of Justice, originally denied there was any pressure put on the Scottish Justice Secretary from Westminster by the Labour Government of the time. He was later found to have made comments similar to Miliband's.
It's possible no pressure was ever put on Kenny MacAskill from such sources (just as the Justice Secretary has always claimed), but those political comments could clearly influence a decision.

I'm not just one of the many that would welcome a reopening of the case, I'm also one of the many, certainly in my own country, that believes Megrahi was innocent of the crime he was sentenced to life imprisonment for.
 
But to try and find the truth of the matter and how it all became such a geo-political mess, the Senators would need to enquire into the history of the tragedy and the subsequent investigation.
And that would mean going back some six months before Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie...

On July 3rd 1988 Iran Air Flight 655, a commercial flight operated by Iran Air flying from Bandar Abbas in Iran to Dubai, was shot down by the US Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes between Bandar Abbas and Dubai, killing all 290 passengers and crew aboard.
The Vincennes, under the command of Captain William C. Rogers III, had been moved to the area after the April 14th mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts by Iranian forces. Roberts had been operating in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Earnest Will, the effort to protect Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War. There's that word "oil" again.

Only part of the official account has ever been released and the event triggered an intense controversy.
While President George H. W. Bush defended the actions by declaring that the shoot-down had been a wartime incident and that the crew of the Vincennes acted appropriately to the situation at the time, Iran countered by condemning the shoot-down as a "barbaric act."
Iran also vowed that the skies would "rain blood" and, nearly six months later, they did.

On December 21st 1988 Pan Am Flight 103, heading to New York from London Heathrow, exploded over Lockerbie killing all 259 people on board and another 11 on the ground from impact damage.
The British and American governments initially blamed the PFLP-GC, a Palestinian militant group backed by Syria, with assumptions of assistance from Iran in retaliation for Iran Air Flight 655.
However, although an Iranian group had claimed responsibility, it was later determined that the cause of the crash was a bomb associated with the Libyan intelligence service, which subsequently lead to the incarceration of 
Abdelbaset Ali al-Mugrahi in 2001.

At the time of the tragedy Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had the Dumfries and Galloway Police (the UK's smallest police force) conduct the investigation, yet the anti-terrorist branch of The Metropolitan police had discovered a break-in at Heathrow airport the night before Lockerbie.
It is believed the break-in gave the untraced intruder access to the Iran Air facilities, close to where bags were loaded for Pan Am 103.
This information was never presented during the Megrahi trial, only becoming known after the verdict had been reached.

Information presented at the trial included testimony (which became the primary convicting evidence) from Tony Gauci, a clothes shop proprietor in Malta.
Gauci had seemingly sold clothes to Megrahi and these clothes linked the Libyan to the "improvised explosive device" that brought down Flight 103.
Yet doubt soon arose as to Gauci's statements, certainty and surety.

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission would later find that Gauci had been paid $2 million for testifying and his brother Paul had received $1 million from the US Department of Justice under the Rewards for Justice programme.
In August 2009, around the time Megrahi was being released, the BBC reported that Gauci had relocated to Australia.

Whether you believe the decision that started all the recent finger pointing to have been the right decision or the wrong one, the fact remains that Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. And all within Scottish Governmental law and due process.
 
And should this case ever be reopened, the Senators and everyone else will probably find the answers (should they ever be forthcoming or disclosed), and fingers, point both a few hundred and a few thousand miles away from the Scottish Government, BP, and a dying man in Libya.

Ross Muir
July 2010
Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved