Two weeks ago, a Libyan intelligence agent, Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, who was serving a life term in Scotland for the destruction of an American airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, was released on compassionate grounds by Scotland's justice minister. Megrahi was dying of cancer. "Devolved" Scotland enjoys considerable autonomy from London in legal matters.

A huge international furor erupted that was rich in hypocrisy and double standards.

The US and the British governments and assorted politicians roared with moral indignation and blasted Scotland for releasing the dying Megrahi. His joyous reception on arriving home in Tripoli, led by Qaddafi's son Saif, poured fuel on the fires of western outrage.

Then came embarrassing revelations that the British government may have been applying subtle pressure on Scotland to release Megrahi in exchange for lucrative oil and arms deals with Libya. The Brits are well known for bending their own laws when it comes to big export contracts. Exhibit A: Tony Blair's quashing a major criminal investigation of bribery and kickbacks paid to the Saudis by Britain's largest arms exporter.

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