Freeing of Lockerbie bomber to hero’s welcome in Libya highlights Europe’s ignorance of Middle Eastern realities
I have frequently argued that it is not really possible to reach a proper understanding of Europe’s problem with Israel (and its appeasement strategies in the Middle East) without addressing the civilisational weakness which underpins it. The freeing of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi on “compassionate” grounds by the Scottish Justice Secretary highlights the problem in bold relief.
Let us leave aside the question of whether oil and other business concerns had a hand in the decision. They probably did, but this cannot be proved. Let us also put to rest the dissembling about whether al-Megrahi was guilty as charged. That was irrelevant. The decision to release him was made on the basis that he was in fact guilty.
Now let’s get to the core of what happened. The Scottish authorities released the greatest mass murderer in the history of the United Kingdom to a vile Middle Eastern tyranny which then sought to make political capital out of his release via a massive hero’s welcome back home. What does this tell you about Britain (and by extension Europe) and the Middle East?
The most important thing it tells you is that their approach to the Middle East is characterised by denial, naivety, insouciance and outright ignorance. From the foreign ministries down, these people have no clue what they are doing or who they are dealing with.
All the while, of course, they feel they are in position to pass judgment on Israel — a state which stares these regimes in the face and has no choice but to see Arab political culture for what it is.
But how exactly has it come to such a pass? It is not hard to understand the nature of the Arab world. It is not challenging, for example, to look at the opinion polls showing mass denial about who committed the attacks on 9/11. One only needs to consult freely available websites such as memri.org to recognise the deep-seated anti-Semitism or the conspiracy theories about western malevolence. Gaddafi’s Libya, to return to the country in question, is not a mystery.
The ignorance must, therefore, be self-imposed. But again, one must pause to ask the question: why?
I deal with all of this in my forthcoming book — A State Beyond the Pale: Europe’s Problem with Israel. In very brief summary, two points are worth making at this stage:
First, the post-colonial, multi-culturalist agenda which dominates the thinking of Europe’s opinion forming classes simply cannot deal with the notion that dark-skinned, formerly colonised peoples should be judged according to the same standards as everyone else. In effect, this is the racism-of- low-expectations paradigm and it plays a contributory role in the obvious double standards that are applied in addressing the Israelis on the one hand and the Palestinians and Arabs on the other.
Second, pacifism and relativism has combined to produce an approach to the Middle East where moral indignation is only brought forth where it is “safe” to do so. The thought of adopting a confrontational stance towards dozens of Arab dictatorships, many vital energy suppliers, has Europe quivering. In other words, it’s cowardice. Slating Israel is a cost free option. Telling the truth about Arab political culture might cost you your oil and gas contracts. Worse, it might “provoke” them.
As a result of all this, the realities of Arab political culture have been sanitised throughout the European media and across the continent’s foreign ministries. It is a form of self-censorship which has been necessitated in order to preserve the illusion of moral probity.
As the bumbling incompetence surrounding the release of al-Megrahi shows for all to see, sometimes those illusions come crashing down in front of us. This is a lesson we would do well to remember.
Tags: terrorism
August 21st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Another superb blog Robin. The authorities talk of “compassion” when the judgement is clearly and very heartlessly lacking in compassion for the relatives of the dead victims. Similar to the offering of great compassion for the “hopeless” suicide bombers in Israel, when little such compassion is offered to those who have their legs blown off for sitting in a cafe. A classic symptom of the Western liberal-left establishment - a self-image of compassion, and a reality of wilful ignorance and heartlessness, borne out of deep-seated prejudice.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:14 pm
You know what…perhaps reality is stranger than fiction here.
These arab countries rely on oil for everything so do you really believe they would be prepared to cut off their only source of income because Europe has criticised them?
Countries like Iran depend so much on oil that they cant risk affecting pretty much their sole source of foreign currency.
To me, the argument about not upsetting their oil supplies sounds more like the kind of argument a coward would make so as to justify their non-action.
Mailman
August 21st, 2009 at 2:39 pm
There was another Libyan story yesterday which I don’t think has received any attention in the English language press which gives an insight into the nature of the regime and which reinforces your point. In July 2008 Khadafi’s son Hannibal Khadafi and his wife, were arrested in Geneva for assaulting two hotel staff.
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=803790
As a result, Libya broke off diplomatic relations with Switzerland, imposed an oil embargo, cut off trade links and took two Swiss citizens hostage.
In return for a promise to get them released, the Swiss President had to go to Libya yesterday bend the knee and tender his apologies.
http://www.tdg.ch/actu/suisse/otages-reviendront-semaine-prochaine-declare-hans-rudolf-merz-2009-08-21
August 21st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Whilst I am highly sympathetic to most of the points above - I have deep misgivings about basing it around al-Megrahi’s conviction and release.
No jury, and held in another country, much “evidence” comically weak and withdrawn… behind the scenes horse trading - it goes on and on….
You do your own arguments a deep disservice by pivoting on this issue.
Robin Shepherd says: Thanks for your comments. But, as I say in the piece, the question of whether al-Megrahi’s conviction was safe or not is irrelevant. I have no idea and neither do you. The point is that he was released on compassionate grounds on the assumption that he was in fact guilty. The British authorities then completely dropped the ball in allowing Libya to turn it into a public relations coup. That is the central point at issue.
August 21st, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Very important piece. The naivety or self-imposed ignorance of the diplomatic classes is unbelievable. I saw David Miliband saying how upsetting it was to see this terrorist getting a hero’s welcome. Excuse me, Mr. Miliband. You mean you couldn’t foresee this? Obviously not the brightest star in the sky…
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:24 am
You think this story is bad-remember the release of Samir Kuntar to the Lebanese by Israel? For anyone who forgot, let me reiterate: Samir Kuntar is a Lebanese man, who along with a few other armed Palestinians, entered Israel, shot dead a border security guard and wounded another, then entered a civilian household with explosives, causing the mother to accidentally smother her infant while hiding, then dragged out the father and a young daughter (I believe 4 or 5) shot the father point blank in front of the daughter, then proceeded to smash the young girl’s skull in with the butt of his rifle. He was the longest serving prisoner in Israel (around 30 some odd years). After the devastating war Hezbollah brought on Israel and Lebanon, he was traded, along with some other prisoners and loads of Hezbollah fighters’ bodies, in exchange for the three bodies of Israeli soldiers (whose families did not even know if they were alive or dead up to that point). This man, Samir Kuntar, received a hero’s welcome upon coming back to Lebanon, complete with celebrations, festivities, and foreign dignitaries’ (i.e. Iran, Syria) congratulations. Comment: If an American or an Israeli ever went into a foreign country and brutally and intentionally murdered a 4 year old girl, we would never want back that sick of a monster…
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:40 am
I agree with all but one of the points you make in this article.
I suspect that in this case in particular the authorities made a deal to stop the appeal from going ahead. As mentioned in the comments by Tom there were simply too many suspicious circumstances surrounding the conviction. The origional leads in this case pointed in different directions and indicated very different suspects.
Your premise that Megrahi’s release was based on the belief that he was guilty may be flawed. I would have liked to see his appeal go ahead as his soliciters origionaly said it would. Some of the origional investigation findings and the reasons for the conclusions that were made should be made available for public scrutiny.
As for Gil’s comment, Samir Kuntar’s release and subsequent welcome barely made news anywhere except the arab states( all praise the returning hero) and Israel. Another disgraceful episode of anti-Israel bigotry in the MSM
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:08 pm
An excellent article and well-written analysis. I would add that whilst England and America are fuming at Megrahi’s release, they are all busy encouraging Israel to release Marwan Barghouti, jailed on a sentence of 5 life-terms for 5 despicable murders (amongst the hundreds he planned or perpetrated). As Mr. Shepherd and other commenters here have pointed out, what is sauce for the goose (the rest of the western world) is never sauce for the gander (Israel).
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
My son was one of the soldiers who risked their lives to capture Marwan Barghouti and bring him to justice. He did so for the sake of the families of Barghouti’s many victims whose only comfort was seeing the murderer of their loved ones being brought to fair trial. Western hypocracy and double standards are becoming increasingly dangerous. I totally agree with Robin’s analysis of the causes.
Robin- when is your book coming out and by which publisher? It sounds fascinating.
Robin Shepherd says: The book is formally published on September 10 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Thank you for your interest, and for sharing your experiences. FYI, the link about it on amazon is as follows:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/State-Beyond-Pale-Europes-Problem/dp/0297856642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251031067&sr=1-1
September 8th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I like the fact that you mentioned the “post-colonial agenda” and also made a point of using the phrase “dark-skinned”. Uttering the latter seems to be inexplicably taboo in modern European cultures, while the former is equally inexplicably hailed as justification for almost any excess.
I think too often Brits and perhaps other Europeans mistake gratuitous self-flagellation for progressiveness. It’s a shame because - while you blame this on cowardice - I’d say it’s often just down to overzealous empathy / guilt.