Hypocrisy from the States is stunning

Sep 9 2009 Dumfries Standard Wednesday

Sir – As a long-term employee in the oil and gas industry, having worked in various locations around the world including Libya, I would like to pose a few points for all and sundry to ponder.

When I worked in Libya several years ago many locals were, at that time, quite adamant that Mr al-Megrahi would someday return to Libya – they have been proved right.

Some went as far as to say they were sorry for the death of non-Americans on the doomed flight, but not necessarily for the American fatalities.

Within the oil and gas industry wherever you go the Americans are very rarely the “flavour of the month”. They are considered by several nations as, domineering, gung-ho, patronising and wanting to be the “World Police” with everyone considered to be subservient to them. They, along with our own government, do not seem able to accept that modern Western style democracy will not work and will never be accepted in the majority of these culturally different countries, no matter how it is tried to be enforced.

At the time of working in Libya, no Americans were allowed into the country for any involvement within the oil and gas industry (Canadians were ok).

However, when the trade doors were opened a few years ago, the Americans were quickly on the ground with their dollars and this had a knock-on effect on British and European ex-pat contracts and wages, effectively reducing some contractor wages by 30-40 per cent, in some cases literally overnight, if contracts were up for renewal.

With reference to the release of the Lockerbie bomber, I simply find it difficult to believe that all politicians are expressing shock horror at the reception Mr al-Megrahi received on his return to Tripoli.

Are they so naive that they did not expect this? What about the advice from their so-called Arab/North African /terrorist experts who, if they have had any extensive practical exposure to these cultures, would have been able to advise the UK governments that this would be the case on his release and return?

The man is a national hero in the eyes of the average Libyan and always has been considered as such.

There is a lot of noise coming from across the water about the release of the Lockerbie bomber and what restrictions some Americans would like to see imposed on the UK, Scotland in particular, but nowhere have I seen or heard any suggestion that America should withdraw all its labour force and cancel trade, particularly oil and gas contracts, with immediate effect, with Libya.

Hypocrisy or what??