Demanding an Apology From the Government of Libya

Floor Speech

DEMANDING AN APOLOGY FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA -- (Senate - September 23, 2009)

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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I have a brief statement I would like to make about the resolution.

I rise today in support of S. Res. 253, a resolution condemning the release and vile welcome home celebration held for Libyan terrorist and convicted Lockerbie bomber, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi. I also express my sincere thanks and appreciation to my colleagues, Senators Lautenberg, Gillibrand, Webb, Voinovich, Cardin, Casey, McCaskill, Menendez, and Mikulski for agreeing to cosponsor this resolution.

Mr. President, it is upsetting that Libyan leader COL Muammar Qaddafi is in New York City at this very moment and will be given an opportunity to speak before the United Nations General Assembly. I am disappointed because I sympathize enormously with the families and victims of the deadly Pan Am terrorist attack who will be reminded of that deadly day in December almost 21 years ago when they see Qaddafi grandstanding at the U.N.

On December 21, 1998, Pan Am Flight 103, en route from London's Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, suddenly exploded over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 on board and 11 people on the ground. Many New Yorkers and New Jersey residents were among the 189 Americans killed in the bombing. A young man from my neighborhood, whose family was active in a neighboring parish--Our Lady Help of Christians--was killed in the bloom of his early life. That story could be repeated over and over because there were many students who were coming back from a program affiliated with Syracuse University. We know people all over New York State were lost, and many young college students.

In 2001, at least the families of the victims found some solace when justice appeared to have been delivered as Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. But to the shock of many people on both sides of the Atlantic, on August 20 of this year, the Scottish Government released al-Megrahi, who is currently suffering from prostate cancer and is predicted to have about 3 months to live. The Scottish Government claimed the release was a compassionate gesture given his failing health.

Upon his return, thousands of young men, who had been transported by the Libyan Government, gathered at the airport in Tripoli to greet the terrorist. They waved banners, threw flower petals after al-Megrahi was escorted from prison by Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, the son of COL Muammar Qaddafi. The hero's welcome Libya gave to this terrorist truly shocks the conscience and deserves a formal rebuke.

It is outrageous that the Libyan Government would so blatantly disregard the suffering the families have endured for more than two decades. S. Res. 253 demands the Government of Libya apologize for the gross homecoming celebration of al-Megrahi.

This resolution does three important things: First, it condemns the August 20, 2009, release from prison in Scotland of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the lone person convicted in connection with the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people; second, it condemns the lavish welcome home ceremony held in Tripoli to celebrate the release of al-Megrahi; and third, it calls on the Government of Libya to apologize for the public celebration of al-Megrahi's release.

Al-Megrahi only served 8 years in jail. He committed one of the most dastardly terrorist attacks that has been known in the last 100 years. Eight years later, the families haven't recuperated. They live with their losses every day, every minute. There is a hole in their hearts that will never heal. To release al-Megrahi is terrible; to celebrate the release of this awful terrorist is even worse. And for the world to remain silent, the U.N. not to condemn but to greet Qaddafi--strike three. It is an awful situation.

I call on the Senate to support S. Res. 253 condemning the release and the vile welcome home celebration. I hope all Senators will join us in cosponsoring the resolution. Murder and terrorism are not forgivable offenses, and refuge should never be offered to those determined to terrorize and murder the innocent. If we do so, we are encouraging future terrorists to repeat these awful crimes.

I yield the floor.

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