President Baraka Obama and numerous others have expressed their disgust at the hero's welcome for Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who was convicted of bombing the Pan Am flight that crashed in Lockerbie in 1988. While the U.S. is critical of Libyans, the American government also extended a hero's welcome to William C. Rogers III, who while being the second commanding officer of USS Vincennes in July 1988, shot down an Iranian Airbus near the Strait of Hormuz killing 290 civilians on board.
Independent inquiries, including evidence from commanding officers of other American ships in the Middle East at that time, revealed that the William C. Rogers III was a trigger happy naval commander, who violated many rules of engagement by shooting down a civilian plane.
When USS Vincennes returned to the United States after active duty in the Middle East, the U.S. government also extended a hero's welcome to William C. Rogers III and awarded him Combat Action Ribbon. To date, the U.S. government has not apologized to the families of the 290 victims, and despite paying monetary compensation, the American government admits no wrongdoing.
The Libyans are merely mimicking Americans by celebrating al-Megrahi's return, who to this day protests his innocence.
No comments:
Post a Comment