Oops, we shouldn't have let him go.
That's what the new British Prime Minister is expected to tell President Obama when he makes his first official visit to Washington, D.C., where he will discuss BP and the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.
PM David Cameron will tell Obama the convicted terrorist's early release was "wrong," according to London's Telegraph, but the newly elected Tory will point the blame squarely on Scotland and the previous Gordon Brown's administration.
"The Prime Minister's view is that the decision to release Megrahi was wrong and he deeply regrets the pain that his release has caused," a spokesman said. "However, it was a decision for the Scottish Executive alone."
But reports suggest Cameron will stress to the President that the current British administration had nothing to do with the decision, and he will also insist that a deal with BP was not a factor.
"On the issue of links between BP and the release of Megrahi, the Foreign Secretary has made very clear that there is no evidence to support these claims," the spokesman told the Telegraph.
The spill in the Gulf of Mexico had already strained relations with the United Kingdom over the last month, as United States officials have lambasted the oil giant, forcing British officials to defend the company.
Now, with the added controversy over the questionable early release of the Libyan terrorist, matters have become more complicated.
Over the weekend, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called for an investigation into BP and its role in al-Megrahi's release. BP has admitted lobbying the British government to speed up a prisoner exchange with Libya, but denied pushing for the bomber's release.
"BP wanted access to Libya's oil fields. Libya wanted Megrahi back," Schumer said. "This hardly seems like a coincidence."
A Congressional investigation could target specific British officials, including Tony Blair, London's Daily Mail reports, but it is unclear whether any officials from London or Scotland would make the trip to D.C. in order to testify. A similar investigation is expected to be conducted in England.
Scottish officials granted al-Megrahi's release in August on "compassionate" grounds, as the terror bomber was expected to live only a few months due to prostate cancer.
Nearly a year later, he is reportedly doing well, now living happily in Libya.
msheridan@nydailynews.com; or follow him at Twitter.com/NYDNSheridan
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/07/19/2010-07-19_british_prime_minister_cameron_to_tell_president_obama_release_of_lockerbie_bomb.html#ixzz0uAuxO1cs
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