It appears it was “in the cards“:

Gordon Brown faced fresh questions tonight after it emerged that he discussed with Colonel Gaddafi detailed conditions for the Lockerbie bomber’s return nearly six weeks ago, while senior Labour figures warned of an economic backlash from angry Americans “costing our country dear”.

Downing Street released the text of a cordial letter sent to the Libyan leader on the day that Abdulbaset al-Megrahi was released, asking that the event be kept low key because a “high-profile” ceremony would distress his victims and their families.

But critically the letter also refers to a meeting between the two leaders six weeks earlier at the G8 summit in Italy, adding that “when we met [there] I stressed that, should the Scottish executive decide that Megrahi can return to Libya, this should be a purely private family occasion” rather than a public celebration.

Previously officials have said that the two men’s conversation in Italy at the beginning of July was brief and that, while the Lockerbie case was raised, Brown merely stressed the matter was one for the Scottish government to decide.

However, the new letter, addressed to “Dear Muammar” and signed off by wishing him a happy Ramadan, suggests that the decision was well enough advanced and Brown well enough briefed to set terms for a homecoming – albeit unsuccessfully. A jubilant Libyan crowd, some waving Scottish flags, greeted Megrahi at the airport.

Meanwhile, details emerged of a second letter written by the Foreign Office minister Ivan Lewis to the Scottish justice minister, Kenny MacAskill, confirming that there were no legal reasons not to let Megrahi go and concluding: “I hope on this basis you will now feel able to consider the Libyan application.”

John Bolton appearing on Fox News said that he believed that this was really a decision between Britain and Libya over a commerce deal with Muammar al-Qaddafi. He continued to rightly point out that the Clinton administration deferred to the Scotts to prosecute Al-Megrahi, which was significant because if he had been prosecuted here he would have most likely received the death penalty.

Greta brought up a great point though that since Scotland released him, we could try him – it would not be double-jeopardy. Nice thought but we can bet that Qaddafi won’t give his new trophy prize up, and two he wouldn’t live through the trial.

In any case Gordon Brown has some explaining to do.

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