I'm really glad that this article has appeared - albeit somewhat tardily. Albeit also in a somewhat sensationalist manner.

The idea that a stitch-up occurred is not, of course new, and the facts about the conflicting evidence, impossibilities and improbabilities of the accused being culpable have been the reasons for the movement for further investigation that has been on-going since the original trial. Originating from the victims relatives.

The father of one of the victims has been calling for a thorough investigation and stated in all his interviews that the reason he stood behind the release of the accused was because of all the evidence which proved - beyond reasonable doubt - that the original trial was a traversty.

I sought in vain for his measured and plausible voice in much of the Australian coverage and found it conspicuously absent. Many of the newsbites I saw in fact cut off his remarks once his support for the release of the prisoner had been broadcast.

Perhaps if I read this article with no knowledge or interest in the background of this intriguing story I might be inclined to dismiss it as smacking of the dreaded Conspiracy Theory.

Yet after seeing the way this whole incident has been portrayed in different media, it begins to look as though, if the content of this article is, indeed "news" to anyone, then a conspiracy has indeed taken place on behalf at least of media if not of government.

The single major flaw in this conspiracy is that the justices involved in the case have a reputation of independence from the state, and for being above reproach. On top of this to be accepted to the bench, one has to have a stellar and un blemished record.

Given that their options were Guilty, Not proven, and innocent, the inference is that they were either too stupid or corrupt to come to the correct conclusion.

The dropping of the appeal would have been a procedural issue, as it would be impossible to pursue from Libya. Likewise that Iran would have liked to be involved is not in dispute, and that there is a myriad cloud of other information there is no doubt.

If Megrahi did not have cancer, the appeal would have proceeded and a release would not have been an option. The assumption that the court would have come to a different conclusion will forever only be conjecture.

"600 pages of deliberately suppressed evidence"....now that's a good throw away line. It may be true and I'm not pretending to know one way or the other, but you can't make a statement like that, move on and draw a dramatic conclusion without some reference to support the statement. Unless you're talking to a fully informed audience.

John Pilger has his heart in the right place when arguing most of his causes, but unfortunately he also has a habit of making pretty dramatic all encompassing statements that can do his cause more harm than good.

Having recently read "Spycatcher", with its insight into the workings of the British government and secret service, I have no doubt that what John Pilger has written is the truth. We are continually being duped by our governments into believing the worst possible things about our so called enemies and while we have a gullible press, we will continue to live in an age of unenlightenment.

David

There are 761 US bases around the planet,while the Roman Empire had only 37.Most of these bases are located near oil production.Does that surprise anyone?

This Friday Sept 11 there will be a small gathering of Architects and Engineers at 11.00 am outside the ABC studios creating awareness for a new enquiry into 911.see http://www.ae911truth.org/

Our media is really being surpressed by both Govt and the Corporate sphere. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56KFHIq6KZM&feature=related This was shown on national Danish TV but will not be allowed to be viewed on our own ABC.