The Scottish government released Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, responsible for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 that left 269 people dead, back in August 2009 supposedly on “compassionate” grounds. You see, the official story from our friends in the UK was that al-Megrahi had been diagnosed with cancer and had just weeks to live.

But as the Times of London reported just days after the release:

The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.

Gordon Brown’s government made the decision after discussions between Libya and BP over a multi-million-pound oil exploration deal had hit difficulties. These were resolved soon afterwards.

The letters were sent two years ago by Jack Straw, the justice secretary, to Kenny MacAskill, his counterpart in Scotland, who has been widely criticised for taking the formal decision to permit Megrahi’s release.

The correspondence makes it plain that the key decision to include Megrahi in a deal with Libya to allow prisoners to return home was, in fact, taken in London for British national interests.

Translation: The mass-murdering terrorist was released in exchange for oil contracts between the United Kingdom and Libya. The Scottish government and London strongly denied the report, insisting al-Megrahi was honestly sick and on the verge of death.

Well, it’s now April 2010 — about eight months after his release. How’s that son of a bitch doing? Why, just fine, thank you. In fact, he’s celebrating his birthday after making a remarkable recovery.

The Lockerbie bomber celebrated his 58th birthday on Thursday at a Libyan mansion, defying the imminent death Scottish officials predicted when they compassionately freed him from prison nearly eight months ago.

The thought of Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi partying with family and friends – reportedly thanking God for his survival – left his victims’ loved ones sick to their stomachs.

“It’s absolutely despicable. It’s horrific because my daughter had only 20 birthdays,” said Susan Cohen of Cape May, N.J.

Cohen’s daughter, Theodora, a student at Syracuse University, was among 270 killed Dec. 21, 1988, when Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland.

And now for the gold:

“Since returning to the love of family and friends, he has made a remarkable recovery,” a diplomatic source told the (London) Daily Mail.

Amazing! This mass-murdering individual diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer has made a remarkable recovery after being sent back to Libya, where he was greeted like a king and celebrated for his act of terrorism that left 269 people dead.

And meanwhile, on a completely unrelated note I’m sure, the United Kingdom’s oil contract difficulties have been resolved and everything’s fine and dandy between Libya and BP. Again, completely unrelated to the release of a prominent Libyan terrorist who has suddenly made a remarkable recovery from terminal prostate cancer.