You remember this guy. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi murdered 270 people, most of them Americans, by bombing Pan-Am flight 103 in 1988. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison but served only 8 of them, thanks to a decision by the Scottish government to release him on “compassionate” grounds.

“Compassionate” grounds? Yes, because he was said to be dying of terminal prostate cancer. He had just three months to live, at most, and so the government decided the guy who murdered 270 people deserved to return home to Libya and die peacefully with his family present.

Later, information came to light suggesting the British government traded his freedom in exchange for oil deals with Libya — charges the government has denied. But former justice secretary Jack Straw later admitted the oil deals were at least a consideration. The doctor who made the cancer diagnosis? Paid for by the Libyan government.

Well, it’s about two years after that “compassionate” release, so the bastard should be long dead. He’s dead, right? Nope! He’s actually alive and well, currently employed as a propaganda asset for the Gaddafi government. He most recently appeared on state-run television at a pro-Gaddafi rally in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

Now the United Kingdom admits releasing Megrahi was a mistake, especially since his release was based upon such shaky grounds. Too late now, though, huh? Unless we forcefully seize him, we’ll never get Megrahi back. He’s gone and will spend the rest of his days living well, shilling for the man who paid him to kill 270 people.