Out of his depth

As such, Americans are perfectly entitled to be angry at the release, and the manner of the release, of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. It was a decision taken by novice Ministers in the inexperienced Scottish Government and it left Alex Salmond, the First Minister, looking totally out of his depth.

Mr Salmond's decision to write to US senators, a defensive measure after facing a whirlwind of criticism, has done little to resolve the controversy. His administration opposed the prisoner transfer agreement, or "deal in the desert", between Tony Blair and Muammar Gaddafi but, as al-Megrahi was not released under this, it misses the main issue: should someone convicted of such mass murder be entitled to release on compassionate grounds?

The SNP Government ducked this issue and will spend the rest of its time in office trying to explain itself. That al-Megrahi has lived so much longer than expected heaps yet more embarrassment on Mr Salmond and simply reflects the fact that medical diagnoses, from however distinguished a source, are just informed predictions rather than cast-iron guarantees.

The calls for an inquiry, both in the US and in Britain, are only going to grow despite David Cameron's hope that publishing all the documents related to al-Megrahi's release will draw a line under the affair. Amid the maelstrom of blame, however, a few facts still stand out. No document has so far proved a link between BP and the release of the bomber, despite the oil giant's undoubted zeal to do business in Libya, a plot to bring down a plane requires the connivance of more than just one man, and Gaddafi's regime remains a long way from being a respected part of the international community.

The handling of al-Megrahi's case has brought little good to anyone.