AND WHAT WILL WE DO? - AT 7:55 A.M. ET:  From The Times of London:

Libya is set to flaunt the Lockerbie bomber’s release at the climax of today’s celebrations marking Colonel Muammar Qaddafi's 40 years in power.

The Times of London gained access last night to the dress rehearsal of a spectacular two-hour show which extols Colonel Qaddafi for reviving his country and restoring Arab pride. As the finale approaches, the screen at the back of the giant stage in Tripoli’s Green Square shows Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi stepping off the plane which brought him home from his Scottish prison two weeks ago. His arms are raised aloft by Colonel Qaddafi’s son, Saif, as he acknowledges the joyful reception from the crowd below.

Unless it is cut out at the last minute, the clip’s inclusion seems almost calculated to provoke the West.

No word yet from Libya on whether the great finale will go off as rehearsed.  If so, it would be sickening in the extreme.

So far the Obamans have shown only a kind of proper objection to the release of the Lockerbie bomber.  Nothing too strong, no frowning that would be improper in Ivy League circles.  Must not disturb the "outreach" to the Muslim world.

But if this ceremony is done the way the London Times describes, we simply must raise our protest to the highest level, no matter who is offended or annoyed.  The American people, already sensing that the man in the White House is a wimp, will demand it.

September 1, 2009