MSNBC "The Rachel Maddow Show" - Transcript

Interview

MSNBC "The Rachel Maddow Show" - Transcript

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STEWART: Now, that agreement was brokered in 2007, the same year that British Petroleum finalized a $900 million exploration deal with Libya. Did the British government put pressure on Scotland to release al Megrahi to clear the way for oil deals?

Joining us now is Democratic Senator Ben Cardin from Maryland. He sits on the foreign relations committee and is the chairman of the homeland security and terrorism subcommittee of the judiciary committee.

Senator Cardin, thank you so much for being with us tonight.

SEN. BEN CARDIN (D) MARYLAND: My pleasure.

STEWART: There are a lot of difficult aspects to this story—victim‘s rights, the release of a terrorist, money as a motive. What bothers you the most about the release of al Megrahi?

CARDIN: Well, bottom line, this is a terrorist who showed no compassion for the hundreds of victims that were killed as a result of his terrorist activities. And now, the Scottish government released him for humanitarian reasons.

It makes no sense. It‘s outrageous. It should never have been done.

We then watch him get a hero‘s welcome on his return to Libya. This is outrageous. And now, with the additional information coming out about economic oil deals between Great Britain and Libya, it just raises questions and it‘s certainly very troublesome.

STEWART: Do you think the decision to release al Megrahi was politically or financially motivated?

CARDIN: I know it was wrong. I don‘t know whether it was politically-motivated or financially-motivated. It should never have happened.

The United States expressed our strong views about this. We certainly want the Scottish government to do a complete investigation to find out what happened here. As to whether their justice system was compromised, I think the international community and the United States has a right to know that.

But, right now, all we know is that someone who should never have been released after just eight years of his prison sentence is back in Libya.

STEWART: Senator, you‘re quoted in “The Independence” as saying, quote, “I think it‘s very serious and I think there should be consequences.” What kind of consequences do you think there should be and for whom?

CARDIN: Well, the consequences I was referring to was between—was with Libya. The United States has many bilateral issues between Libya and our country. I think there should be consequences based upon not just the release but the manner in which Libya welcomed back this terrorist.

STEWART: Well, let me pose this question to you. You know, just last year, the U.S. secretary of state was on a friendly-ish visit to Libya. Libya destroyed its WMD. It‘s reportedly helped the U.S. with certain terrorists and counterterrorism efforts.

A U.K. columnist posed this issue. It said, you know, is it better to have a reasonable trading partner in Libya rather than let the country revert back to its old profile of a terrorist haven? Is there any validity to that argument?

CARDIN: Well, we certainly don‘t want them to revert back to how they used to be. But maybe that‘s exactly what‘s happening. Their conduct in walking back as terrorists certainly raises a lot of questions.

No, we want Libya to continue its progression away from terrorist activities or support of terrorist activities, and that‘s a major objective of U.S. policy. But you just can‘t ignore what happened here. This is just outrageous.

STEWART: Does this release Megrahi have potential to strain U.S./British relations?

CARDIN: I don‘t think so. I think that there‘s a lot of questions that need to be answered, particularly with the Scottish authorities as to how they acted. But our relationship with England is substantial and solid. I don‘t expect this to affect that relationship, but I do think there needs to be answers.

STEWART: You used the word “substantial.” And I‘m wondering what the United States can do that would be substantial—what kind of response?

CARDIN: To Libya? I mean, there‘s a lot on the diplomatic side. There‘s certainly issues about economic relations between our two countries. There are—the administration has a lot of tools at its disposal to make it clear that this was wrong, and it will not go without notice.

STEWART: Would you like to see those tools used?

CARDIN: Oh, absolutely. I think there should be a consequence to this.

STEWART: And finally, have you heard from any of the victims‘ families since you made your remarks?

CARDIN: I have not. Clearly, I‘ve been reading some of the press accounts and this is—this is certainly been very traumatic for the families to have to relive the tragedy and then see the—one of the persons who was responsible for it treated as a hero back in Libya.

STEWART: Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the homeland security and terrorism subcommittee—thank you for taking the time tonight, Senator.

CARDIN: Thank you.

STEWART: And the latest round of the health care reform debate, Republican Party Chair Michael Steele squares off against his more formidable opponent yet, Michael Steele.

That and more mixed messages coming up in a few minutes with Pulitzer Prize winner Connie Shultz.

Plus, I‘ll talk to the man who may be “Mayor of the Year,” Milwaukee‘s own Tom Barrett, who tried to save a constituent and was brutally attacked while doing so. Good guys—straight ahead.

Stay with us.

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