Morning Extra - 21/08/2009

Has Scotland shown its defining humanity by releasing the Lockerbie bomber? Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has returned home to a hero's welcome in Libya — a free man. The justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, believes the 57 year-old's compassionate release was justified on account of his terminal prostate cancer and the opinion of doctors who say his clinical condition has declined significantly. Mr MacAskill says humanity is "a defining characteristic of Scotland and the Scottish people". Does it take courage to show such mercy? Or is compassion inappropriate for a mass murderer convicted of killing 270 innocent people? Graham Stewart takes your calls, texts and emails.