| Thursday 20 August 2009 - 22.30 BST - BBC TWO Presented by Gavin Esler From the web team: "Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion be available. Our beliefs dictate that justice be served, but mercy be shown." So said Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill as he announced that for "these reasons, and these reasons alone" he had decided that terminally ill Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi should be allowed to return to Libya. But was it really for "these reasons, and these reasons alone" that Megrahi was released? Tonight we have an interview with Mr MacAskill and will be looking at what other factors came into his decision, who was involved and the future political ramifications. How will Megrahi's release affect Scottish and UK relations with Libya? And what about relations with the US, where many of the victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 came from, and which had fiercely resisted the move? Also tonight, Brian Hanrahan will have the latest on the Afghan presidential election, where counting is already under way. And we will be discussing efforts to bring security to Afghanistan with General David Petraeus, the man behind the US troop surge in Iraq and the recent boosting of US forces in Afghanistan. Plus, Laura Trevelyan reports on divisions within the Democratic Party over President Barack Obama's controversial plan to reform healthcare by providing cover for the 47m Americans who have no health insurance and driving down costs. Those very supporters who worked so hard to elect Mr Obama are now furious because the White House has suggested it might soften its proposals - while conservative democrats say the existing plan costs too much and will not work. Do join Gavin at 10.30pm on BBC Two. | 
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