BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 03:09 PM

McKinnon left this message one one of the computers:

"US foreign policy is akin to Government-sponsored terrorism these days … It was not a mistake that there was a huge security stand down on September 11 last year … I am SOLO. I will continue to disrupt at the highest levels"

That's why he did it. Not because he was depressed, not because he had Asperger's. Claiming that he was a loony who just got caught up in his search for classified UFO information is a lot easier than dealing with the point he was trying to make.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 01:17 PM

It's a miracle! :-)
You'd probably be surprised by the number of things on which we do actually agree. Unfortunately, when we disagree we tend to be in complete diametrical opposition, and I guess we both tend to express ourselves in unequivocal terms. But I try never to hold a grudge! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 12:42 PM

Well, I may still disagree with some of what you say, but not this time!

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 12:39 PM

Thanks Richard. Perhaps I'm not so backward after all, eh? :-). :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 12:28 PM

That, Bert, is how territoriality works. The world is not the US's colony. The US has no juridical power to legislate as to what is or is not unlawful in Cuba. Cuba is an independent country. Perhaps you do not recognise this concept.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Bert
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 12:16 PM

I think you should change your handle to Backwardsman.

By your reasoning, if somebody in, say Cuba, launched a missile at the USA; then they should be tried in Cuba.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 12:15 PM

""This crook caused over $700,000 worth of damage. But that's OK. 'cos the poor little bastard is sick.""

O.K. Bert. Care to tell us how hacking into a computer did $700,000 worth of actual damage?

Or is that what they had to spend on better security to make it impervious?

Because, if the latter is true, he did them a big favour putting right the incompetence ofthe original programmers.

Aspergers is only one form of autism, and while it is true that autistic individuals are not ill and do know right from wrong, many of them are incapable of leaving a task uncompleted, so when something piques their curiosity, they follow it through to the end.

I've worked with autistic children who couldn't function during playground breaks, if they hadn't finished what they were doing just before.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 11:49 AM

Aspie's are not whining little weenies that become suicidal every time anyone wants to hold them responsible for something they've done, and Aspie's *are* perfectly able distinguish right from wrong.

They tend, in fact, to be quite good with rules and logic, which is why they are so good with computers in the first place.

If you want to give the US a slap in the face, for whatever reason, fine and all, but please don't misrepresent Asperger's Syndrome to do it, and please, please, stop characterizing Aspie's as being sick or any of that.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 02:56 AM

Mr. McKinnon should be tried for the crimes he is alleged to have committed, in the country in which those crimes took place - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Had an American citizen, sitting in his bedroom in the USA, hacked into the UK government's computer system, the USA would not agree to extradite him to the UK, so why do US-Ian's demand and expect the UK to extradite Mr. McKinnon?

It's reported that some loud-mouth yank politician playing to the gallery stated that Mr. mcKinnon 'should fry' as punishment for his crimes. It's a pity that politician seems to have no understanding of the nature of Asperger's Syndrome, and what effect that statement would have on Mr. mcKinnon.

The US government, far from seeking extradition of Mr. McKinnon and 'frying' him, should award him the Congressional Medal of Honour (note the OED - and therefore correct - spelling of 'honour') for exposing a security system which, at best, could be described as 'shitty', and at worst as 'totally unfit for purpose'.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 06:18 PM

That's stupid. The UK did not cause the alleged damage.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Bert
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 03:08 PM

The UK should put its money where its mouth is and pay for the damage that he caused.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 02:12 PM

The US can sue him in the UK. Or perhaps they don't want to do so in a country where the judiciary stands up to the government.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 01:53 PM

Where are the rendition teams? He needs a few years in a penitentiary.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Bert
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 12:04 PM

I am continually surprised at the number of people who rush to blame the victim the US should vent their spleen on the people who were responsible for their computer security..

This crook caused over $700,000 worth of damage. But that's OK. 'cos the poor little bastard is sick.

Next time you spend hours rebuilding your system because some other asshole has damaged it; think about how you should let the poor sick hacker go free.

These guys cause billions of dollars worth of damage to computers throughout the world and should be made to pay restitution in full when they are caught as well as serve long sentences.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May-blocks extradition
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 03:57 AM

I am pleased that McKinnon is not to be extradited, but I have wondered if the timing of the announcement - in the middle of a US Presidential campaign. Was it designed to stir up a reaction in America which Romney could use against Obama.
Theresa May does not do anything out of "Goodness".
Mind you, I am disgusted that Blair didn't do anything when he was in power.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 18 Oct 12 - 02:49 PM

Good old Theresa May my arse, it was a vain attempt to prove that the Tory's care about people , to try and improve their image.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:21 PM

I've never had a good word to say for the woman. This is a refreshing change - will it continue?

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 09:00 AM

It fits with her rebuttal of EU justice systems.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: Penny S.
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:43 AM

I can't help thinking that she has done this as cover for something else she is about to do - but then I get a bit paranoid every now and then.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:29 AM

The medical grounds she cited in her house of commons statement would appear to have been as valid 10 years ago when this affair started, as they were yesterday when the statement was made.

Why so long?

The question now is this. Will they use his mental health as an excuse to not prosecute him at all. For what is after all, a criminal offence, committed in the UK; albeit against the US. If they do so, just how cross will the US authorities be, and what punishment will they mete out to the UK, for refusing to bend the knee?

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:12 AM

Please particularise the other two cases to which reference is made.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 05:35 AM

Mr Ahmad's family said: "Why within the space of two weeks, a British citizen with Asperger's accused of computer-related activity is not extradited, while two other British citizens, one with Asperger's, engaged in computer-related activity are extradited. A clear demonstration of double standards"'

seems to be the point ref'd in last post. But it does not follow: no 'double standards' obtain, but simply a judging of each case on its own individual merits which must surely always be the procedure.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 05:33 AM

I'm no fan of Theresa May by any stretch of the imagination, but just this once I think she got it about right. Congratulations.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: GUEST,Seayaker
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 05:22 AM

I think she made the right call here and the US should vent their spleen on the people who were responsible for their computer security.

Interesting timing though; it looks as if Abu Qatada had a case to resist extradition on these terms.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 05:06 AM

Theresa May is a hellhound but on this she is (most unusually) right. Indeed let us hope she attacks the very basis of the UK/US extradition treaty. And while she may be going OTT on EU "justice" reforms, a reform of the European arrest warrant is overdue.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 04:27 AM

Credit where it's due. Full marks.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: theleveller
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 09:03 AM

I agree with Lizzie. The US were simply using bully-boy tactics to disguise their red faces. As a spokesperson from Liberty said on the radio, they shouldn't be trying to prosecute him, they should employ him.

Subject: RE: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 08:48 AM

About the only thing so far this Nazi government has done which is right!

Gary McKinnon extradition to the U.S. blocked by Theresa May

Subject: BS: Good old Theresa May
From: Silas
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 08:43 AM

I didn't really think she would do it......