Well, not obliged, but they do consider parliamentary intentions when applying statute law. And it they don't in this case, the Home Secretary certainly will. McKinnon's extradition is now inconceivable.

I don't know whether theft is covered by the treaty, Jack, but let's suppose it is. I would be perfectly happy for someone to be extradited for that offence provided that the country seeking extradition presented a persuasive case to a British court. This is a common enough requirement in extrdition treaties and is no more than the US demands of the UK. There is however no reciprocal obligation on the US.

I don't quite see the analogy with letter-bombing. Gary McKinnon didn't try to hurt anyone. He didn't even need to apply his precocious gift for math(s). He just walked into the Pentagon system through an open door. In exposing its mickey-mouse security he did US spooks a service. And realising, no doubt, that an organisation that set up such a system would be too dumb to catch him, he was kind enough to leave his calling card.