I agree with every word of that.

Yes, this one has my full support. His knowledge and talent would be wasted in an American prison. All he did was make fools of American IT Security.

President Obama, get over it!

Count me in. Total disgrace.

That treaty we signed, allowing the US to pull any British citizen for trial without presenting evidence of guilt was a disaster.

It was supposed to be a two way deal if I recall correctly? But the Americans didn't get around to ratifying themselves? Shocking. Congress wouldn't agree to send US citizens to a foreign country without evidence of guilt. Can't really blame them, but it begs the question - why did we?

Thanks for highlighting this Bob.

"proof of probable cause"

Not quite sure what that means, but I understood that he admitted the offence - and it was an offence - so I fail to see why he shouldn't stand trial. If he has a defence then he will get his day in court.

Whilst we're on the subject can anyone tell me the definition of 'Asperger's syndrome', or is it just another dreamt-up name by that gang of spurious pseuds, the psycho-analyst fraternity?

It's a strange world we live in. Gary McKinnon lives in a friendly country yet could be exradited to face 160 years in prison for hacking into the USA government computers, whilst those from other (unfriendly) countries will get away scot-free. Still, I suspect there won't be many from the former trying it in future!
But for the avoidance of doubt I support the campaign. And doesn't the USA have the death penalty (where's the Human Rights Act when you need it?).

iifabloke:

Certain states do have the death penalty, but not all. I know they sometimes will extradite people to a state that doesn't execute Human Beings to get around such things.

David:

I assume the name Aspergers was made up by somebody, but the condition is real enough, well documented, well described and can be horrific for those affected by it.

I would have thought it was enough by itself for diminished responsibility. It should certainly be enough for him to expect his own Government to discover a backbone. Poodles do have them, I'm told.

"Whilst we're on the subject can anyone tell me the definition of 'Asperger's syndrome', or is it just another dreamt-up name by that gang of spurious pseuds, the psycho-analyst fraternity?"

Do your own research and stop shit stirring.

David Duff: I think you are a berk, but I will give you the benefit of doubt. FYI.

Asperger syndrome: what is it?

Yes I agree he should be free, sod the USA.

Well, you know what I think of you, 'jailhousemurderer', and I wouldn't give you an iota of doubt!

The Merkins should be paying McKinnon for doing the job of their inept IT staff who left 100s of compromised systems online. Maybe a Congressional Medal of Honor (sic) while they're at it.

Better still, swap McKinnon and Duff so that the latter gets to pick up soap in the showers in some privately-owned prison franchise. I'm sure he'd make a good bitch for someone over there.

Mr. Lilburne, such wit, such style, such elegance of expression - er, but not in your comment, alas. I can only give you 'E' for Effort.

E for Effort? I'm sure that's better than D for Duff.

John Lilburne: Is Duff suggesting you are effete? I don't suppose he bothered to read the info I gave him, or if he did he is conveniently keeping quiet about his feigned ignorance. I rescind the benefit of doubt. Gary McKinnon may be suffering from Aspergers Syndrome, but he is still a genius and this talent should be harnessed and not handed over to America because of Bush's draconian policy on TWAT. In New Zeland the police employed a man in similar circumstances.

@ JHL

I'm not sure what Duff's suggesting, if anything at all. He's just another Tory troll that thinks he's winding up lefties by posting here. I feel rather sorry for him.

As for McKinnon, much as he has my full sympathy I'm not sure that he has the skills for serious pen-testing of networks. After all, he did get caught :)

If you can't do the time - Don't do the crime !

Shame on you Bob for falling for the Tory line of "let corrupt Nat West Bankers go free !"

And shame on you GW. There is no suggestion that McKinnon did anything for profit. To compare him with the Nat. West bankers is like me suggesting he should not be handed over to a regime which interns and tortures people without trial in Guantanamo, or practices extraordinary rendition.

"a regime which interns and tortures people without trial in Guantanamo

Or Cuba, say.

Remind, councillor, where did you holiday this year, I seem to have lost you rpostcard!

Bob Fancy supporting convictions only if the motive is profit - Perhaps the latest BNP member comvicted on explosives charges might not have been motivated by profit.

Incidently the corrupt Nat West bankers have not been tortured or detained without trial.

GW

A perverse argument GW. You appeared to be the person that compared this chap with the Nat West bankers, I was merely pointing out the difference, and that the comparison was ridiculous. Actually, I don't think we should allow UK citizens to be extradited to the US unless it is on the same basis as the US would extradite to the UK. That is not the case.

Duffy, I did indeed go to Cuba, but the torturers are the US military in Cuba... and I thought I would give them a miss. Although I have been to the very pretty town of Guantanamo before.

If you think the only torture is in that tiny bit of the island you really do inhabit a different planet from the rest of us. Still, I suppose you are simply following in a long, socialist line of "useful idiots" from the Webbs onwards who praised any regime provided it has one or more of the following words in its title: 'Democratic', 'People's', Progressive', etc.

When you've finished your duty-free tequila perhaps you would like to ask yourself why so many Cubans perished on the seas paddling their way to the land of 'the Great Satan'?

Ah... so, pray tell, Duffy, you twerp... why do they leave capitalist Mexico for California?

Obviously it was because capitalism works so well in Mexico.

Or could it be that they think it does because they are told it is the land of milk and honey... as opposed to the land of exploitation, racism, gangsterism, drugs...etc?

And thus you see, dear reader, an example of the perfect political body swerve in which a very simple, straightforward question is avoided and then buried in irrelevant verbiage.

Well done, Councillor, did Gordon Brown give you lessons?

But where is the irrelevance? You pointed out that people risk their lives to get to the 'land of the free'. I simply agreed with you.

Of course, the fact that I pointed out that these poor souls were deluded into thinking they were being offered a passport to heaven, instead of a life in hell may well be inconvenient for your rather weak argument... but irrelevant it is not.

Well, at least, and finally, you agree (by implication, anyway) that Cuba is not free, with all the implications that arise from that admission. Still, I don't suppose it spoiled your chilled tequila as from your balcony you gazed out to sea resolutely refusing to turn round lest you caught a glimpse of the Police HQ!

Oh, and before you take another ill-judged swipe at the 'Land of the Free', tell me how many presidents America has elected compared to Cuba over the 50 or so years?

But I've never denied it. You are the delusional fool who believes in paradise. If I believed that guff I'd join the Church.

(Oh and you show your wider ignorance. Cubans drink rum, you buffoon!)

"But I've never denied it.

But you are perfectly content to 'fiesta' with the regime's state-run trades unions.

Tell me, did you used to visit Berlin for the May Day parades back in the, er, 'good old days'?

Of course I am. I went to the US two years ago, and I was quite happy 'fiesta-ing' (whatever that means) with their trade unions too. It doesn't mean I endorsed Bush's fascist regime, you muppet. In fact I met with South African trade unions when they had the sort of racist government that I am sure you approved of, but that didn't mean I was a supporter of apartheid. You have a very twisted logic old boy.

And actually, I didn't go to Berlin for their May Day parade, regrettably, but I would go next year if I had the chance.

You live in England don't you Duffers? I'm very pleased to see that this means you support the UK government and endorse their every policy.

Fool.

thank you Bob for sense and socialism not much of either these days.
The treaty is a betrayal of british people. Evidentiary and contestable in court if we want an american and non evidentiary and non contestable in court if they want a Brit; is that justice?
Even the evidence america supplied the CPC would not be admissable in a uk court. see link
( http://tr.im/sOHi )
Thank you for your support...I'm Gary McKinnon's stepdad.

Aspergers is a form of autism like OCD. Its ludicrous that he should stand trial at all. What did he do exactly? other than embarass the so-called super-power that is the US military. They should be employing him and using his expertise to sort out their IT security which is obviously flawed. McKinnon is not a terrorist but he could have been.

Obama, Please don't extradite Gary McKinon!