Leading article: Hacked off
Saturday, 2 August 2008
It is only right that friendly nations should co-operate to send their nationals abroad for trial if they have committed a serious crime in a foreign country. But transferring one's citizens to a foreign jurisdiction should never be done casually. And the merit of the arguments put forward by the foreign state needs to be rigorously tested. The case of Gary McKinnon, who is due to be extradited to the US, accused of hacking into the Pentagon from his home in north London, raises serious doubts about whether those requirements have been satisfied in this instance.
Mr McKinnon could easily be tried and sentenced here in Britain. The unpalatable impression is thus of an American administration humiliated by the ease with which Mr McKinnon circumnavigated its security systems and determined to make an example of him.
But that takes this extradition request out of the purview of the law and into the realm of politics. An attempt by a foreign state to make a scapegoat out of a British national is not something our courts should be meekly going along with.
-
Print Article
-
Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2008 Independent News and Media Limited
I recently visited a WW11 American war cemetery and the Americans lying there, I believe, would be ashamed of the America they fought for. What have we got today across the water? A country from hell? From indiscriminate killing to torture and rendition. The devil seems to live in the American heart. And no, it's not all down to Bush and the Jewish lobby, it's down to you, patriotic America. Surely we Brits can save Gary McKinnon from hell?
If we do not, what does that make us? Maybe any American reading this will realise that to save McKinnon is, in its way, saving themselves. Be that better man. Go for it! Hell no, McKinnon won't go!
Posted by simmering | 03.08.08, 09:52 GMT
I recently visited a WW11 American war cemetery and the Americans lying there, I believe, would be ashamed of the America they fought for. What have we got today across the water? A country from hell? From indiscriminate killing to torture and rendition. The devil seems to live in the American heart. And no, it's not all down to Bush and the Jewish lobby, it's down to you, patriotic America. Surely we Brits can save Gary McKinnon from hell?
If we do not, what does that make us? Maybe any American reading this will realise that to save McKinnon is, in its way, saving themselves. Be that better man. Go for it! Hell no, McKinnon won't go!
Posted by simmering | 03.08.08, 09:32 GMT
They are handing him over to a bunch of barbarians. The government should be arrested for treason.
Posted by Johnny Tea Drinker | 03.08.08, 00:40 GMT
happle.freebiejeebies.co.uk/24647
Almost all freebie sites work the same way :
Create an account at the Freebie Site
Try an advertiser’s offer.
Refer a certain number of people to sign up using your “referral link”.
Get your freebie in the mail!
Posted by fred | 02.08.08, 23:34 GMT
to be honest this sucks ok fairs fair dont do the crime if u cant do the time etc , but realy british reporter gets killed by american troops why arent they here on trial?? ok big dif in scenarios but typical as to why we have to bow down to america yet again.
Posted by fred | 02.08.08, 23:26 GMT
I Rock
Posted by Mr YGBg | 02.08.08, 20:05 GMT
The Gary McKinnon story highlights how we have all become in the UK. Lazy and weak. We cannot help Gary McKinnon because we need help ourselves. Before Blair departed we were already on our knees. You can't keep killing people and feel good about yourself. All our self pride has evaporated with self disgust. Sure, Blair took us down the wrong road and now Brown, too. Why can't this government say loudly that Gary McKinnon will not be handed over. How good would that make us feel? It won't happen because, like ourselves, we are a spent force. We're beyond honourable victory anywhere. Poor McKinnon, he can expect nothing from his country. He knows it and we know it. It is a very sad situation and not even Cameron has a voice.
Posted by McKay | 02.08.08, 12:56 GMT
The American military feel horribly humiliated that their 'impenetreble' systems were shown to be wanting and that's what this is about - not justice at all. Gary McKinnon did wrong, no doubt, but to name him an 'enemy combatant' with a possible 70 years in a US prison is seriously appalling. What's wrong with the House of Lords that they have dismissed his appeal? How could our justice system fail us so badly? Are we really so easily manipulated by the US?
Posted by PatriciaMay | 02.08.08, 10:58 GMT
How horrifying. The US administration are an arrogant vicious machine that need to be stopped. Why does this rule exist where we have to extradite and they don't. I cannot find the words inside me that convey's the anger and contempt I have for this situation.
I hope the European courts do what the feeble and pathetic law lords were unwilling to. Shame on them, they should all resign or better still be tried themselves.
Posted by Andrew | 02.08.08, 10:55 GMT
What is this gun that the US has directed at the UK? The UK never seems to be free to shake off US intimidation/threat and meekly follows their wishes. What is the UK afraid of? Half the countries that invaded Iraq were forced there under US threat. Terry Lloyd was killed by Americans and yet......... Gary McKinnon is feeling the weight of American vengence. So afraid of losing their grip and their power, the US must seek out the weak to feel good about themselves. They can't touch Russia nor China, but the broken Iraqs and the Gary McKinnon's of the world are fair game. Everyone should ask Gordon Brown not to shame the UK further and step in for all the British McKinnon's out there. Is it not time to shake America out of our system?
Posted by cool-headed | 02.08.08, 10:11 GMT