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<OT> Gary McKinnon

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Chris Russell

Wed Aug 05 2009, 11:49PM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

I don't think I'm missing the bigger picture. It is perfectly reasonable to ask "is going after this guy worth generating significant negative press, lending credence to his insane claims, and jeopardizing our current extradition agreement with the UK?" The bigger picture is, next time someone does something naughty to the US, the UK or other nations might not be willing to extradite them.

This guy obviously learned nothing (unless you really think the US is hiding free energy machines next to the UFOs and antigravity devices), and if containment was the goal, it would be more than sufficient to try him in the UK and make sure all his personal effects were scoured clean of any possible sensitive data. The only thing that's accomplished by extraditing him that isn't otherwise possible is locking him up for life for a crime that warrants just a few years in prison in his home country.

To put it another way, suppose someone in the US hacked an Iranian computer system, and Iran sought extradition so that they could cut off his hands as punishment. Don't you think that popular sentiment in the US would be that he should be tried in the US and punished more "appropriately?"

MinorityCarrier

Thu Aug 06 2009, 12:52AM

Registered Member #2123 Joined: Sat May 16 2009, 03:10AM
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 312

I obtained this info from Wikipedia.

Mr McKinnon is accused of deleting files and shutting down computer networks belonging to the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA in 2001 and 2002.

He apparently left a message on one computer that reads:
"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."

His Aug-08 diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrom comes on the heels of repeated refusal of European courts to block his extradition.

Now, opinion. I suspect, but can never prove, that Mr McKinnon's diagnosis is opportunistic for policical purposes.

I didn't see anything about antigravity or free energy. I suspect that is a red herring. Hiding behind psychiatric disability is an old tactic. Mr McKinnon can certainly curry sympathy from the anti-American crowd by pleading 'mental' against the persecution by the American Police State.

Mr. Mckinnon's message suggests malice to me. While I am not going to defend much of what the previous U.S. administration did, the apparent fact is McKinnon willfully inflicted malicious damage to U.S. government property. Since the U.K. was not at war with the U.S. at the time, has extradition treaties with the U.S., one-sided as they may be, and Mr McKinnon is a U.K. citizen, the legal path to extradite Mr McKinnon to the U.S. to face trial for his accused crimes seems reasonable and proper.

The statement "The guy obviously learned nothing", in the face of the details of the case and the charges leveled, seems non-sequitur to me...

Bored Chemist

Thu Aug 06 2009, 05:56AM

Registered Member #193 Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 07:04AM
Location: sheffield
Posts: 1022

So some of you really do think that deleting files that the DoD weren't looking after properly is as serious a crime as rape or murder and deserves a life sentence.
Interesting.

HV Enthusiast

Thu Aug 06 2009, 11:09AM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Bored Chemist wrote ...

So some of you really do think that deleting files that the DoD weren't looking after properly is as serious a crime as rape or murder and deserves a life sentence.
Interesting.

Actually, you aren't up on the facts. In the US these days, you usually only get a few years nowadays for murder, if that, and rape, you're usually put on probation.

Regarding this case, firstly none of us know all the facts in the case. You guys are relying on the media and wikipedia to obtain facts on the case? Since when do they get it all right.

And regarding his break-in to Dod and NASA computers, he *sh9uld* get the book thrown at him regardless of what information he was looking for.

Breaking into a Wawa to steal a candy bar would definitely probably warrant only a misdemeanor charge of breaking and entering while breaking into the vaults of Fort Knox to steal a candy bar from a vending machine in there would bring on major felony charges. Same applies here.

Fry em!

Steve Conner

Thu Aug 06 2009, 11:48AM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

McKinnon is completely nuts, however on the bright side, he's a Scotsman.

I remember a documentary about him years ago, that claimed the computers he hacked into were running Windows 95. We all know how easy that is to lock down to DoD standards.

Of course, this doesn't make it morally justifiable to hack into it...

Conundrum

Sat Dec 05 2009, 02:16PM

Registered Member #96 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4059

Hi all.

As a small contribution to "the cause" I intend to send a talking Christmas card to various relevant Ministers.

EDIT: for various reasons it will have to be of the ready made voice card variety not some homemade kludge.. I do *not* want to get arrested.

regards, -A

Bjørn

Sat Dec 05 2009, 02:27PM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

Do you think it is wise to send electronics to people that probably have a few loose marbles?

I might be interested if you have a fixed plan of exactly what code needs to be done at what time,

Steve Conner

Sat Dec 05 2009, 10:26PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

Yeah, great idea. Send some mysterious electronic devices to high-ranking politicians, and you can join Gary McKinnon on Death Row and tell him how sympathetic we all are to his cause.

Don't forget to handle some nitrates while you're making your mystery gift!

Dago

Sat Dec 05 2009, 11:13PM

Registered Member #538 Joined: Sun Feb 18 2007, 08:33PM
Location: Finland
Posts: 181

Isn't this sort or related to politics that's forbidden to discuss :P?

MinorityCarrier

Sun Dec 06 2009, 05:15AM

Registered Member #2123 Joined: Sat May 16 2009, 03:10AM
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 312

McKinnon's cause being the corruption of military computer databases and corruption of NASA computer databases (read the official indictment online), I'd strongly suggest you re-evaluate your motives for this crusade of yours.

McKinnon may or may not suffer from mental illness (I'm skeptical), but he still has to have his day in court for what he has done, and his true psychiatric condition should come to light.

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