East of the M60 says ‘no’ to the extradition of Gary McKinnon
A young man highlights the insecurities of US Federal computer system by sending a message about its lack of security. One would expect the message to be returned more favourably and thank you for exposing this situation.
Now imagine if the message was sent soon after 9/11. Instead of the kind thanks for acknowledging this error, they go down on this person like a ton of bricks. They threaten him with 60 years behind bars, some informally wish to ‘let him fry’ by putting him on death row. Being as this fellow is a British citizen, he is being threatened with extradition.
The subject in question, Gary McKinnon, has an autism spectrum disorder like myself which has led me to follow this case. This has meant the grotesque shambles of a socialist reading the Daily Mail which has picked up on the campaign this Friday. I abhor the aforementioned paper’s politics and Conservative leanings but they have succeeded in making this a more mainstream issue beyond the broadsheets and the internet.
Worse (and this is explained most explicitly in the Daily Mail given its Tory stance, as you would expect), it is claimed that the UK Government are in some way favouring the extradition plans.
A trial in the UK is overloading enough for a person with Asperger’s syndrome – let alone extradition and the possibility of a 60 year sentence – or Guantanamo Bay – if taken to America.
Instead of sentencing him for any amount we should give this fellow a job! He might even make Windows 7 more secure than that present and without any yawning gaps. Instead we could be sleepwalking towards sending a fellow Aspie to jail in America or worse, Guantanamo Bay. Oi!! Labour!!! Deal with this at once, on behalf of your fellow brothers and sisters on the autism spectrum. Like the author of this post.
To sign the petition sponsored by the Daily Mail, click here.
S.V, 06 July 2009.
