Free Gary McKinnon

I fail to see how you can complain that you've suffered for seven years and that it's somehow the fault of the US or UK judicial system.

Be thankful a system is in place that allows you to appeal and to take your case to the highest court in the land and subsequently Europe.

This appeal also appears to be pre-judging the outcome of any future US trial and sentence, drawing a conclusion that a long spell in a harsh prison is inevitable; and that is somehow justification for not allowing extradition. That's shaky ground and I can't imagine any Home Secretary using this as reason for refusing extradition.

Furthermore, if Gary is extradited, tried and charged, the next fight will be for more lenient prison terms or early release. I personally think you have more chance of garnering leverage on this front, than you have resisting extradition.

As it stands, the last seven years may have been a terrible strain on the family, but Gary is still a free man and has been so during this time. By all means appeal, protest and do all you can with the due legal process, but please don't expect to circumvent the process before it's even gone to trial.

In my view, it's a completely untenable position you hold and one that is bound to fail, short of some major u-turn by the UK or US authorities.

Man hacks US military computer systems
Man caught hacking
Man admits hacking
Man claims looking for aliens
Man claims other people looking for aliens too
Man doesn’t like nasty American court
Man doesn’t like nasty American prison
Man fights extradition
Man Loses extradition court case
Man appeals
Man loses appeal
Man appeals, loses, appeals, loses, appeals, loses
Man blames US government
Man blames UK government
Man blames CPS
Man blames Home Secretary
Mans mum blames home secretary
Man now has aspergers
Man appeals again
Mans mum gets angry
Man loses
Man still not tried
US says a sorry we got it wrong,
We’ll let you off
A slap on the wrist is enough
Don’t be a naughty boy again

And that is exactly why I do not respect authority.
We have a planet full of spineless individuals.
Who unfortunately are in office and positions of power.
Yes men...everywhere

What ever hapened to REAL men?
What ever happened to honour?
What ever happened to ethics?

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I don't have any faith that any of the "legal professionals" will do the right thing, Gary. I think it is time for you to change your strategy and embrace extradition, hire the best legal team, and go for trial here.

After all - if O.J.Simpson can get off for murder, surely you can get off too.

David Emery
It is David, isn't it?
Not Dick Emery?
Because you certainly are, that is, a comedian,(and a Dick) if you think that this is what it is really all about!
With the recent amount of people who have Not been extradited to the U.S. of A,spreading hatred and war around our countries, then to add insult, taking compensation payouts and state benefit handouts!
And now, just because this lad, in a flat in Essex, using a normal dial up modem, manages to get in the backdoor of a pathetic U.S. gov system, which should have been tighter post 911,well! you really re either mis guided, or on the U.S. or U.K. gov payroll.

How can the USA and UK intelligence 'experts' know that McKinnon is the only and most accomplished 'hacker' in the world and that if they jail him they have solved all the problems of computer security ? Furthermore , if these security conscious military personnel in the USA and UK were aware of the vulmerability of the www , why do they impregnate it with highly sensitive naterial ? Perhaps the clue lies in the mess which government officials have got themselves into when new computer systems have been introduced and the failure rates have cost nillions of pounds , and perhaps, dollars .

Why have we not insisted on the extradition of the American soldier who was accised of killing a British journalist in Iraq at about the sane time as McKinnon was accused of his alleged offence. If the Americans refuse to extradite the American soldier , we must refuse to extradite McKinnon.

This is what you get for being a total tosser and an embarrassment to the UK. Gary deserves to be sent forthwith to the USA and be locked up for a very long time. Good riddance to him! Let's hope he never sees the light of day again - and as for Gary's mother, she should be ashamed of herself and her son.

Gary faces a potential 70 years behind bars for an alleged (and as yet convincingly unsubstantiated) Sir Fred Goodwin of RBS squanders £23 billion and is rewarded with a pension pot of £ 16 million.
Ain't justice a wonderful thing!

@Anna, I fail to comprehend how you have survived so long in this world with just a stone in your thoracic cavity. Do you have any knowledge of the issues or technology involved or are you just a parrot for the voice of Authority?

what does fred goodwin have to do with this. Nothing.

The american soldier example is completely spurious. If we haven't insisted on it, that's our perogative. It's also the US perogative to insist Gary is extradited. End of story.

Compassion? Try justice first. Gary has not yet stood trial for his self confessed crimes.

Then try due process.

If he's then found guilty and sentenced for what seems an inappropriate length of time, in an inappropriate prison facility, you can then raise the question of compassion.

Until then, stop the cat calling against the US and UK authorities. He's thus far been served extremely generously by the system you claim is at fault.

justice looks like economy: corrupted and in decline

all my support to you Garry
(& for all of us as well; it seems we will have to distrust from the "Authorities")

Justice is not served when the U.K government signs a one sided extradition treaty to allow America to extradite any U.K citizen without having to provide any evidence but we in the U.K have to provide probable cause / actual evidence if we want to extradite an American and even when we provide evidence America refuses to extradite it's criminals whether they are soldiers or IRA terrorists or whatever.

Gary has always denied the alleged damage but has not been allowed to contest it in a court of law.

97% of cases never get to trial in America, they leave people locked up often for years until they agree to a Plea Bargain, even when they are innocent.

You need to be rich to get a fair trial and decent legal representation in America.
They left Kevin Mitnick locked up for years until he accepted a plea bargain.

Gary's mother should be proud of herself for fighting so hard for her son who should not be extradited.

I agree that some of the people that have recently come on to the Free Gary website are on the payroll of the US or the UK government.
They stand out a mile.

This war is not over yet, there's a Judicial Review and I'm sure a few other legal moves are planned but the Magna Carta should do it as this is common law that overides statutes and is what will defeat this one sided treaty in the end.

The evil people in the government need to be jailed for murder.

(If you live in the U.K. you shouldn't miss this)
[video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8136133221213939183]
(2:14:28)

Stop that f*cking LAME justice in your A*S

Gary belongs to be at home.

The Press Release from "Crown Prosecution Service" on the above link is full with bulshit

-
Where do these brainless morons come from??

It shakes your faith in our species enough when the political and legal systems are gutless and archaic but to then see such comments from "ordinary" members of the public who should have some degree of empathy when facing the vast legal 'terror' machine just makes you feel hopeless for any fundamental change.

People really need to see the bigger picture and not get lost in media hype and their own moralistic ego trips... Gary McKinnon didn't "hack" anything... he is not part of a criminal network... he has, if anything, done military computer systems the world over a favour by highlighting their slackness.

Slap on the wrist, bit of litter picking in North London and let him get on with his life. Those making comments wanting anything more than this need to get a grip and some perspective on life.

davID, Nottingam, UK
--

All sorts of claims have been made about this man including one today 27Feb 09 in Yahoo Answers. It seems odd that British resident Muslim people found in a Muslim v America war zone are treated better than a British harmless hacker.

IF he did break into the American military computers he did them a favour, if Gary can do it 1000 Chinese Iranians and others will have already done so. It seems Gary is being punished by embarrased Americans when they realised how weak the system was.

Chris Surrey UK

See Comment is Free by Duncan Campbell in the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/feb/26/extradition-civil-liberties

we fail to see justice in this extradition request and we support gary's campaign at splagg.com (click my name below to navigate directly to the story)

David Emery ans Anna::::::::::::

How come your attitude and level of intelligence tells me you two ARE yes men? How come you smell like government employees in some degree?

Us and Them
These two people are perfect examples...
"And, like I said before, this is why I do not respect
authority - or - the legal system - or - government:(

You serve yourself and forget that there is other people
living on this planet that do not share your twisted vision.

And yes - there are billions of us and only a handful of you....

Gaz,

All shit set aside, do not offer yourself to there system of justice. Make our Government hand you over if you do not want to avoid this. I can assure you I give you 100% documented proof you will not recieve a fair trial in that County. 100% proof sir. 100%. Do not count on our government making sure you are taken care of when you being your very long sentence. The only response you will get is they cannot get involve with the legal systme in america. Just remember if you choose to go over there. It is you and you on your own my friend. They will tear you to shreads. I am here for you if want this proof. You are dealing with a magnitude you can not win at. Quite simply Gaz, they want to make an example of you, and they will if you let them. You make sure you have the only person who has sat by your true side, and thats your mother. God Bless and the very best of luck.

I live in the U.S. (Texas actually) and came across this site while reading an article about Gary McKinnon.

Don't judge our entire nation over Guantanamo. The guy should stand trial here after the UK is done trying him (which appears to be unlikely). I would expect the same thing in reverse if a citizen here committed a crime against our greatest ally. We'd try him then send him (or her) over there to ya'll when he finished his sentence.

Maybe I'm missing something here. Why stand behind this scumbag?

Your comments calling Gary McKinon a scumbag says more about you than anyhing else and it's people with your attitude and tone that give your nation a bad name.

Gary McKinnon has not been tried in the U.K and if he was, he would not be sent to the U.S afterwards.

You have no concept of the law or of this case.

So what is the definition of futility? Doing the same thing over and over...expecting different results.

Bravo David Emery!! A very succinct and astute assessment of the history that is Gary McKinnon's life. There is a travesty in this story and that is the fact a person can commit a crime...then spend years trying to avoid justice.

Elle...The reason you hate authority is that you have a personality disorder that requires you to advertise your desire for importance and belief of superior intelligence. I believe they call this Narcissism.

The answer to all of this is there is no fate but what we make of it. You choose your path and have the intestinal fortitude to admit your mistakes. If those mistakes have consequences you accept the consequences. You learn from your mistakes and try to become a better person.

If you delay taking responsibility for your actions, the consequences never improve.

Eyes4Lies

@ Eyes4Lies - your weasel words about "years trying to avoid justice" betray your lack respect for the rule of law and for fundamental human rights.

Gary is not a fugitive "trying to avoid justice", as you imply, and his lawyers have not yet been allowed to challenge any of the alleged evidence against him in any court - all the legal hearings have been about points of law, and not about the facts of the case.

He was legally entitled to appeal to higher courts in the UK and in Europe, and he has always said that he is willing to face a fair trial in the UK, and to accept any punishment they might impose on him here, including prison.

This all could have been over with in 2002, but the years that this case has taken, have been entirely the fault of the UK and US Governments, something which has been acknowledge by the Judges and most recently by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Are you still hoping to further your professional career with the poorly researched "thesis" you have claimed to be writing on this case ?

Thesis my ass! You insult our intelligence.
As Elle said, she can smell those on the payroll of the U.S and the U.K government, they stand out a mile and appear in a group regular as clockwork, especially whenever something goes against Gary.

Gary's case will defeat this one sided treaty, of that I have no doubt.
The vindictivness of the prosecutors will backfire on them.

The DPP, The Attorney General and the British Government know the massive amount of letters, Tel. calls and emails of outrage they have recieved from both ordinary and very prominent people, so they know only too well that I am right.

Perhaps Gary's role in life and his destiny whether chosen or not, is to defeat this iniquity and betrayal of the public and for Truth to come out in the open.

Compassion it seems is shown only by politicians when it's for other politicians. They have forgotten that it's People Power that put them where they are and People Power should never be underestimated.

"
How can the USA and UK intelligence 'experts' know that McKinnon is the only and most accomplished 'hacker' in the world and that if they jail him they have solved all the problems of computer security ?
"

Because he's a stupid script kiddy. His technical accounts are laughable. Plus he got caught because of the most moronic of actions.
The guys a retard.

Americans are obese in physical form (due to mcdonalds) and it seems in ego form as well. Gary bruised their ego, now it is payback time. This sounds like bullyboy tactics with an overinflated sense of guile.

Dont forget most americans dont even know what evolution is. What has happened to those americans people used to admire such as Carl Sagan?

I have AS too and I totally understand Gary's motives and reasons for them. Aspergers awareness is severly lacking and is treated with HUGE ignorance. Im afraid the electric chair will be more humane if he got found guilty because prison for an aspie is worse than death. But then again americans like torturing their prisoners dont they?

Once again, America says jump and we jump!

Gary if it comes to desperate measures just go on the run, im sure there are plenty of people within the IT community who would provide a hiding place somewhere. One would hope Obama is made of the stuff alot of the population of the world hope he is.

If not we are in for a sorry future. The bush/blair bible bashing legacy has stained western society beyond belief, this financial crisis is another form of evidence of this. I read the youtube vids from this morning, your mum's description of your childhood sounds exactly like mine.

If it comes to the worst, I will make it my lifetime goal to reverse the ignorance of this condition. To simply say let this man fry is a product of humanity at its worst. Put it this way most of americans are ignorant of science (ie logic) so I cant say im suprised at this. Us aspies are just not meant for this planet, maybe we need those UFOs to take us back to the planet we came from!

Shame on the British Government for signing a one way extradition treaty. What were they thinking!

Here in the US, decent legal representation is very, very expensive. If you can't afford an attorney, the court will appoint one, but the representation you get under those circumstances is almost not worth having.

In the US, "justice" is available only to those who can afford to buy it. Gary's best hope is that some hot shot law firm that wants the publicity will offer to take his case for free or nearly free in the interest of making a name for themselves.

Gary would be tried in a federal court, so lets hope the demise of the paranoid, fascist Bush administration will help him get a fair trial, though I wouldn't count on it.

This man has suffered more than enough in the past seven years and should be left in peace. My prayers and best wishes to Gary and his family.

P.S. Matt, you must be an idiot or you wouldn't broadcast your ignorance and lack of education on the internet. Stick to sucking beer in your counsel home and stop inflicting your mindless drivel on thinking people.

There are many good Americans and many Good British people and people from all over the world that support Gary.

The majority of Americans voted for Obama because they want change and wanted to get rid of the paranoid, fascist Bush administration just as we wanted to get rid of Blair, trouble is we don't have an Obama.

Let's hope Obama will help Gary.

You never know.

I just bought todays newspaper and the singer

STING IS BACKING GARY and has written to Jacqi Smith.

See Link Below:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1158173/Pentagon-hacker-faces-70-years-US-jail--CPS-wont-try-Britain.html

Gary's Judicial Review is to be heard on the 9th and 10th of June 2009

Matt:

Quote:
"Your arguement towards my supposed lack of education rides on what? Assumption? "

Yes. YOUR assumption which amounts to a sweeping characterization of a population of 300 million people you know absolutely nothing about. It's obvious you've never been here and don't have the foggiest clue.

I have the same opinion of the skullduggery that goes on at 10 Downing Street and the British Houses of Parliament as that which goes on in Washington. I do however, differentiate between the government and the people.

You're right about one thing, though. This is about Gary and we should stay on topic. Having said that, may I remind you that you started it.

With all due respect to all posts. Gary has one thing left before U.S Marshal's come over here to pick him up. I do not beilve the U.S will allow Gary to turn himself in. To make sure Gary gets a fair trial he needs the entire Uk to stand behind him. He needs us Form the time they pick him and transport him to a U.S Federal Courthouse where his indictment will be explained to him by the Court. He will need us at every judicial proceeding he attends in the U.S. Knowing that we are there and present Gary's chances of getting a fari trial will be immensly increased. Do not leave this to our Government to see he recieves a fair trial, Gary needs the people.

Forget the good guy - bad guy, us & them, US vs UK, the guy hacked into sensitive computer systems, the same type of idiot that sits at home inventing malicious codes to infect computers worldwide, he knew the illegality of his actions and now he faces incarceration, such a clever chap he now faces years without access to a computer, jolly good show.

I don't think Mr McKinnon will be going anywhere. I rather feel that this deeply unpopular one sided treaty will be defeated because of the relentless pursuit of this vulnerable man.

British people don't like witch hunts that go on for seven years, nor the fact that the U.S waited three years for this lop sided treaty to be used retrospectively against Mr. McKinnon.

We don't like Bullies.

The U.S military should be on trial for gross negligence, for leaving the American people so exposed that a vulnerable man on a dial up computer could walk right in.
Now would you rather an actual terrorist had "walked" in.

Stop this vindictive nonsense and try and find a terrorist if you can.

It was reported today in the Mail on Sunday that Sting and his wife support Gary McKinnon and have written to the honourable? Jacqui Smith.

Well done Sting, I hear many more celebs are angry about what's being done to Mr McKinnon. Bear in mind that an election will soon be on the horizon.
Looking forward to this treaty being torn up as it surely will be.

By The Way, only Americans say Jolly Good Show. It's a very old English phrase, rarely used now.

This type of hacker is of the od school and does not infect computers.

You obviously have no knowledge of IT and don't know the difference between hackers, virus writers and kiddy scripts.

Say no more or you'll embarrass yourself further.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos commented that "My own opinion is that when the really serious cybercriminals are the ones doing it for money, stealing identities and creating botnets, should we really be making such an example of a guy who appears to have been just a UFO conspiracy theory nut?" The security researcher also pointed out that "There is a danger that McKinnon is being used as a whipping-boy by a country embarrassed about the poor security of its computers in the days after September 11, 2001."

...and so say all of us!

"We identified nine occasions where Mr McKinnon has admitted to activity which would amount to an offence under section 2 of the Computer Misuse Act (unauthorised access with intent). Although there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Mr McKinnon for these offences, the evidence we have does not come near to reflecting the criminality that is alleged by the American authorities."

Are we now to assume, that by that statement, US domestic law, now supercedes UK domestic law? This is a farce. It should not matter what the gravity of the crime alleged by another country is. If someone is suspected of committing a crime in the UK, then the UK authorities should prosecute that person. In fact, they should have a duty to prosecute.

Lady Reilly:

Quote:
"By The Way, only Americans say Jolly Good Show. It's a very old English phrase, rarely used now."

In the US, "Jolly good show" is a derogatory expression aimed at the English. The intended effect is lost when written because it's pronounced in an exaggerated mockery of the "Queen's English." Depending on the speaker, the phrase may be accompanied by a pompous facial expression.

The phrase is sometimes used to mimic someone who is a bombastic stuffed shirt but not necessarily English, although the expression itself is meant to be a caricature of the English.

That phrase may indeed be used "only by Americans" since I've never heard it uttered by a Canadian. Now that you know how it's used, you probably realize that the writer intended it to be an insult and most likely knew the English readers wouldn't "get it."

Instead of "slagging each other off" as the Brits say, let's try to get along, OK? Most of us have at least one thing in common - supporting Gary.

To Born in the USA:

No offence meant.
I knew the term was being used in a derogatory manner and assumed that K Starnes was presenting himself as English in order to undermine English people.
My comment was made simply to let him know that I was aware of this fact.

I am Irish and have no axe to grind.

Of course this is all about Gary, however I believe many U.S and U.K government employees regularly pop up on this website in an attempt to further their PR campaign agaist Mr McKinnon.

I am not referring to you in this regard.

Lady Reilly:

No offense taken. I knew you were Irish because of the name you used. My father and maternal grandparents came from Ireland. It's been said there are more Irish in the US than in Ireland. I believe it. My last name is Brennan and I've never had a sun tan in my life, but not for lack of trying....LOL.

Quote:
"I believe many U.S and U.K government employees regularly pop up on this website in an attempt to further their PR campaign agaist Mr McKinnon."

I wholly agree. Quite a few of the posts I've read over time seem to be exactly that. There's something about the way they're written - I'll call it that certain je ne sais quoi since I don't want to tip them off about how they give themselves away.

The thing that annoys me the most about those posts is they think we the people are stupid. Somehow, I don't think we're the ones who fell off the turnip truck yesterday.

What we need now, is to get as many High profile people on side to bring this case more to the public eye.
Its great that we've got the names mentioned already, but we need more.
Everybody who can, lobby your M.P,'s and M.E.P.'s
through Write to them.com and any other way you can think of.
I know your probably thinking the same as me(that they are a useless bunch of wasters, that do nothing for us,but they are all we've got to use.
And if they dont answer you or help you, it goes as a black mark against them in their ratings.
Bedsheets with slogans on bridges could be good too, if you know what I mean.
But we've got to step this up a bit, because they will send him for sure if we allow them to.
You've got to remember, we're not dealing with a democratic body here,If we were, this would have been quashed a long time ago.
we are dealing with a power the same as the one that won over the good people of America in 2002, that took away their bill of rights and habeas corpus,and replaced it with the patriot act.
They controlled them, and they will do so to us if we let up our guard.
We are all seeing the changes that they are trying to make to our lives already.
We need to stick together and unite against this tyrany now!

Asperger's syndrome, people with it are content in their own company, from Autos=self. They have hobbies which they pursue sometimes such as for Mr McKinnons case to the absence of all else [he was so busy at a computer his girlfriend left him]. People with AS are incredibly smart, I have an IQ of 170 and often interested in computers. AS can cause claustrophobia, many top scientists including Isaac Newton and Einstein were thought to have AS.

Benjamin