US poodles throw McKinnon to the dogs

Scotsman

A Scot accused of the "biggest military hack of all time" will be extradited to the United States, the Home Office confirmed last night.

Gary McKinnon, originally from Glasgow, faces more than 50 years in prison if convicted in the US of sabotaging vital defence systems, including networks owned by NASA and the country's army, navy and air force.

The 40-year-old has two weeks to appeal the order, which was approved by John Reid, the Home Secretary on Tuesday.

A judge ruled in May that McKinnon, who has been indicted in New Jersey and northern Virginia, should be sent to the US to face trial. However, the decision required Mr Reid's authorisation. Read more

db: How very right it is that John Reid should be the man. He who stood in the House of Commons and stated that it was his hope that British troops might return from their 'mission impossible' in Afghanistan 'without firing a single shot' - he has a track record of sacrificing the interests of UK citizens in the name of the so-called 'special' relationship. The only thing 'special' about it is that when we grab our ankles we get shafted more violently than any other nation on earth.

Notions of 'Justice' and 'fair play' are becoming things of the past in Britain. The shameful UK-US Extradition Treaty is but one example:

"Under the new treaty, the allegations of the US government will be enough to secure the extradition of people from the UK. However, if the UK wants to extradite someone from the US, evidence to the standard of a "reasonable" demonstration of guilt will still be required.

No other EU countries would accept this US demand, either politically or constitutionally. Yet the UK government not only acquiesced, but did so taking advantage of arcane legislative powers to see the treaty signed and implemented without any parliamentary debate or scrutiny." Link