Chat to President Obama about Gary

I have always thought that the lop-sided extradition treaty we signed with the USA - the one where our rights are regarded as being much less important than those of Americans - was just part of Tony Blair's job application ready for the time when being Prime Minister had served its purpose.

Latest victim is Gary McKinnon, the bloke with Asperger's Syndrome who hacked into the most sensitive US defence and intelligence computers from a cheapo PC in a back bedroom using a dial up modem. Remember? Those whistling things that took a day and a half to download a half meg photo?

The safety of the free world does not seem quite so secure when you find you can get into the innermost sanctum of the US defence and security systems with a cheap PC from the local computer shop and a ten quid modem does it?

Anyhow despite the fact the crimes were committed here the US wants to try him there using the extradition treaty signed supposedly to aid the fight against terror (the only ones not extradited seem to be terrorist suspects but that is another tale) with a 70 year jail term looming.

This is a guy who, let us be honest, is not quite the full shilling. Remember, he was hacking into the US secret super computers to find proof of aliens.

The Government, as usual, are happy to jump through hoops if the US snaps its fingers, so poor old Gary is being thrown to the wolves, despite the fact the crimes were committed in the UK and discovered three years before the extradition treaty was signed. As I understand it the US have yet to ratify the treaty but are still quite happy to use it if it suits them.

As it stands if we want a US citizen we have to prove in a US court that there is a strong case to answer. If the US want one of our citizens they basically have to just chuck us a name and we put them on a plane - unless of course they happen to want a suspected terrorist living on legal aid and benefits in the UK when the rules seem to change but that is New Labour for you.

The Daily Mail, always quick to jump on a bandwagon, is claiming it is behind the campaign to try him here, despite the fact others, including Private Eye, had been fighting long before the Mail took an interest, but no matter, at least they have raised awareness and are driving the cause onward.

After running out of legal moves to prevent a US trial it now comes down to either shaming this spineless Government to stand up for one of its own citizens or convincing the Americans that justice will not be served by extradition.

If you want to express some concerns to the US then start with the top man, President Obama. You can email him by clicking here. Meanwhile it might hurt a little - but not as much as 70 years in a US jail - but you can also help by signing the Daily Mail petition here or by signing a petition to the US Congress by clicking here.
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You can also help by contacting your MP, you can find a list of all MPs and links to send an email by clicking here. If you have other moans stick to Gary first and then send a second missive - keeping it civilised please - about any other points you want to raise.

No one is saying Gary is a hero and he does have a case to answer but let's keep it in proportion and let him answer his case in this country.