Why does American news ignore the Gary McKinnon case?

[M30USA]

I bet most of you haven't even HEARD of Gary McKinnon. This is because he was involved in what has been called the biggest hack on US military defense computers in history. Furthermore, he says he was looking for evidence of the UFO phenomenon. He claims that he did hack into NASA computers and find photographs of UFOs in space which were edited by having the UFOs removed before they were revealed to the public. Those who blow off this case merely do so because Gary McKinnon has Aspberger's Syndrome (a form of autism) and, even though he is extremely intelligent, they consider him a crazy, fringe-type person and won't buy it.

 

Currently, Gary McKinnon is facing a possible 60 year prison sentence for his hacking. They want to force him to face trial in American (and not UK where he lives). Fortunately it's looking like he will get out of this extradition.

 

What do you think?

 

Interview by BBC news in the UK:

[january2011]

From memory, there's a spectrum from mild to severe and some people who have Asperger's Syndrome are high-functioning and 'productive' members of society.

 

That McKinnon appears highly competent may or may not be misleading in terms of how culpable he is. However, I'm leaning towards very culpable as my gut feeling on this is that he's using his condition as an "excuse" to avoid conviction and prison.

 

The cynic in me also thinks that if he were not Anglo Saxon but say of South Asian or Middle-Eastern ethnicity, this case wouldn't have dragged on for so long and he'd have been shipped off to the US long ago. I also think his threats of suicide are suspect - but this is based on my gut reaction and not any particular evidence.

 

According to Wikipedia, his extradition was blocked recently. I don't support this and believe that he should be extradited and face trial in the US.

[Eve]

I don't think he should be sent to the US. I want to hear more about what he found out, lol. There has been much speculation about Free Energy being a reality that has been blocked for a long, long time by the Government and I am all for busting those types of secrets. Seriously.

 

I sometimes work with young people who have Aspergers and find them fascinating. Statistically they are beginning to take up a lot of room in Prisons of late so I would say it may be wise for the powers that be to use this person to find ways to 'Aspergers proof' their computer systems.

 

Otherwise they will continue to get hacked by them, just out of curiosity. If the guy was going to blow **** up fair enough but he wasn't so I reckon people need to calm down a bit.

 

.. I don't want him in a US Prison. That's too harsh. He would probably die there.

 

Take care,

Eve x

[somedude81]

Sheesh, blank passwords on government computers?!

[M30USA]

But what do you think of what McKinnon claims he found on the NASA computers? He said he found edited photos of UFOs in the earth's atmosphere. There was a "cigar-shaped" UFO with "geodesic domes" on the top, bottom, and both sides. He said it had no evidence of being manmade since there were no lines, seams, or bolts. Additionally, he found these in NASA Bldg #8, which is exactly where a former NASA worker who testified on the Disclosure Project in the White House said they would be. Sounds very credible. I also think they're wanting to slam 60 years prison on him NOT because of the hacking, itself, but because what he was looking FOR.

[fortyninethousand322]

From memory, there's a spectrum from mild to severe and some people who have Asperger's Syndrome are high-functioning and 'productive' members of society.

 

That McKinnon appears highly competent may or may not be misleading in terms of how culpable he is. However, I'm leaning towards very culpable as my gut feeling on this is that he's using his condition as an "excuse" to avoid conviction and prison.

 

The cynic in me also thinks that if he were not Anglo Saxon but say of South Asian or Middle-Eastern ethnicity, this case wouldn't have dragged on for so long and he'd have been shipped off to the US long ago. I also think his threats of suicide are suspect - but this is based on my gut reaction and not any particular evidence.

 

According to Wikipedia, his extradition was blocked recently. I don't support this and believe that he should be extradited and face trial in the US.

 

If he were Middle Eastern or South Asian he'd be dead. Via drone. We don't bother with trials for people who violate "national security".

 

On a related note OP, any word on how I can contribute to his legal defense fund? Or would that make me an accessory to terrorism? Not that I care...

[M30USA]

If he were Middle Eastern or South Asian he'd be dead. Via drone. We don't bother with trials for people who violate "national security".

 

On a related note OP, any word on how I can contribute to his legal defense fund? Or would that make me an accessory to terrorism? Not that I care...

 

It's funny, but Gary McKinnon technically didn't break any law. So they are charging him with "damage" to thousands of computers in NASA. It's such a stretch, but apparently him downloading a remote access software on their computers was "damage". Hilarious. But it's sadly the only way they can charge him with any crime.

[january2011]

Part of me already believes that there are extra-terrestrial life forms on Earth. And am not surprised that there is a lot that governments hide from their people.

 

But I still don't "care" about what he supposedly found and don't think that the ends justifies the means. That probably sounds cold and harsh. Perhaps I don't actually have a lot of interest in this case...it was just the "UK vs. US" part of it that interested me.

[fortyninethousand322]

It's funny, but Gary McKinnon technically didn't break any law. So they are charging him with "damage" to thousands of computers in NASA. It's such a stretch, but apparently him downloading a remote access software on their computers was "damage". Hilarious. But it's sadly the only way they can charge him with any crime.

 

Of course. It's not about any actual crime, it's about "asserting their authority". "Sending a message", as the Joker so eloquently put it.

 

Look how they're going after (or trying to after) Julian Assange...

[fortyninethousand322]

Part of me already believes that there are extra-terrestrial life forms on Earth. And am not surprised that there is a lot that governments hide from their people.

 

But I still don't "care" about what he supposedly found and don't think that the ends justifies the means. That probably sounds cold and harsh. Perhaps I don't actually have a lot of interest in this case...it was just the "UK vs. US" part of it that interested me.

 

Well, it's just funny that the US does this exact same thing to other countries (one example is Iran). If it's such a big "crime" why does our nation do it? Double standards...

[january2011]

Well, it's just funny that the US does this exact same thing to other countries (one example is Iran). If it's such a big "crime" why does our nation do it? Double standards...

 

Yes, I haven't quite sorted out my thoughts about governments spying on each other, especially under the label, "national security." They all seem to use the same excuse, yet somehow it's "okay" when it's a western government doing the spying. Team America: World Police, indeed.

[somedude81]

It's funny, but Gary McKinnon technically didn't break any law.

If trespassing can be a crime, then how is something like hacking into a computer not?

[M30USA]

If trespassing can be a crime, then how is something like hacking into a computer not?

 

Well, the NASA computers had no passwords or anything. Even they knew he couldn't be punished for hacking/trespassing, which is why they are trying to bust him for "destruction of property". It's actually funny.

[M30USA]

Forgetting to lock your door isn't an invitation, and not a defense against tresspassing, nor is it a defense in this case. Your obvious bias is showing, M30.

 

My bias? Then explain why they had to resort to the charge of "destruction of property" instead of hacking/trespassing?

[fortyninethousand322]

If trespassing can be a crime, then how is something like hacking into a computer not?

 

If we're going to arrest a regular person, why not arrest all those people over at the CIA or NSA who hack into private computers every day of the week?

 

Answer: it's not a crime if you do for the government, but it is one if you do it against the government...

[pie2]

I sometimes work with young people who have Aspergers and find them fascinating. Statistically they are beginning to take up a lot of room in Prisons of late so I would say it may be wise for the powers that be to use this person to find ways to 'Aspergers proof' their computer systems.

 

Ok, I watched the video, and I know that the Wikipedia article says that three leading experts have diagnosed Gary McKinnon with Aspergers...but I would have never known! I mean, there must be a point when a diagnosis does not actually impact someone in any negative way (or, in other words, cannot be used as an excuse for deviance). In fact, at times, could his genius be mistaken for something debilitating? Even Einstein probably had odd traits (actually, some like to think that Einstein also had Aspergers).

 

Those with Aspergers often perseverate on a topic of interest. But can a genius really not think deeply about the subjects of their interest (which may be mistaken for obsessive thoughts or ritualistic stemming)? I think, at least at times, the line between genius and illness can be very thin.

 

This man spoke with very appropriate intonation, and stayed on the topic of converstaion with no difficulty.

 

I just can't see his "disability".

 

.. I don't want him in a US Prison. That's too harsh. He would probably die there.

 

Really?! Many consider US prisons to be pretty cush, relatively speaking. Are they thought to be bad?

[M30USA]

Speaking of Aspberger's and autism, does anybody know that these traits have been linked to Neanderthal genes? Yep. Time to throw the idea out the window which says Neanderthals were ogrish, dumb cave dwellers. Turns out numerous genetic traits which are linked to high intelligence are found in their genome. And why would this surprise anybody? We know the average Neanderthal cranial vault size was 200 cc larger than modern humans. Additionally--and this is where people will accuse me of my typical conspiracy theories--I believe Neanderthals were the Nephilim of the Bible: humans with angelic DNA. As laughable as this sounds, is it that unrealistic in light of the info I've presented here?

[pie2]

I believe Neanderthals were the Nephilim of the Bible: humans with angelic DNA.

 

Speaking of perseverating!

 

Aspberger's and autism...these traits have been linked to Neanderthal genes?

 

Aren't all hereditary (most agree that Autism is hereditary) conditions passed down from our ancestors?

 

Time to throw the idea out the window which says Neanderthals were ogrish, dumb cave dwellers.

 

Autism is actually characterized by severe delays in language and social functioning, and is often paired with a cognitive delay, as well. But, the diagnosis of Autism is VERY broad, and can manifest itself in many different ways.

[somedude81]

Forgetting to lock your door isn't an invitation, and not a defense against tresspassing, nor is it a defense in this case.

That's exactly it.

 

Leaving a door unlocked is not inviting people to come in. And he was essentially going up to each door and trying to open it.

 

I highly doubt anybody would be OK with a stranger going inside their home and looking around. Regardless if they touched anything.

 

I don't think he should be charged with destruction of property, but what he did is still illegal.

[M30USA]

Yes. Yes it is.

 

The sky is orange.

[Ross MwcFan]

A 60 year prison sentance in the US sounds way way way too harsh, just because of hacking into some computers to find information on UFO's. He probably never had any idea that what he was doing was so serious that this could be the kind of punishment he'd get if he got caught.

[fortyninethousand322]

That's exactly it.

 

Leaving a door unlocked is not inviting people to come in. And he was essentially going up to each door and trying to open it.

 

I highly doubt anybody would be OK with a stranger going inside their home and looking around. Regardless if they touched anything.

 

I don't think he should be charged with destruction of property, but what he did is still illegal.

 

Then why does our government do it with impunity?

 

If it's a crime then our own hackers working for the federal government should be prosecuted just the same. We don't let cops shoot people without consequences...

[Hawaii50]

I don't doubt it at all.. will post "my take" after the video.

[Hawaii50]

The sky is orange.

 

sometimes, yes, the sky is orange...I've seen it every morning, night, and during sandstorms in the desert. Orange...

 

You said this in the psychic vs religion forum,

 

"Yep, I know all about it. It's established upon the testimony of reliable expert witnesses, but their conclusion is erroneous. I would not be surprised if they are part of a government misinformation plan. If you don't believe the government engages in misinformation, you are factually wrong. There are hundreds of examples."

 

Your video goes hand in hand with the disclosure project and the guy even mentions it. So this is misinformation.

[somedude81]

Then why does our government do it with impunity?

 

If it's a crime then our own hackers working for the federal government should be prosecuted just the same. We don't let cops shoot people without consequences...

Do you really want to get into, "if the government does it, why can't everybody else"?

 

And BTW, nobody from the government is going to admit to hacking.

 

Just because the US govt. may or may not do it, is not a defense.