More on Gary McKinnon

The Herald British Press, recently published more on Gary McKinnon, the computer hacker. For more information on the story behind Gary McKinnon please read my earlier blogs about him: Should a computer hacker with Asperger Syndrome go to prison? and Should Asperger Syndrome be used as a defense?

The Herald seems to be very supportive of Mr. McKinnon and believes that he should not be extradited to the US to stand trial. However, the British Courts have upheld the extradition order as legal.

In 2003 Mr. McKinnon was offered a plea bargain of about three years in prison and after six months of jail time in the US  he could return home. He refused the deal. I suspect that he hoped he would not have to leave England and never serve any time.

Do you really think Mr. McKinnon was just innocently searching for information on little green space men? This is just one of the personal messages he left when he hacked into the Pentagon computers: “US foreign policy is akin to government-sponsored terrorism these days . . . It was not a mistake that there was a huge security stand-down on September 11 last year . . . I am SOLO. I will continue to disrupt at the highest levels . . .”

After reading this message, I doubt you will think McKinnon is just an innocent prankster. Does it sound to you like this man was only seeking information on extraterrestrials?

Mr. McKinnon needs to stand trial for his admitted crimes, but I also maintain that he needs to receive evaluation and treatment for his developmental disorder.