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Pentagon hacker wins right to challenge extradition
Martin Bentham23 Jan 2009
A computer expert today won permission to launch a fresh High Court challenge over moves to extradite him to the US on charges of hacking into Pentagon networks.
Lawyers for Gary McKinnon, 42, of Wood Green, won the right to a judicial review after claiming that his health would suffer and he would be at real risk of suicide.
The ruling means that the extradition, which has been approved by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, will now be put on hold until senior judges have decided whether to reassess the case. Mr McKinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome, says that he was searching for documents on UFOs. He has admitted the hacking but denies malicious intent.
Reader views (4)
I do appreciate being classed as a typical European Liberal, Frank . However, I am not a supporter of any political way of thinking. This was my personal opinion. After the disastrous effect that US policies have had on the World in recent years, and make no mistake (recognise the phrase- one of the few that Mr. Bush Jr. managed to articulate successfully?)I have been an ardent admirer of America, and still am. But it seems to me that, as so often, the US is going over the top in this case. Yes Sir, it WAS the fault of the Pentagon that it's Security was frankly, lousy. Bet you a dime to a dollar that my PC is more secure than theirs were.But, like I said, rattle the bars, and take the consequences. Anyway, Frank, at least we only had to put up with Tony Blair-just look what you had to put up with.Every Country gets the Government it deserves, and let's hope the US now has one which takes a more sensible view of this case, and puts aside it's lust for revenge on this rather foolish young man.
- Ray King, wood green london, 06/02/2009 00:06
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I think the definition of hacking needs to be properly laid out here, he accessed the systems using the default passwords for the servers as no one had ever bothered changing them since the factory install. It's a bit like opening all your doors and windows and then going on holiday, you'd really expect to be broken into, it would still be illegal to break in but as the homeowner you'd be derided by the community at large for being such an idiot.
- Bob, Cheam, 26/01/2009 10:25
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It seems to me Ray that in your opinion it's America's fault because they didn't stop him. Typical liberal European thinking that crooks are not to blame.
- Frank, ex-England, 24/01/2009 13:28
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As much as I dislike the hackers and the trouble and sometimes misery that they cause, I feel that Gary has been punished enough. He is surely intelligent enough to turn his knowledge in a more useful direction, and should not to be used as an example to others , of the power of US justice. In fact, one wonders just why the Americans were not using a hacker-proof system for the all-important tasks of the Pentagon. It should not have been possible for anyone to invade the system as he did. Yes, he broke the law, but in doing so he probably actually did us all a favour by exposing these weaknesses.The punishment that awaits him in the US is way too drastic for the crime he committed, he is being subjected to enormous pre-trial stress, and has less chance of a fair trial than a murderer.The US would do well to drop this case, it will serve no useful purpose.But then, rattling the bars of their Institution has always been just about the worst crime of all.When one sees the way their Military behave, and the amount of uniforms that they seem to adore wearing, one cannot help but be reminded of the Third Reich, and when one also sees that their top personell all seem to have connnections with the Country of Origin of the aforementioned Reich (Rumsfeld, for example), one cannot help but wonder whether a lot of that horrible era rubbed off onto the stars of their generals' shoulders. One would sincerely hope not.Never trust a Country using an eagle as it's emblem! (Churchill).
- ray king, wood green london and kassel germany, 23/01/2009 21:31
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