27 November 2009

Tinfoil Hats Don't Ward Off Extradition Papers

I might have to remember that in the event the Home Office somehow has misplaced my visa application. This is becoming evident as lawyers for 43-year-old Gary McKinnon are down to last-ditch efforts to prevent his extradition to the U.S. to face charges of hacking into Department of Defense computers. McKinnon, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a higher-functioning form of autism, says he did access those computers but he was looking for evidence on UFOs, specifically whether the US government was covering up information on their existence as well as their propulsion systems.

While this defense might bring about a chuckle on the US side, the case has generated widespread disapproval in the UK. Yesterday, Home Secretary Alan Johnson again declined to intercede, saying he was powerless to prevent the move and added that he had received assurances that McKinnon's condition would be taken into account with regards to his custody while in the US. Government critics, including a committee in the House of Commons, say McKinnon's mental health is too precarious to allow his removal from the UK, while others have pointed out apparent inequities in the extradition treaty between America and Britain.

Unfortunate for McKinnon, he picked the weeks following 9/11 to start gaining unauthorized access to DoD computers and look for this information on UFOs. This is a gross breach of national security, and while more needs done to safeguard IT resources, breaking into a foreign government's computers is a form of cyber warfare. As he could have gained more sensitive information if he had wanted, McKinnon must face the music, and unless the US expresses willingness to set up a temporary courtroom on Grosvenor Square in London, his extradition is thus necessary. Likewise, if a US citizen were to hack into the UK's Ministry of Defence computers looking for information on something as benign as who's contracted to forge the Victoria Cross medallions, he or she should expect ramifications from UK authorities.

Conversely, should McKinnon find himself in a US courtroom, his diagnosis of Asperger's must be weighed when it comes to sentencing. 70 years does seem excessive for someone with a mental condition, especially if such a sentence is served in Leavenworth. As McKinnon has admitted on multiple occasions to the BBC his actions, a plea bargain which would allow him to serve the majority of his sentence in the UK would be wise.

Therefore, instead of McKinnon's advocates convincing a UK government that is struggling to find some remnant of credibility to hold onto, they should instead put the pressure on the US State Department to be the compassionate ones. After all, it was Barack Obama who won the Nobel Peace Prize in spite of declining to issue a pardon posthumously to boxer Jack Johnson. If he wants to prove to a growingly skeptical international community that he does aim to "strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," he could start by scrapping extradition and either hammer a plea deal with McKinnon or let him be tried in the UK.

25 November 2009

Didn't hear this in the Queen's speech last week

Last week, the last annual State Opening of Parliament occurred, where Her Majesty The Queen read the annual goals of the House of Commons. By "Annual Goals of the House of Commons" that pretty much meant the Labour Party Manifesto for the election on or before 3 June that they've been dawdling on calling. One thing that wasn't mentioned in the Queen's speech that might catch many residents of the UK and Commonwealth off-guard is about to be proposed by prime minister Gordon Brown later this week when Commonwealth heads of government meet in Trinidad.

The Prime Minister wishes to remove provisions that bar Catholics from assuming the British throne and also discontinue the automatic elevation of male heirs. If other Commonwealth government heads agree to pursue similar bills in their respective parliaments, they will remove a roadblock installed to assure the succession of Protestants (namely members of the Church of England) since the Glorious Revolution 321 years ago. In the UK, the measure was introduced earlier this year by Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat MP from Oxford West. Government officials in March prevented the measure from coming up for discussion, but the Prime Minister indicated interest in debating the issue a later date, after meeting with members of the Royal Family about other possible changes to the line of succession.

Brown does make it a point to note that the measure is to ensure that no discrimination exists in the manner by which the Head of State of the 16 Commonwealth realms is selected, and for that should be applauded. Where opposition to the idea exists, principally from Australia and Canada (according to Brown & Harris during Question Time today), might need better justifying. If members of Kevin Rudd & Stephen Harper's respective governments object to the prospect of a princess assuming the throne over her younger brother, then there lies a serious problem. Ironic, considering that Canada gained Dominion status in 1867 from Queen Victoria and full independence from Westminster in 1982.

It again must be noted that in addition to being the sovereign leader of Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and 13 other countries, the person seated on the British throne also is the sovereign of the Church of England. As sovereign of the Church of England, he/she is responsible for appointing (by way of clerical committees fleshing out candidates for the Prime Minister to formally nominate) the spiritual leader of the church, the Archbishop of Canterbury. While the monarch's role is largely ceremonial in this process, they still retain by law the ability to not grant royal assent to the appointment of new bishops. Thus, it would make sense for the monarch, as a fellow member of the Anglican Communion, rather than a Catholic, Southern Baptist, Sikh, etc. etc., to make the appointment. Conversely, Catholics likely would not be fond of Anglican bishops sitting in the conclave to select the next pope, nor would a Latter-Day Saint be thrilled at the prospect of a seat on the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles filled by someone who has no intention of accepting the Book of Mormon as word incarnate.

This chief concern, coming as the Roman Catholic Church earlier this year announced plans to allow Anglican parishes which disapprove of changes within the Church of England to convert to Catholicism, needs adequately addressed and resolved by Commonwealth leaders this weekend should any such change to the rule of succession take place. Or, they can take the easy way out and either do nothing, declare a universal separation of Church and Crown, or abolish the monarchy altogether and become republics still aligned in an organization that British governments have gradually let become supplanted by the EU.

09 November 2009

Eight Hours of Daylight

Welcome to November, where the sun's setting over the North Downs of Kent at 4:30. By month's end, it'll be just after 4:00.

Meanwhile, a side project I've been working on for the Romney Marsh Times has finally been published. Enjoy this interview I conducted with lifelong James Bond fan and expert Graham Rye.

Things should be picking up in the coming days. Along with the nightlight.