The Curious Gary Mckinnon Saga

Im sure most people in the United Kingdom andimagine the embarrassment that this has caused
elsewhere, have heard about the Gary McKinnonto NASA, the Pentagon, and the military
case. In short, Gary is accused of penetratinginstallations whose security he breached. Lets not
over 90 unclassified Pentagon systems in 2001forget, this was not a seasoned hacker or cyber
and 2002 -- and allegedly crashing some of them.genius, this was a guy who used recreational
He states that he was looking for informationdrugs frequently, and wrote or purchased a
regarding U.F.O.s and Suppressed Technology.simple pearl program (searching for blank
According to Mr McKinnon, he found somepasswords) to infiltrate supposedly high level
evidence to support that. I have had numeroussecurity installations.This apparently went
conversations with my webmaster Simon Donkin,unnoticed for two years, how embarrassing is
about this case, as well as other Ufologists, and Ithat. I did however believe Gary's motives were
must conclude, that I am still unconvinced that Mrsincere if not foolish regarding this issue when I
McKinnon found anything of note. What I see infirst read about the case, attempting to expose
this particular case is farcical. Here we have ansuppressed technology, U.F.O.s etc, and the huge
individual, who by his own admission was a poorcover-up surrounding it, but two wrongs do not
"Hacker", technically incapable to even cover hismake a right! Just because someone leaves the
tracks. He was a frequent drug user, high ondoor unlocked, does not mean you can walk in
cannabis most of the time, even when he wasand look around. No-one wants to see Full
breaking into high level security systems. I sayDisclosure regarding Extraterrestrials more than I
breaking in, what is clear is that some of thesedo, but I want it done legally, and honestly.
computer systems did not have administratorBecoming a thief to expose a thief is madness,
passwords, so anyone with a basic knowledge ofand should not be encouraged by anyone, let
"Hacking" so too speak, could have gained accessalone the U.F.O. Community. I am confident
without much problem. I could create a programhowever, that when Gary McKinnon is finally
that would allow me to take control of anyreleased, a book deal will be forthcoming, endless
unprotected computer anywhere in the world, Iradio interviews, and a low budget movie will
could also develop a password cracker, and soappear somewhere down the line, and the tin-foil
forth, but what prevents me is simple, its illegal,hat brigade will flock to buy it im sure. This
and I do not want to go to prison. Gary openlyobscure, and curious individual will no doubt cash in
admits he was breaking the law when he did this,on his fifteen minutes of fame also, but for
so where is his argument. I used to support theachieving what? A low resolution image of what
"Free Gary McKinnon" bandwagon, but what fewcould have been an artists impression, and a file
people know, and some choose to ignore is thistitled "Non-Terrestrial Officers" ( Conveniently, he
fact. A fact that was brought to my attentioncannot remember any names from that file, and
recently by a source within the British Media,did not have the presence of mind to take screen
whom I have known for a number of years, andshots either). Their is absolutely no evidence that
who is very reliable. Gary was offered ahe found anything on those systems, and he has
"Guaranteed" deal by the United States if heproduced nothing, No Pictures, No Documents, No
pleaded guilty, he would spend six months to aNames, just his word. Two years of unrestricted
year in a U.S. prison, followed by repatriation backaccess to NASA, and the Pentagon, and he has
in the U.K., where he'd be eligible for parole. I thinkproduced not one shred of evidence, ZILCH. I
that's a good deal, considering he is in fact guilty.personally feel regret that I was swept along with
So why did Mr McKinnon turn down thisthe McKinnon circus, I do not like being misled, but
"Guaranteed" offer?, only Gary, and his legal teamI have only myself to blame for that. So in
know the answer to that, and we can onlyclosing, will the United States Government actually
speculate at the reasons. Is it possible that Garylock him away for seventy years? I doubt it, the
is seeking notoriety, attention, or maybe wants toworst that will happen to Gary McKinnon is
make a name for himself with an exaggeratedpossibly a few years in a low security prison, and
story?a slapped wrist. The Gary McKinnon saga does
I personally believe the United States Authoritiesprove one thing however, the U.F.O. community
wanted this incident dealt with quickly, and withoutas a whole, will believe anything if its packaged
much fuss. Why? Its simple really, can youcorrectly.