this should be entertaining

[waider]

A lawyer "representing the US Government" in a case in the UK claims that America has the right to kidnap those wanted by US law. I'm sure this will turn out to be an over-reaching interpretation by a lawyer with no official sanction to do so, but it's certainly an... interesting point of view.

Comments

[dr-strych9.livejournal.com]

"...this will turn out to be an over-reaching interpretation by a lawyer with no official sanction to do so..."

Um, no. The US government really does claim the legal authority under its own laws to capture and detain suspects in criminal cases regardless of where they live or who issued their passport. This is not new. In fact, bounty hunters are sometimes regarded as heroes in this country.

The only thing that might be "news" here is that people in the UK are starting to realize what kind of entity is on the other side of their "special relationship" across the Atlantic ocean. Hee hee, you people thought we were civilized. LOLZ.

[waider.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I read a few things on the subject afterwards and realised I already knew this, except I'd not seen it defended as actual law, more people turning a blind eye to America Being America again. The whole Noriega incident springs to mind.

I still think the blatant (rather than tacit, implicit, or whatever other diplomatic word you choose) statement of jurisdiction is going to cause a bit of a flap.

[dr-strych9.livejournal.com]

"I still think the blatant (rather than tacit, implicit, or whatever other diplomatic word you choose) statement of jurisdiction is going to cause a bit of a flap."

A "bit of a flap" is about all one could ever expect out of the goddamn British in these matters. The USA is openly kidnapping their citizens from their own sovereign territory, which is a crime under UK law last I checked. You'd think it would warrant more than a sour look and a shrug.

[waider.livejournal.com]

Can't say I've even seen that much. There've been one or two bitty comments here and there, but most people seem to be disregarding this. Searching for Alun Jones QC on the BBC News website, for example, turns up nothing on this topic, although I did learn that Mr. Jones is in fact a top extradition lawyer in the UK, and that he defended Abu Hamza against extradition to the US. Google news list of articles discussing my original comment, although I don't know if that's a permalink.

waider's not british

[(Anonymous)]

Aren't you at least going to point out to the geography-challenged poster that you are not, in fact, British or in the UK?

Re: waider's not british

[waider.livejournal.com]

Nah, M. Strychnine is well aware of these things and is not, in fact, referring to me as being either British, or from the UK.

And, you know, who's a name-challeneged person to point fingers anyway?

Re: waider's not british

[(Anonymous)]

His use of "you people" suggests otherwise.

Re: waider's not british

[waider.livejournal.com]

You really should identify yourself if you're going to persist with this.

I know s9. He knows Ireland and the UK are not the same place. In light of this fact, you may read his "you people?" as either indicitave that all non-Americans thought Americans were civilized, or that he's directing it at the UK (since in the context of the colloquialisms, "they people" or "them people" doesn't really work)