FBI Banned from Iceland

[wildbilln864]

The hunt for WikiLeaks by the US has on several occasions involved private individuals and companies on Iceland. Authorities in the US have for example succeeded in obtaining account information from Twitter on parliamentarian Birgitta Jónsdóttir. Jónsdóttir today refuses to travel to the US out of fear of being arrested for her connections with WikiLeaks.
more here.

[dgibby]

1. If we keep screwing with them,

it wouldn't surprise me if they made us close the Navy Base there. I know several people from Iceland. They don't take kindly to other countries trying to run roughshod over them.

[LTG]

3. NAS Keflavik

I thought we closed that base and removed all military personnel from there 5 or 6 years ago.

[dgibby]

7. Just googled it.

You're right. Don't know how I missed that. I always wanted to be stationed at the Navy hospital there, but never got to go. I never met anybody that didn't love Iceland, and my friends who were from there originally were some of the nicest people you'd ever want to know.

[Alkene]

2. World domination can be such a thankless job. n/t

[tazkcmo]

4. You are so right!

Used to be back waters like Iceland would give up half their social safety net to be a satellite state but now? NOOOOOooooooo!

[treestar]

5. What connections does she have to wikileaks and why would they cause her arrest here?

More paranoia from the Julian crowd. Has a single person ever been arrested anywhere over Wikileaks?

[boston bean]

6. uh, manning?

[Demo_Chris]

8. Yeah, but she doesn't count. nt

[treestar]

9. But she was the leaker to wikileaks

He actually let the classified information go. What does this Icelandic person have to do with it and what would she have done that she fears is illegal under US law?

[riderinthestorm]

11. How about the larger point that the FBI is now banned from Iceland

I think it's interesting that more people are now afraid of US retribution over leaking illegal actions AND now the Icelandic government is barring any investigators because the US has gone too far...

[treestar]

12. I dunno, why did Iceland allow the FBI there in the first place?

They never had to. The FBI is supposed to be domestic only (though I recall a Supreme Court case where they went into Mexico and got evidence under conditions not allowed here but were allowed to get that evidence in).

[riderinthestorm]

13. The FBI operates internationally. They've never been restricted to the US

If the investigation takes them out of the country they go.

Iceland has allowed the US investigators in before, even to hunt Assange. Now they aren't letting them back because of US overreach and fears for the rights of its citizens.

And yes, now another Wikileaks player fears arrest. If even the Icelandic government is mistrustful of US investigators then individuals are justifiably right in being concerned.

[treestar]

14. The other country doesn't have to let them in

And the US does not have to let Birgitta in, what right has she to come to the US? Still don't get what she thinks she is going to be charged with.

[riderinthestorm]

20. That's not the point of the article

But you knew that

[treestar]

22. It's mentioned in the article

What's wrong with discussing a point mentioned in the article?

[magical thyme]

21. "The other country doesn't have to let them in" is the exact point of the article.

Going forward, the FBI is not allowed in Iceland, period.

Maybe they're just making a blanket announcement so that the FBI won't waste everybody's time with pointless requests because from now on, all requests for access will be denied.

Not unlike when I posted "no trespassing" signs on my front yard. Now my neighbors don't bother me or my animals, whereas before they acted like they owned the place and ran roughshod over the legitimate inhabitants here.

I wonder if Iceland will put into place some additional security features to catch the FBI if they try to slip in unnoticed. Sort of like my putting up strategically located game cameras...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. FBI has offices around the world

http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/legat

[treestar]

16. OK but wouldn't they be investigating crimes that happened in the US?

A witness might have gone abroad, for example.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. You are subject to the long arm of American justice if you perpetrate a crime....

..... against the US or a US citizen.


http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/june/international_060308

The FBI’s jurisdiction in crimes or attacks against Americans abroad dates back to the mid-1980s, when Congress passed laws authorizing us to investigate hostage-taking and kidnappings of Americans and terrorist acts against U.S. nationals or interests overseas. Of course, we don’t go uninvited into another country—we get permission from the host government and always work with that nation’s law enforcement and security personnel, in concert with the U.S. Embassy and the Ambassador.

Our jurisdiction doesn’t extend to non-terrorism related homicides, robberies, rapes, and muggings of Americans—these are usually handled by local authorities. But we can—and sometimes do—offer investigative or forensics assistance in these cases if asked.

How it works. Let’s say the worst has occurred—a terrorist attack or kidnapping. What happens then? In general:

The victim or family (if able) contacts the U.S. Embassy closest to where the incident occurred.
The U.S. Ambassador there offers American assistance to the host government (in some cases that government asks for our nation’s help first).
Our Legal Attaché agent assigned to that country or region serves as a diplomatic liaison (we have more than 60 such agents around the world today) and works with the Ambassador and the entire embassy team to determine what resources are needed.
With the permission of the host government and in conjunction with the State Department, the FBI deploys its resources, supporting the investigative efforts of the foreign government. The size of our overseas deployments depends on the scope of the incident and what the host government requests.

[treestar]

19. Thanks

Though what terrorism is going on in the Icelandic case is beyond imagination.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. I kinda remember the '80s was when the rules change ...

.... And the FBI website link I posted confirms that.

I want to say it was around the time of that TWA hijacking - the one with that infamous image of the pilot hanging out the window. When they killed that sailor kid on leave and tossed his body on the Tarmac.

If that wasn't what did it it was right around that time.

[woo me with science]

10. K&R

[WillyT]

23. GOOD !!! - K & R !!!