Bobby Fischer a Free Man ... for now...

[AlecWest]

Recently, Bobby Fischer was released from a Japanese jail after having been granted citizenship in Iceland. And, recently, he boarded a flight to Copenhagen, Denmark, continuing on to Iceland:

http://www.itv.com/news/world_865551.html

He's a wanted man in the U.S. because he violated sanctions against Yugoslavia in 1992 ... playing a chess match against Boris Spassky (and beating him). And while he's considered a hero in Iceland and has been granted citizenship there, U.S. officials have pointed out that this does not relieve Iceland of its responsibilities in honoring agreements relative to extradition. What will happen from here on out is anybody's guess.

[MackemX]

I don't care but I do care about that twatting paedophile who is coming back to the UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4374189.stm

[AlecWest]

I don't care but I do care about that twatting paedophile who is coming back to the UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4374189.stm

Perhaps they had to deport him due to their surplus in pedophiles within the police and school systems.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200409/s1210355.htm

[adam]

I don't know enough about those past sanctions to comment on what they should do with him, but this is all news to me regarding Fisher. I had always heard he was this crazy guy who would disappear for years and then suddenly show up and play a chess game in the park and all the media would come running. I didn't know he was just hiding out in foreign countries because he was wanted. This kinda ruins the whole mystique.

Anyone ever watch the movie, "Searching for Bobby Fisher?"

[shelbyGT]

Just sentence him to time already served and get over it!

[lordsmurf]

I did. I thought the same thing.

They just need to leave the man alone. He went to play chess. How does that violate a sanction?

[lumis]

fisher is a crazy guy, but he should be treated, not punished.. i agree that the violation was insignifcant.. in my eyes, kind of like a seatbelt violation, or cuban cigars.. the only reason we all know is because he is a famous chess genius.. he should be pardoned and allowed to return to the united states or live in iceland if he wishes.

by the way, i had heard that he laughed, taunted & encouraged other nations to attack the US on 9/11 after the attack.. he was on cuban radio or something.. i'm not exactly sure, but its what i've heard.. take it with a grain of salt.

[AlecWest]

He went to play chess. How does that violate a sanction?

At the time, Yugoslavia was under "international" sanctions ... and the U.S. forbade any citizen from doing business in Yugoslavia. Fischer did $3,000,000 worth of business by beating Spassky. But, even if he'd lost, there was a consolation price of some amount ... and accepting payment violated the sanction. In hindsight, the whole thing seems rather silly to me ... especially since Yugoslavia no longer exists (as a national entity). This was a "re-match" between the two. Fischer had previously beaten Spassky during a 1972 match in Iceland ... which is where that country came into the picture. He later lost his international title by refusing to play another Russian ... then beat Spassky in 1992 to reclaim it.

FWIW, someone on eBay is currently selling Icelandic stamps commemorating the 1972 match.

[BJ_M]

fisher is a crazy guy, but he should be treated, not punished.. i agree that the violation was insignifcant.. in my eyes, kind of like a seatbelt violation, or cuban cigars.. the only reason we all know is because he is a famous chess genius.. he should be pardoned and allowed to return to the united states or live in iceland if he wishes.

by the way, i had heard that he laughed, taunted & encouraged other nations to attack the US on 9/11 after the attack.. he was on cuban radio or something.. i'm not exactly sure, but its what i've heard.. take it with a grain of salt.

he has been doing a lot accually -- in a bad way ...

been very vocal that 9/11 was a good thing and that a certain religious group is controlling the usa - he is one sick wacko guy .. he also owes taxes to the us gov...


you can see some of what he stands for on his personal web site (NOTICE - made be material known as HATE crime)

http://home.att.ne.jp/moon/fischer/

[AlecWest]

The U.S. has now conceded that the current situation is a stalemate. While Iceland does have agreements in place with the U.S. to extradite wanted persons, there is one proviso. Under Icelandic law, it is unlawful to extradite a citizen of Iceland. Foreigners, yes - Icelanders, no. The granting of citizenship to Fischer meant automatic and immediate sanctuary as well ... once his plane entered Iceland's airspace.

This pretty much ends the search for (and prosecution of) Bobby Fischer as far as the USA is concerned. The only hope now for U.S. prosecutors is if Bobby does something "stupid" and visits another country owing the U.S. a favor. And, that's possible. In fact, Fischer is the kind of guy who loves "flipping off" people and governments ... and I'd not put it past him to try to gain entry to the U.S. (under an assumed identity, of course) just to have his photo taken in front of recognizable U.S. buildings or monuments - then sending them to officials and the media out of spite.

[BJ_M]

he looks a bit rough now anyway

[AlecWest]

Based on current relations between the USA and France, I'm surprised France didn't offer him citizenship ... especially since the world chess authority, Fédération Internationale des Échecs, is French ... and it was they who authorized the 1992 match in violation of U.N. sanctions.

Anyhoo, it occurs to me that Iceland's offer of citizenship might have an ulterior motive. True, they admire him for his 1972 world championship match in Iceland. But, I'll bet they're hoping Fischer will attract another world championship match to Iceland ... with him being their principal entrant. The thought of him winning such a championship as an Icelander probably crossed a few minds. If he does compete, though, his competition will likely be younger. The current F.I.D.E. world champion is Rustam Kasimdzhanov, 25, from Uzbekistan. And the people he's competing against are in the same age group (or younger) for the most part.

he looks a bit rough now anyway

Yup, but he has aged better than Willie Nelson.

[mrtristan]

They should just have him play against IBM's DeepBlue. If he wins, he's free. If he loses, he serves time.

Seriously, though, I think it's a waste of time and money to charge him. We're fighting wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and policing North Korea. I think the government has bigger things to worry about than a guy who played a game of chess.

I can buy some crystal meth from the drug dealers who hang out along the canal where I work, but oh no! Don't play a game of chess.

It's just stupid. I absolutely love my country, but it's easy to see why other countries hate or poke fun at us.

[AlecWest]

Earlier, I said that U.S. prosecutors only had one hope ... that Bobby Fischer would do "something stupid." Well, guess what. He's already violated Icelandic law forbidding incitement based on "national, color, race, religion or sexual orientation." I doubt if that means they'll cancel his citizenship. But, it may eventually put him behind bars in an Icelandic jail ... which U.S. prosecutors would no doubt get some pleasure in seeing:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1112152820373

Iceland ain't the USA ... and freedom of speech is one luxury he may no longer be able to afford.