An Icelandic delegate is now in Japan negotiating the release of Bobby Fischer, the lovable loon, with Japanese authorities. Iceland has offered residency to Fischer, wanted in the U.S. for violating an embargo on Yugoslavia in 1992. The violation was a rematch of Fischer’s victory over Boris Spassky in Reykjavik in 1972, breaking the Soviet Union’s decades of dominance of the World Championship in chess and bringing the title to the U.S.
Fischer had previously renounced his U.S. citizenship, stating:
The offer is instigated by former Prime Minister and current Foreign Minister David “King” Odsson, sovoreign ruler of the Icelandic Nation, in light of Fischer’s “special connection” with the country. When asked about Fischer’s extreme views --he has been qouted as making anti-semitic and anti-American remarks as well as celebrating the 9/11 attacks-- and the fact that he seemed a bit of an oddball,Oddsson retorted “Well, he won’t be our only one”.
The Japanese government was consulted before offering Fischer residency and it was confirmed that the U.S. government had not requested that he be extradited. The U.S. embassy in Iceland was not consulted, however, causing the U.S. embassador to Iceland to reveal his ‘surprise’ at the decision, as he is a wanted fugitive in the U.S.
More news is sure to follow. Personally, I can’t wait to have the old cook around (if he even wants to come) but I have a feeling this just might be a clever ploy to get the terrorist Paul Watson, harboured by the U.S., brought to justice here.
Don’t you think it’s reasonable to expect your government to ask for Watson’s extradition before accusing the U.S. of “harboring” him? Of all the accusations made about our government and the current administration, true and untrue, I don’t think anyone would accuse President Bush of having a soft spot for eco-terrorists. But your government and that of Norway have made it pretty clear that you want no part of trying this guy. Hell, the guy marched on your capital and demanded a trial and you guys just threw him out of the country. Don’t be projecting your disagreements with your government on our country.
I had this whole bizzare Icecapades image in my mind, with knights, bishops, rooks & pawns, skating around the rink, with the babbling, hooting, twisted screeds of Fischer, ranting, played on loudspeakers in the background.
With a musical number, accompanying. Perhaps “Hakuna Matatta”.
Shoot, it’s half-written already. Change a couple costumes, substitue a couple words. . .
*
One night in Reykjavik and the world’s your oyster
The bars are freezing and the girls ain’t free
You’ll find a cod in every corner dime store
A little fish, a little ice-capade
I can feel a snow angel sliding up to me *
Sorry, I just added this tongue-in-cheek. For the record, though, he refused having anything to do with the ‘incident’ in Reykjavik when he was questioned and we asked him to return when he started boasting about it upon returning to the U.S. You’re right, though, we don’t really want anything to do with Watson.
…you obviously haven’t met Icelandic girls…
I was going for “like calling Idi Amin ‘a bit of a nutter’” but I like it!
There is still no word from the Japanese department of immigration but we are expecting fresh developments today and Bobby is all ready to go. Tomorrow is a public holiday in Japan so if nothing happens today, he might have to spend Christmas in a Japanese jail cell. Incidentally, he kinda reminds me of one of our ‘Yule lads’, Stekkjastaur or 'Gimpy ’ as we often call him in english, whose intentions for sheep have bothered me since childhood, as they don’t seem all that honourable. Maybe Bobby can be of some use here; our santas are supposed to scare the kids, after all.
I thought Iceland had an extradition agreement with the U.S. I wonder how that will be circumvented in Fischer’s case. Not that I think the U.S. really wants him. He’s a big, crazy pain in the ass.
Hey, aren’t we all? It seems the U.S. isn’t too worried about getting him extradited or they would have made efforts to get him already, I think. At any rate, Fischer’s treatment is big enough a stain on U.S. chess history as it is, without him being thrown in jail for a decade.
You’d have to pry him from our cold (duh) dead hands if you want him, we’re so pissed off at the U.S. at the moment that we’d do anything to annoy them. No offense meant to the U.S.'s fine citizens, of course. Oooh… maybe that’s the thing: today Robert James Fischer, tomorrow Robert William Fisher. How many fugitives do ya reckon it takes to warrant an invasion? :eek:
