[Rictor]

Bobby Fischer, the child prodigy and one of the best chess player of all time, has been arrested in Japan, on a warrant issued by the US government? Why is Uncle Sam after him? Because in 1990, defying US sanctions, he played a chess match in Yugoslavia, against Boris Spassky, at the time the world champion.

Now, 14 years later, he's still a wanted criminal for playing a game of chess. Japan has offered to exile him to a country of his choosing, instead of handing him over to US authorities. Guess which country he chose? I starts with a "Y"



Anyone else find this whole thing laughable? I mean, he played a chess match, he didn't kill babies.

[karajorma]

What the F**k is he going to do in Yeman???

[vyper]

Stupidity is the only explanation for this entire situation.

[karajorma]

Not just stupidity. Bloody-minded stupidity. It was stupid to go after him but it's only stubborness that means they still care 14 years later.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Originally posted by Rictor
I starts with a "Y"
 

it's not going to be Yugoslavia then since that one doesn't exist anymore (having been renamed earlier this year, or last year)

[Scuddie]

Ummm...  Yugoslavia disbanded MANY years ago.  Calling the now 3 seperate countries Yugoslavia is like calling the now so-many-I-cant-count countries USSR.  You just dont do it.  It's almost like calling Iran Persia.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Originally posted by Scuddie
Ummm...  Yugoslavia disbanded MANY years ago.

no, Yugoslavia decreased in size many years ago but it only got disbanded recently. The union between Serbia (which does include Kosovo as province) and Montenegro, which was called Yugoslavia until recently, was recognised as the succesor-state to the big Yugoslavia of times past.

[Fractux]

I think the US bothered to go after him again because he ticked them off too many times. I'm not saying that he's a good guy, from what I've read, but still, I think it's just a waste of time and money. We need some outrageous people around so that we can keep things in line (just don't put them in positions of authority ahem...).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3900793.stm

[Rictor]

Y'all know what I meant. Fine, Serbia and Montenegro, there, you happy? There's actually a running joke involving the name, though its sort of hard to translate. And for the sake a accuracy, its 5 seperate nations now, not 3.

My main point was that its beyond idiotic to actually arrest the guy, a living legend (wierd as he may be), for playing chess. I guess someone has just a teensy inferiority complex, and something to prove. He ought to challenge the top US player to a game of chess for his freedom.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Originally posted by Rictor
Y'all know what I meant. Fine, Serbia and Montenegro, there, you happy? There's actually a running joke involving the name, though its sort of hard to translate. And for the sake a accuracy, its 5 seperate nations now, not 3.

My main point was that its beyond idiotic to actually arrest the guy, a living legend (wierd as he may be), for playing chess. I guess someone has just a teensy inferiority complex, and something to prove. He ought to challenge the top US player to a game of chess for his freedom.

there's no need to discuss the stupidity of the arrest thingy... we all know it's stupid

[Cabbie]

Stupid indeed. What a way to go to do with your taxpayer money.

[Bobboau]

well, he isn't getting arrested for playing chess, he's getting arrested for going somewere that he wasn't suposed to... not that that makes the situation any less stupid...

[Sigma957]

Fah, governments shouldn't be able to forceably tell youl where you can go and can't, in the land of the free,it should be your choice not the governments.

[WMCoolmon]

Originally posted by Rictor
I starts with a "Y"

lol

[Gortef]

Whatta hell!

FBI's most wanted: Bobby "Chessboy" Fischer. For playing a game of chess. Dead or alive.