The highest-ranking police officer in the UK is Sir Mark Rowley. As Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, he wears the insignia of a full general. To demonstrate that the UK has no Constitution or Bill of Rights, specifically no First Amendment, Sir Mark recently threatened Americans who use the internet. If they post something Sir Mark dislikes, he threatens to extradite them to the UK and throw them in prison.

When “Britannia ruled the waves” and the Brits ruled an empire, they had something called extra-territoriality. If a Brit were arrested in India, for example, he could demand to be tried by a British judge under British law. The idea was that wherever the Queen ruled, and wherever the British army marched, British law prevailed.

But you see, Sir Mark, since July 4, 1776, we have no longer been a British colony. King George III no longer rules here, nor does King Charles III. For two and one-half centuries, you and your government have absolutely nothing to say about what we do. And with Trump in the Oval Office, I will be amused to learn what sarcastic remark will greet his request to extradite internet users. I would not be surprised if we issue a request to extradite him to the U.S. for internet interference.

Suggestion to Sir Mark and friends: If you want to rule an empire, you need an army and a navy to run it and keep it. Otherwise you look like a bunch of bloviating fools emitting nothing but oral flatulence.