Oracle of DelphiWill the Libs escape responsibility over Hicks?
March 28th 2007 06:29
There is no doubt in my mind that the processing of David Hicks' case has come about recently because of the fear from the current Government over it becoming an election issue. Had it been left for another year, it definitely would have been something that the electorate decided their voting on.
Now Hicks has been charged and lodges a guilty plea, so not only has the process began, but the guilty plea has meant there is every chance Hicks will be forgotten by the time the election has come about. Of course the Government are claiming this guilty plea can only mean Hicks is guilty. It can't have anything to do with the fact he just wants to get out of a prison that has lights on 24 hours forcing him to grow his hair to get some sleep. It can't have anything to do with the fact that the process is so tainted and he has no chance of receiving a hearing that is unbiased. It has nothing to do with the fact that duress has been used to aid the successful prosecution of him whatever he was to plead.
Downer, you aren't kidding anyone when you say a guilty plea clearly means David Hicks is guilty of terrorism and you aren't kidding the electorate either because many people still believe he has not had the fair go the government you are a part of has been preaching for years.
The current government has got to go this year and let's hope that Hicks can appeal any decision when he finally makes it back to Australia.
Now Hicks has been charged and lodges a guilty plea, so not only has the process began, but the guilty plea has meant there is every chance Hicks will be forgotten by the time the election has come about. Of course the Government are claiming this guilty plea can only mean Hicks is guilty. It can't have anything to do with the fact he just wants to get out of a prison that has lights on 24 hours forcing him to grow his hair to get some sleep. It can't have anything to do with the fact that the process is so tainted and he has no chance of receiving a hearing that is unbiased. It has nothing to do with the fact that duress has been used to aid the successful prosecution of him whatever he was to plead.
Downer, you aren't kidding anyone when you say a guilty plea clearly means David Hicks is guilty of terrorism and you aren't kidding the electorate either because many people still believe he has not had the fair go the government you are a part of has been preaching for years.
The current government has got to go this year and let's hope that Hicks can appeal any decision when he finally makes it back to Australia.
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Comment by BOP!
(here here?)
Comment by Shaydi Rhode
Shaydi dates
Men in my life
And I don’t want to wait for some ego driven Australian judge to find him not guilty just to prove a point and get his own name into legal history. I don’t believe we can afford the cost at so many levels.
So don't talk about due process; David Hicks chose his due process when he decided to blow up innocent people in the name of whatever he belived in.
Perhaps, and I’m not convinced but willing to consider, David Hicks is not receiving a fair hearing (you cite having to grow his hair as a special turture; please give give me a reason to stop laughing!) . I've got news for you: we are not living in a fair and just world all the time. The same way it is not fair to keep innocent people in fear, making ordinary people insecure about when a bomb might explode, causing people to be afraid in their own home and stopping them from visiting their loved ones for the fear of terrorist attacks on transport.
That is unfair. Unquestionably, undeniably, unacceptably unfair. So why exactly David Hicks is surprised of being treated unfair???
I feel ashamed, and I can assure you I am not alone by a long shot, that with all the unfairness in our own country, against our friends, relatives and children you choose to speak on behalf of David Hicks. David Hicks chose his own judge and jury!
You obviously took the bait and the “David Hicks Publicity Machine”, well oiled by an American lawyer with much to gain from this exposure, is using you and those willing to jump up and show hands for anything anti.
In the meantime, ask those who have lost a loved one, like myself but by no means I am alone, to acts of terrorism. The same acts that David Hicks was planning to participate in. The same acts only his stupidity prevented him to commit.
An insult to the innocent victims and their loved ones, an insult indeed. An insult you’ve chosen to participate in and no doubt will suffer the consequnece.
And just in case you are wondering, if he was my own son I would not want him to be better treated. With a broken heart, I would want him to feel the consequences of his actions and I would hope for him to die before he could harm anyone. Of course we are not so lucky and he may even end up making money out of terrorising YOU (don't fool yourself, you were a target like I was).
There are more important, more urgent and more just matters than fighting for David Hick’s right for a fair trial. Stop the David Hicks cry baby story, please!!!!
Shaydi
Comment by Glen
Reggae
Of course we aren't, but that isn't a very concrete basis for not giving Hicks a fair trial. He's an Australian, should not be pre-judged and like all Australians, deserves the right to a fair trial.
Shaydi: "people rarely go to terrorist training camps to explore the scenery."
I am concerned there is a little overuse of this word terrorism in the world generally. Please investigate the history of westerners becoming mercernaries without receiving the same treatment as Hicks and also the USA's support for the Taliban prior to the Sep 11 attacks.
Shaydi: "David Hicks chose his due process when he decided to blow up innocent people"
Well he didn't and that isn't what he pleaded guilty to. In fact, those charges were dropped.
Shaydi: "(you cite having to grow his hair as a special turture; please give give me a reason to stop laughing!)"
Actually I said he was forced to grow his hair to cover his eyes becauses he was in a room where 24 hours a day he was subject to bright fluroscent lighting. He used the hair to soften the effects of this light. Such conditions (and more) were used to extract evidence. Not your usual way of getting evidence.
Shaydi: "David Hicks chose his own judge and jury!"
Actually, he didn't. The military tribunal and laws he was charged with were created after he was in Guantanomo and after US courts ruled the original laws were invalid.
Shaydi: "An insult you’ve chosen to participate in and no doubt will suffer the consequnece."
If I suffer at all, I will consider it the fault of my government not asking the people whether or not we should support an unlawful attack on Iraq and our foreign policy in general.
Shaydi: "And just in case you are wondering, if he was my own son I would not want him to be better treated."
No I wasn't wondering. I am the one showing compassion here, not expecting you to. I am sorry you have had a loss, but I think you should consider some broader possible reasons for attacks against western people. Think about years of the USA exploiting nations then turning against them, of the USA forcing their own values on cultures much older than America's, of the USA funding and supplying weapons to groups they have now labelled terrorists, of the USA's choice of what conflicts they become involved with, due to their own needs (e.g. why Iraq and not Sudan or Zimbabwe) and also think of the implications of Australia supporting such a nation.
Shaydi: "There are more important, more urgent and more just matters than fighting for David Hick’s right for a fair trial"
I don't think it is the only thing people who believe in a fair trial for Hicks are considering. I think it is one of a many important issues as do many people.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I think that Howard will regret his part in this history.
Comment by BOP!
What will this achieve do you ask?
One less Australian moron to cringe about.
David Hicks has the right to a fair trial.
Comment by BOP!
What will this achieve do you ask?
One less Australian moron to cringe about.
David Hicks has the right to a fair trial.