Basically, we are talking about someone who by admission of his own letters was a brainwashed Jihadist with a history of helping Islamist extremist groups kill non-Islamic persons, and for some reason this wasn't considered an offense in this country.
We also know that he was in PAKISTAN when 911 occured, and he returned to AFGHANISTAN and took up arms under the Taliban.

Said person gets caught by one of his enemies and detained. But because this enemy in question acts illegally towards its prisoners, we have to RESCUE this guy knowing that we would leave him loose on the streets?

Confronted with that information, I would have applauded the government for putting my welfare before such a character and leaving him to his fate.

However, what set a clear example that the government did NOT care about my welfare when they returned him, and set him LOOSE, for admitting GUILT. Any logical government keeping him away for security reasons would staunchly refuse him if that were the case. That was the beginning of the end of my Support for the Liberals.

I'd say Hicks has definitely put that life behind him now- although I wonder if that would have been so much the case had he have been fished out immediately?

Personally, I think it is better if we made it illegal to serve in any armed forces save for specific groups we give exemption to- the penalty is relinquishing Australian citizenship. That should ensure we are not expected to put our actually law-abiding citizens at risk by rescuing people that we are really better off leaving outside.

I think you all shuold have a long hard look at this site, http://ae911truth.org/ before you pass judgement on anyone.

Yes,well argued.

There seems to be an assumption by a sizeable proportion of the Australian population,that those persons accused of repugnant crimes are not entitled to a fair trial and humane treatment.
The Howard government's warmongering and its craven,cynical and unprincipled abandonment of an Australian citizen is a disgrace and it diminishes all Australians.

Another well written but biased position, although I also agree that everyone is entitled to a fair trial.

However, it must be so good to write with so much moral authority about what is wrong with Howard, what is wrong with our parliament and so on. I mean Howard tried to destroy democracy because the authors said so.

It all sound so easy when you read such authors. According to the authors, Australia should have told its main ally what it should do with regard to the treatment of its citizens, even those fighting for the enemy trying to blow up Americans. I mean what world are the authors living in.

Perhaps the authors can run for political office, win, and then have a go at making the same difficult decisions in a world where Australia is merely a small player also dependent on allies.

I've read all your views and subsequent arguements, and noted the contents therein.

I note also that Hicks's book has been nominated the fourth highest selling non-fiction book available on the shelves today.

Myself, I'm not a lawyer, nearly seventy years of age and a veteran.

My understanding is, that Hicks was caught in company with 'the enemy' or terrorists, whatever you want to call 'em. And whilst in their company, he was found armed.

Dear readers, had he being apprehended in South Vietnam (in my time), in such a predicament or quandary, he'd simply be shot. There'd be no question about it.

Is he a traitor ? I dunno ? In my perception, is he the enemy ? Yes, most definitely !

Yet this bloke has now penned a book, will obviously make good money from it. And in some circles he's perceived as a real victim ? He's even been acclaimed and lionized by many as some sort of hero ?

Sometimes,I really don't understand or know this country anymore, I really don't ?

Kellie and David apparently had no problem with the Taliban slaughtering women for adultlry and men for being gay? No education for women at all and a whole host of repressives practices too? They do have a problem with one of Australia's longest serving Prime Ministers but no problem with David Hicks being in/with the Taliban. You should both be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves but your collective bias and ego will not allow that will it?