Interuptus said: "My take on the Hicks case is that it is actually irrelevant whether he is a good person or a bad person or whatever - the real issue is that he was tortured illegally, was abused and denied legal rights."

And that is the crux of the problem. For some people the 'real issue' is not that Hicks was a thrill seeker who loved shooting large weapons at other human beings and has admitted as much. Nor is it about him wanting go out in an adrenaline rush while killing large numbers of people, its all about stories of his treatment by the US.

Because of the dominance of irrational anti-western sentiment in the minds of some, we now have a very dangerous person living amongst us again. Hicks will not be quiet forever.

Oops, got that URL of Umberto Eco's description of Ur-Fascism wrong, should have been:

http://www.themodernworld.com/eco/eco_blackshirt.html

That's it ! Brilliant !

Joe

I found Jason's story harrowing, and share his disgust at the way Hicks was treated. Hicks was a mercenary, so what? Australians have joined the French Foreign Legion, a corps which for several years fought the Allies in the Middle East and North Africa. There were Britons in the FFL at the outbreak of WWII- were they pilloried in this fashion (I believe the FFL released tham, and they never fought against the British). Hicks may have been a silly, feckless amateur, but nothing he did warranted the horrific treatment he received at the hands of a nation which should be upholding international law (but departs from the script when it sees fit). The lack of support for Hicks from the Australian government also shames all Australians. I'm glad to see that he is now living a fairly normal life and has worked out the illogic of Islam. Lest I'm accused of being a "bleeding heart lefty" I might add that in most respects I'm quite conservative- certainly not a Green or even Labor voter.

Viking13

So you can excuse someone who kills for money, but you have no time for flawed legal systems?.

Wonderful logic.

"So you can excuse someone who kills for money, but you have no time for flawed legal systems?".

Que? I didn't excuse any mercenary- I merely noted that there is nothing new about men from one nation fighting for another. In this case Hicks "fought" for a movement noted for its barbarity, and lack of recognition around the world (although it was the de facto government of Afghanistan via conquest- not a lot different to other movements thoughout history). Flawed legal systems? Whose? Australia's, USA's or Afghanistan's? The system at Guantanamo was severely flawed, in large part because it operated outside any legal framework, including the that of America!