Well said LEGO. Here, Here.

as long as they're not deserters or war criminals.
Tony Lavis,
If they're doing it with my tax dollar then they definitely are criminals. They are also deserters because they did run away in the first place to come here, take our money & go back. They're not fighting the problem, they're merely prolonging the suffering.

Joe,

I would not be surprised if some of these Australian based Muslim men fighting in Syria find themselves the victim of a serious sexual assault at the hands of the very people they are fighting alongside, and if they survive such an experience that on its own or some other form of PTSD might be enough to set them off if they arrive back in Australia.

Since Islam is full of taboos I do not think it is straight forward to explain jihadist's motivations for committing attacks either in Syria or in Australia.

I support your argument to block Australian based Muslims returning from conflict in Syria or somewhere else. In the past Australians have participated in IRA activities as well as the conflict in Bosnia but nothing on this scale and consequently existing laws do not reflect the potential serious consequences of these men returning.

The real question that is not being discussed is how the peaceful practise of Islam is contributing to the war in Syria. I saw Margaret Warner (PBS News hour) earlier this year interview a 30+ year old Syrian widow with 13 kids! Guess who she blamed for the crisis...

related thread
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6098&page=0

from
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=15687&page=0

<<a gaping loop hole..and made
a mockery of our federal laws...>>

rubbish..
but..

<<Those..opposing the Syrian government..did not want their sons to slip down this hole,..as virtually all embraced Australia..to flee from war...Those supporting the Syrian government..also opposed this loop hole..because of their general concern..over foreign mercenaries and..terrorists allied with al Nusra and al Qaeda.

One Arabic language newspaper..declared that Australia's inaction on this loophole..was driven by another policy:..good riddance to bad rubbish.

If the Australians are helping..to topple the Syrian regime, then this..is in line with the Australian partisan policy..and Bob Carr's suggestion of a presidential assassination.

If these Australians.are killed in combat,..then that
*character..never belonged..*in our country,..so either way we win.

When David Hicks was participating in para-military training in Afghanistan in 2001, the US Military Commission charged him with 'providing material support for terrorism' and he was detained in Guantanamo Bay until 2007.

But when other Australians participate in military activities in the plethora of pro and anti-government 'brigades', they return home to a hero's welcome.

The current law is articulated by the Department of Foreign Affairs travel advise: "it is illegal under Australian law for Australian citizens, including dual citizens, to provide any kind of support to any armed group in Syria.

This includes engaging in fighting for either side, funding training or recruiting someone to fight … Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia" with heavy fines and maximum 10 years imprisonment.

So why has there not been a single arrest, prosecution of conviction reported to the Australian public since the alarm bells were sounded?

Too many of these Australians publicly claim to be offering humanitarian aid to the Syrian refugee epidemic, but their Facebook photos show them posing proudly with guns.

UOG, Mate, I try real hard to understand your posts, but I fail each time. Is it your fault or mine. I don't know, really.

I don't care. These people who are fighting on any side in the Syrian conflict should NOT be granted Refugee Status in Australia & any who have left here & gone anywhere to fight MUST have their Citizenship revoked & then kicked out of Australia.