Disclaimer - I am an avowed Lefty. My interpretation of Lefty in today's Australia, a belief in compassion and equality, both of which seem to be missing in the anti-David Hicks diatrides that I have read in the previous postings. Can I ask - what happened to innocent until proven guilty? What happened to trial by jury and not media? What happened to basic humanity that says that a suspect must be tried quickly and fairly? What happened to a belief that noone has the right to freedom and justice is everyone's right? Australians have always been apathetic but pig ignorance is something that I associate with the majority of Americans who do not have access to world views and gain their knowledge through biased and fettered news outlets. Can I suggest that all those that are so completely convinced that David Hicks is guilty/going to get a fair (military) trial log on to the fair go for David website.....digest and THINK?

I am relieved The ABC is still prepared to challenge mainstream media and our politicians. Thank you Aunty for tonight's piece on David Hicks.

To Mr Disgusted.

You are a firm believer in Equality, are you? Well, mate, here is some examples of inequality in Australian society that you can focus on.

White people must buy fishing licences in NSW, aboriginal descended people do not.

Aboriginal people have their own medical and dental clinics exclusively for people of their on race.

Aboriginal people may kill dugong, other races may not.

Aboriginal descended people get special government scholarships denied other races.

Aboriginal descended people get preferentiual treatment by courts and preferential treatment in prison accomodation.

Job advertisments for aboriginal organisations pointedly exclude non aboriginals.

There, that's enough for starters. Now, let's see you attack these obvious manifestations of racism and inequality, with exactly the same gusto that you exhibit when defending traitors like Hicks. If you dare to defend these racist and unequal government policies by submitting reasoned argumants why these particular instances of racism and inequality are justified, then you just crossed the Rubicon.

Ahhh. Moral quandaries. Which is it to be, Disgusted? The devil or the deep blue sea?

Redneck, what depths will you sink to? Aboriginals certainly get preferential treatmant re: prison accomadation, i will grant you that. I suspect they would be happy to surrender that 'privilige'.
Hick's a traitor. I believe treasons a crime, i look forward to his trial. Call me whacky, but i still believe in innocent until proven guilty.

Redneck will blabber on until he's satisfied he's had the last word.

He is defending the indefensible but you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Especially one who obviously watches too much 'Today Tonight & ACA'. Sensationalism appeals to the vigilantes and oafs in society who have no interest in, nor understanding of just how important it is for people to be afforded procedural fairness.

His argument equates to that of a death penalty advocate who dismisses the one innocent man executed out of every one hundred as 'neccessary'. In my book IF Hicks is guilty the keys should be thrown away, but I would much rather sleep at night without any doubt that a fellow countrymen hadn't got the wrong end of the stick.

Redneck can't understand the basic concept of 'evidence' obviously. So I'm not going to bother to explain the complex concepts of 'subject jurisdiction', 'extra territoriality', 'the 5th amendment' and the possibilty that Guantanamo Bay breaches Hick's right under the Geneva Convention and/or the American, Australian Constitutions, British common law.

Thank you wre for your reference to The Geneva Convention. I am grateful Australia hasn't been completely dumbed down.