There is nothing normal in taking comfort in the suffering of Mr Hicks - to date an innocent man in the eyes of any court - and even if guilty of any crimes made up otr otherwise he certainly deserves better - there is nothing Australian about it either - in fact this government looks more un australian with every passing minute

Chainsmoker says Hicks uses the name Mohammed Dawood that probably says it all. His fellow detainee Habib is standing for election NSW while trying to gain damages for his holiday in Cuba. Hicks will no doubt prove a bigger burden than Habib and with the support of his civil libertarian friends will seek compensation and reward.

sneekeepete

You might like to consider him to be some sort of Hero, but the facts that are known speak for themselves. Sure he needs to be tried in a court and a military court is fine so far as I am concerned.

The strange paradox in the argument of so many civil libertarians is that they would be the first people to be persecuted in the strict Islamic State David Hicks wants to see established in this country and around the world. Death to many classes of people including women having sex outside marriage, homosexuals, etc, etc. It is so strange that so many people cannot recognise what could well be the situation created by their support of such people as David Hicks.

The “many classes of people” you mention, Diggins, are already disadvantaged in this society.

The support for other minorities comes from a core belief that all of us, even those who find themselves in the majority, are enriched in a society that values diversity.

We are all damaged by the existence of prejudice among us. Some minorities appear to understand this better than others, but this doesn’t give anyone an excuse to gang up on the ones who understand less.

Similarly, it doesn’t give anyone an excuse to persecute someone who’s in an even worse position than them. On the contrary, being disadvantaged yourself can give you some understanding of what it’s like for others.

Try it, Diggins. Imagine yourself in someone else’s shoes for a minute. Don’t worry, it won’t turn you into a civil libertarian, though going by the posts around here, it will definitely place you in a minority

Hicks, Hicks, Hicks... if only the miserable sod had of fought to the death like he was instructed to.

"Hicks, Hicks, Hicks... if only the miserable sod had of fought to the death like he was instructed to."

yes indeed I too was instructed how to fight by Pig Iron Bob's National Service Act

in our boot camp [USA term but not to mind] we were instructed in bayonet drill on how to hit Charlie [aka Yellow Peril] in back with bayonet fixed to rifle

Then the Sergeant said it may gat jammed in his backbone so you put right foot on Charlie's back and pull it out and go to next Yellow Peril, for "there are lots of them to kill"

People like you back home all said being in the Army would "make a man of me" [but remaining silent as to miserable sods like you who, but for a fortunate birth date, sat on your @rse]

problem is it was NOT the sort of man I was hankering to be - get the drift buddy, our own f* govt instructed us same as your ASSUMED Hicks instructors did, and I was spat on and refused a home loan

IMHO the assumed miserable sod is you - but you will claim "rights" that neither Hicks or I were ever afforded which say YOU can assume re others but no need for any proof for your sorry @rse

People like you make me sick, and as I keep saying IF I had had the choice I would have LET the Yellow Peril "Terminate you with Extreme Prejudice"

so sod off, creep