Many people sense that there are bigger issues at stake here than just Hicks and they are right. These dictatorial methods will be used for wider layers, who oppose the criminal methods of privatization, the industrial relations laws, and Howards "indefinite war in the Pacific." Hicks in that sense is 'first cab off the rank'to be followed by many more. The media is playing a filthy role in preparing the backward culture required to quasi-legalize and sanitize torture, as well as the abrogation of all and any legal rights.

Incredibly, after denying Hicks the most elementary legal rights to which he is entitled to as a prisoner of war, including the right to challenge his custody in a public court. Denied the most basic right to know what he is charged with. Subject to 5 years of systematic torture from the bully boys, including drugs, solitary confinement and chained to the floor. Scouring the law books looking for some catch all charge the US administration came up with “providing material support for terrorism.” After living life underground Hicks is desperate to resume a normal life. All the legal travesties stacked against Hicks violate the Geneva Conventions and basic legal principles that have evolved over centuries.
National Party MP Barnaby Joyce summarized the process: “One of the many reasons why the law disapproves of prolonged incarceration without charge or trial is because of the intolerable pressure it places on the accused to plead guilty just to escape detention... The only thing that is guilty here is the judicial process under which he was being tried.”
Here is a sick travesty of justice. The larger organization the Taliban came out of, the US administration under Bush senior created and funded to the tune hundreds of millions of dollars in the 1970’s and 1980’s. They would tell us, that is not "providing material support for terrorism."

When Hicks raised his gun to fight against his own countrymen who in other circumstances could have been any of our sons or daughters he committed treason. Those who commit treason should be exiled to the country of their new loyalty.

This reminds me of the outpouring of grief for princess Diana a woman who people didnt even know except through photographs in the media. In a faceless society where people dont even know who lives next door to them if they see someone's photo in the media often enough they start to feel as if they know them and feel sympathy for them even if they dont really know them from a bar of soap.

We saw this in action recently with people feeling sorry for Saddam Hussein when he was executed but no sympathy at all for the thousands of people he gased to death and tortured, because their photos werent in the magazines and papers frequently enough for people to bond with them.

I will add two words to this argument about terrorists and legality:

"Jerry Adams"

IF its not about Hicks...what is it about ? err..what is "IT" ?

Seamus re-assures us that his political credentials are in order by underlining that he and others are simply using Hicks to damage the Howard Government. In other words, it is a shameless use of a human being for political advantage.

If we want to 'damage' Howard and his government, there are plenty of legitimate ways of doing it..This is NOT one of them.

"Is Hicks guilty" ? is a stupid and irrelevant question !

A US patrol in France brings back a German soldier captured during fighting "Is he guilty" ? GOOD GRIEF ! how stupid can some questions be !

Ok.. lets put him on trial ? Lets 'weigh the evidence' about his actual intentions (when he was guarding the Tiger Tank) duh.. what a load of rot.

In Germany.. a man in civilian clothing with a gun is guarding a Tiger Tank.. hmmm is he 'guilty' ? of what ? only one thing .. BEING OUR ENEMY !
Thus, you shoot him on the spot..or.. you take him prisoner and he ROTS in your POW camp until fighting is finished.

So, all those trying to make this about HOWARD, or about BUSH, a pox on you..in my view you are simply amoral political opportunists who care nothing about Hicks and everything about getting a bigger slice of the Australian political/ecomomic cake by getting your mob elected next time. I'm guessing some of you are "consultants" who are drooling over the possibility of the next 'expensive bit of advice' you can gouge out of a government more of your liking.

But hey..its easy, its not "your" mother or sister or daughter who the Taliban raped. You are far removed from the realities of which Hicks/Dawood was a part. Make no mistake.. the Taliban WOULD have RAPED because Islam allows it. Surah 23:5-6

If you want to damage Howard, try "economic rationalism".

I believe that Hicks forwent his claim to Aus rights when he left Aus to join another countries military forces. His feelings must have been strong as he left a wife and kids to do this.

In the recent Isreali/Lebanon conflict we had Isreali Aussies fighting Lebanese Aussies. Would it not be wise to put in laws that people forgo ALL Aussie rights and privliages if they elect to join forces of another country, without our sanctions.

Hicks does not get much empathy from me. He made the situation for himself and his treatment is a matter for the Yanks, not us.

People should be reminded that this case is still not over and may not be as clear cut as it is being portrayed.

These are the specific charges that have been laid against Hicks.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/d20070301hicks.pdf

Although he pleads guilty to the overall charge, both sides are debating the accuracy of each of these points listed and several of the items are still being challenged.

There is more information to come next week but from the degree of reactionary indignation in the community, I don't expect any of it will change anybodys mind either way.

People made up their mind about this long ago and use the result for self-justification of their own prejudices, no matter what side they take.

Truth (like beauty) may be in the eye of the beholder and is selective and this applies to the Legal system as well as personal beliefs.

For example, you could say that - as for being some sort of hero, he's not in the same league as that other convicted terrorist Nelson Mandela or that famous wife-beater Gandhi.

You could also say that he's not much different from those other Australians who may go to fight for Lebanon or join the Israeli Army.