You cannot seperate Hicks from the colonial and illegal occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq as a part of US plans for global hegemony.Afghanistan was vital for the unchecked looting of Caspian Basin oil resources. Its capacity will be about one million barrels per day, significant in itself, moreso when combined with Iraqi and Irani oil. There is also significant supplies of gas involved. Crude Oil trading too has become the resource with the most salient profit potential wielding massive returns. With the colonial invasions and looting there are virtually no costs involved for a select few US oil cartels as the public pay for the war through taxes. Then the oil companies reap the crude refine it and sell it to the public at the bowser at an exorbitant price. The tax dollar reinforces and buttresses the arrangement. But the US plans to monopolize the worlds oil supply destabilizes production relations and heightens the potential for conflict among rival major powers. Hicks was detained illegally and caught up in all of this. Iraq is about looting the resources and economy but Howard does not have a different agenda for here. The anti terrorism laws are going to be aimed at workers and any political opposition.

=>"He was a mercenary" (Marlo, 29-Mar-2007 5:13:42 PM)
A mercenary is a soldier for hire. Hicks was not a mercenary.

=> "convicted terrorist Nelson Mandela"? (wobbles, 30-Mar-2007 9:29:18 AM)
From some online research Nelson Mandela was convicted on charges of, leading workers to strike, leaving the country illegally, sabotage, conspiracy, crimes equivilant to treason. Therefore, Nelson Mandela was not a convicted terrorist.

=> "famous wife-beater Gandhi"? (wobbles, 30-Mar-2007 9:29:18 AM)
I cannot find anything on the net which says Gandhi was a
wife-beater, except for unattributed/unsourced comments
added to discussion forums and blogs.

=>"When Hicks [fought] against his own countrymen ... he committed treason." (sharkfin 29-Mar-2007 11:07:38 PM)
Hicks was not charged with treason. Did he fight against his own countrymen (ie Australians) anyway?

While it's true that Mandela was not convicted for a specific act of terrorism (only planning one), he was considered a terrorist by Margaret Thatcher and Reagan opposed a 1986 Congressional resolution calling on South Africa's apartheid regime to release Mandela and recognise the African National Congress (which was considered a terrorist organisation).
In fact, he helped establish the ANC's terrorist arm called Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) which continued waging terrorist attacks with arson, political murder and robberies. Despite requests , he never publicly renounced the use of violence to achieve political ends.

Many of the unflattering stories relating to Gandhi's relationship with his wife and family come from his own (historian) granddaughter and from his son's biography.

Nevertheless, despite any personal flaws they may have had, they are probably the two greatest men of their age.

David Latimer, "Did he fight against his own countrymen".

When you fly with the crows you get shot down with the crows. (Bjelke Petersen made this very true statement).

David Hicks flew with the crows;in my book that makes him one of them.

How do you prove that any of the Japanese soldiers captured in the Islands to the north by our soldiers in World War 2 actually raised his gun against the Australians. You cant; but they were flying with the crows when the battle was being fought.

johncee1945, You still rereading those old issued of Pravda or have you turned to the new tabloid Pravda for your communist fix. Hicks was a workers hero who was caught up in the valiant struggle to free the masses from the capitalist grasp.

If you had any real convictions you'd join al-Qeada to defeat the horribly spoiled lifestyle you live with all the perks and presents thanks to capital investment. Git in yer GI Joe Jumper styled by Gucci and fly the latest jetliner to Afghanistan and emulate your hero Hicks.
Don't forget your Australian passport. Hurray the left has a hero.

wobbles
I agree with you about Mandela ( cant help but like the guy!)
But what about his mate ( that other darling of the left) Robert Mugabe -shame on you , you left him off your list…