Can't you stick to the point you are trying to make without having to kick those who felt genuinely concerned about DH's treatment? And how can you know what motivated him to opt for a plea bargain anymore than his Dad? You silly, silly man.

The commission accepts evidence that has been gained under coercion. Forget Australia, find me a court in the free world that would admit such evidence. I suppose this is one of those 'technicalities' that make up the 'indulgences towards the accused', which are so central to the Australian legal system, you think so little of.

I find it interesting that you can dismiss all the charges of abuse so flippantly, but get hung up on a gag order that is unenforceable in this Country.

There was a push to have Muhammad Dawood returned to Australia so that he could be tried under our laws. That group has expressed concerns about the gag order being part of Mr Dawood's guilty plea. Mr Ruddock has informed the debate by saying that Australian laws do not apply nor enforce gag orders.

It would appear that members of our own legal club have scant knowledge of Australia's laws.

What an interesting piece. Titled and billed as concerning our "freedom to hear" we are held captive for two thirds of the piece while the article is instead used a a vehicle for another in the endless series of peoples' pontifications on Hicks' guilt/trial/Military v civil regulations etc. etc. I would paraphrase BrettWalker's post rather as "Naughty, naughty man".

I agree that the gag order is grossly inappropriate. Freedom of speech and the freedom to hear about things that are in the public interest are indeed cornerstones of democracy.

How on earth could the implementation of a gag order be part of the role any sort of court or guilt/innocence and punishment determining process? Surely it is not within the role of a court of any sort to impose this sort of thing!

This is just another example of the US government stepping right outside of democracy whenever it suits it.

But of course we shouldn’t be in the slightest bit surprised, as it is certainly in keeping with the whole Hicks/Guantanamo saga.

Keep digging Flinty soon you will have a hole big enough for yourself, Alan ( Tolerence ) Jones, Hollow Howard, Daisey Downer and the rest of the Regime.
But I also detect a hint of an attempt to spruce up your record as events move in a direction that will do nothing to embellish your craven carping.
How frustrating that you have been unable to influence the major debates in Australia precisely because of the very freedom you belatedly profess to champion, namely freedom of speech.
You are the Popinjay that the Monty Python Show searched so hard to find. Your talent is out of the closet; politics and the law come a poor second to you as an entertainer. On with grease paint and be damned.
Bruce Haigh