Paul,
The Questions may be irrelevant but if they make just one person think then they have been useful.

Australian citizens unjustly accused of crimes in foreign countries should hope that it happens in a small insignificant place that has no strategic or trade importance to Australia.

STEELEREDUX & PAUL1405...

I'm stunned that you both believe that I'd shoot and run, given my age and current ambulatory condition ?

PAUL1405...

Do you honestly believe that your actuarial skills of estimating only 1 in 20 being prosecuted for call-up offences was honourable ? Furthermore, by your own admissions, you did state that you'd collaborated with your Dad in some way, to orchestrate a 'student deferment' to help you to avoid your call-up or Nasho registration. Do you still believe that behaviour reflects well on your character ? If you do, than any comments that I could make would be superfluous ?

I will share with you this; Some years ago I took part in the PTSD programme at the Repat. Those who attended were all Vets. A couple were Korean, the baulk Vietnam and Malayan Vets. During discussions, it frequently came out that most blokes were so bitter and angry at those men who were perceived (rightly or wrongly) were Draft Dodgers and simply got away with it, and were never brought to account, essentially because of a change of Govt.

Probably the greatest single fear that most had (including me), was our 'first' sortie outside 'the wire' (either in APC's or otherwise) thus leaving the relative safety of the 'Dat' ? If you were a replacement soldier in a platoon, you s..t yourself when you heard of 'pangi pits' (booby traps), ambushes, and the general inventiveness of 'Cong' and/or the NVA ? Another great fear of mine were poisonous snakes.

Therefor this was often discussed at that PTSD 'thingo', including (in my group) those @%#*&$@ 'Draft Dodging' bastards who were safe at home, probably mucking around with their girlfriends or wives. Whether the latter was 'fact or fiction' it matters not, it's what's in their 20-25 years old mind's that count !

So when somebody openly 'gloats' about how they managed to surreptitiously avoid their call-up and stating quite proudly how they marched in the 'moratoriums' it does give the ordinary fellow some pause, does it not PAUL1405 ?

STEELEREDUX...

You can't keep up eh ? Why am I not surprised ? The story of your life I suspect from your difficulties arising from school to your narcissistic personality that has substantially contributed to your inability to embrace those values that make you a loyal Aussie, and your lifetime dedication to the 'Left' ?

Explain, why are you still lauding the efforts of David HICK'S father in his support of his son ? I have no truck with the behaviour of Mr HICKS Snr. concerning everything he did in securing his son's release. Haven't 'YOU' read what I've said in my previous threads ? Or has the 'Peter Pan' syndrome reared it's ugly once more with you STEELEREDUX ?

Being the charitable fellow that I am, I shall again, try to explain to you in the simplest of terms possible, if I can ?

As a grandfather, I can understand and fully support the philosophy behind the predictable actions associated with Mr HICKS Snr, by manifestly assisting his son, David HICKS in any way he can. Further, David HICKS was denied his natural justice when he was locked-up without due process, by the yanks in GTIMO for a period of five years.

And before you attempt to draw some juxtaposition of my earlier remarks and Mr HICKS'S subsequent incarceration - It should be stressed his capture, contemporaneously amongst the enemy is one matter. Whereas, long after his initial apprehension, there's an expectation that he be brought before the courts for trial, that is another matter altogether ! I understand little, apropos US jurisprudence.

There's one matter that's puzzled me STEELEREDUX ? Some time back a Topic was raised exploring the many complex reasons for the obvious failure of 'Multiculturalism'. Particularly those folk with Islamic backgrounds. As the discussion took hold, out came you STEELEREDUX, 'cape asunder', loudly waxing lyrically about the benefits of Islamic immigration ? What do you think now, you being the spokesperson for Islamic revolution...whoops ! 'evolution' in Australia ? Sorry 'bout that, it's my 'drink' and 'the gout' you know !

Wu, I was obviously being rather flippant saying the old man being some well heeled Liberal Party member, he certainly wasn't, he didn't get me off the hook, but there was truth in that. There were those who did avoid national service by having their parents pay for Uni courses and then claiming a student deferment, it was not uncommon. I did fail to register, and I did that purposely, I disagreed with the war, and I disagreed with conscription as did most of my friends, and by protesting we showed our disapproval. Most of us didn't register and we got letters, but never got prosecuted. Whitlam came to power and that was the end of that. Very few were ever prosecuted for dodging conscription. Saying 1 in 20 is about right, could have even been less.
If as you say <<this was often discussed at that PTSD 'thingo', including (in my group) those @%#*&$@ 'Draft Dodging' bastards who were safe at home, probably mucking around with their girlfriends or wives. Whether the latter was 'fact or fiction' it matters not, it's what's in their 20-25 years old mind's that count! I'm sure you were all pissed off that by fate, the numbers from the unlucky lottery seen you end up in some hell hole in Vietnam. Like over 60% of Australians at the time I didn't want you there, and I certainly didn't see you doing anything for me or Australia by being there. The choice to send people to a horrible bloody war in Vietnam was made by conniving Liberal polititions, blame them for whatever, not me or people like me.

On a pedantic point, as Australia didn't have the draft there were no draft dodgers. Many people avoided the 'lottery system' that was based on birth dates simply by being born at the wrong time.

Any such call up system was flawed from the start by being discriminatory and those that managed to beat the system had my full support; especially after a prominent conscientious objector was tortured by the military.

A couple of lads that I knew well got out because they wore beards and stated that they had made solemn religious vows not to shave; they were quietly dropped, the army didn't want bearded soldiers!

IS MISE...

Who was tortured by the Military - the only 'so called' famous person that I heard of who ended up being sent to 1 MCE was a TV presenter, Simon TOWNEND ? Tortured was he ? How so, and how do you know ?