David Hicks

[silentC]

Toss a coin it could be either...my moneys on heads he did it

It doesn't matter either way, that is not my point. He wants out. It's not like he has seen the error of his ways, or he has been tortured into submission. He has simply been told that if he accepts the guilty plea he can be out by this time next year (or whenever). I would do the same in his position, guilty or not.

[HappyHammer]

Me too..the question is really how much time will he do when he's sent back and will we be safe when he gets out?

HH.

[Bleedin Thumb]

Me too..the question is really how much time will he do when he's sent back and will we be safe when he gets out?

HH.

Once he's been released I doubt that even ASIO will need to keep tabs on him. That will be done by ACA and 60 minutes etc.
The torture he received at Guantanamo Bay will pall into insignificance.

[silentC]

And Miranda!!

[HappyHammer]

Once he's been released I doubt that even ASIO will need to keep tabs on him. That will be done by ACA and 60 minutes etc

"And tonight a David Hicks exclusive......Concerned neighbours in Mascot complain about the personnel carrier and anti aircraft gun in his garden being an eyesore and the camoflague colour clashing with their curtains"

HH.

[Bleedin Thumb]

LOL I can only imagine the spin the press will put on him.
reminds me a bit of ......was it Tim Anderson? remember him Ananda Marga, Hilton bomber etc

[Sturdee]

What to do about the whole thing? Well that is the question. Under Geneva if captured you get sent to a POW camp where you get a certain level of care. Bedding food etc. BUT Hick's didn't wear a uniform or markings as Militia so Geneva doesn't apply. Mind you to just imprison him until the end of hostilities could be much more than a life sentence.

Two points to consider.

1. He didn't wear a uniform as a Militia because none of the Afghanistan (Taliban) army did, so that doesn't apply.


2. The war in Afghanistan against the Taliban has been over for years, what they are now fighting is a civil war amongst the war lords and their tribes as the country disintegrated as a result of the American action.

This is similar to the war in Iraq, where the Sadam regime has been toppled and defeated. Again what we are now fighting to stop is a civil war amongst the various ethnic groupings of that country who woiuld prefer to split up and divide the country into its natural three parts. Something America don't want because it would affect its relationship, and military bases, with Turkey and the oil supply.


Hence he should have been released already if held as a POW.


Peter.

[coastie]

12 months in the pen if he is lucky,at taxpayers expense

[Studley 2436]

Fair point Sturdee the only thing I see is that it is not clear that he was a Taliban soldier. He did have dealings with Al Quaida. If he were released would he resume hostilities against us?

There are a lot of murky sort of angles on this one. I still think the question remains what to do next. What is best for Australia and her citizens.

Studley

[Sturdee]

I still think the question remains what to do next. What is best for Australia and her citizens.

Studley

That raises other points.

When he is released and no doubt deported, will the yanks deport him to England as he is now one of their citizens. Seeing as he renounced our citizenship and became British.

As a Brit does he need to migrate here in order to live here, if so will our government grant him the necessasry visas and residency permits.

If they do then until such time that he breaks one of our laws he should be allowed to go on his lawfull business, like everyone else.


Peter.

[Bob38S]

Just wondering "out aloud"

He has plead guilty.

If/when he gets back here, If he claims he only plead guilty because he wanted to get out of Gitmo, does this then mean, he has committed perjury????

Can anything he then says be treated as truthful???

The way his father has stood by his son [guilty or innocent] I think is admirable in the light of all that has gone on.

[dazzler]

Just wondering "out aloud"

He has plead guilty.

If/when he gets back here, If he claims he only plead guilty because he wanted to get out of Gitmo, does this then mean, he has comitted perjury????

Can anything he then says be treated as truthful???

No. you would need to prove that he had committed perjury using facts other than his testimony.

Need to remember in this country we dont base our entire legal system on "confessions". The US has this great system where if u plead guilty you then have to state what u did and they use this against you. Even if later it is proven that you were innocent then you are not released as you have confessed to it.

[Sturdee]

He has plead guilty.

If/when he gets back here, If he claims he only plead guilty because he wanted to get out of Gitmo, does this then mean, he has committed perjury????

Different jurisdiction, he wouldn't have committed perjury here.


Peter.

[Daddles]

Considering the prosecution is allowed to use evidence gained under duress (ie torture with a nicer name), I can't see how a bit of perjury would ever be an issue.

Richard

[fred.n]

The Yanks caught him

The Yanks have him in gaol

The Yanks will convict him

Let the Yanks have him......simple! Seems to me it's there problem, so let them deal with it.