David Hicks

[johnc]

MH,

Lay off the farmers, your comments show a bigoted attitude with no understanding of the issues which I might add are not relevent to this topic. One thing that has not been mentioned is the fact that America has made sure its soldiers cannot be tried by any other country, infact it went out of its way to ensure that a U.N. resolution to make troops accountable to international law would not be applied to them. We should also reflect on the fact that its own troops have been involved in brutal prisoner abuse along with the rape of a 14 year old girl and the murder of her and her entire family. To the credit of the U.S. those responsible will be tried and punished if found guilty. However they will be tried in American courts according to U.S. rules.

These same rights are not available to those held at Gitmo and the yanks would find what they are doing to foreign nationals totally unaceptable if the roles had been reversed. This is utter hypocrisy by those blinded by a right wing fervour to punish anyone they feel threatened by, and runs counter to the rules we need to live by to maintain a civilised society.

John.

[Groggy]

Gents, discuss the topic but don't attack each other please.

[dazzler]

Guilty or innocent, just or unjust, the saddest thing in the whole episode is that Australia lost the greatest chance to get inside the mind of a fairly normalish, somewhat naive, perhaps somewhat dim witted, young male who was successfully "converted" to militant islam.

As a willing human source (intelligence and MO of militant islamist recruiters), and lets face it there were deals to be made upon his initial capture to entice this, would have been immeasurable.

Thats where we lost it big.

cheers

dazzler

[dazzler]

But does that mean it is right Bodgy - sorry I meant Dodgy given your values. It sounds like you would rather sell your ethics & morals for money rather than stand up for what is right. Thus not much difference to David Hicks who you think is a scum bag, so you should take a look at yourself before judging others.

So you would be one of those people who would pay protection money rather than stand your ground?. So it's all right for Williams (HIH) to screw a lot of elderly people out of their life saving if it means people like him can live a life of luxury when they have served their punny sentences.

What this about the poor farmers doing it tough they are one of the biggest bluggers in this country - always crying wolf when something goes wrong. If it isn't viable then like other industries here (mainly manufacturing) then close and go into another line of work. No one is making them do what they choose to do. We were having to pay through the nose when the banana's plantations were damaged. Why could we get them from overseas for a third of the price?. No it wasn't the fear of pests coming in but the government doesn't want to lose their votes because it knows it is on borrowed time. When Australians start thiking about others rather than themselves then this will be the country it once was.

MH

Hi Metal Head

You are welcome to come work on my FIL's banana plantation anytime.

Its great, we just bludge all day and the fruit somehow grows, is fertilised, weeded, desuckered, bunches picked, seperated, packed and off to market. No idea how it happens but were all too lazy to see how.

Come on up

[DavidG]

Time for a beer break.

We are all woodies here.

Lets respect each others rights to disagree
and be thankful that we can.

[martrix]

I will drink to that. And while your at it, ponder these stats below. They are the 2 most replied forums here.

Forum		Threads	Posts

[dazzler]

Time for a beer break.

We are all woodies here.

Lets respect each others rights to disagree
and be thankful that we can.

But drinking beer gets rid of woodies....thats no answer

[Metal Head]

Hi Metal Head

You are welcome to come work on my FIL's banana plantation anytime.

Its great, we just bludge all day and the fruit somehow grows, is fertilised, weeded, desuckered, bunches picked, seperated, packed and off to market. No idea how it happens but were all too lazy to see how.

Come on up

Thanks for the offer Dazzler but I don't get out of bed for anything less than $30 an hour. Or are you paying more than peanuts up there?.

When I was doing some fruit picking down here in the early 90's, we were paid less than $14 per hour for a 10 hour day with tempertures often hitting the mid 40's. Even then the owners were whinging about how hard it was to make a buck - even though they often were driving around in brand new vehicles. Some people are never happy even when they are on a good thing.

[Greg Ward]

At last we have a supporter of freedom in Mr Metal Head.

It's great to hear wisdom from one with wise whiskers, a sage who in his youth managed to exploit poor but honest farmers to be paid a $14/hour wage for fruit picking (free fruit thrown in as an extra but not counted).

You're the type of worker I'd really enjoy having work for me on my farm. I reckon you'd really put in a solid days toil and never grumble or seek the shade.

Thank you for your mature well thought through non emotional nationalistic non combative forgiving and caring comments. I look forward to more pearls.
Regards
Greg

[Santalum]

And so it comes down to this, this reporter has nailed it.http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/g...761563330.html

[Daddles]

And so it comes down to this, this reporter has nailed it.http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/g...761563330.html

That's easily the most biased piece of reporting I've ever read
Gees, and people think the pro-Hicks camp are off with the pixies

Richard

[martrix]

And so it comes down to this, this reporter has nailed it.http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/g...761563330.html

...in your opinion.

Journalist Miranda Devine is another spanner in the 'tool' kit which also contains other jewel's such as Andrew Bolt from the Murdoch shock jock club......wake up to yourselves people.!

I'm not allowed to air so called vitriolic 'left' biased opinions, so in the name of fairness and impartiality, the vitriol sprouted from the extreme 'right' should also be deleted.

Surely this thread has run its course.

[HappyHammer]

IMO he's guilty as charged of providing material support I think the charge was. He's a convert who reported in to Al-Queda in Afganistan shortly after 9-11 he's obviously a little lost and if he was prepared to join in then he deserves the punishment. 5 years in Gitmo plus another 10 over here should do the trick....

HH.

[martrix]

IMO he's guilty as charged of providing material support I think the charge was. He's a convert who reported in to Al-Queda in Afganistan shortly after 9-11 he's obviously a little lost and if he was prepared to join in then he deserves the punishment. 5 years in Gitmo plus another 10 over here should do the trick....

HH.

Get the facts before passing judgment.

[silentC]

That's easily the most biased piece of reporting I've ever read
Gees, and people think the pro-Hicks camp are off with the pixies

Richard

I would say it's naive. Except Miranda Divine couldn't be that stupid.