In the company of cowards [re: David Hicks]

[Moody]

David Hicks has his "conviction" overturned by the US Military Court and instead of a little humility from the people who left him to rot in Guantanamo, we get the usual risible rhetoric

David Hicks admits he is still suffering but Tony Abbott refuses to apologise

 

[phily]

Agreed. Whilst we can remain sceptical of what he did in Afghanistan, he was convicted by a kangaroo court of a crime that wasn't an offence when he allegedly committed it, kept in appalling conditions for too many years, and has now had the conviction overturned. None of us really know what he did in Afghanistan, but the punishment has been clearly excessive, and Australian Governments have not shown any interest in his welfare or in him seeking any sort of justice.

 

[BadgerBoi]

Pleased that he's clear about not expecting an apology from that lot. imho it wouldn't be worth wiping your backside on an apology from them.

I don't like Hicks, but there is no excuse for the way he was treated.

 

[RooFlyer]

Here's a deal. He apologises for what he actually did - what he boasted about in letters to his parents before he got caught - and I'll encourage the government to apologise too.

Personally, I reckon the time he spent incarcerated was appropriate for what he did.

 

[Isochronous]

The US Government should be apologising to Australia for not letting the Northern Alliance rebels who captured Muhammed Dawood execute him on the spot. What is repugnant is the fact that the treasonous jihadist is living freely among us in Australia portraying himself as a martyr when he was in Afghanistan training with al-Qaeda, guarding Osama bin Laden, and participating in military operations against Australian troops as well as our US and Indian allies.

I wouldn't piss on Muhammed Dawood if his teeth were on fire.

 

[Moody]

The US Government should be apologising to Australia for not letting the Northern Alliance rebels who captured Muhammed Dawood execute him on the spot. What is repugnant is the fact that the treasonous jihadist is living freely among us in Australia portraying himself as a martyr when he was in Afghanistan training with al-Qaeda, guarding Osama bin Laden, and participating in military operations against Australian troops as well as our US and Indian allies.

I wouldn't piss on Muhammed Dawood if his teeth were on fire.

Is that a fact? So Australia has evidence that David Hicks fought against our own troops in Afghanistan?? I'm surprised he hasn't been charged and convicted of such a heinous act.

"guarding Osama bin Laden"!!! What a joke!

 

[Isochronous]

Is that a fact? So Australia has evidence that David Hicks fought against our own troops in Afghanistan?? I'm surprised he hasn't been charged and convicted of such a heinous act.

"guarding Osama bin Laden"!!! What a joke!

Lashkar-e-Toiba is a terrorist organisation. Taliban and al-Qaeda openly were seeking to attack Australian soldiers and assets in Afghanistan and abroad.

What do you think Dawood was doing in Afghanistan - charity work?

 

[RooFlyer]

In the company of cowards

In the paper today:

THE government notes the decision by the United States Court of Military Commission Review into Mr Hicks’s conviction. The review was about the validity of the US law under which he was convicted, not about whether he carried out the activities of which he was accused. Mr Hicks has made a number of admissions regarding his activities, including in letters to his family and in his book, for example that he undertook training with militia and terrorist groups such as al-Qa’ida in Afghanistan and that he had met Osama bin Laden on many occasions and considered him a “brother”. Those particular activities were carried out before the 2002 and subsequent counter-terrorism laws ... (and) would likely now fall within the scope of Australian terrorism laws.

 

[UP4014]

Is that a fact? So Australia has evidence that David Hicks fought against our own troops in Afghanistan?? I'm surprised he hasn't been charged and convicted of such a heinous act.

"guarding Osama bin Laden"!!! What a joke!

It is a fact is it not he attended al qaeda camps and trained with al qaeda. You want to play with a terrorist group how do you expect to be treated.

 

[jukebox333]

It is a fact is it not he attended al qaeda camps and trained with al qaeda. You want to play with a terrorist group how do you expect to be treated.

...and yet tens of thousands of Australians, including our Prime Minister, are lining up to demand special treatment for two Australians in Bali who "played" with a group that posed a much more tangible threat to many more Australian lives.

The world, not just the bad movie, is 50 Shades of Grey.

 

[UP4014]

...and yet tens of thousands of Australians, including our Prime Minister, are lining up to demand special treatment for two Australians in Bali who "played" with a group that posed a much more tangible threat to many more Australian lives.

The world, not just the bad movie, is 50 Shades of Grey.

Agreed, it's very lucky David Hicks was caught by the US and not by the Indonesians.

 

[BadgerBoi]

Here's a deal. He apologises for what he actually did - what he boasted about in letters to his parents before he got caught - and I'll encourage the government to apologise too.

Personally, I reckon the time he spent incarcerated was appropriate for what he did.

You could encourage the government to apologise all you want - he's not interested in their apology.

What was it he actually did again? Apart from likely exaggerating and lying in a few letters back home?

 

[BadgerBoi]

Agreed, it's very lucky David Hicks was caught by the US and not by the Indonesians.

The Indonesians seem to be keener on the concept of evidence than the Americans are, so would have been better of being "caught" by the Indonesians.

 

[RooFlyer]

You could encourage the government to apologise all you want - he's not interested in their apology.

What was it he actually did again? Apart from likely exaggerating and lying in a few letters back home?

Read the quote above; he has never denied what he did with the terrorist groups, except when it was expedient. He was proud of it. Oh, and heard his charming opinions on Jews?

Poor, poor Muhammed Dawood. My heart bleeds for him. The guy is simply beneath contempt and I'll not waste any more electrons on the matter.

 

[drron]

He did plead guilty to offering material support to terrorists.
The sentence was sqashed not on his evidence but as part of the plea deal for his release he gave up his right to appeal.That was submitted too late and that became the reason for his win in this latest hearing.
Prior to Afghanistan he also fought for the Kosovo Liberation army.
He has form not just from his letters back home.

 

[JohnPhelan]

He's absolute scum and should never have been allowed back into Australia.

 

[medhead]

I see the apologists for torture are out in force spreading their lies. They talk about actions of organisations, but completely fail to address the question posed about the actions of one person. That's because the small matter of timing makes their accusations false. The us court outcome says his actions were not illegal. The complete lack of criminal proceedings in Australia says he did nothing illegal. These claims are as valid as trying to charge someone today for breeching the US prohibition.

Question his morals and ethics, sure. But claims of treason are the sort of joke that belongs to a KKK lynch mob.

An admission obtained by torture is worth as much as a promise that good government starts today.

 

[RooFlyer]

I see the apologists for torture are out in force spreading their lies. They talk about actions of organisations, but completely fail to address the question posed about the actions of one person. That's because the small matter of timing makes their accusations false. The us court outcome says his actions were not illegal. The complete lack of criminal proceedings in Australia says he did nothing illegal. These claims are as valid as trying to charge someone today for breeching the US prohibition.

Question his morals and ethics, sure. But claims of treason are the sort of joke that belongs to a KKK lynch mob.

An admission obtained by torture is worth as much as a promise that good government starts today.

You drag me back medhead .

The us court outcome says his actions were not illegal

No, sorry, that's just not the case. The US court outcome ONLY went to the process of his original trial. It did NOT say anything about what he did. <redacted>

The complete lack of criminal proceedings in Australia says he did nothing illegal.

Yes, as the law stood then. Today it would be illegal.

Don't forget - how can you - that he freely admitted to what he was accused of, and boasted about it well away from US authorities before and subsequently. Is this really the type of person you want to stick up for? Condemn the US process by all means - go for your life; you may find me along side you :shock: - but please, this guy freely joined a know terrorist organisation along side his 'brother' UBL, who was known to be responsible for the 9/11 murders of thousands of people. Can we at least agree that he is the scum of the earth?

 

[medhead]

The US court determined that the process was wrong and that the law cannot be applied retrospectively. That mean what he did was not illegal when he did it.

It was NOT a known terrorist organisation when he joined.

As for the claim he attacked Australians. Where is the evidence?


But the only really important point is about torture. I simply do not support torture. That is absolutely non-negotiable. To claim an admission obtained from torture has any meaning at all is simply ludicrous. Are we the same as the Taliban or are we better than them? It really is a very very very easy concept.

 

[ReLoad]

Personally I think that everyone including the media are avoiding the REAL big issues;

Did he get miles and SC on his trips to/from Gitmo?