Hicks pleads guilty

[Dogwatcher]

Well, well, well, this'll set a cat among the pigeons and open up the Hicks debate again.

He's pleaded guilty and it looks like he'll now serve his time in an Aussie jail.

Why did he plead guilty? Will be interesting to see what the feedback is.

Notwithstanding what he did was wrong, the Australian Government's actions throughout this have also been reprehensible. Pandering to the US and only pushing the case through when it started to impact on the polls.

How many years do we think he'll get?

[JK]

Notwithstanding what he did was wrong, the Australian Government's actions throughout this have also been reprehensible. Pandering to the US and only pushing the case through when it started to impact on the polls.

Personally I don't have any sympathy for the bloke, nor angst toward the government over the whole affair!

[redandblack]

cp, I don't think anybody has much sympathy for him at all. I think many, including the top lawyers in Australia and the world, think he deserved a fair trial within 5 years.

[JK]

cp, I don't think anybody has much sympathy for him at all. I think many, including the top lawyers in Australia and the world, think he deserved a fair trial within 5 years.

Yeah granted RAB, I'm not saying my thoughts are right as such, I just don't care for the bloke and think that any delays or suffering wouldn't have occurred had he not played the role he chose.

[Sojourner]

Someone called 5AA stating that he had been given a life sentance yet I havent been able to verify that.

It is true that a number of the delays to the case were caused from his own side, the attempt to gain british citizenship and etc.

He is lucky not to be getting the death penalty, belonging to Al-Queda should call for it.

[redandblack]

Sojourner, what are your thoughts on the sentence the Americans have speedily given the soldier who raped and murdered that 14 year old Iraqui girl, then murdered her family?

I thought I read that he'll be out in 2 and a half years.

[Sploosh]

Why did he plead guilty? Will be interesting to see what the feedback is.

I think it's quite likely that he pleaded guilty mainly because after 5 years in hell, he probably thought anything else would be better.

I don't think someone could think straight after 5 years under extreme conditions, but then again, he probably wasn't thinking straight when he wandered off to the middle east in the first place.

It will be interesting to see what statements (if any) he makes if and when he ends up back in an Aussie jail.

[Coorong]

My thinking, do the crime o/s, do the time o/s. I would be as mad as hell if we brought Corby back!

[mick]

One time traitors were either shot or hanged. Mohammed Dawood is extremely fortunate we live in more enlightened times. People who called for a quick trial are quite right, there should have been a quick trial followed by an equally quick execution, the delay in dealing with this bloke has been reprehensible. At least being found guilty, he will like Corby be unable to profit from his crimes

[PhilG]

..

[Coorong]

My thinking, do the crime o/s, do the time o/s. I would be as mad as hell if we brought Corby back!

Different situation entirely, Coorong. Corby was tried in the country the crime was committed in. Hicks isn't.

Mate i thought I saw a loaf of bread in the supermarket with your name on it. But when I looked closely it said thick cut!

[PhilG]

..

[mick]

My thinking, do the crime o/s, do the time o/s. I would be as mad as hell if we brought Corby back!

As far as I am concerned, keep him in a US jurisdiction, at least the Australian taxpayer will be spared

[Sojourner]

Sojourner, what are your thoughts on the sentence the Americans have speedily given the soldier who raped and murdered that 14 year old Iraqui girl, then murdered her family?

I thought I read that he'll be out in 2 and a half years.

I find that nothing short of disgusting, he should be either hung or given a life sentance in an Iraqi jail

[Psyber]

Despite my conservative leanings [or perhaps because of them] I believe that whatever any Australian citizen has done, any Australian government has an obligation to see that that citizen is dealt with by civilised law in a properly constituted court with representation, with no use of torture, and in reasonable time. That obligation was applied in the Corby case.

Hicks was legitimately a POW and could be held as such without trial, but then the Geneva Convention would dictate the degree of civility with which he must be treated, and that excludes abuse and torture. The Yanks didn't like that. The problem was he had not broken any Australian law or international law that existed at the time, nor any law that applied on US soil, so they kept him while they tried to make something up to get around the lack of applicable law, or he gave up and copped a plea at the tribunal as he did. He really had no choice - no other verdict but guilty was possible, but a guilty plea saved the US embarrassment so they offered the option to plead guilty and be sent home.

I am not saying he is innocent or good - just that this all happened because the US wanted to duck the Geneva Convention, and our government knew there was nothing he could be tried for here and that they could not get away with running up a Kangaroo Court in Australia.

[redden whites]

Someone called 5AA stating that he had been given a life sentance yet I havent been able to verify that.

It is true that a number of the delays to the case were caused from his own side, the attempt to gain british citizenship and etc.

He is lucky not to be getting the death penalty, belonging to Al-Queda should call for it.

Plenty of big calls here.Please enlighten me as to the exact details (where ,how with what ???)of his crime as you seem to have such an indepth knowledge of the case and despite my best efforts I cant find out. I am assuming he sat down and made the knives used on Sept 11? Did he make the bombs used in Kenya and Tanzania embassy bombings ? Which terrorist act was he charged with aiding SOJOURNER?Maybe it was the Madrid train bombings or london underground bombings? All i need is an answer as I dont the hell know. Gee I was in the front bar of a well known Adelaide pub just last week and was asked to give to the political wing of the IRA and it was not the first time and there are plenty of donors here in Australia and the USA who keep them going just fine .A search of direct deposits from Australian bank accounts with the immediate death penalty as well maybe?A non-sactioned armed foce invades a country ,maybe as a tax payer history will see me as a villian also and I may face the rope as well.
I am assuming you will support putting Gerry Adams on the rope as well?
Would you have put Mandela on the rope as well?



Some food for thought .On tv tonight you can watch allo allo terrorists or freedom fighters?

[redden whites]

Despite my conservative leanings [or perhaps because of them] I believe that whatever any Australian citizen has done, any Australian government has an obligation to see that that citizen is dealt with by civilised law in a properly constituted court with representation, with no use of torture, and in reasonable time. That obligation was applied in the Corby case.

Hicks was legitimately a POW and could be held as such without trial, but then the Geneva Convention would dictate the degree of civility with which he must be treated, and that excludes abuse and torture. The Yanks didn't like that. The problem was he had not broken any Australian law or international law that existed at the time, nor any law that applied on US soil, so they kept him while they tried to make something up to get around the lack of applicable law, or he gave up and copped a plea at the tribunal as he did. He really had no choice - no other verdict but guilty was possible, but a guilty plea saved the US embarrassment so they offered the option to plead guilty and be sent home.


I am not saying he is innocent or good - just that this all happened because the US wanted to duck the Geneva Convention, and our government knew there was nothing he could be tried for here and that they could not get away with running up a Kangaroo Court in Australia.

Full marks for a reasonable and educated post assessing the situation.
God bless America....making democracy, fairness ,justice and liberty for all.( )

[McAlmanac]

What makes me sad is that the trial has suddenly occurred after a sudden injection of urgency from the Prime Minister after a seemingly sudden turnaround in public opinion over Hicks' treatment. Irrespective of the penalty and where it is served - this political expediency is trademark Howard politics at its most distasteful.

[Dogwatcher]

Great post Psyber.

Also interesting to note that America's so called terrorists have all been dealt with and shipped home pretty quickly (some of whom Hicks was alleged to have communicated with), so what was the difference between him and them?

A further point: it will be interesting to see how Australian history remembers David Hicks. I get the feeling in 100 years time, our population will have a different take on him. Look at Ned Kelly, and also Breaker Morant (another who was tried in a Kangaroo Court) who committed crimes which would have been viewed distastefully by the greater public at the time, but who are now regarded as Australian icons.

I'm not saying I agree with it, but....

[TroyGFC]

My thinking, do the crime o/s, do the time o/s. I would be as mad as hell if we brought Corby back!

As far as I am concerned, keep him in a US jurisdiction, at least the Australian taxpayer will be spared

My thoughts too Mick.