harryMar 31st, 2007 - 00:09:43

'There's no point in having prisoner-transfer agreements if the Australian courts are just going to change the sentence when people are brought back,' Downer told national broadcaster ABC.

I didn't know that Australia had a prisoner transfer agreement with Cuba. They shouldn't be relying on any agreements with the US since the US government has argued that US laws don't apply in Cuba.

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Antony LaneMar 31st, 2007 - 00:20:03

What ever David Hicks has supposed to have done (and there is no real proof)should have been brought back to Australia and tried here. It makes the fact of being an Australian Citizen a joke when someone can be held by another country in an offshore facility.

Also the fact the USA changed the charges to suit themselves, still our prime minister is so far up bushes rear end all one can see is the soles of his shoes.

Australia is just another satellite state of the USA.

If the British can get it's people home it says something about the country if we can't or don't want to.

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@harryMar 31st, 2007 - 01:08:24

Great point, that'll be line line, when a Labor government issues a pardon to Hicks.

What a world!

Roger

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@Antony LaneMar 31st, 2007 - 01:14:22

Well, Australia is a vassal state (at least under Howard).

I can't put a link in here (M&C won't let me), but do a Google on:

'Understanding Empire: Hierarchy, Networks and Clients',

the author is Prof. James Petras, a sociologist.

You'll find Australia's status in there, well explained.

Roger

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Giacomo VallazzaMar 31st, 2007 - 02:04:26

I'm a bit confused, did Hicks support the Taliban in Afghanistan with us and the U.S. in their fight against the Russians and the Mujahideen insurgents, or only after 'The Coalition of the Willing' changed sides to support the Mujahideen Freedom Fighters.

Reminds me a bit of 'Catch 22,' where there was always a catch to sanity prevailing!

You wouldn't want to be against the Australian Government, for they could really get nasty and throw away the keys! Being 'with us' has at least allowed this Australian citizen to rot in an overseas prison.

Now we'll soon be able to bring him home, then stone him to death, after a trial by media.

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