The first story is based on comments by former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, a critic of Howard, that Hicks had been "totally deserted by the Australian government". Fraser also doubts the validity of evidence against Hicks given the likelihood it was extracted through torture - both the US and Australian governments have denied Hicks has been tortured but this denial requires us to accept as legitimate treatment such as waterboarding.
The second story covers comments by Australia's new director of military prosecutions, Brigadier Lynette McDade (background here). McDade simply states the maxim that justice delayed is justice denied:
"It is too long. Nobody should be held without trial in custody for that long, nobody, and if we did that you can imagine the hue and cry."
2 comments:
If Tony Blair's limp non-defence of UK nationals in Gitmo is anything to go by (and I think we can conclude, in the case of John Howard, that it probably is) then this poor bastard might as well ask the prison rat for some help, as it'll do him about as much good as asking the Oz PM.
Blair's defence, weak as I agree it was, is vastly superior to Howard's. He's essentially said he cares not at all about what happens to Hicks because he is, according to the US, an unlawful combatant. Bollocks. Shameful in fact.
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