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Hicks, Guantanamo and the Howard Government
by dingo Monday, Aug 14 2006, 1:37pm
national / human rights / article

Good, bad or just plain stupid, David Hicks remains an Australian son. Democratic nations have a responsibility to protect their citizens in times of need; a number of democratic nations have already successfully repatriated their citizens from the illegal torture centre of Guantanamo Bay; however, after a period of four years the Howard government has been unable or unwilling to effect the repatriation of David Hicks.

If a truly strong case against Hicks existed it surely would have been prosecuted to the full advantage of the terrorist scare campaign that Bush constantly wages on the American people. The fact that the USA is loath to give Hicks a fair and open trial, and in view of the obvious manipulative tactics utilised by corrupt U.S. ‘legal’ officers to delay proceedings, it would appear that the grounds upon which the U.S. military have based their ‘case’ is extremely flimsy and/or could attract litigation for illegal detention, torture and human rights abuses!

David Hicks: American Injustice

After four long years time has run out for John Howard, the David Hicks case could well bring down his government; a possibility that does not go unnoticed by Howard. In view of Howard’s very ‘special’ relationship with the USA and the fact that other less chummy nations (Germany and France) have repatriated their citizens we can only conclude that Howard and his government are complicit in the illegal detention and torture of David Hicks – either that or they are the most inept government in history!

A nation is its citizens; virgin land is not a nation, people build nations. Citizens create and sustain nations and in return nations should sustain and support their citizens. A citizen has a right (especially in a democratic society) to expect assistance from government in circumstances where only governments are able to determine outcomes. Governments are obliged to assist in these situations. David Hicks is a citizen in need of the assistance of his government.

The Howard government has had numerous opportunities to exercise its numerous rights, options and prerogatives in respect of assisting and ensuring that Hicks is not denied his rights; however, the Howard government’s record speaks for itself. Hicks remains in limbo after four long tortuous years in detention. In view of the successes of other nations in repatriating their citizens it becomes evident that the Howard government is unable to exercise its rights as a sovereign nation.

The case of David Hicks has become a national disgrace and an international embarrassment for the Howard government. Citizens from other nations scoff and deride the spineless behaviour of the Australian leadership. The contrasting characteristics of Aussies they encounter and the cringing character of Australian government often perplex them; I have been questioned on numerous occasions regarding this incongruity. It is no secret that Australians have distinguished themselves in war, sports, and charitable works; all successful Aussie social endeavours have at their foundation Australian mateship and the spirit of camaraderie; indeed, Australia would not have achieved nation status without the spirit of mateship, mutual support and assistance.

However, the world and most Australians are unaware of Australia’s cultural shame. The brave and manly Aussie male hides the criminal, cowardly, duplicitous, sewer rodent type that John Winston Howard and his front bench personify. Take stock for just one moment and try and picture Howard as a young man learning teamwork on a football field, or selfless service in a lifesaving club, difficult to picture no doubt. Try and imagine Howard as a soldier in Vietnam or any other war! If those imaginings prove too difficult attempt to replace the incongruous image of Howard with cream puff, Downer, nope, that doesn’t work either! Ok, how about supercilious prick, Costello, no way I hear you say! Then try Ruddock, the talking sphincter – impossible! And there you have it, the nation is being led by Turds! Spineless shits do not good leaders make (that also applies to that barrel of shit, Beazley and his mob of Labor skids). The negligible support for David Hicks from the opposition bench is a matter of record. The David Hicks case not only disgraces our ‘leaders’ it is now reflecting on the entire community – the illegal imprisonment of Hicks has become an Australian tragedy.

Ned Kelly was a thief and murderer – extenuating circumstances granted. He went to the gallows in complete understanding of the consequences of his crimes. Kelly was sentenced to death according to the laws that prevailed at the time. Hicks, however, has been denied a fair trial but remains in a high security detention centre; it seems he is ‘guilty’ until proven innocent or is rescued by the Australian people. Whose ‘horse’ did Hicks steal or which police officer did Hicks shoot? Fair go! Hang him or free him he is OUR responsibility – the Americans have forfeited all their options by denying Hicks his rights.

I leave you to contemplate whether Howard and his front bench represent the true Australian character. Have the people of this nation become cringing cowards and chicken-shits like Howard and his front bench or is there a glimmer of mateship and a ‘fair go’ left somewhere under the Southern Cross? Howard’s contribution to Australia will be remembered in infamy, stultifying personal debt (economic slavery) the destruction of traditional Australian values, incomparable cowardice in international affairs and the colonisation of the nation to the U.S. – a brilliant career!


Postscript:
Try for just one moment and imagine yourself in a concrete-celled, razor-wired, Torture Bay, for just one month; David Hicks has endured horrendous physical and psychological tortures for years.

Is there no help for an Australian son?

[Please forward or link this appeal to all concerned citizens.]

Camp X-Ray Guantanamo Bay

COMMENTS

Free David Hicks NOW
by Chris Ned Kelly Tuesday, Aug 15 2006, 2:43pm

Every Australian Commonwealth Politician and the US Embassy in Canberra was emailed today.

For more information:
http://sydney.indymedia.org/node/38293