Originally posted by: theredbaron
Here's some background on David Hicks:
So, let me get this straight...Here's some background on David Hicks:
David Hicks, an Adelaide man, was captured by the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan in early December 2001 while travelling with Taliban soldiers who were defending their territory from the Northern Alliance. David's father, Terry, said his son seemed unaware of the September 11 attacks and extremely doubtful of their authenticity when they spoke on a mobile phone a few days after the American bombing campaign had begun.
Since David's capture he has been handed over to the Americans who have moved him to Cuba and the infamous Camp X-ray. He remains there uncharged after numerous interrogations by both American and Australian government military officers and/or officials. He was detained in a small cage for more than five months, and was transferred to a small "shed type" prison cell about the middle of 2002. There is a bed, no chair and no window. The lights are on twenty four hours a day. He has only two fifteen minute exercise periods a week where he is walked shackled between two guards. He is forced to wear an overall type uniform whether it is forty-three degrees Centigrade (over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit) or less.
Since David's capture he has been handed over to the Americans who have moved him to Cuba and the infamous Camp X-ray. He remains there uncharged after numerous interrogations by both American and Australian government military officers and/or officials. He was detained in a small cage for more than five months, and was transferred to a small "shed type" prison cell about the middle of 2002. There is a bed, no chair and no window. The lights are on twenty four hours a day. He has only two fifteen minute exercise periods a week where he is walked shackled between two guards. He is forced to wear an overall type uniform whether it is forty-three degrees Centigrade (over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit) or less.
1. He was with soldiers of the Taliban until being captured by someone (Northern Alliance, I would assume). Why was he with them? Did he support them? There were many American-born Taliban found and arrested.
2. He doubted the 9/11 attacks ever happened. (even when told by his own father, so I assume?) Why did he doubt?
3. Why would his own government interrogate him numerous times? If he is innocent, and they believe it, why have they not launched some kind of formal protest with the US State Department? The US and Australia are on very good terms and if he is as innocent as you seem to think, expediting his return should be important to both sides.
I'm sorry, but nothing about that story tells me he deserves to be let go at the moment. President Bush said quite plainly in the beginning that if you are not with us, you are against us. Sounds like David here was against us.
Now, if if that wasn't the case, and he was, simply put, in the wrong place at the wrong time, I agree with you.