The charges against David Hicks are finally becoming public… and what a joke they’d be if David’s life wasn’t being wrecked.
For a start they are accusing him of charges under the ‘law of war’. The charges so far listed are “providing material support for terrorism” and “attempted murder in violation of the law of war”. His US lawyer, Major Michael Mori, has said there is no case to answer under the first charge as there is nothing in the ‘law of war’ that covers “providing material support for terrorism” whatever that might prove to be. In addition, the US themselves admit there is no suggestion that David ever fired a shot… in anger or other… so the charge of “attempted murder” is ludicrous.
What is *more* ludicrous is that the charge is being brought not because he actually tried to murder someone… but that he was trained to do so!! This is akin to him being charges with rape… not because he was caught attempting it, but because he had the equipment.
If this is the best the USA can produce after *five years* of incarceration it just shows how desperate their situation is with regard to David’s continued illegal imprisonment.
That John Howard continues to support the USA in their torture of an Australian citizen in the face of these idiotic charges shows how far he is willing to go to support George Bush.
Australia’s shame deepens.
The Eclectic Interweb 