PIGSARSE #2

[Filthy]

So why does it take 5 years to "get tough"? Maybe an election? Maybe disquiet in the electorate and the polls?

Five years on, Howard sets deadline for US to charge Hicks
Michelle Grattan, Canberra, and Penelope Debelle, Adelaide
January 24, 2007

AUSTRALIA has demanded that the United States Government charge David Hicks by the middle of February.

Prime Minister John Howard, under increasing political pressure over Hicks, now in his sixth year of detention at Guantanamo Bay, said yesterday that Australia's ambassador to Washington, Dennis Richardson, had conveyed the message this week.

Mr Howard said the Government was "unhappy" it was taking so long for the charges to be laid. (ROAFL) But he refused to say what the Government would do if the US failed to meet the deadline.

Laying of fresh charges — previous charges lapsed when the earlier military commissions were ruled illegal — also doesn't guarantee a quick trial, because of possible delays from legal battles in the US to get more rights for those brought before military commissions.

Meanwhile, Hicks' Adelaide lawyer, David McLeod, will travel to Guantanamo Bay within days to see him and report on his mental and physical condition.

Mr McLeod told The Age yesterday he expected to see Hicks shortly and was in the process of obtaining the necessary clearances and approval to enter the highly secure US military detention centre.

A Newspoll yesterday found 56 per cent of people disapproved of the Government's handling of the Hicks case.

Mr Howard said he had discussed the Hicks case with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Attorney-General Philip Ruddock on Monday. "The decision was taken to formally convey to the Americans our view that he should be charged by the middle of February," Mr Howard said, and the Government was "reasonably optimistic" this would be done.

Mr McLeod's proposed trip will be his second to Cuba since first meeting Hicks, 31, in June 2005. Mr McLeod said at the time that Hicks' physical condition was poor, he suffered chronic back pain and was in a state of despair.

Mr McLeod is expected to be accompanied by Hicks' US defence lawyer, Major Michael Mori, who travels to Cuba from Washington every few weeks.

It will be the first opportunity for Hicks' defence team to see the accused Taliban fighter since he refused to speak to his family by phone just before Christmas, raising concerns about his deteriorating mental state. The conditions in which Hicks is currently held will also be examined by his defence team, who were notified three weeks ago that Hicks had been moved from virtual isolation in camp five to the recently constructed camp six section of Guantanamo Bay.

Pictures of camp six indicate a highly secure prison area but with a communal, secure dining area where Hicks may be able to mix with other detainees.

Responding to the Federal Government's move to set a deadline for charges, Mr McLeod said this was sending the wrong message. "The Government should be calling for him to be either put before a properly constituted court by mid-February, or released," Mr McLeod said. "They are sending out the wrong message by saying he must be charged by mid-February."

Mr McLeod said it would be more proper for the Government to seek an assurance that a properly constituted court be convened to deal with detainees including Hicks. "He is curr- ently prisoner Number 002, uncharged after five years of imprisonment," Mr McLeod said.

A ban on a proposed visit to Hicks by Melbourne psychiatrist Paul Mullen is being maintained. Mr McLeod said Professor Mullen, who visited and assessed Hicks' psychiatric state last year, had been refused entry by the US military and would not be accompanying him.

[temporary stevo]

i notice that Howard only made these comments AFTER Gitmo's chief military prosecutor announced that charges would be laid against about 75 detainees in early February, including David Hicks. soon we'll be hearing Howard demand that bears shit in the woods.

[Filthy]

i notice that Howard only made these comments AFTER Gitmo's chief military prosecutor announced that charges would be laid against about 75 detainees in early February, including David Hicks. soon we'll be hearing Howard demand that bears shit in the woods.

Watch for the Capt. Queeg he hides so well come out in him if the polls remain bad for him (PLEASE)

[pevfan]

Yes, the little steel balls, only in Howard's case it's the "Ah..er...ah's" Very good analogy there Filth. I reckon though that Dubya has already given the Rodent the wink and the nod over Hicks that charges are about to be laid anyway so this will make Howard look good when they are formally announced...probably by the middle of Feb as the Howard deadline has prescribed. Then he'll be able to say 'See, I can stand up to America and see how they jump when I do' or sentiments to that general affect