I hope David Hicks is patient

I hope David Hicks is patient. It appears the highest court in the UK is grappling to decide whether he is being held legally in Cuba or otherwise.

I’m reminded of the Hilton Hotel bombing in 1978 but more on that later.

Bob Ellis’ commentary on David Hicks is worth reflecting on and his book First Abolish the Customer: 202 Arguments Against Economic Rationalism is impossible to put down.

Ellis said: “David Hicks has committed, it seems, thought crime against the United States and is being detained and tormented by people unaware of his rights. It's unlikely they know this, and they should be told.”

Alexander Downer’s response to David Hicks’ predicament has been and continues to be - pathetic. Howard, Downer, Ruddock et al have simply passed the buck.

In a recent speech, Minister Downer said he was, “deeply conscious of the honour” of re-election. “I am also deeply conscious of (my) very great responsibility - I shall be a tireless advocate for my electorate,” Minister Downer said.
If that is the case - then what is he doing for David Hicks?

Minister Downer said it was with some regret that the underlying current of many of the Federal Government's policies carried with it flotsam and jetsam.

Yes, Minister - David Hicks is indeed in limbo but he is not just “flotsam and jetsam”.

Minister Downer spoke of the negative consequences of embracing sectional interest groups (like those who want to help David Hicks). He said the challenge now was quite different … to provide a climate for sustained and sustainable wealth creation.

In layman’s terms, Minister Downer is more concerned about economic rationalism than the individual and David Hicks is a victim because of this pig-headed approach.

And then of course he talked about national security.

“The national interest, Australia being buffeted by the waters of pacificism which have flowed across much of Western Europe and the United States” and so on and so on.