Bag's Rants

Justice and justice. Which one is served here?

It seems that David Hicks has worked a deal where he will plead guilty and gets to serve up to seven years in an Oz jail. Read here.

Now call me whatever you want but I think there are a few issues with this.

The first one that pops to mind is they actually don't have anything on him. Besides his confession and who wouldn't confess after five years in that hell hole. So they are settling knowing that the eyes of the world will be on them. Making a deal means you don't have to prove anything and as far as he is concerned he actually sees a life beyond a cell guilty or not. So a deal benefits both but leaves a unsettling aftertaste.

The second is that if his sentence is only seven years or so then what does that crime compare with in the US courts and considering that very few people are kept in the sort of conditions at the camp a year there must be a lot more psychologically damaging. Knowing that regardless of human rights and the laws of the lands you have been in you have no comeback on what is going on. Now I'm all for more severe sentences where people have to deal with harsh conditions. No PS2s, TV pool etc. Let them spend their time reflecting on their crime and for those that will never get out there is no need to spend money educating or taking any risks. Drop them in a pit and lower their meals.

The interesting part is that serving the sentence in an Australian jail. Sounds like a good deal for the US. They get to sentence him for crimes which are unlikely to stand up in Oz yet Oz have to pay for his jail time. Plus what will happen if he appeals which he has every right to do? Will he get sent back to the US for his appeal or will his appeal be heard in Oz? What about parole and reviews. Will he be treated differently to all the other prisoners in Oz. You can bet on it.

One thing I am sure of is that the US is not coming out of this clean. This whole situation seems to be a cockup from beginning to end and yet, no one in the US will take any fall and yet the whole thing leaves a bitter aftertaste.

It's just not seen as Justice.

posted by Bag @ 7:43 pm