Mamdouh Habib - Returning home

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 04:00 PM

I was watching the news last night to discover that after 3.5 years, the American authorities have decided not to charge Mamdouh Habib with a crime but to return him home to Australia.

What the hell is wrong with all the media these days? It was all about attacking the Australian Government for not doing more, the sympathy case for the family, the lawyer who was planning to seek compensation etc.

HELLO!!!! Does anyone realise this man was associating himself with Terrorists? There's firm evidence, including pictures of him with the bomber who tried to destroy the WTC back in 1993.

Just because there isn't enough evidence to prosecute him, doesn't mean he's squeaky clean and deserves the red carpet treatment. He should count himself lucky he wasn't imprisoned for life or worse still, possibly executed.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not a big fan of the "War on Terror" or a Stalinist Dictatorship, but sometimes I think the victims in these cases have a lot more to answer for.

I just wish the media would put a little balance back into their stories rather than going for one extreme angle or the other.

GTP 320 · 13-01-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

I was watching the news last night to discover that after 3.5 years, the American authorities have decided not to charge Mamdouh Habib with a crime but to return him home to Australia.

What the hell is wrong with all the media these days? It was all about attacking the Australian Government for not doing more, the sympathy case for the family, the lawyer who was planning to seek compensation etc.

HELLO!!!! Does anyone realise this man was associating himself with Terrorists? There's firm evidence, including pictures of him with the bomber who tried to destroy the WTC back in 1993.

Just because there isn't enough evidence to prosecute him, doesn't mean he's squeaky clean and deserves the red carpet treatment. He should count himself lucky he wasn't imprisoned for life or worse still, possibly executed.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not a big fan of the "War on Terror" or a Stalinist Dictatorship, but sometimes I think the victims in these cases have a lot more to answer for.

I just wish the media would put a little balance back into their stories rather than going for one extreme angle or the other.

I fully agree with you,and now they are already talking about suing the Governments,He's got to be joking.
Cheers John

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP 320

I fully agree with you,and now they are already talking about suing the Governments,He's got to be joking.
Cheers John

Yeah i know!!! Thank the lord at least Johnny is on the ball. Mark Latham would be like bend over backwards and screw me.

I can just see it now, "Thanks Mark, I'll put this money to good use including more terrorist funding...blah, i mean my kids education on Australian values."

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...55E421,00.html

SpoolMan · 13-01-2005, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

Yeah i know!!! Thank the lord at least Johnny is on the ball. Mark Latham would be like bend over backwards and screw me.

I can just see it now, "Thanks Mark, I'll put this money to good use including more terrorist funding...blah, i mean my kids education on Australian values."

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...55E421,00.html

Chris, i agreed with you until you turned your thread into political bashing..

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRFPV8

Chris, i agreed with you until you turned your thread into political bashing..

Agree - My comment was in poor taste. Sorry if it offended anyone.

Sourbastard · 13-01-2005, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

I was watching the news last night to discover that after 3.5 years, the American authorities have decided not to charge Mamdouh Habib with a crime but to return him home to Australia.

What the hell is wrong with all the media these days? It was all about attacking the Australian Government for not doing more, the sympathy case for the family, the lawyer who was planning to seek compensation etc.

HELLO!!!! Does anyone realise this man was associating himself with Terrorists? There's firm evidence, including pictures of him with the bomber who tried to destroy the WTC back in 1993.

Just because there isn't enough evidence to prosecute him, doesn't mean he's squeaky clean and deserves the red carpet treatment. He should count himself lucky he wasn't imprisoned for life or worse still, possibly executed.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not a big fan of the "War on Terror" or a Stalinist Dictatorship, but sometimes I think the victims in these cases have a lot more to answer for.

I just wish the media would put a little balance back into their stories rather than going for one extreme angle or the other.

I can have my photo taken with neil armstrong, doesnt make me an astronaut.

And Evidence of association is not evidence of illegal actions. Many of the "terrorists" in the middle east arent hidden in caves. They are among the people, who mostly agree with their politics and fundamentalist views and hence protect them, and treat them like rock stars. They are celebrities, make no mistake. And yes many get their photo's taken with the terrorists.

Many of these fundamentalist terrorists run schools, mosques and various businesses in the middle east. Yes they are used as recruiting grounds, but not everyone who attends becomes a terrorist, or even a fundamentalist, just as my father who went to a strict catholic school, is no more a catholic then I am.

The US say they have this and that evidence, and they say they have it to the media, who will either exagerate it, or understate it, depending on their own views of what the public want/politics/ratings/planetary alignment etc.

This is the same intelligence community that brought us the weapons of mass destruction saga. While their work in afghanistan was and is superb, their work in iraq is sadly lacking. This is due to a lack of humint and a gross reliance in sigint.

And this is the same Media who consistently screw up stories and trump up or down half baked leaks and memos from government "sources" which as often as not, is their own imagination.

So is he a terrorist? I dont know. I doubt anyone here can say for certain. I know for a fact I wouldnt trust the US with their evidence, and i wouldnt trust the media to report on a dog crossing the road.

Only people who really know for certain is habib, or his terrorist cell, if he belongs to one. If there was a shred of evidence, even a small amount(as thats all that would be required), he would be standing tall before the man with david hicks.

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 04:33 PM

I see your point. I just think in situations like this, i'm not really interested in the media's point of view. The sympathic angle without the facts just doesnt do it for me.

Sourbastard · 13-01-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

I see your point. I just think in situations like this, i'm not really interested in the media's point of view. The sympathic angle without the facts just doesnt do it for me.

I dont trust the media either mate, even 60 minutes can insert their own context into stories. But our only sources of information are from the media on this subject, irregardless of spin, it is in turn "processed" information from the government(s), so add their spin, by the time we get the facts, what was fact, is now a fact like product(I cant believe its not factual!© lol sorry i couldnt resist).

This I do know though, they let him go, so their evidence must be practically see-through. They dont need a huge amount to keep him indefinately.

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourbastard

I can have my photo taken with neil armstrong, doesnt make me an astronaut.

No it doesn't.... but you can't deny you wouldn't be interested in astronomy.

FASTXR · 13-01-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

No it doesn't.... but you can't deny you wouldn't be interested in astronomy.

Touche!! :hihi:

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FASTXR

Touche!! :hihi:

Sometimes i think i should be a politician. Would you all vote for me?

I'd guarantee autobahns in every state.
Speed cameras only in "real" blackspots.
Compulsary driver training for all.
Fines for poor driver behaviour including - Not sticking to the left lane, poor round-a-bouting etc
Less money spent on Defence and other bullshit so there is money to fund Free medical / dental / education for all.
Compliance to the Kyoto Protocol.

Sourbastard · 13-01-2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

No it doesn't.... but you can't deny you wouldn't be interested in astronomy.

Ah but he is a senator too, i might like his politics! I might just like old guys and find them sexy. We might share a special love of butterflys. I might be buying his car. I might just want my photo taken with a famous guy before he gets dead.

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourbastard

I might just want my photo taken with a famous guy before he gets dead.

So if you had the opportunity to get your photo taken with Osama Bin Laden, would you take it?

Sourbastard · 13-01-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

So if you had the opportunity to get your photo taken with Osama Bin Laden, would you take it?

hell yeah, and after he is captured or killed, I cash in, then buy a new GT-P.

OK so he is a bad man, well he could do some good finally, he can get me into leather seating.

JG3282 · 13-01-2005, 04:32 PM

well said sourbastard, you obviously think before you speak :-)

Casper · 13-01-2005, 04:37 PM

I dont have enough knowledge on the subject to make any sort of comment on it.

I do have enough knowledge to say that if this turns into a political mud slinging match like so many others it will be CLOSED and the offenders PMed.

Kapisch?

NAK302 · 13-01-2005, 05:00 PM

our house hold aquired pay tv just before christmas, so that makes it about a month since i watched the news or any current affairs program. guess what? i'm still alive and enjoying watching docos based on fact rather than someones opinion of events.

my motto is if you associate yourself with $hit, you end up being just as smelly.

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nak351

our house hold aquired pay tv just before christmas, so that makes it about a month since i watched the news or any current affairs program. guess what? i'm still alive and enjoying watching docos based on fact rather than someones opinion of events.

my motto is if you associate yourself with $hit, you end up being just as smelly.

I think i might have to Trade my GT-P in for an XB Falcon. I can barely afford to eat considering the loan repayments, much less afford pay tv!!!

In truth, I dont watch much television. Mainly because whenever I do, it somehow ****es me off.

NAK302 · 13-01-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

I think i might have to Trade my GT-P in for an XB Falcon. I can barely afford to eat considering the loan repayments, much less afford pay tv!!!

In truth, I dont watch much television. Mainly because whenever I do, it somehow ****es me off.

with depreciation you'd probably have to borrow over to get the xb GT

:

yeah, commercial telly is pretty average nowadays. i reckon i could watch the news tonight and still see the same stories from a month ago.

GTPChris · 13-01-2005, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nak351

with depreciation you'd probably have to borrow over to get the xb GT

:

yeah, commercial telly is pretty average nowadays. i reckon i could watch the news tonight and still see the same stories from a month ago.

Well I dont think we've had as much coverage of a disaster since 9/11.

If there's one thing i'm thankful for of the media, it's the broadcast of the plight of those people who were affected by the Tsunami. Without the media, the world wouldn't have donated a cent to the aid effort.

Sourbastard · 13-01-2005, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPChris

Well I dont think we've had as much coverage of a disaster since 9/11.

If there's one thing i'm thankful for of the media, it's the broadcast of the plight of those people who were affected by the Tsunami. Without the media, the world wouldn't have donated a cent to the aid effort.

I wonder if people will still feel warm and fuzzy when the hundreds of thousands of displaced people who are filling camps to the seams around the Indian Ocean, suddenly become illegal immigrants here.

Serious situation, and a very real possibility, it will take years to rebuild homes and infrastructure, many are not going to wait, and the majority of those who wont wait will come to the closest country that does have 1st world infrastructure. Thats us.

I know plenty of people who argue against immigration but also donated. What are your views?

Is it possible our foreign aid is so high because the government thinks this is a possibility? And is trying to forstall a rapid migration here that we cant possibly handle? They cant put everyone in the woomera detention center.

Do you think peoples good will, would extend as far as to allow them all to stay?

Bucknaked · 13-01-2005, 05:37 PM

Some very interesting points. I think I will get sourbastard to write my letter of resignation from work. He seems to know bigger words than me. I'm still trying to work out how to spell my name and whether Caspers car really does put out the RWKW he claims it does.

:

Sourbastard · 13-01-2005, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Some very interesting points. I think I will get sourbastard to write my letter of resignation from work. He seems to know bigger words than me. I'm still trying to work out how to spell my name and whether Caspers car really does put out the RWKW he claims it does.

:

Dear bossman, me hate you, me leave, nothing you can do, so there. Can I get a reference?

Signed,
Bucknaked

Nak351: I have to admit I didnt consider water as possibly the limiting factor to australias growth, I had considered our GNP and things like our health and welfare capabilities to be our limiting factors, but I think I may be wrong. Short term yes health, welfare and income(Our countries potential to earn) are limiting factors, but longterm, its a resources issues as you suggest. Unless global warming is real and brings us some more moist weather patterns.

And while we have a very large geographical area, how much of it is easily habitable? Infrastructure in rural areas is antiquated and would never be capable of taking such a strain. Our suburban infrastructure is sound but has grown with our population, barely. Any large jump would knock it off the rails in many areas for some time.

Psycho Chicken · 13-01-2005, 07:41 PM

I think it's stupid to be asking for compensation. He's been let go on lack of evidence, he hasn't been cleared. His family were talking on the news last night like he's been proven innocent.

RED_EL_XR8 · 13-01-2005, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

I think it's stupid to be asking for compensation. He's been let go on lack of evidence, he hasn't been cleared. His family were talking on the news last night like he's been proven innocent.

Like the innocence of the sons impending rape charges no doubt. They forgot to mention that in the happy family shots, bloody media will do anything for a headline.

shane3 · 13-01-2005, 10:51 PM

If the yanks can’t even get the Intel on Weapons of mass destruction right what makes you think that they can get the Intel on Mamdouh Habib right?????????????

What makes it even funnier is the U.S have had to finally say that there Intel on Weapons of mass destruction was wrong from day one and that there where none to start with!

RSgerry · 14-01-2005, 12:46 AM

there is also considerable Australian intelligence on this bloke. i find it hard to believe that he is squeaky clean and am pleased that he is to be kept under surveillance when he gets back here. smoke without fire and all that. as for the compensation claim, no wonder lawyers have such a bad reputation. instead of getting compensation, i hope he and his scumbag lawyer get ebola.