Its a well known fact that Howard will support America no matter what, this is not a completely bad thing because if something bad happened to Australia- say Indonesia invaded it's nice knowing that we have the security of America behind us.
But its pretty obvious that Howards content to leave our national interests in the hands of the American military, for FIVE YEARS David Hicks has been held in detention, five years! Then they had to drop half the charges because it turned out they had no evidence whatsoever.
See Howard says he's angry at America but then he goes and says
Mr Howard said he remained reluctant to see Hicks brought back to Australia without a trial in America.
hmm contradictory much?
Other US allies pulled their citizens out, and no Americans are kept there. But the Australian Government has done nothing but stand by a judicial process first found to be illegal, and then re-created in much the same unfair form.
Now if America wouldn't submit its own citizens to this treatment why the heck are we allowing it to happen to one of our own citizens?