I was laughing all through this – even though I know the kid needs straightening out…

From a media point of view, it certainly wouldn’t be an easy interview!

I was looking through my e-mails yesterday morning and saw a CNN news alert where Larry King was discussing former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination – and I thought, hmm, they missed the word ‘attempted’ there. But low and behold, after some digging below the Christmas and holiday news at the headlines of the Australian news outlets, she had indeed been assassinated.

I really don’t know all that much about Benazir Bhutto, but after seeing her recent return from self-imposed exile and hearing her talk, I developed an appreciation for her, her pro-democracy stance, and her determination. Although I guess it was almost inevitable, I’m rather disappointed, for lack of a better word, that an assassination attempt against her was successful. It can only mean bad news for Pakistan, and the war on terror.

Other news related to the war on terror today is David Hicks’ release from Yatala Prison in Adelaide (David pictured on right in green shirt; picture from News Limited). He has been taken in a black car to to a ‘secret location’, but with media cars and choppers tracking it I’m sure it won’t be long before that secret location becomes public.

There is a lot of controversy about whether he should now be afforded a private, normal life or whether he should continue to be monitored. Well, I think someone who was so immersed in what he was immersed in, and who believed so strongly in Islamic fundamentalism, doesn’t just suddenly change his mind and want to become a normal citizen. It’d be nice if he did, but honestly, why would he? He met Osama bin Laden at least 20 times and wrote a letter home to his parents saying that Osama was a “lovely brother”. He joined al-Qaeda of his own accord. He became a supporter of the enemy of Australia, the US, the Western world…. in fact, when you think about it, the rest of the world too. And now he’s suddenly decided that he wants to be an Aussie again.

None of us can claim to know what’s really going on inside his mind, but wouldn’t underground terrorist cells in Australia be already trying to get in contact with him? Maybe they won’t be yet because his phone calls are being monitored. But some are calling for this monitoring to be removed because “existing laws and surveillance techniques would suffice” – a view held by the Australian Democrats according to AAP. I’m sure existing laws allow for increased monitoring when it is warranted. I think it’s warranted.

The Democrats are obviously making this a political issue (see the above linked article) but I hope that the Labor government won’t. Just as the previous government made unpopular controversial decisions in order to protect the public (such as Kevin Andrews with Mohammed Haneef), I hope the current government will continue to put the safety of the Australian people above political popularity.

See also: differing opinions on NEWS.com.au with Lou Fortescue and Ray Chesterton – Does Hicks rate a break? – Update 11/01/2008 7:17PM: the article I linked to seems to no longer exist, and is now replaced by a one sided editorial from Natasha Stott Despoja – I can’t find the original anywhere. Pity, as it was a pretty good argument from both sides.

…(at least on NEWS.com.au):

Paris Hilton loses inheritance

Can you believe it? I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised!

I like NEWS.com.au’s interactivity with readers – especially the weekly ‘what you read this week’ round ups. And most of the time, the stories I read are right up the top. I guess that means I’m rather representative of their readership… (notice how I didn’t actually admit that I read Paris Hilton stories).

Other stories in their top 100 include the Federal Election 2007 vote-a-matic (which scored a mention from me too), a man levitating outside the White House, a mum booking a stripper for her son, and of course a few stories on Maddie McCann.

Oh, and NEWS.com.au have their stories planned out for next year too.