Now I’m curious. The article says the trip is being paid for by “the federal government.” I’m assuming since it’s a U.S. military plane transporting him, they are talking about the U.S. government. Why would this be???? I’m thrilled to death Mr. Hicks is going to get to see his son, and wouldn’t want to take that away……but what about all the other prisoners? Is the U.S. paying for their families to fly in from ohhhhhhh, let’s say……..Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan…..and anywhere else they may be from to visit with their imprisoned loved ones???? This just sounds bizaare to me.

VERBAL messages of hope and support are the only things Terry Hicks is taking to his accused terrorist son in Guantanamo Bay.
Mr Hicks today left Adelaide to attend his son’s arraignment at the US military base in Cuba on Monday.

David Hicks, 31, is expected to plead not guilty before a US military commission to a charge of providing material support for terrorism.

Mr Hicks will meet his son briefly before and after the hearing.

He last saw David in August 2004 for about 30 minutes when he took him Vegemite, books and fishing magazines.

But this time, he said, there would be no presents.

“We are only going to be in and out, virtually,” Mr Hicks said.

“All we can take is verbal messages from wellwishers and supporters.

“I’m sure he probably knows about the support he is getting in Australia but it doesn’t hurt to reiterate that there are people out there looking out for him.”

Prosecutors allege Hicks trained with al-Qaeda and was fighting with the terrorist group when US and coalition forces invaded Afghanistan in October 2001.

Hicks, a Muslim convert, was captured in Afghanistan in December 2001.

Mr Hicks will fly to the US capital Washington DC today with his daughter - David’s half’sister - and board a US military flight to Cuba on Monday.

He will return to Washington after the hearing, and arrive back in Australia on Thursday in a trip paid for by the Federal Government.

More at the Australian