Detainee 002: The Case of David Hicks

by Leigh Sales

Detainee 002 blindly stumbled from the belly of the plane into the Cuban sun. Blacked-out goggles covered his eyes ... A blue surgical mask covered his mouth and gloves were taped to his hands. Headphones muffled his hearing. Over an orange jumpsuit, he wore what the prisoners called a 'three-piece suit' - a metal belt with chains attached to leg irons and handcuffs.

After more than five years' detention without trial at Guantanamo Bay, David Hicks finally had his day in court, pleading guilty in March 2007 to the charge of providing material support for terrorism.

Detainee 002 reveals in unprecedented detail how an Australian citizen wound up in the War on Terror. Based on years of reporting and dozens of interviews with insiders, Leigh Sales takes us from Hicks's capture in Afghanistan to top-secret negotiations at the White House and Pentagon.

Leigh Sales is the ABC's National Security Correspondent. She visited Guantanamo Bay twice during her recent four-year posting as the network's Washington correspondent. In 2005, she won a prestigious Walkley Award for her coverage of the Guantanamo military commissions and was nominated again in 2006 for her reporting of Hurricane Katrina.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Biography, Australia

338 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Leigh Sales is an Australian author and journalist. She is the host of the Australian television channel ABC’s flagship news and current affairs program 7.30.

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leigh is an award winning author, and it shows in her style of writing. The author includes a lot of info in this book ... background on Guantanamo Bay, military commissions, USA and Australian political entanglements and, of course, David Hicks' life. I didn't know much about Guantanomo, and this book turned out to be an excellent way to bring myself up to date.

3 Stars = Okay. Maybe not a page-turner, but not sorry I read it.

[Olwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a heavy read: The information is dense, the subject matter is heavy too. Enough to make you begin to lose faith in your government. But still, a good read.

[Samah Illyas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claimed to be objective and 'pragmatic', but often laced between observations and narrations of the events were some unfounded statements and opinions of the writer herself. Needs to be some consistency in the writing style.

[Ernest · Rating 3 out of 5]

The name of David Hicks has become synonymous with discussion about Australia’s involvement in the (so-called) War on Terror. Moving away from simplistic, oversimplified positions of complete uncritical condemnation of which Hicks’ situation is emblematic or indiscriminating support of which Hicks’ guilty plea is proof, this book aims to put some details, flesh, insights, and questions on the popular understanding of the Hicks detention in Guantanamo Bay

Detainee 002 covers a lot of material, including a lot of the human aspects, of this complex story. We the readers are taken back to the immediate aftermath of September 11, the people who made key decisions immediately after and following, the thinking and some questioning of those decisions. The book also examines the legal process of David Hicks, including fairly asking questions of the defence strategy.

It is perhaps not as penetrating as one might wish. It seems strange to wonder whether the author was too scrupulously fair (perhaps a journalistic instinct at work?) and while the book touched on issues including the internal workings of the players involved, some of the broader political and geopolitical factors, and the legal aspects, it never really delves down into what could fairly be called rigorous analysis that a more singularly focussed book might. Then again, it must be remembered that this was not the aim of this book, and in such a complex situation as what unfolded after September 11, attributing one sole factor to what happened might be impossible, if not factually impossible.

For giving details of this pivotal moment in world history, this book can already be commended. In providing an environment on which to question your own assumptions, attitudes to, judgements of key political leaders, and ultimate view about the various events, this book can be welcomed. Interesting and compelling, facts blending without becoming dense and always continuing to be readable, the author can be congratulated.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing recount of the years following David Hicks arrival at Guantanamo Bay documented by renowned journalist Leigh Sales. Often a challenging read both technically and emotionally a must read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

i found this book to be really interesting. i have always been interested in politics and international relations and this book unveiled a lot about this australian's story and the conditions of guantanamo bay and his treatment. some of it i couldn't believe, some of it was incredulous.

it opened my eyes a lot to the world of terrorism and the supposed terrorists after september 11.

[Jonathan Leeming · Rating 4 out of 5]

George W Bush and John Howard, you should be ashamed of yourselves for supporting a system which allowed this man to be detained and horrifically tortured for 5.5 years without trial...

War Against Terror?
War Against Democracy, more like.

Like Hicks' own autobiography, this book is a must-read for anyone with a sense of right and wrong.