burned

australia says it won't enforce the gag order placed on david hicks.

"In Australia, we have a position about freedom of speech," Mr Ruddock [the australian attorney-general] told ABC's Lateline program.

"I'll leave it to your imagination as to a way in which somebody seeking extradition in relation to a party for breaching a so-called gag order would be able to be delivered up through the judicial processes in Australia."

Asked if the gag order meant nothing, and Hicks would be able to speak to the media, Mr Ruddock responded: "I suspect you are probably right."

Mr Ruddock said the US included the clause in the plea bargain and it was a matter for the US, Hicks and his advisers.

"I don't think it's a matter for us to enforce," he said.

i wonder if the u.s. would enforce a gag order imposed by another country. i mean, let's say the australian government handed an american citizen over to u.s. custody and australia imposed a condition that the former prisoner cannot speak publicly about his treatment in australian prisons for a year following the handoff. then after the ex-prisoner is in the u.s., he give an interview to a reporter. could the government stop him? i don't see how it could.