This is a tale of two Australians.  Or, more correctly, of one Australian who couldn't wait to get out of Libya and will not go back, ever; and of another, a Muslim currently in possession of an Australian passport, who couldn't wait to get in.  

I place the two side by side, as an exercise in 'compare and contrast'.

First, from Australia's ABC, a day or so ago.  The man who, very sensibly, vows he will never go back.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/08/3157820.htm?section=justin

'WA man treks desert to escape Libya'

'A West Australian oil worker has described how he dodged gunfire from Libyan rebels and walked 20 km through the dsert before the British SAS flew him out of the country.

God bless the SAS - CM.

'Stewart Hutchison was working for a Canadian oil company near Zillah when the uprising against Moammar Gaddafi began.

'The 59 year old from Coolup south of Perth says rebels stole the company vehicles, forcing him and his colleagues to walk through the desert.  "They took all our cars, all our vehicles.  They kept coming back, kept harassing everybody", he said.

"We thought it best to leave. (Understatement of the year - CM) It took us a week to get out."

'The oil workers reached a nearby camp to get a truck, then came under fire.

"We had to drive in the back of a tip truck, and they started shooting at us," Mr Hutchison said. "What they were, I don't know - they were just bandits and thieves."

Just like their ideal man, Mohammed, and his 'companions'. - CM.

'Mr Hutchison eventually made it to a safe house at another camp before being rescued last week.  "The British SAS come and got us out, they just flew in under the radar", he said.  "They knew it was too big an effort for the oil companies to get us out".

'Mr Hutchison says he has no plans to return to the country.

Is anyone surprised? - CM.

Now, only a few days before we heard Mr Hutchison's story of his life-threatening experiences in Libya and his narrow escape thanks to the British SAS, the heartwarming story of an 'Australian' Muslim who just couldn't wait to get to Libya and jump into the fray boots and all. 

Also from the ABC, Sarah Hawke reporting.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/04/3155746.htm?section=justin

'Sydney sheikh ready to die for Libyan democracy'.

'As Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi continues to cling to power, a sheikh from Sydney who has travelled to Libya's second largest city says he is willing to die in the fight for democracy.

'Sheikh Naser Zuway travelled to Benghazi last week to protect his wife and children who were holidaying in Libya.

Who were holidaying in Libya...what a lovely place for a woman and young children to choose for a holiday...- CM.

'This is the first time Sheikh Zuway has been in Benghazi since he fled the city 16 years ago.

'He arrived in Australia as a political refugee in 1999 after escaping the persecution of the Gaddafi regime (I wonder what exactly he was persecuted for?  For espousing western style liberal democracy?  Or for being a variety of Muslim that even Gaddafi viewed as too dangerous to keep around?  - CM) and was granted citizenship two years later.

Doesn't look like he values Australian citizenship very highly, since he has now shot through, back to the place practically everybody else with any sense at all is falling over themselves to escape from. - CM.

'Speaking to ABC's AM program from central Benghazi, Sheikh Zuway says it is good news government forces have left the city but the people will stay on the streets until the Gaddafi regime falls.

'Libya is on the brink of civil war as the battle for control of the country intensifies.  Government jets are continuing to bomb key rebel-held towns of Brega and Ajbadiya as rebel fighters launched a counter-attack against government loyalists west of Brega.

'Sheikh Zuway says anti-government protesters would continue the fight.  'All the people came every day. Some of them are staying here, living here, sleeping here, and just demonstrating that they are not going to leave until Gaddafi is leaving", he said.

'Sheikh Zuway, who is also president of the Australian Union of African and Arab Associations (hmmm - never heard of them till now - I shall have to find out more - and I bet it's the 'Australian Union of African Muslim and Arab Muslim Associations' - CM) says he has been supporting the demonstrators in any way he can.

"All the time here [I am] trying to help the people with food, money, cleaning the streets, working with the media trying to translate", he said.

'Sheikh Zuway says he was forced to flee Libya originally because of his democratic views, but this time around he says he is not leaving until democracy is achieved.  Define 'democracy' in a Muslim context - CM.

"I'm prepared to die for the sake of freedom and justice.  To see our country taking their place in the world and Gaddafi to leave Libya", he said.

"it is not better for the Libyan only [if Gaddafi steps down' it is better for the Australian, better for Europe, better for the entire world."

That depends on what comes after Gaddafi, which might well be even worse than he was. - CM.

"It is as I say.  Gaddafi is a dictator.  For the sake of the democracy and freedom and justice, people here are ready to die".

Now go back up to Mr Hutchison's story and read it again, taking note of the treatment that his party of non-Muslim expats received from some of those who oppose Gaddafi. - CM.

'The international community is stepping up efforts to curb the popular uprising - the bloodiest in Mr Gaddafi's 41 year rule - amid warnings of a humanitarian crisis as thousands flee the bloodshed.

'EU officials have begun drawing up plans for a no-fly zone over the country, while the International Criminal Court announced it will investigate Mr Gaddafi and key aides for crimes against humanity.

'Australia has also condemned the actions of the Gaddafi regime and has imposed sanctions, but Sheikh Zuway says the international community needs to do more.

Jump to it, Infidels!  - CM.

'"People here, they did not hear anything about Australia...they are a good people, yet why did they not do anything? Why didn't they send us some aid, some [one] very high up [in] responsibility", he said.

And why, pray, should the Australian government run to do the bidding of a 'Sheikh Zuway'?  Why should we pour men or money into the maelstrom from which people like Mr Hutchison have barely escaped with their lives, no thanks to any Libyan Muslim?  - CM.

'Sheikh Zuway says his wife and three children are also supporting the struggle (the jihad? - CM) and will not return to Sydney until Mr Gaddafi is defeated".

If it was up to me, neither Sheikh Zuway nor his family would be permitted to return to Australia, whether Gaddafi is defeated or not. - CM.