John Walker Lindh, "American Taliban," Seeks Bush Pardon

SAN FRANCISCO — The parents of American-born Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh are asking President George W. Bush to set their son free before Bush leaves office next month.

Lindh was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2002 to serving in the Taliban army, which violated U.S. economic sanctions against Afghanistan at that time.

At a news conference in San Francisco Wednesday, Lindh's mother, Marilyn Walker, asked the president to show mercy during the Christmas season by commuting her son's sentence.

Lindh initially asked for a commutation in 2004 and his lawyers have renewed the request each year.

The U.S. Department of Justice has never acted on the petition and a spokeswoman didn't immediately return a telephone call.

Comments

[HDRules]

Can't support the pardon of a traitor who took up arms aganst his country, participated in beheadings, gang rapes in soccer fields, and everything else te Taliban did, but I'll be happy to dedicate the following music video to him.

John Walker Lindh, this goes out to you:

http://www.flashgutter.com/music-videos/big-gay-bubba/254.html

[robeson]

CATO Institute, "Yet the Bush administration did more than praise the Taliban's proclaimed ban of opium cultivation. In mid-May, 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell announced a $43 million grant to Afghanistan in addition to the humanitarian aid the United States had long been providing to agencies assisting Afghan refugees."

[robeson]

In the plea bargain, Lindh plead guilty to carrying a rifle and two grenades for the Taliban.

CNN, "In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop other charges, including conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, that could have kept John Walker Lindh in prison for life. White House officials said President Bush personally approved the arrangement."

Note, Bush and Cheney have never plead guilty for their Taliban support.

[bayviking]

Lindh's confession was extracted by torture. He was duct taped to a guerney in a shipping crate parked in the full sun until he "confessed". He was released only after he signed a statement under duress that he would not use his torture a s a defense.

But since he is Shrub's only clear victory in a phoney war on terror, his youth and life must be sacrificed to preserve Rethuglican talking points.

[MagisterLudi]

1.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1779455.stm

2.Robert Young Pelton, a reporter in Afghanistan, was the first to
interviewed John Walker Lindh. John Walker Lindh stated to Pelton, when
asked if this was what he thought it would be like. He stated "This is exactly what I
thought that it would be like". Pelton stated that John Walker Lindh showed no
remorse for his actions.
3. Lindh was represented by a privately hired attorney through out his trial.

[robeson]

whoseyourdaddy, "I can't understand why anyone would be angry with Lindh. After all, he was only captured on the battlefield trying to kill American soldiers. The sons of our neighbors and friends."

Can't find any quotes or sources here daddy, perhaps they were edited out.

Government dropped charges that Lindh attacked Americans. See trial, verdict, sentence or any blood thing.

[ajax2]

BBC, "A senior delegation from the Taleban movement in Afghanistan is in the United States for talks with an international energy company that wants to construct a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan across Afghanistan to Pakistan.

A spokesman for the company, Unocal, said the Taleban were expected to spend several days at the company's headquarters in Sugarland, Texas.

Unocal says it has agreements both with Turkmenistan to sell its gas and with Pakistan to buy it."

[MagisterLudi]

Earl posted:"He was a youth who set out on an ideological adventure"

This is an interesting point.
A Buddhist novice on an "ideological adventure" --maybe go to Tibet and spend time meditating. Perhaps a Vipassana silent retreat.

This guy's idea of an "ideological adventure"--attend TWO terr-o-rist camps, hangin' with Bin La-den and mowing down people with a mac-hine g-un.

Question: Is his personal idi0cy or the general state of modern Isl-am?

[lungfish]

Question is really whether you know what you are talking about.
Don't think so. Vet your sources for your claims....

[MagisterLudi]

1.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1779455.stm

2. Interview with first reporter to intervew out brave Talimerican
Robert Young Pelton, a reporter in Afghanistan, was the first to
interviewed John Walker Lindh. John Walker Lindh stated to Pelton, when
asked if this was what he thought it would be like. He stated "This is exactly what I
thought that it would be like". Pelton stated that John Walker Lindh showed no
remorse for his actions..

You?

[whosyourdaddy]

I can't understand why anyone would be angry with Lindh. After all, he was only captured on the battlefield trying to kill American soldiers. The sons of our neighbors and friends.

[robeson]

false

[whosyourdaddy]

Really? Then link me to the facts. Reputable, major daily. Thanks in advance.:)

[Marlyn]

FREE John Walker Lindh!!!!!!!!!!!
He did NOTHING wrong.

[MagisterLudi]

Precious. Sulayman al-Faris, Al Q-a-eda trained Ta-liban soldier suddenly is a choirboy.
In true American fashion, he ha-tes taking responsibility for his actions. Now that's unheard of.

[Mulvaney]

Lindh once lived in my hometown and I suppose that colors my reaction.

As I understand it, he converted to Islam after reading the Malcom X, became a fundamentalist, and ended up with the Taliban -- who were the recognized by our allies, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as being the legitimate government.. The Clinton administration held direct talks with them and the oil interests brought them to Texas. At the same time, the Taliban harbored bin Laden (who had declared war on the US), but Unocal offered substantial money and other assistance to build the pipeline.

Lindh did not make the best choice for a number of reasons, but other Americans have made personal decisions to fight in a foreign civil wars,

The Taliban supported al-Qaeda, providing a safe haven for a base of operations. But I have not seen anything to indicate that they participated in planning for 9/11. The government alleged that Lindh had some contacts with al-Qaeda. In the end, however, Lindh pled only to supplying services to the Taliban government and carrying explosives.

Lindh seems to have been swept up in the invasion following 9/11. At that point, both before and after his capture, his options were probably limited. He was shot during his capture and torture seems likely. With the government seeking the death penalty and the general climate at the time, I can see why his attorney did not want to take the case to trial. Still, 20 years was excessive.

[wordvarc]

Well put.

[jay1975]

The Taliban murdered women for trying to get an education, raped at will, dismembered their citizens for minor violations of the law and little Johnny boy thought that this was the way to live. he decided to join them and their lifestyle and is paying the price for it...too bad for him. Instead of feeling sorry for him, maybe you should look at the victims of the Taliban and ask them if they think he has been punished enough.

[robeson]

"Ahmed Rashid, a journalist who has written extensively about Central Asia, says that US willingness to look the other way in the interest of profit helped the Taliban and other authoritarian regimes in the region gain legitimacy."

[lungfish]

Nobody lifted a finger to meet their promises to post USSR Afghanistan. The US is not living up to its promises now.... the Taliban are a force in Afghanistan because it wasn't politically expedient at the time to do something else.
As for religious training, it means different things in different cultures.
In Afghanistan, weapons and some sense of warrior training are not only consistent with Islam but requisite for survival in a more or less lawless region. Until the Taliban consolidated their power, the criminality ruled the region. Yes, they were draconian but there was order.
The real lesson here is to avoid religious control of military and political issues or women and children and nonbelievers and anyone else that it is convenient to persecute wil suffer.
The Christians have the same thing in mind those who aren't on board will suffer...

[sink]

The Catholic Church covered up child rapes for decades, yet I don't hear many people saying that Catholics generally think that was the "right way to live". I detest Lindh for his decisions, but we can't say his is *inherently* "living the life" by proximity.

[fairplay500]

Condition for release. Spend 1 year with the crazy southern Baptist and repent..

[meanguy]

or spend a year as a PuffHo 'moderator'

[lesterbud]

That's the trouble with young people today - no long-term commitment.
Always looking for someone else, or the government, to bail them out.

[latoussaint]

Oh, please! How narrow-minded and short-sighted can you be? Mr. Walker is not your standard young person either. Stop generalizing.

[lesterbud]

Too much coffee?

[buckinfuzzard]

Let him go....he has served enough time.

[latoussaint]

I agree!

[jay1975]

Maybe you should look up what the Taliban did to their citizens and see how you feel then. I know you won't however, you cannot let facts get in the way of your feelings, right.

[Ramirez]

Yup. Strip him of his citizenship and give him a lifetime ban on re-entry into our country. Then fly him to a country of his choice and escort him off the plane.

Goodbye, John. Have a nice life, inshallah.

[Redbull6]

Roger Ramirez! The kid's just another T.I.T. (tango-in-training)- they sure don't need any more of those in CA or AZ or wherever.
-Redbull sends-

[gcallaghan]

It'd be a lot easier to sympathize with Lindh had he not PLEADED GUILTY to stay out of Gitmo.

[lesterbud]

I would plead guilty to stay out of Gitmo - doesn't much matter what the charge is or if I had done it.

[robeson]

Since GITMO prisoners were being tortured, and rendered, I have no problem with the lawyer's decision.