A First Glimpse at Bush's Tortureshow

[StoneWT]

A First Glimpse at Bush's Tortureshow
John Walker Lindh, Revisited
By DAVE LINDORFF

Now that we know the truth behind how U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have been treating captured fighters (and captured innocent bystanders), it's time to revisit the case of John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban fighter" who is now serving 20 years in federal prison. For had Lindh pursued his case in court, instead of settling and getting slapped with a gag order, he might have exposed the whole prisoner abuse scandal two years ago, and spared the U.S.-and a whole lot of abused or slain POWs-the Abu-Ghraib fiasco.



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For the rest of the article, click on the link at the top of this topic.

[sixmillman]

Yes the whole mess could have been avoided if he had just been shot for treason.There never should have been a plea deal allowed. Treason should have been the charge.

[PatrickHenry]

Thoughtful article, StoneWT. I thought the most Lindh deserved was a loss of citizenship for the reason of fighting in a foreign army. He should probably be living in Afghanistan, trying to eke out a living instead of rotting in a Federal prison. There's no proof he ever shot at a US trooper. And his abuse by the POW system is a crime in itself. The Imperium...

[castille]

Please try to use UNBIASED news sources. An online newsletter which sells affiliate products doesnt seem too credible to mne.

[m3talsmith]

Just a link I ran across today. It doesn't relate immediately to this case, but shows grounds from previous case. Let's just say that this is in honor of Departed Reagan.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Ronald_R..._Reagan_iF.html

[sixmillman]

In November 2001, U.S. forces in Afghanistan were sorting through the aftermath of an al Qaeda prison riot when they stumbled across a scrawny, mud-caked American college boy. John Walker Lindh spilled his guts to a rolling CNN camera before the CIA got its hands on him, which is the only reason you've even heard of him.

It was the classic old story: Boy meets sadistic militarized theocracy, boy falls in love with sadistic militarized theocracy, boy loses sadistic militarized theocracy. Lindh told CNN that while he was studying in Pakistan, he read some sales brochures and "my heart became attached to [the Taliban]." Ah, young love!

When he heard about the September 11 attacks, Lindh's commitment to "fight terrorism and oppression" didn't waver, and he continued to fight alongside Taliban forces, even when the U.S. invasion force came crashing down on his head. In November 2001, his cadre surrendered to the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan and was subsequently imprisoned. While in an Afghan jail, Lindh and his fellow mujahideen staged a riot, killing a CIA agent who was there seeking information on al Qaeda members.

Lindh was unlike the other U.S. citizens accused of assisting al Qaeda, such as Latino Jose Padilla and Arab-American Yasser Hamdi, in that Lindh was a white boy with affluent parents. Naturally, the government gave him access to a lawyer and the privilege of facing criminal charges in open court (unlike Padilla and Hamdi who are being held indefinitely without charge and without access to counsel).

Lindh entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In exchange for his plea, the more serious charges (such as conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals) were dropped, which means that with time off for good behavior, he'll be out in about 17 years.

Instead of a firing squad

[dotcoma]

Originally posted by sixmillman,
Yes the whole mess could have been avoided if he had just been shot for treason.There never should have been a plea deal allowed. Treason should have been the charge.

Treason? For fighting the communist-backed Northern Alliance while the Bush admin was coddling the Taliban with millions of tax payers dollars. I think Bush is the traitor.

[sixmillman]

Of course you think Bush is a traitor roxdog.

[sixmillman]

StoneWT
The rag you sent people to on your original post has put up a new article title Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004 Goodbye and Good Riddance.
Roxdog and yourself can hurry on over and get your dose of Anti-American bullsh*t.

[dotcoma]

Anti American? Get a clue, buddy. They subvert the constitution and you guys kneel down and lick there boots (very un-American behavior, I might add). We/I am trying to bring America BACK TO THE CONSTITUTION and BILL OF RIGHTS (ever heard of them?) and you call me un American. I never said "good riddance".

[sixmillman]

Roxdog
This thread was started about John Walker Lindh. Somehow after a whisper down the lane scenario you manage to say "I think Bush is the traitor." What am I supposed to think. Is there anything or anyone in the current government who isn't a traitor. Is there any post of yours saying what is good about America.

Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004 Goodbye and Good Riddance.
Is the title of the article from CounterPunch. The same CounterPunch that wants me to think we should release John Walker Lindh and jail John Ashcroft.
Their obituary of President Ronald Regan is tasteless and crass to say the least.

[dotcoma]

Bush's name is in the title of the thread. I definetly agree Asscroft should be stopped. I liked him before he set fire to the constitution. A little loony when it comes to religious dogma but he wasn't a bad guy or anything.

Is there any post of yours saying what is good about America.

Plenty