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The Persecution of the American Taliban?

John Walker Lindh was misunderstood and mislabeled as an “American Taliban.”

By Salim Muwakkil

Remember John Walker Lindh, the 20-year-old so-called “American Taliban,” who was captured in Afghanistan during the initial phases of the U.S. invasion of that nation? I’ve often wondered what has happened to that intriguing white American derided as a handmaiden of the radical Islamic sect that ran Afghanistan and gave haven to al-Qaeda. Lindh was on a religious quest that had… return to article

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    “Like the white “nigger lover” in the segregationist South, many white Americans see Lindh as a traitor to his culture.”,  “The power of this tribal sentiment is manifest in Lindh’s continued imprisonment and the government’s spiteful prohibition of Arabic.”

    Its ironic that Spike Lees “Malcolm X movie inspired young Mr. Lindh to convert to Islam and reject his white priviledge, Malcolms’ autobiography with Alex Haley has been a shining light for young Black minds since it was published some 40 years ago.

    Excellent piece of writing and analysis Mr. Muwakkil, keep it coming.

    United States Posted by theloneous on Jul 14, 2006 at 4:37 PM

    Am I wrong, or was Mr. Lindh captured fighting against the U.S., his own country?  What would you suggest we do with with him?  What if his gun was still smoking from having killed a U.S. soldier?  He is not a traitor to “his culture.”  He is a traitor to his country.  Do you think the Taliban would hesitate for a moment to torture and kill him if the story was reversed?

    Traitors have never been loved by any country at any time.  Mr. Lindh reaps the results of his decisions. 

    jchh

    United States Posted by jchh on Jul 15, 2006 at 12:23 AM

    Yes….apparently you are most likely mistaken jchh , the young Mr.Lindh was clearly on a religious or spiritual quest….I sincerely doubt that this young guy was acutely concious of the complete situation as it existed in Afganistan…and as far as the events that led too his capture , only Mr.Lindh can tell us what was going on , on the ground in that so-called terrorist camp…...but the Gov’t won’t let him speak about it….soo he sits in prison…
    My feeling is the two main reasons this guy was railroaded in this manner are ; one Tim McViegh…quite as it’s kept…sense Oklanhoma City the Gov’t is probably more weary of white folks who are “different “...two ; The CIA agent that was killed in the raid…his name escapes me right now…but , although there is no evidence…John Walker Lindh actually killed this guy or was even a combatant…the news media propoganda value of this circumstantial fact and good ol’ revenge…nailed his fate to the wall….
    My guess is…overall , depending on which way the Gov’t moves in the next decade…Mr. Lindh may not serve out the whole length of his 20 year sentence…..possibly…10…12…years…....at least he can see family and attorney…many incarcerated individauls in Federal , State and Private facilities are not that lucky….......GITMO…?
    GITMO…“detainees “...have nothing….one of the prisoners that hung himself…had been held for more that 4 years…he was 16 years old when captured…held for all that time…then hangs himself…or so we are told…...Another youth that was renditioned too GITMO was held for sometime and then release…the kid was maybe 17 when pick up in Afghanistan…turns out he was sent to town by his father , too find work….he was from a small village….got arrested…renditioned..probably with a fee attached…paid to some local CIA informant….butta bing butta bang….his at GITMO…FAMILY KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM….held at GITMO…
    Totally disproportionate reaction by the US Gov’t….

    United States Posted by Redhorse on Jul 16, 2006 at 11:45 AM

    Furthermore….qoute by jchh…” Do you think the Taliban would hesitate for a moment to turtore and kill him if the story was reversed ? “....I’m not clear on what you mean , jchh…if Lindh was a US soldier in a combat situation and captured…or,if an Afghan National was fighting for the US…which of course there are…against the Taliban….He , Lindh was found at ...what the CIA / Gov’t refered to as a Taliban training camp…he wasn’t being tortured by the Taliban , while living with these people.?..So I’m not sure if that can logically be answered , the way the question is framed…..

    United States Posted by Redhorse on Jul 16, 2006 at 12:44 PM

    Hi Redhorse

    Okay, I’ve looked up John Walker Lindh on line.  It’s hard to figure out just what happened.  He was, apparently, in a training camp for jihadists, and even met Osama bin Laden, who offered him a chance to prosecute jihad in the U.S.  Lindh preferred being on the front lines in Afghanistan.  However, the offer should have made it clear that he was expected to fight against the U.S.

    His jihad group surrendered to the Northern Alliance and Lindh was interrogated by Mike Span from the CIA.  Later there was a “bloody uprising” in the makeshift prison, and Span was killed.  Lindh was wounded and hid out with some of the jihadists.  He was eventually captured a few days later.

    The assertion is that he knew that his compatriot, Osama bin Laden, was behind the 9-11 attacks, but chose to stay with the jihadists anyway.  CNN even asserts that he knew of the planning of the attacks before they happened, although that seems unlikely to me, given that he had no special ranking or anything.  He was unquestionably treated horribly after his capture.  jchh

    United States Posted by jchh on Jul 16, 2006 at 2:23 PM

    Hi Redhorse again

    What I meant by the story being reversed would be an Afghani citizen fighting for the U.S. being captured by the Taliban.  We have seen the jihadist view of anyone even suspected of being favorably disposed toward the U.S. in Iraq.  Those who are captured are tortured and beheaded.  The U.S. treatment of John Walker Lindh fell far short of that.  jchh

    United States Posted by jchh on Jul 16, 2006 at 2:28 PM

    SPITEFUL is the right word for the US treatment of him.

    The admin spin on everything is devils or demons.

    Jessica Lynch was a brave hero being mistreated by the evil Iraqis, rescued for the cameras by heroic special forces, just like Hollywood.

    We now know the opposite. The Iraqi doctors looked after her, and called US forces to pick her up…

    Lindh has to be punished as a traitor who went on a spiritual quest (in a bad place ) rather than pursuing his duty as a real American, to go out and buy, to watch Foxnewsn and leave thinking to the “President”.

    Germany Posted by frog on Jul 17, 2006 at 9:51 PM

    June 23…on a friday….7 “muslim men ” were arrested in Liberty City , Fla.,ages 16 to 24 ....all charge with the crime of ” terrorist planners “....targeting the Sears Building in Chicago….Now….the raid produced no guns , no large sums of money….no explosion..no plane tickets   .nothing….What the Gov’t had was an informer who manipulated the situation…towards a possible target…and offer to by the plane tickets….these guy had…nothing…period..
    So now we have Gov’t agents…basically spying on private citizens…5 of the 7 were US citizens…none of these guys had a gun…now mind you ...this is Liberty City florida in Dade County now…this is rough ‘hood ...understand…AND NOBOBY GOT A GUN…NO BOMBS..7 black men ” supposed terrorist “...no guns..no bullets…nothing…but they ; the Gov’t says , that they have arrested 7 Terrorists planners.. ...these guys didn’t even have a cell phone…...arrested…charge…held in custody…..

    United States Posted by Redhorse on Jul 17, 2006 at 10:41 PM

    Yes, Frog, he was treated spitefully.  The attacks on 9-11 still loomed large in the minds of our soldiers.  A traitor who had gone over to the enemy was not likely to be given first class passage back to the U.S. with snacks and drinks.  He was an enemy of our country; he had aligned himself with our enemies.  While we would like to think that we are better than those who fly airplanes into buildings just to kill innocent civilians, we are subject to the same gut responses.  The terrorists acted the way they did because they hated us.  We acted the way we did because we returned the favor.

    John Walker Lindh may have been on a spiritual quest originally, but he veered off into an area where there were very big consequences.  Perhaps he had believed what is so often taught in this country - it wouldn’t be his fault no matter what he did.  He could blame it on his upbringing or his environment or what he ate for dinner.  But the truth is, we ARE responsible for the choices we make.  He was not an ignorant guy - he should have recognized treason when he stepped into it.
    jchh

    United States Posted by jchh on Jul 17, 2006 at 11:34 PM

    Salim,

    Like many other islamist lovers, you are a fool. 
    Mr. Lindh is a traitor and you’re a traitor apologist.

    To be clear, you are an apologist for a traitor against the United State of America.  Sure, he plead to a lesser charge, and you can use that to cover your true intent and message.  But in truth, he and you are what you are.

    That said, it is unconscionable that you hold the position you do to be able to spout your pathetic opinion.

    While I take comfort that your opinions are so profoundly assinine that you will likely only influence the unproductive and weak minded, your ideas as expressed in your words are a threat to the very fabric of our nation.

    Accordingly, I wish your opponents and competitors profound success, such that you are expunged from your position.

    Signed,
    Marko The American

    United States Posted by SerbSpaniard on Feb 3, 2007 at 2:17 AM

    Marko The Amerikan / SerbSpaniard….you bring new light and truth to the term….” the Ugly Amerikan…..” Your uninformed response is the tread of what creats these situations in the first place…The amerikan public is said to be the most underinformed…stupid electorate on this planet…..Thanks for proving this opinion to be true…......

    United States Posted by Redhorse on Feb 3, 2007 at 1:11 PM

    Re-reading the article, the young man was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    No proof he fought against the US .

    Compared with other ‘taliban’ hoovered up for bounties, who were declared the “worst of the worst” by Bush, and then liberated after years of barbaric treatment in Gitmo, no charges brought, his case is far worse .

    Anyone imagine BUSH going on a ‘spiritual quest’ ?

    Germany Posted by frog on Feb 4, 2007 at 8:30 AM

    frog…..good to hear from you again….

    Bushling the ol’ boy blunderer did have a so-called spiritual quest or conversion( down in good ol’ Texas ) , if you will….says he found Jesus some years ago….Says it saved his marriage , stopped him from drinking….drugs….

    So now he is clear enough of heart and mind to become the MASS MURDERER that we all have come to know and loath…..

    United States Posted by Redhorse on Feb 4, 2007 at 10:22 AM
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