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Feds to Charge American Taliban

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush has approved allowing the Justice Department to charge American Taliban John Walker Lindh in civilian court on charges of aiding terrorism, government sources said Tuesday.

Lindh, 20, was captured in November fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was taken into custody by U.S. forces after a prison uprising at a fortress in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Lindh since then has been held on the amphibious attack ship USS Bataan in the Arabian Sea.

A baptized Roman Catholic who converted to Islam at 16, Lindh sent a letter to his parents in December saying he was safe and regretted not contacting them sooner. He apparently dictated the letter, dated Dec. 3, to an International Red Cross volunteer.

Among the factors Bush had to consider in determining how Lindh would be handled was whether he would be tried in a U.S. civilian court or military tribunal.

The Justice Department had said possible charges against Lindh could include treason, which carries the death penalty. Such a charge was considered difficult because of the technical requirements of proving the charge. They include the need for two witnesses to each act of treason, which may be hard to find in Afghanistan.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Answers

Ashcroft press conference says that life imprisonment is a possibility.

Charges are based on Walker's voluntary statements, that he knowingly and purposely allied himself with certain terrorist organizations and his allegiance to the fanatics and terrorists never faltered. Walker is being transferred in custody from .mil to FBI. Walker waived miranda rights.

Walker chose Taliban. Taliban shifted him to Al Quaida, but required 7 weeks more terrorist training. He personally met OBL who "thanked him for taking part in jihad". Walker was aware of the 9/11 attacks and that OBL had ordered them; even so Walker continued to fight for the Taliban against American interests.

Criminal complaint describes a series of crossroads Walker encountered. With each choice he chose to ally himself with terrorists and to train with the terrorists. Walker chose to fight on the front lines with America's enemies.

Terrorists did not compel Walker to join them; it was Walker's choice. He rejected American values for their antithesis.

Youth is not absolution for treachery.

High evidentiary burden to proving treason. Confession in open court or 2 eye witnesses. Confident in going forward with the charges filed today, but investigation will continue and could file additional charges.

[end of prepared statement]

As a U.S. citizen, Walker is not eligible for military tribunal.

Walker knew that the U.S. was on the other side of the conflict.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

I expect they did not hav a strong enough case to meet the rigorous requirements for a treason case. Shame. Well, if they can keep him in solitary once he's sentenced, then I have no problem with that. Otherwise, who knows how many prisoners he would covnert to Islam? Maybe we'll get lucky and his parents will slip him something to commit suicide with.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

turned left when he should have turned right.

got out of bed on the wrong side.

can we say, "Bad boy?" I knew we could.

No doubt we will be afflicted with various indepth studies of his life.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002