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Father Of 'American Taliban' Lindh Urges Pardon
CBS5 ^ | Sep 24, 2008

Posted on 09/25/2008 3:34:44 AM PDT by nickcarraway

The father of John Walker Lindh, who has spent nearly seven years in federal prison for serving in an Afghan army, told a room full of law students at University of San Francisco on Wednesday his son has been used as a scapegoat for the faults of the U.S. government.

Frank Lindh of Marin County spoke for the fourth consecutive year about how he believes U.S. troops in northern Afghanistan in 2001 illegitimately captured his son, known as an "American Taliban," for fighting as a Taliban soldier just after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Frank Lindh said he believes his son did not go to Afghanistan in July 2001 to work against the United States, but in a misguided effort to help the Taliban establish their country.

During his time in Afghanistan, John Walker Lindh volunteered for a military funded by Osama bin Laden, known as the founder of Al-Qaeda, and had interactions with him but did not have anything to do with plans to attack the U.S., Frank Lindh said.

"Where was the CIA? Why couldn't they intercept?" he said. "He was accused by a government that failed to protect the U.S."

John Walker Lindh, 27, had been studying Islam, Arabic and the Quran in Yemen and Pakistan since he was 16 to become a scholar, his father said. He apparently identified with the religion and thought it was his duty to fight for Taliban.

After a battle between the Taliban and northern warlords, the U.S. Military took John Walker Lindh into custody in December, "tied him up, naked, bound and kept him in a shipping container," his father said.

A federal grand jury in February 2002 indicted him for 10 counts. He reportedly faced conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens, two counts of providing material support to terrorist organizations, four conspiracy charges, supplying services to the Taliban and al Qaeda and using and carrying firearms and destructive devices during violent crimes.

After a plea bargain he pleaded guilty in October 2002 to providing services to the Taliban as a foot soldier and carrying explosives -- a rifle and two grenades—for a 20-year sentence.

During the sentencing he reportedly said he had no intentions of fighting against the U.S. and would not have joined the Taliban knowing what he knows now.

His father said his family is working a petition to urge President Bush to pardon his son's sentence because "he's not a criminal by any stretch of the imagination."

Frank Lindh told the group of students, many of which thanked him after he was finished speaking, "This is one case that has captured many of the values we really hold dear as a nation."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; americantaliban; cia; collaborator; domesticterrorism; enemycombatant; enemyofthestate; franklindh; globaljihad; gwot; idiotalert; ingrate; islam; jihad; jihadinamerica; jihadjohnny; johnwalkerlindh; lindh; michaelspann; michealspann; mikespann; mohammedanism; pakistan; ratboy; spann; stuckonstupid; taleban; taliban; traitor; treason; usefulidiot; wot
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1 posted on 09/25/2008 3:34:45 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

No, he has to do the full 20.


2 posted on 09/25/2008 3:37:28 AM PDT by trumandogz (The Democrats are driving us to Socialism at 100 MPH -The GOP is driving us to Socialism at 97.5 MPH)
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To: nickcarraway

NO.


3 posted on 09/25/2008 3:39:33 AM PDT by Cindy
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To: nickcarraway
His father said his family is working a petition to urge President Bush to pardon his son's sentence because "he's not a criminal by any stretch of the imagination."

He's not a common criminal............He's a Traitor!

He's simply lucky he lives in a time of political correctness, otherwise he would have already been shot or hung.

4 posted on 09/25/2008 3:40:08 AM PDT by Kakaze (Exterminate Islamofacism and apologize for nothing.....except not doing it sooner!)
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To: nickcarraway

To Mr. Frank Lindh: BS.

You should have reared your son early on to have a moral compass to live by, not go hunting for something important in his life when he bacame a teenager.


5 posted on 09/25/2008 3:42:05 AM PDT by SatinDoll (Desperately desiring a conservative government.)
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To: nickcarraway
his son has been used as a scapegoat for the faults of the U.S. government

Frank Lindh said he believes his son did not go to Afghanistan in July 2001 to work against the United States, but in a misguided effort to help the Taliban establish their country

His father said his family is working a petition to urge President Bush to pardon his son's sentence because "he's not a criminal by any stretch of the imagination."

Delution appears to be a family trait that Johnny Jihad inherited from his Dad.......

6 posted on 09/25/2008 3:42:10 AM PDT by thingumbob (McGenius-Palin beats O'bomber-Hide'n (Remember, dead terrorists don't make more terrorists!))
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To: nickcarraway
... his son has been used as a scapegoat for the faults of the U.S. government.

Yeah, sure... His son didn't know what he was doing. After all, he only hide in caves, throwing grenade now and then, without knowing who he was targeting...

7 posted on 09/25/2008 3:42:53 AM PDT by paudio (Nobody cried 'racism' when Swann, Blackwell, and Steele lost to white guys in 2006)
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To: nickcarraway

I say shoot him.


8 posted on 09/25/2008 3:43:13 AM PDT by bmwcyle (Vote McWhatshisname and PALIN)
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To: nickcarraway

This story makes me so sad.

OK, I’m over it. Let’s move on.


9 posted on 09/25/2008 3:43:43 AM PDT by kempster
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To: Kakaze

Traitors are hung.

Deserters are shot.


10 posted on 09/25/2008 3:44:58 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: nickcarraway
Of all the little pinko fag traitorous liberals in America, this is the only one we've been able to put away.

And he should rot in hell!

Good morning, all. :)

11 posted on 09/25/2008 3:45:49 AM PDT by ryan71 (My hockey mom bitch-slapped your soccer mom)
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To: All

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jmspann.htm

Johnny Micheal Spann
Captain, United States Marine Corps
Central Intelligence Agency Officer


12 posted on 09/25/2008 3:45:49 AM PDT by Cindy
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To: nickcarraway
Gee, let's talk about Frank Lindh’s failures as a father rather than the failures of U.S. policy. What kind of idiot father let's his 16 year old kid study radical Islam in Yemen and Afghanistan?
13 posted on 09/25/2008 3:47:40 AM PDT by Juan Medén
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To: nickcarraway
SCREW THAT L!TTLE SH!T... NOW AND FOREVER!!!
Never Forgive...
Never Forget!!!

11/25/01 RIP

14 posted on 09/25/2008 3:48:04 AM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - McCain/Palin'08 = http://www.johnmccain.com/)
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To: nickcarraway

Bush will not pardon him. He won’t do it. Those air-headed California no-loads are wasting their time.

I say good. Let them and him suffer worse by thinking there is some avenue. He should have been HUNG, not imprisoned, the POS.

Of course, one should ask themselves: “Would a President Obama pardon this terrorist?”


15 posted on 09/25/2008 3:50:08 AM PDT by rlmorel (Who is Saul Alinsky and why is Barack Obama a disciple of his methods?)
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To: Westbrook

Traitors are hung.

Deserters are shot.

Now that we have that straight, I’ll find a tree and a horse and a rope.

Oh look. I’ve got them right here.


16 posted on 09/25/2008 3:50:25 AM PDT by Battle Axe (Repent for the coming of the Lord is nigh!)
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To: nickcarraway

Hey father of John Walker Lindh, go pound sand where the sun doesn’t shine.
You raised this traitor to be what he is. You are partly responsible.
Hopefully your traitor son stays in a prison in horrible conditions for as long as he lives.
I’m just hoping he is in the general lock up and he is very popular with the bubbas there.


17 posted on 09/25/2008 3:50:47 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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To: trumandogz

I agree. No way.


18 posted on 09/25/2008 3:51:58 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: ryan71

Too true,
There are a whole lot of congress critters that should be sharing a cell with this traitor.
Leaky Lahey comes immediately to mind.


19 posted on 09/25/2008 3:52:52 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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To: Kakaze
He's not a common criminal............He's a Traitor!

He's not a common criminal............He's a Terrorist!

20 posted on 09/25/2008 4:02:21 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: nickcarraway

I say we pardon him right after he’s executed. That way, we all win!


21 posted on 09/25/2008 4:02:59 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
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To: nickcarraway

Personally, I think he should have been put to death.


22 posted on 09/25/2008 4:03:50 AM PDT by livius
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To: nickcarraway

“Frank Lindh said he believes his son did not go to Afghanistan in July 2001 to work against the United States, but in a misguided effort to help the Taliban establish their country”

I’m so sorry that the soldiers who “found” him had an error in judgment and didn’t shoot his sorry self!

The thing that even gets me more is the fact that this moron is given a platform by ANYONE to espouse this shiite to young skulls full of mush.

I guess he was never taught that actions have consequences and that there is such a thing as personal responsibility!


23 posted on 09/25/2008 4:04:47 AM PDT by GWMcClintock (Right after Lib Democrats, the most dangerous politicians are country club Republicans. T. Sowell)
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To: nickcarraway

He already got his break...a plea bargain...something he never should have gotten to begin with. So Daddy Dearest, count your blessings that your son wasn’t killed with his comrades, and is still alive. Your sonny boy did not have the same consideration of the American Soldiers he was aiding to kill. Wonders how the Taliban would have handled a traitor?
Seems your son got off easy.


24 posted on 09/25/2008 4:06:40 AM PDT by donnab (some people use change to promote their careers...others use their careers to promote change.)
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To: nickcarraway
If it were up to me he'd be pushing up daises already. That being said, the very least he could do for the rest of his natural life is make small rocks out of big rocks at Leavenworth. He's as delusional as his old man. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
25 posted on 09/25/2008 4:06:42 AM PDT by RU88 (The false messiah can not change water into wine any more than he can get unity from diversity.)
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To: nickcarraway
"He was accused by a government that failed to protect the U.S."

Dad, it's a pay to play sport for keeps. No do-overs. There is likely also a reality distortion field in operation in Marin County. Dad, check with the local authorities to see if you need a foil helmet.

26 posted on 09/25/2008 4:06:46 AM PDT by Paladin2 (Palin for President! (PUMA))
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To: nickcarraway
"He was accused by a government that failed to protect the U.S."

Trashing the administration is not the smartest way of getting a Bush pardon.
27 posted on 09/25/2008 4:08:46 AM PDT by Thrownatbirth (.....Iraq Invasion fan since '91.)
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To: SatinDoll

I have no doubt that Lindh pursued Islam as a reaction his father pursuing homosexuality.


28 posted on 09/25/2008 4:09:02 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
Ummmm no... this POS needs to have an “accident” when he does get out. This is one of Bush's greatest failures. Had they fried this turd, other lefties would have been put on notice... but they coddled the little ****. I say put him in the general population in his jail.

LLS

29 posted on 09/25/2008 4:11:23 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (GOD, Country, Family... except when it comes to dims!)
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To: nickcarraway

Traitors normally get death.
Why wasn’t this the case?


30 posted on 09/25/2008 4:11:27 AM PDT by BuffaloJack
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To: Thrownatbirth

Actually, I wouldn’t be to sure about the. The Bush administration seems to be more favorably disposed to people who trash them, than allies. It worked for Kennedy, etc.


31 posted on 09/25/2008 4:14:00 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

> U.S. troops in northern Afghanistan in 2001 illegitimately captured his son, known as an “American Taliban,” for fighting as a Taliban soldier just after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Those naughty American troops!

> Frank Lindh said he believes his son did not go to Afghanistan in July 2001 to work against the United States, but in a misguided effort to help the Taliban establish their country.

Lindh should be released from prison, after receiving twenty (20) strokes of the rotan across his bare arse, like they do in Singapore, with another twenty (20) strokes suspended sentence pending his good behavior for the rest of his misbegotten life. It’s more efficient and cost-effective, and the punishment fits the crime.


32 posted on 09/25/2008 4:14:23 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: bmwcyle
I say shoot him.

I say just tie him up naked and throw him back in that shipping container......;

33 posted on 09/25/2008 4:15:05 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Polar bears who suffer depression and anxiety due to the global warming threat are bi-polar bears)
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To: nickcarraway
I suppose any father would take a run at it, but this story makes Frank sound like a nut.

During the sentencing he reportedly said he had no intentions of fighting against the U.S. and would not have joined the Taliban knowing what he knows now.

Well, this certainly makes it all better.

His father said his family is working a petition to urge President Bush to pardon his son's sentence because "he's not a criminal by any stretch of the imagination."

Criminal? Well, probably not in the felony sense of the word. What do they call you when you commit treason?

Frank Lindh told the group of students, many of which thanked him after he was finished speaking, "This is one case that has captured many of the values we really hold dear as a nation."

Let this thought dangle for a while, years maybe.

34 posted on 09/25/2008 4:18:56 AM PDT by stevem
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To: Westbrook

DAng! I never get tht right.


35 posted on 09/25/2008 4:23:27 AM PDT by 70th Division (If we lose the Republic we have lost it all.)
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To: 70th Division
> DAng! I never get tht right.

Apparently, I don't either.

The correct treatment for traitors and saboteurs is to be hanged.
:)

Deserters are dispatched by firing squad.

36 posted on 09/25/2008 4:27:28 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: nickcarraway

The apples don’t fall far from the tree.
Let him rot in jail.


37 posted on 09/25/2008 4:31:20 AM PDT by FES0844 (FES0844)
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To: nickcarraway

20 years was a gift. He should have been executed for treason. In my book his father is a traitor as well for trying to get this Islamofacist pardoned.

Of course if Barack Obama is elected, I have little doubt he will issue the pardon on his first day in office, right after he signs the Freedom of Choice act.


38 posted on 09/25/2008 4:34:17 AM PDT by Above My Pay Grade
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To: nickcarraway
During his time in Afghanistan, John Walker Lindh volunteered for a military funded by Osama bin Laden, known as the founder of Al-Qaeda, and had interactions with him but did not have anything to do with plans to attack the U.S., Frank Lindh said.

Frank, was your little "angel" charged with planning to attack the US? He was caught fighting against the US military on foreign soil. That makes him a traitor and that is how he was charged. THAT'S why he is now in prison.

39 posted on 09/25/2008 4:40:12 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: nickcarraway; briansb; MAK1179
As a father of four sons, I have to feel for the man but... it's time he faced reality and recognizes that he raised a traitor and his son should be hanged by the neck until dead, not pardoned.

He's very lucky to only have a 20 year sentence.

40 posted on 09/25/2008 4:40:51 AM PDT by Lloyd227 (and may God bless Oriana Fallaci)
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To: Cindy

He should have been executed. Nobody really cares as evidenced by Jane Fonda who should still be stamping license plates.


41 posted on 09/25/2008 5:14:05 AM PDT by Rhino54
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To: nickcarraway

Perfect response (though it was written four years ago)

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/jeff/jacoby121401.asp

In short: what a douchebag.


42 posted on 09/25/2008 5:26:29 AM PDT by ClaudiusI
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To: nickcarraway
His father said his family is working a petition to urge President Bush to pardon his son's sentence because "he's not a criminal by any stretch of the imagination."

Too bad Clinton was not still in office. Pardon would have been granted. If Obama is elected, Pardon will be granted and a Wall Street ticker tape parade will be granted.

43 posted on 09/25/2008 5:29:10 AM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign state.)
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To: Thrownatbirth
Trashing the administration is not the smartest way of getting a Bush pardon.

It seems that intelligence does not run in this family.

44 posted on 09/25/2008 5:30:57 AM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign state.)
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To: nickcarraway

Lindh (father and son) have been whining about that fact that Johnny made bad choices and got caught and has to suffer the consequences.

Had he been caught robbing a bank, would we be hearing the same amount of whining??

Serve your time, Johnnie, and move on with your life.


45 posted on 09/25/2008 6:04:07 AM PDT by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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To: nickcarraway

Should have been shot.


46 posted on 09/25/2008 6:32:21 AM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: nickcarraway

If Obama wins, you know he’ll pardon him.


47 posted on 09/25/2008 6:33:41 AM PDT by B Knotts (Calvin Coolidge Republican)
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To: nickcarraway

This kid should be hung, drawn, and quartered.


48 posted on 09/25/2008 6:36:07 AM PDT by Thane_Banquo (You can put lipstick on a donkey, but it's still just a jackass.)
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To: nickcarraway

Blood is thicker than water (and apparently brain cells.)


49 posted on 09/25/2008 6:38:43 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic ("And how can this be? For I am the Kwisatz Haderach! " - Barack Obama)
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To: nickcarraway

This guy out to be thanking Gaia that he isn’t in federal prison for raising that piece of crap.


50 posted on 09/25/2008 7:48:45 AM PDT by philled ("Pacifism ... can only be preached behind the protective cover of the Royal Navy."-- Orwell)
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