11/25/01 RIP
Posted on 07/19/2005 3:55:26 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AP) - Army investigators concluded that soldiers who photographed American-born Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh in captivity in Afghanistan with an obscenity written on his blindfold were guilty of "barracks humor" but not intentional wrongdoing, according to documents released Tuesday.
The investigators also found no evidence to support allegations that members of the 5th Special Forces Group, based at Fort Campbell, Ky., intentionally destroyed evidence or impeded a Justice Department investigation of the wartime treatment of Lindh, who denies having fought against U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Lindh, a California native now in his early 20s, was captured in Mazar-e-Sharif on Dec. 2, 2001, and held there initially by 5th Special Forces soldiers. He later pleaded guilty in U.S. civilian court to supplying services to the Taliban government and carrying explosives for them. He received a 20-year prison sentence in 2002.
The documents released Tuesday are part of a package of materials related to detainee treatment that have been provided to the American Civil Liberties Union in response to a federal suit under the Freedom of Information Act. Many names and other personal information were blacked out by Army censors.
In a memorandum dated Feb. 2, 2003, Brig. Gen. David P. Burford, deputy commander of U.S. Army Special Forces Command, wrote that he agreed with investigators' findings of no intentional wrongdoing by 5th Special Forces soldiers.
"I would add momentary lapse of 'mature' good judgment and propose that it was a sophomoric idea that quickly grew unsavory in its own right," Burford wrote.
"There is no evidence to support the allegation that (Special Forces) members or any soldier of the 5th Special Forces Group intentionally or maliciously acted to hide the existence of the photograph" once the Justice Department made it known in April 2002 that it wanted any and all evidence the group could provide, Burford wrote.
The initial portions of Burford's conclusions are blacked out in the publicly released copy.
Another document among the investigation records said, "The photo was taken 'as barracks humor,'" and Lindh was unaware his picture had been taken. The investigation also concluded that 5th Special Forces soldiers treated Lindh humanely and in accordance with U.S. military standards.
In a handwritten transcript of an interview from April 12, 2002, an investigator asked an unidentified 5th Special Forces soldier why he took the photograph.
"The photograph was taken as a final team picture with an American member of the al-Qaida Terrorist Organization," the soldier replied. Lindh has denied being a member of any terrorist organization.
Asked why the obscenity was written on what Army records describe as a blindfold or headband tape across Lindh's forehead, the soldier replied, "Because we thought it was humorous and we thought he was."
My gosh, how terrible!
Meanwhile, the Taliban were chopping off the heads of their enemies, as well as their feet, or their hands, or flogging people--but writing a word on the blindfold of a captured
American turncoat was so bad that it requried a full-fledged army investigation and report.
Unbelievable. . .
I hadn't heard of this. 'Course, if it were an obscenity written on a pair of panties...
Any clue what the obscenity was?
Anyone know what they wrote on the blindfold?
These guys are soldiers. They are brave and deserve respect not this petty BS. They should be given a metal for restraining themselves from blowing Lindh's sorry brains out.
Give our guys medals and leave them the #### alone!
They should have printed on the blindfold:
"I LOVE NANCY PELOSI"
(the Lindh terrorist's congress-critter)
Let the soldiers do their job and stop with the BS liberal investigations. No wonder recruitment is down , these guys go out and fight and the Media and left wingers try to hang them.
Maybe I should write in under the Freedom of Information Act and get a copy of the photo. Then sell T-shirts with the image on it ... "Traitors to America... We will find you!"
They should have shot him.
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