Posted on 12/02/2001 2:09:35 PM PST by mdittmar
A 20-year-old American who fought with the Taliban and survived a bloody prison uprising near Mazar-i-Sharif last week has been taken into custody by U.S. special forces troops, Newsweek magazine said on its Web site on Sunday.
A spokesman for U.S. Central Command, which is running the military campaign on Afghanistan , confirmed that a man claiming to be an American was in the control of U.S. military forces.
``Military forces in Afghanistan do have in their control a man who calls himself a U.S. citizen,'' Marine Maj. Brad Lowell, a Central Command spokesman, said.
``He was among the al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners; he was held by the Northern Alliance in Mazar-i-Sharif. He is injured and is being given medical assistance by U.S. forces,'' he told Reuters.
The man, described by Newsweek as ``a white, educated-sounding, apparently middle-class American,'' who identified himself only as Abdul Hamid, was taken into custody on Saturday at a hospital where he had been taken for treatment of minor gunshot and shrapnel wounds.
The special forces soldiers who detained Hamid took him aside for treatment and later left with him, doctors told the magazine. A Northern Alliance military source said the U.S. soldiers had taken Hamid to Mazar-i-Sharif, Newsweek said, adding that U.S. forces refused to comment on his whereabouts.
Hamid told Newsweek earlier he was a Washington, D.C., native but indicated he grew up elsewhere in the United States. He said he converted to Islam at age 16 and later went to Pakistan to study the Koran, Newsweek said.
Hamid said he came into contact with Taliban teachings while studying in Pakistan and traveled to Afghanistan six months ago to help ``because the Taliban are the only government that actually provides Islamic law,'' the magazine reported.
He fought with the Taliban at the siege of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan and surrendered along with hundreds of other fighters after the two sides negotiated a deal.
Hamid later was transferred along with hundreds of other prisoners to Qala-i-Jhangi fortress west of Mazar-i-Sharif, where a revolt ensued a week ago. The uprising was violently put down by U.S. warplanes and Northern Alliance ground forces.
Several hundred prisoners were believed to have been killed. A CIA officer was among those killed in the uprising, the first reported American combat death in Afghanistan.
Here it is, in part (what a guy!):
Hamid, who came to Afghanistan six months ago to help the Taliban build a true Islamic state, refused to give extensive details about himself, but did say he was originally from the Washington, D.C. area, but indicated that he had grown up elsewhere in the U.S. and that he converted to Islam at the age of 16. He later went to Pakistan to study the Koran. "In my travels, I came in contact with some of the original teachers of the leaders of the Taliban movement," he tells Newsweek. "The ideas of the Taliban occupied my mind a lot." He also said he supported the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. "You're asking a question that requires a pretty long and complicated explanation. I haven't eaten for two or three days, and my mind is not really in shape to give you a coherent answer," he said. But when pressed he said, "Yes, I supported it."
swill [swil ] verb
1. AGRICULTURE hog feed: a watery feed for livestock, especially hogs, typically containing kitchen waste or food byproducts
This guy makes swill sound good!
The article said he was fighting with the Taliban forces around Mazar. That wasn't six months ago; it was only a few weeks ago.
Actually, most 20 year olds in this country have no principles, at least this guy has things he believes in.
So did Charlie Manson. And Ted Bundy. And Sam Berkowitz. So did Adolph Hitler. They were the wrong things.
Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
Bet he wouldn't make it 5 years.
I would think even inmates have some opinions about traitors.
Sounds like this guy got a little bit too deep into the whole rebellious youth thing.
Are you nuts? We are not talking about six months ago, this guy was FIGHTING for the taliban a week ago! Remember? He was captured when he surrendered from a battle.
When he heard we were fighting there he could have left, he chose not to and so deserves what ever he gets.
Even if you ignore the bombing of U.S. Embassies in Africa and the bombing of the USS Cole by the Al Qaeda radical Muslims that were allied with the Taliban, that only applies up to 10 September 2001.
After the United States was attacked, it was his duty as a United States citizen to lay down his arms in service to the Taliban. Once he bore arms in a war against the U.S., he became a traitor by even the loosest interpretation Constututional definiton of traitor : "providing aid and comfort to the enemy."
Hanging is the cure.
Try him on a warship in a shark infested ocean. Then when he is found guilty of treason, sedition and mass murder. Gut shoot him and throw him kicking into the ocean. He will be great chum for those who will follow!
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