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American Taliban Fighter in U.S. Custody - Report
Reuters ^ | Sunday December 2 5:42 PM ET | Reuters

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abdulhamid; anotherabdul; johnlindh; liberalthink; mazarisharif; michaelspann; mikespann; talibanjohnny
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To: mdittmar
Obviously, we're going to have to bring him to the U.S. for a civilian trial where the Left can fund a "dream team" to defend him. We can then go through 14 months of televised trials on CNN and watch him get off just like O.J. All this because we can't have military tribunals. After all, it might affect the civil rights of law-abiding Joe Dough, American citizen who has no record and has never even seen a terrorist in all his days on earth. (/sarcasm)
61 posted on 12/02/2001 3:24:16 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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Comment #62 Removed by Moderator

To: wildconservatism
Lots of 20'somethings sell their soul to the devil everyday. He goes by many different names. In this case, it was for blood, glory, and a lie.
63 posted on 12/02/2001 3:26:53 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: cidrasm
I'm not sure of the law, but it wouldn't surprise me if you could make a good argument that this guy, by his actions, had effectively renounced his U.S. citizenship. So he might be subject to a military commission after all.

Probably not worth doing for a smally fry like him, especially since such an argument might well fail in court.

64 posted on 12/02/2001 3:26:54 PM PST by aristeides
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To: wildconservatism
Press Release

SOURCE: Armedforcescareers.com

Interest in Military Recruiting Increases Dramatically, Reports Armedforcescareers.com

ATLANTA, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the tragic events Tuesday in Washington DC and New York, Armedforcescareers.com has reported dramatic increases in prospects seeking information on the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force.

Armedforcescareers.com, a leading consumer help site for citizens interested in joining the United States military, reports more than 340,000 hits per day, up almost a full 100% from the day before.

According to Larry Fowler, publisher of Armedforcescareers.com , ``American pride in its Armed Forces often shows its true colors during times of national disaster.''

SOURCE: Armedforcescareers.com

Guess I tend to look for the good.

The military doesn't recruit us old farts.

65 posted on 12/02/2001 3:29:44 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: anniegetyourgun
Lots of 20'somethings sell their soul to the devil everyday. He goes by many different names. In this case, it was for blood, glory, and a lie.

In this case, we have to ask if all devils are equal. Does idleness and apathy count as one of these devils? Those seem worse devils to me, if so. After all, those who do not believe in *something* will fall for *anything*--and I'd say even worse, *nothing.*

66 posted on 12/02/2001 3:31:30 PM PST by wildconservatism
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To: wildconservatism
From what loser parents does a white, middle class 16 year old convert to Mohammedism and then end up in a war in Afganistan by age 20? I am betting they are ex-hippies.

I suspect the guy could be quite useful, maybe even turned. If he is looking for meaning in his life, he can help find Osama. Lastly, the stupid kid is tough, and lucky.

67 posted on 12/02/2001 3:31:44 PM PST by Leisler
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To: mdittmar
Here is the Thread that refers to the article on this guy.
68 posted on 12/02/2001 3:34:49 PM PST by Mahone
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To: Leisler
From what loser parents does a white, middle class 16 year old convert to Mohammedism and then end up in a war in Afganistan by age 20? I am betting they are ex-hippies.

That is an excellent point, and damn funny too! You're probably right.

I suspect the guy could be quite useful, maybe even turned. If he is looking for meaning in his life, he can help find Osama. Lastly, the stupid kid is tough, and lucky.

Megadittos. The CIA needs people with his kind of knowledge and skills, and presumably language abilities. But how to do the turning? His deep commitment to his religion probably has various mental tripwires to keep him in line. Maybe another job for the CIA...after all, enough drugs and electricity can do anything... :)

69 posted on 12/02/2001 3:35:27 PM PST by wildconservatism
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To: Srpska Vatra
Acronym for "Liver Disease" in German?
70 posted on 12/02/2001 3:36:13 PM PST by Leisler
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To: mdittmar
Let the NY firefighters interrogate him, alone, for several hours.
71 posted on 12/02/2001 3:38:15 PM PST by Reagan is King
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To: mdittmar
The military doesn't recruit us old farts.

In light of 9/11, maybe that is so, and if so, good. Before 9/11, the few I'd seen who enlisted or were in ROTC were there for the scholarship or other monetary incentive, or otherwise were drifters with no direction and just decided it was "the thing to do" in that condition. I'm still skeptical of my contemporaries.

72 posted on 12/02/2001 3:41:04 PM PST by wildconservatism
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To: wildconservatism
Have you ever noticed old leftist, like Hollywood types, are always falling for one thing after another? I suspect that if he could be shown that Osama has been the enemy of muslim people he could do a 180. A lot of the best and hardest anti-communist were once communist. Once they were able to see the reality of the evil, they became bitter and hated their previous belief system. Old story.
73 posted on 12/02/2001 3:42:00 PM PST by Leisler
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To: wildconservatism
Actually, six months ago there was no war with the U.S., and 9/11 hadn't happened yet. So he can't have been giving aid to the enemies of the U.S., unless you make it retroactive. Actually, most 20 year olds in this country have no principles, at least this guy has things he believes in.

When I was 20 years old I was proudly serving in the USMC. I can't believe you wrote that tripe with a straight face - what DOES he believe in? Well let's do a reality check: beating women and children evidently, murder of those who disagree with him; murder of anyone of any other faith, just to name a few. He would have gleefully popped a cap in your Infidel hide. THINK before you write such trash.
74 posted on 12/02/2001 3:44:43 PM PST by GussiedUp
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To: wildconservatism
At least this kid believed in something enough to go overseas and become a scholar (Taliban are scholars)..

Oh yes just as the Talitubbies are feminists and true followers of Islam too. Geesh.
75 posted on 12/02/2001 3:48:51 PM PST by GussiedUp
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To: wildconservatism
I'm still skeptical of my contemporaries.

Your contemporaries are now in that wasteland, called Afghanistan, protecting the freedoms we are enjoying at this moment.

May God watch over them.

Take a couple of minutes to send them your support.

Email a soldier.

76 posted on 12/02/2001 3:50:38 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: Grampa Dave
It is amazing how many screwed up so called Americans will be crying in bed about this clymer!

Yes we even have one nincompoop on this board (wildconservative) calling him a "hero"....how disgusting.
77 posted on 12/02/2001 3:50:45 PM PST by GussiedUp
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To: GussiedUp
Yes we even have one nincompoop on this board (wildconservative) calling him a "hero"....how disgusting.

That was taken out of context. You ought to learn how to read things without projecting your own emotional biases on them. I believe I also noted that he was miguided and will rightly pay for what he's done.

78 posted on 12/02/2001 3:54:19 PM PST by wildconservatism
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To: Leisler
Have you ever noticed old leftist, like Hollywood types, are always falling for one thing after another?

Yes, I agree. Maybe it's easier than we think to get somewhere with him. The cause of the month club may be wide, but shallow.

79 posted on 12/02/2001 3:56:52 PM PST by wildconservatism
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To: mdittmar
Your contemporaries are now in that wasteland, called Afghanistan, protecting the freedoms we are enjoying at this moment.

A small minority of them are. Most aren't, nor do they think much about "freedom." Thanks for the link.

80 posted on 12/02/2001 3:58:23 PM PST by wildconservatism
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