Johnnie Walker on the Rocks

Wall Street Journal ^ | Decenber 6, 2001 | Claudia Rosett

[afuturegovernor]

Were the story of John Walker Lindh not so horribly real, it could play as a parody of our times. Mr. Walker, a 20-year-old American, goes to war in Afghanistan. Except he fights not for America, but against us, on the side of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. By the time he's captured, AK-47 in hand, Mr. Walker is filthy, wounded and famished, but to a persistent reporter from Newsweek he manages to gasp out his support for the Islamic terrorist attacks that, out of a clear blue sky, killed more than 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11.

[afuturegovernor]

American Taliban

[KQQL]

Johnnie Walker on the Rocks...lol

[Britton J Wingfield]

I'd let the Northern Alliance try him as a war criminal. India might also like a crack at him, since he admits to fighting in Kashmere.

[goldstategop]

No it ain't the drink. Is that supposed to make people thinking twice about sidling up at the bar to order their favorite malt? In a way our friend Abdul Hamid is literally shipwrecked. Only he isn't a survivor, he's a goon caught like a deer in the headlights. Time to hand him back with the rest of the foreign Taliban to the Northern Alliance so they can take care of him as only they know how. He's not our problem and stopped being an American when he ran off to fight with the enemy. This country already has its own home-grown Taliban cult. It doesn't need more from abroad to join its suicide prone and treasonous ranks.

[abigkahuna]

I have attempted to give this matter much thought. THis traitor, and he is a traitor, deserves to be punished.

I think of the young (19 y.o.) Christian aid worker who faced a possible death sentence for alleged spreading of the gospel.

I think of the young Mormom missionaries who spread themselves round the world.

I think of the young men and women who join the US Military to defend our nation against our enemies.

"Young" John Walker is of able mind and responsible for his actions...

BUT

There are men currently in jail, spies, moles and traitors who have done much harm to the security of our nation. They were not executed. Instead they languish in jail.

So on the scale of the magnitude of "young" John's actions, death at this point does not seem an acceptable punishment. Of course this would depend on his role in the uprising that claimed the life of Mr. Spann. Did Johnnie fire at Americans? Did he lead his fellow Taliban in battle, or did he hide in a corner?

If it is found that "young" Johnnie threw down his arms and took no part in the uprising, then I think he deserves a prison sentence of say 10-20 years with no parole. If it is found that facts show "young" Johnnie's actions were aggressive in nature during the prison revolt, then a different sentence, possibly the death sentence, would be warranted.

I understand this view is unpopular here, but all of our anger should not be focused on this single individual, this small cog in the giant wheel.

[yooper]

If he's still an American citizen, he deserves to be treated like an American citizen who has taken up arms against his country. Try him for treason. This is a no-brainer, folks......

[Schnucki]

They're probably going to start calling him 'Dances With Wolves' or something. ;)

[Howlin]

His father, Frank Lindh, announces that John "is a really good boy" even if he does deserve "a little kick in the butt for not telling me what he was up to."

I just cannot get past that statement. What a dolt.

What did he think the "boy" would say?

"Hey, Marilyn, Frank (the Gary Condit touch, ya see), guess what? I've joined the Taliban, gone to a terrorist camp,learned to skin reporters, taken up arms against my own country, all kinds of neato things. Can I get a hug?"

[ambrose]

After a year or two in custody, he will move back to American to become a best selling author, actively sought on the lecture circuit, etc.

You don't have to like it... but in your heart, you know it is true. Ugh...

[butter pecan fan]

Mr. Lindh, who tells the world, "I'm proud of John," insists "there's no indication he's done anything wrong."

Hel-lo?

[Fred Mertz]

If the punk traitor is possessed by demons, should we give him a break?

No, he should be shot by a firing squad at sunrise.

[rm3friskerFTN]

Would someone please check the Federal Elections Commission Database to see if "Johnny Walker's" wealthy parents contributed cash to "you know who"???

[Defiant]

They're probably going to start calling him 'Dances With Wolves' or something. ;)

More like "Prances with Sheep".

[Libertarian_4_eva]

The problem is if we take away his american citizenship then he cannot be tried and must be let go at the end of the war. It is perfecty legal under U.S. and international laws for citizens of other nations to shoot at our troops and our allies in wartime. Also you need two people to be able to try someone for treason against the united states infact it is I believe one of the first crimes defined at the start of our nation.

[Uncle Meat]

When I was stationed in Germany in 85-87,there was a GI that went awol with his Russian girlfriend and appeared at their embassy in East Germany.It made the Stars and Stripes,I remember.The Russians gave him assylum and gave him some weird job catching snakes and last I heard,he wanted to come back,but he was facing several charges including treason.I don't remember what became of him after that.

[SJackson]

"Hey, Marilyn, Frank (the Gary Condit touch, ya see), guess what? I've joined the Taliban, gone to a terrorist camp,learned to skin reporters, taken up arms against my own country, all kinds of neato things. Can I get a hug?"

You're heartless. If they knew, Mom could have baked cookies. Nothing like cookies from home.

[SJackson]

Also you need two people to be able to try someone for treason against the united states infact it is I believe one of the first crimes defined at the start of our nation.

Others have raised this point, indicating that Taliban members would be unreliable witnesses. Remember, he was captured in a combat situation. Any of the NA troops who observed him could testify, as could our troops on the scene. I doubt there will be a problem finding 2 witnesses willing to testify as to his treason.

[Britton J Wingfield]

Heh I read about that guy years ago. They had him catching snakes in a lab. I wonder what he thought he'd get for his defection.

[dewaste]

Rush is saying that taking up arms with a foreign country constitutes renouncing citizenship. He doesn't have to shoot at us. So, he has to take his chances with the NA. Ouch!!! Suicide becomes a viable alternative.