John Walker Has To Pay

NY POST | December &, 2001 | NY Post Editorial

[CRAW]

JOHN WALKER HAS TO PAY December 7, 2001 --

Americans are right to be mad as hell about the discovery of one of their own among a gaggle of captured Taliban fighters.

John Walker may be a mixed-up "young man," as his father says. And clearly he was in the wrong place at the wrong time - doing the wrong thing. That is, bearing arms against other young Americans.

For this he must pay. Dearly.

And because he might have taken part in the treacherous killing of CIA agent Johnny Michael Spann. And because treating him leniently could make it harder to deal harshly with non-U.S. foes.

But, mostly, Walker deserves the max because he betrayed his country.

Some folks, including President Bush, wonder if Walker knew what he was getting into when he joined the Taliban. "Obviously he has been misled," Bush said. "He thought he was going to fight for a great cause . . ."

The legal questions concerning what happens next to Walker are complex. Should he be charged with treason and tried in a U.S. civilian court? Or should he be regarded as a foreign enemy would be - and hauled before a military tribunal?

Such matters will have to be resolved for other prisoners who turn out to be American citizens as well.

Whatever the legal complexities, though, Americans shouldn't allow their compassion to confuse the issue. >P>Walker appears to have willingly sided with evil in a deadly enterprise - against his own country.

He got caught. Now it's payday.

[CRAW]

Turn him over to the FDNY & NYPD

[Elle Bee]

Sons of Liberty - In all worlds but the liberal one, adult choices have adult consequences ~ WSJ.

.

[mystery-ak]

After watching two Green Beret heros arrive in Germany last night, I have no sympathy for this *mixed up young man*.....hang him.
He was prepared and willing to take up arms against our sons, husbands, wives and daughters.
If it had been US forces approaching instead of the NA, would we be having this discussion?
btw...recent news accounts show him being interview by Mike Spann....did he participate in the uprising and contribute to Spann's death....YES

[Savage Beast]

"Obviously he has been misled," Bush said, "He thought he was going to fight for a great cause..."

I'm sure the same could be said for those who fought for the Nazis.

[Redbob]

John Walker was "mixed up".
So was Timothy McVeigh.
John Walker is only a "young man".
So was Nathan Hale.

BTW, all other captured "foreign Taliban" are being dealt with by the Northern Alliance. In all fairness (and we CERTAINLY want to be fair, don't we?), so should Mr. Walker.

[Let's Roll]

And because letting him off betrays other young people who are fighting FOR our country. They aren't considered too young and confused to know what they're doing. As the WSJ said - anywhere else but liberal land, "adult choices brings adult consequences".

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Compare and contrast: Walker/Lindh and Johnny Mike Spann

[Mixer]

Turning on America is actually worse then being on their side all along. I mean he actually wanted to leave America to go find new life with the muslims in Pakistan and then he took it a step further and fought against us. I would say he is confused all right.

Doesn't mean we shouldn't still hang him. I agree with you let the NYPD and FDNY decide what should be done with him. Let them carry it out too. I think you might be surprised though that many of them would not want barbaric revenge. We are not animals after all ; )

[djr]

Any pleas for mercy for this SOB should be in the context of a conviction *after* an appropriate trial, not before.

It's the Liberal line that he's somehow not guilty. Letting him off the hook before a trial helps affirm this twisted viewpoint.

[cactmh]

I guess every traitor in history is simply a mixed up young man. He should be hung...

[cousair]

According to my passport, Walker gave up his citizenship when he took up arms against his country, the U.S., with a foreign "state", so is printed in the passport.

[Libertarian_4_eva]

I love the NYPOST. The only good paper here in New York City. Now if the murdoch family would put some more money into it instead of turning it into a tabloid sleaze paper like their other papers in the U.K. it would be perfect. I am waiting for page 3 girls to appear on its pages soon.

[Alberta's Child]

"Obviously he has been misled," Bush said. "He thought he was going to fight for a great cause . . ."

Anyone here on Free Republic who really believes we should reinstitute the draft (as per that very long discussion thread a few days back) should consider this statement by the f#cking president of the United States. Any nation that can't even hold its own citizens accountable when they take up arms for an enemy has lost its f#cking mind.

And, I might add, it has lost its right to exist.

[gfactor]

That is, bearing arms against other young Americans.

Actually when you think about it, he was only interested in bearing arms against Northern Alliance afghans till the CIA showed up to ruin his party.

[Elihu Burritt]

Any nation that can't even hold its own citizens accountable when they take up arms for an enemy has lost its f#cking mind.

That started in the Revolution in South Carolina. Then it really blossomed in 1860. Since then, there has really been no legal precedent in the US for prosecuting treason.

[SamAdams76]

IT raises an excellent point. If we "go easy" on Walker, then we lose our moral authority to punish the rest of the Taliban. Walker must be treated just like any other Taliban scumbag. He forfeited his U.S. citizenship when he betrayed us. If we go easy on him, then we will likely destroy the life of at least one good American - the one who will put a bullet through his head when he starts appearing on talk shows and getting book deals for his story.

[Lucky2]

The traitor willing went with the Taliban and fought against his country. He may have even contributed to the death of Johnny Spann, which of course would be murder. He needs to pay for this with his own life. Rush said yesterday that probably his parent's biggest fear is that he'll be turned over to the Northern Alliance. People chose suicide rather than being put to death by these folks. I think the Northern Alliance is the way to go for this turn coat!