Forgiving John Walker (Barf Alert)

Washington Post ^ | December 16, 2001 | Michael Kinsley

[SJackson]

All red-blooded Americans hate the Taliban. But what did red-blooded Americans think of the Taliban seven months ago? That's about when John Walker, 20-year-old American citizen, disappeared from sight until he surfaced earlier this month in a prisoner-of-war camp for Taliban fighters. Now many Americans want Walker tried, punished, executed . . . nothing is too terrible to say about, or contemplate doing to, this traitor who abandoned his country and joined up with that incarnation of evil, that rats' nest of anti-Americanism, that oppressor of women, that harborer of terrorists: the Taliban.

[SJackson]

But there is no evidence so far that he actually did the United States any harm....He played some unknown but small and ineffectual role in defending Afghanistan from an attack by the United States.

Small role, after all only one American killed. By Kinsley's logic an American serving in the SS would be just fine, as long as he fought on the Russian front. Or perhaps didn't rise too high in rank, just played a "small role".

[mcurb]

when's that parkinsons gonna kick in so this guy can't waste our time anymore?

[independentmind]

Walker obviously has been irresponsible in ways the young George W. never contemplated. He is obviously a fool and pretty obviously wished his own country harm. But there is no evidence so far that he actually did the United States any harm. As far as anyone calling for his head knows, he had nothing to do with Sept. 11 and no foreknowledge of it. He told Newsweek that he "supported" it in hindsight, which is repellent but not a crime. It is unclear whether he was actually a member of al Qaeda. He played some unknown but small and ineffectual role in defending Afghanistan from an attack by the United States. That attack was justified, but defending a "harborer" is doubly removed from being a terrorist. Walker seems to have played no active role in the prison camp uprising that killed CIA interrogator Mike Spann.

Kinsley is correct.

[Irene Adler]

The Parkinson's has already advanced a ways. FReepers have been speculating for some time after tv appearances on his part, why Kinsley's speech was so full of stammering and why he seemed not to blink for very long periods of time. He has also looked just plain awful,in general, not well at all, IMHO.

As regards his ability to crank out dumb columns, however, you are quite right; it seems undiminished so far.

[fhayek]

Of course we will forgive Walker. I mean look how we punished Jane Fonda. She got to sit in the owners box at the World Series.

[SJackson]

I disagree. I can accept the notion that until 9/11 his situation could be viewed as the same as an American fighting for the British prior to WWII, or in Spain.

But that changed within a few days post 9/11. The Taliban was soon America's enemy, and he was obligated to leave their service. While this might have cost him his life in the early days, he wouldn't have been the only American to die. Once things were moving on the ground, many troops under the Taliban defected to the NA. Walker wasn't among them, and seems to have resisted to the very end in the company of Taliban troops fighting both our ally, the NA, and American troops on the groung. His actions were treasonous.

[YaYa123]

What Americans thought 7 months ago is a bogus argument!

Walker's own father disclosed that last April, Johnny Taliban expressed support of the USS Cole being attacked, an attack where 17 American sailors were killed, and double that number wounded.

But beyond that damning information, Johnny Taliban wasn't captured till late November. He surely knew all about Sept 11. When he was interrogated by Michael Spann, he was given the opportunity to reveal himself as an American, and offer any helpful information he could about his Taliban comrades. He refused. He might have even known that within minutes, Michael Spann's life was going to be in jeopardy. No cooperation, no warning for a fellow American.

What Americans knew 7 months ago is irrelevant to the overwhelming evidence against John Walker.

[G.Mason]

Why would anyone here read anything by Michael Kinsley, with the exception of his obituary?

[schaketo]

Nurse Ratchet! Get in here quick! He's been spitting out his medication again! Straight jacket ... STAT!

[RasterMaster]

Traitors should be properly and promptly hung. Joining the enemy is the same as renouncing citizenship, and he should not be guaranteed the same rights as everyone else.

[Benrand]

Michael Isikoff this morning said Walker was training with AL Qaeda and was more involved than Kinsley suggests.

After the left beat Republicans up with "Timothy McVeigh" they now see they can be targeted for smears with this idiots back history.

[HENRYADAMS]

This guy Walker may be worth millions in book deals, talk show circuit, maybe a movie, endorsements public office.

We will know after his first TV interview.

[hflynn]

Kinsley is correct.

See reply #12. Kinsley is not correct. Isokoff also said that Walker was present at meetings with and knew Bin Laden personally. Walker is in this up to his eyeballs. Don't be surprised if more revelations about Walker, most of which are coming from his own mouth, put him jail for a very long time.

[DonQ]

But what did red-blooded Americans think of the Taliban seven months ago? That's about when John Walker, 20-year-old American citizen, disappeared from sight...

Seven months ago was about the time that the Bush Administration gave the Taliban millions of dollars, ostensibly to discourage the heroin traffic.

[alnick]

I read an article this morning that says that Walker has admitted to being a member of Al Qaeda and has trained at Al Qaeda terror camps. Walker is more than just some mixed up kid who doesn't realize what he stepped in.

[Cacique]

Yeah I'll forgive him alright. That's AFTER we execute him.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Poor little Johnny, just about the same age as all our boys fighting over there, who somehow, in the messed up elistist world of no black and white, only grey areas, found thier way to service for thier Country in Elite Combat Groups now deployed in Afgan territory. Seeing as, in Kinsley's Super Strata world, no judgement of anyone is allowed no matter how henious the crime, because that would be ,to quote from the DNC playbood, "a rush to judgement" which no good socialist liberal would ever want to make, for fear of being ejected from the, oh so superior, PC crowd.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Sorry, didn't read the article. I have managed to go a whole YEAR without reading a single thing by this effeminate little dweeb- and I see no reason to break that streak now...

[Polybius]

All red-blooded Americans hate the Taliban. But what did red-blooded Americans think of the Taliban seven months ago?

Reports have stated that John Walker has proudly pointed out to his captors that he was not just Taliban but that he was Al Qaeda.

Seven months ago, Al Qaeda was known to be behind the U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa and behind the bombing of the USS Cole. John Walker knew exactly what linds of people he was bearing arms for.