True and not true. That is why they should be seperated into two groups. The Taliban were actually a military force fighting for a government that like it or not was the defecto government of Afghanistan. There fore, they are prisoners of war...so is John Walker. By law, he is no longer a US citizen since he joined the Taliban, another nation's military. Therefore he can not be tried under US law, nor though can and should he ever again be allowed in the US and when the war is over, the Taliban prisoners should be released to the tender mercies of the official afghan authorities. As for the Al Quida members, those are terrorists and thus are detaines to be done with as you please.
"That is why they should be seperated into two groups. The Taliban were actually a military force fighting for a government that like it or not was the defecto government of Afghanistan. There fore, they are prisoners of war...so is John Walker. By law, he is no longer a US citizen since he joined the Taliban, another nation's military. Therefore he can not be tried under US law..."The Taliban, as a recognized government, was (until its recent dismantling by the US) only recognized by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia; not the United States, and certainly not the Northern Alliance Afghanis. Therefore, BY LAW, American law, the United States of America's Constitution: Walker is: an American, an American citizen, an American whose religion is Muslim and a member of the Taliban and an American Talaban terrorist. Walker is ALL of these things.
There has been no official declaration of a war, either by Congress or President Bush. Just like Viet Nam, this "war on terrorism" is in reality a military operation. Thus the name: "Operation Enduring Freedom." Therefore, there are no P.O.W.s; no prisoners of WAR.
Just wanted to clear up some of the facts.