Posted on 03/23/2002 4:44:18 PM PST by Pokey78
Lawyers for John Walker Lindh, the American who fought with the Taliban, claim he was systematically brutalised and threatened with 'torture and death' after US troops seized him.
The claims come as his lawyers prepare to argue that he was a soldier of the Taliban, not an anti-US terrorist. At the centre of his defence will be his claim that the witness statement he provided to his FBI interrogators was given under duress and in the hope of ending his mistreatment.
Lindh is being tried in an ordinary court and will not face the death penalty, unlike foreign prisoners, who will be tried by ad hoc military tribunals with lesser requirements of proof and could face a firing squad if found guilty.
News of Lindh's arrest outraged America. Indicted by a federal grand jury as a terrorist, he was branded by Attorney-General John Ashcroft as 'an active, knowing participant' in the war against the US.
The defence said in court papers disclosed on Friday that Lindh was 'among Taliban' who surrendered to the Northern Alliance on 24 November. When some of the captives exploded grenades and attempted to escape, Lindh was wounded by shrapnel and a bullet.
For several hours, say the defence, he lay on the ground until fellow prisoners carried him to the basement of the Qala-e-Janghi fort. When he emerged around 1 December, he was taken into US custody and kept for about a week near Mazar-e-Sharif.
'He was held in a room in which the only window was blocked, making it difficult to discern whether it was night or day,' the lawyers said, adding that he was fed sparingly and given only minimal medical attention.
Transferred to Camp Rhino, the US base near Kandahar, 'he was blindfolded and bound with plastic cuffs so tight they cut off the circulation to his hands.
'Mr Lindh's clothes were cut off, his hands and feet were again shackled and he was bound tightly with duct tape to a stretcher. Still blindfolded and naked, he was placed in a metal shipping container.'
He remained until about 10 December when, still blindfolded and 'in a state of complete exhaustion', he was taken to a building or tent, where he was met by an FBI agent.
'When Mr Lindh asked for a lawyer, he was told there were no lawyers there,' the defence said.
They added that he talked, because 'Mr Lindh believed the only way to escape the torture was to do whatever the agent wanted'.
Johnny, pray they don't let you out on the street.
Only a lad
He really couldn't help it
Only a lad
He didn't want to do it
Only a lad
He's underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused
It's not his fault that he can't believe
It's not his fault that he can't behave
Society made him go astray
Perhaps if we're nice he'll go away
Perhaps he'll go away
He'll go away
(Repeat chorus)
Hey there Johnny you really don't fool me
You get away with murder
And you think it's funny
You don't give a damn if we live or if we die
Hey there Johnny boy
I hope you fry!
I was outraged. Outraged that an American citizen would be pointing a weapon at his fellow countrymen. Somehow I don't think that's what is meant by this sentence, though.
Thanks - This turd should be made to keep his beloved jihad identity at least through his sentencing hearing. Once in prison, and in the company of fellow hard-time maximum security inmates, however, he can revert to his American name: "bitch."
Release him at a press conference with Rumsfeld giving him a medal for providing detailed coordinates for Anaconda.
Someone with an explosive belt will embrace him before the sun sets. 72-Count 'em--72 virgins--or airborne body parts.
Bwahhhhhhhh!
He made his bed and should be made to lie in it!!!!!!!
O.K. How was he tortured?
1. He was placed in a room with no view.
2. He was fed "sparingly". What? No Whoppers?
3. He was given "minimal medication". What did he want? Morphine? Medicinal Marijuana?
4. During transfer, he was blindfolded and handcuffed. Where was his Limo?
5. He was placed "NAKED" on a stretcher. Oh! The Horror!
6. He was "exhausted" when he had to meet an FBI agent.
What a whiney crybaby! I'm talking about the lawyer. The criminal is just a piece of garbage and should be placed in a maximum security prison with a 350 lb roommate named Bruno. IMHO.
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