Posted on 04/04/2002 12:27:10 PM PST by KineticKitty
Sept. 11, 2001, is a day America will never forget. Nov. 25, 2001, is another day I will never forget, one that changed my life in ways I never could have prepared for.
The CIA officer killed that day in Afghanistan, Johnny Micheal Spann, was my brother. He died many miles from home, fightning for the freedom of all Americans, fighting againsts the terrorists who attacked us.
Like many others who left their families to try to insure that something like Sept. 11 won't happen again, Micheal had a strong sense of patriotism and believed he could make a difference. He made the ultimate sacrifice so Americans could continue to live in the freedom our great country affords us. It is this same freedon -the freedom to make personal choices- that gave John Walker Lindh the right to choose to leave the United States and join the Taliban in Afghanistan where he ended up fighting against Americans. He trained with those men and supported their cause. He made his choice, and now he should have to face the consequences of that choice.
Many Americans seem to have taken pity on this young man. I can't understand this. I can only assume they haven't taken the time to learn the facts or absorb the reality of what he was doing in Afghanistan.
When he was interrogated by my brother after being captured, he wouldn't speak. He didn't tell of the ammunition or guns in the fortress where he and other prisoners were being held. He didn't try to warn my brother or his partner that an uprising was planned.
Could John Walker Lindh have prevented my brothers death? Could he have spoken up and altered the events that occurred in the prison that day?When reporters interviewed him shortly after the uprising, he was able to give an account of Micheal's death. Exactly what was he doing for the 3 days that it took U.S. Forces to regain control of the prison and bring out my brothers body?
Why would anyone have sympathy for this man? Will we, as U.S. citizens, allow someone to join forces against America, fight against our troops, take part in actions that kill innocent people, and then let that person expect to return to the United States and still enjoy the same rights?
John Walker Lindh is the same age as many of our troops fighting the war on terrorism. He is old enough to accept responsibility for the decision he made to fight a war against the United States.
Regardless of his reasons for what he did, fact are facts -he joined the other side. We may feel sorry for his family, but we should keep in mind all of the other families who have lost loved ones fighting for America's freedom, and the families of those that went to work on Sept. 11 or got on a airplane that never came home.
Similarly, we need have no sympathy for the al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners being held at Camp X-ray in Cuba.
Over and over, I hear people expressing pity for these prisoners -who belong to or support the same terrorist group responsible for Sept. 11 -and complaining that they're being treated unjustly.
If the prisoners who revolted in Afghanistan last November had been kept under security as tight as the securitynow in place for prisoners in Cuba, would the events of that day been different? Would they have been un-able to abtain weapons to take over the compound? That's very possible -and my brother might still be alive.
These prisoners tried to kill Americans. They are dangerous. But this doesn't mean they should be mistreated -and they're not. Before they become U.S. prisoners, many of them didn't have shoes, clean clothing, access to bathing facilities or medical treatment. It appears they are now being provided all these things.
A prison isn't a place for freedom. We mustn't forget why these people were put there. Those that complain about the treatment of these prisoners should volunteer to guard them. It would be interesting to see what level of security they would be willing to support.
I urge all Americans to do what until now I haven't done myself. Let your opinions be known. Write your congressman, your Senators and President Bush.
Make sure people like John Walker Lindh pay the consequences of their actions. Let it be known that Americans don't tolerate traitors. Make sure those that kill innocent Americans are punished.
Let it be known that you continue to support those that are fighting for everything America stands for, and that you appreciate the sacrifices that they make for us everyday. They are true heroes.
God Bless America.
5.56mm
Everybody's got a cool screen name but me. :o(
Some of us are lucky....
"cantfindagoodscreenname" apparently doesn't, though...
Ah, the story of the origin of my screen name. It involves hi-tech wizardry, espionage, car chases and shooting skills, and a sexy, beautiful woman. Someday I may regale you with the tale.
We all owe him our thanks.
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