John Walker Lindh Pleads Guilty

brian.carnell.com ^ | July 15 | Brian Carnell

[Conservative Chicagoan]

John Walker Lindh Pleads Guilty

John Walker Lindh Pleads Guilty

By Brian Carnell

Monday, July 15, 2002 So John Walker Lindh plead guilty today to two separate charges that will land him in jail for at least 17 years. I wonder what its like to go from being part of one of the most extreme religious/political movements to getting your lawyers to weasel a deal from the Great Satan so you don't die in jail.

And what kind of life will this guy have when he's released? The Washington Post quotes Lindh's father Frank as saying,

Never once did he say anything against the United States. I think any father who knows John would be proud to claim him as a son. He's a really good kid.

Yeah, I was just thinking the other day that I can't wait for my kids to grow up to march off and defend Islamofascism wherever it is threatened. But aside from his insane relatives, who is going to want to see this guy released in 2020 or so? Does he think people will have forgotten by then? I don't.

Maybe he will go overseas -- maybe there will still be extremist Islamic groups that might treat him as a celebrity. Especially after the inevitable book deal (you know somebody's going to be willing to pay him big bucks for a book/movie deal).

Will he even survive prison? How are authorities going to keep other prisoners from killing Walker? Part of the deal involves Walker providing information and testimony for the government -- if I were the feds, I'd get all I can from Lindh ASAP before some lifer decides to avenge Sept. 11 on Lindh's skull.

Source:

Lindh Admits Guilt to Two Charges. The Washington Post, July 15, 2002.

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© Copyright 1996-2002 by Brian Carnell. All rights reserved.

[Commander8]

17 years is way too generous. I say hang him.....with a long rope so his head falls off.

[Conservative Chicagoan]

So long as the parents and spouses and every U.S. soldier who has died defending freedom get to beat him before I am with you.

This should all be televised but my guess is that only FOX would cover it.

[ladyinred]

I heard today that part of his plea deal was he could study Arabic in prison.
I am rather disappointed in this deal, he is a traitor and treason is a heavy duty crime. Dropping 8 of the charges, and the worse ones at that. didn't set well with a lot of us.

[Conservative Chicagoan]

Anything that doesn't involve him feeling a lot of pain for a long time is too good for him!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

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[F16Fighter]

This light sentence pathetic and an insult to all real Americans and nothing but pure appeasement to both the Left AND the Euro-UN.

If the U.S. can't execute even a traitor who is caught red-handed, why bother enforce any letter of the law?

[HiTech RedNeck]

I hope he goes into solitary for the entire time, just so we don't raise up another gaggle of Lindhs. Can you imagine this guy's fame with the islamonut evangelism movement among hardcase prisoners.

[El Gato]

One has to wonder what the wife and child of the CIA officer killed by this traitor's immediate buddies think of this slap on the wrist. I didn't hear any interview with that widow, but did read and/or hear several with the mother of the traitor. Taliban Johnny may have had a hand in that prison uprising in which the CIA officer was killed, since that is where and when he was re-captured and determined to be a traitor to out country rather than just another Talibunny slimeball.

[Honorary Serb]

As part of the plea agreement, both sides agreed that Lindh would receive 10-year terms on each count, to be served consecutively. The agreement says "neither party will seek an upward or downward departure from that sentence." U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III will formally impose sentence on Oct. 4.

Whew! At least he will serve that much time. I was sure that the plea bargain was designed to result in an opportunity for extreme leniency (i.e., maybe two years plus community service) on the grounds that he is "a sensitive young man who is not a danger to the community" or some such bushwah.

You can bet that he will not only study Arabic in prison, but conduct islamic "evangelism". That might even make him popular with some elements in our prison population, and thus allow him to survive just fine, thank you.

THAT'S ALL WE NEED!!!! There are already many too many people coming out of our prisons as convinced radical muslims, including hardened criminals ripe for recruitment by terrorist organizations!

[Brimack34]

It is too bad but this is a learning experiance. This is new to a lot of people. There will be a lot of mistakes. And no matter what the Government does will be wrong to a third or have the Country. It did show how great Spann's family and Conservative's are. And how nuts the left and Walker's family are.

[Valin]

I think we should start a pool. How long do you think little johnny will last? pick a day, month, year, a buck a guess.

Oct 13 2002.

[capitan_refugio]

Lindh's "20 year" sentence will likely be a death sentence for him. Even if he is kept from the general prison population, he is likely to become some other inmate's "girlfriend." AIDS and hepatitis run in near epidemic levels in the prisons, due to drug abuse among the inmates and homosexual behavior.

And, given his notoriety, I would even hazard a guess the prison guards will have a betting pool on how soon Lindh gets killed.

[BlueDragon]

from the article in the link you provided; When the judge asked Lindh what he was guilty of, the 21-year-old Californian answered: "I provided my services as a soldier to the Taliban last year, from about August to November. In the course of doing so I carried a rifle and two grenades. And I did so knowingly and willingly, knowing that it was illegal." Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy I. Bellows, the lead prosecutor in the case, then filled in some factual gaps. He said Lindh reported to an Afghan recruiting office in Kabul in May of last year, told them he was an American and wanted to go to the front lines to fight. After receiving training in explosives and battlefield tactics, he was sent to the trenches last fall, carrying an AKM rifle and two grenades.
I don't understand exactly why that was illegal. It was in Afghanistan, and we were not technically at war with them when he signed up to become a "soldier". What U.S. law was he breaking?
Now I realize many folks want the worst punishments possible for this foolish young man whom basically rejects this nation. But what laws did he break? Was he a "traitor" worthy of death? If we had been at war when he signed up, then the case could be made for that... (did we even declare war on anyone? Legally, ourselves?---as in the laws of this nation, as they are written?)
So--- everyone "agrees" Lindh is guilty. Under the laws of this nation, which ones is he guilty of breaking? Quote the laws, chapter and verse. I'd like to see it. (please, save the opinions from all the flamers out there! I'm not here to defend the jerk---I'd just like to know which laws were broken).
This looks much like a "political" trial to me.
They hold those in other countries, you know...?
We're not suppossed to do that ourselves, I'm told.
Nothing personal against you at all, Conservative Chicagoan----thanks for the post. It would be a safe bet there will be more press concerning this for a few days. I wonder if we will be getting answers to the questions I've presented here. One that will be clear, irrefutable... I'll not be holding my breath.

[WellsFargo94]

Under the laws of this nation, which ones is he guilty of breaking?

Supplying services to the Taliban in violation of 31 C.F.R. section 545.204 & 545.206(a), 50 U.S.C. section 1705(b)and 18 U.S.C. section 2. by willfully and unlawfully supplying and attempting to supply services to the Taliban. Also in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., section 844(h(2), carrying explostive during the commission of felony, under chapter 35 of Title 50 U.S.C.,