Tale of an American Taliban

msnbc.com ^ | Dec 1 | Colin Soloway of Newsweek

[He Rides A White Horse]

He asks, "What happened"?

Finally, under a negotiated deal, the foreign Taliban forces surrendered to the Northern Alliance forces of Gen. Rashid Dostum. But almost as soon as Hamid and about 500 others were taken to the fortress. “Two of the [Taliban] threw grenades they had hidden in their clothes, and killed a couple of people,” Hamid says.

First, you surrendered. Then your pals decided they wanted to be combatants again, resulting in:

Then, said Hamid, “they hit us with everything they had. The Americans were bombing us. It was horrible. Nearly everyone in the basement was wounded.”

Glad to help, Hamid.

[Criminal Number 18F]

I heard about this clown. Hey, where are all the lefties who were whining that the NA would not take prisoners... they showed, in my opinion, remarkable restraint in taking these clowns prisoner twice. And after they were treacherous the first time! Most US units would not have given guys who did that a second chance, not in the Revolution, the Civil War, Indian Wars, or World Wars.

These guys owe their miserable lives to General Rashid Dostum, whom the press portray as a monster. I say let Dostum decide. Apart from Mike Spann, it was his men who were the victims of these war criminals.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[virgil]

Isn't this just too damn bad for the poor murderers. I hope this idiot is put on trial for treason and executed. He's the worst of the Taliban. There's about 4000 dead people from the WTC. I'm sure we won't see pictures of them and their mangled bodies.

[samtheman]

People like this need a celebrity on their side. Someone like Jane Fonda to run over and get her picture taken with some Taliban anti-aircraft gunners. Ooops. Too late. All dead.

[Iwo Jima]

"military tribunals are for non citizens. This guy would get a normal trial."

And that's exactly what I want -- a "normal" treason trial. Haul his treasonous carcass back here. Have a fully publicized, public trial covered nightly on Court TV. Follow all of the Constitutional safeguards. Explain to the ignorant masses that fighting for the enemy of your country in time of war is a crime called "treason" (it's right there in the Constitution -- you know, that thing which you've never read?) and that the penalty is death.

I'm usually against the idea of public executions, but in this case, I would really like to see this guy swing.

[hadit2here]

And that's exactly what I want -- a "normal" treason trial. Haul his treasonous carcass back here. Have a fully publicized, public trial covered nightly on Court TV. Follow all of the Constitutional safeguards

I'd rather like to disagree. I have no desire to see this clown given any Constitutional safeguards back here in our court system. He abrogated that privilege when he made the decision to take up arms with the TaliWhacks.

That said, I also see some problems with him being charged with treason. 1) He apparently made the (rather stupid) decision to take up arms with the Taliwhacks prior to the 9/11 attack. At that time, the Taliwhacks were only the "legitimate" government of Ashcanistan, and were harboring Bin Laiddown and his troop. But at that time, this dork head was just a misguided idjit who thought he was supporting other idjits in a civil (albeit religious) war. 'Course, after 9/11, that rather changed a bit.

2) While what Been Laiddown and his F-Troop did was to actively declare war on the US [1996] and execute an attack upon American soil [9/1192001], this article doesn't give any indication that this idjit was working for or with Been Laiddown, but just with the Taliwhacks. Even his admission that he supported the 9/11 attack, there still may not be enough "evidence" to relate him to the 9/11 attacks or support his conviction related to them. Innocent until proven guilty, remember. Preponderance of evidence, remember.

He's a US citizen (barf), but there's nothing that would force the US to extradite him and try him in civil court. Why take the chance of pulling an OJ? He fought with the Taliwhacks against the NA in Ashcanistan. Let the NA take care of him like they'd take care of any other Taliwhacks or Arabs who were in Ashcanistan fighting with them against the NA and others. Even if he's not lined up and shot, rotting away in an Ashcanistan prison, rather than getting three squares, phone privileges, comfy bedding, his own toilet, conjugal visits, rec room and teevee, etc. in some lefty-liberal US prison, works a lot better for me.

I'm usually against the idea of public executions, but in this case, I would really like to see this guy swing.

I have no problem with public executions. Better entertainment than having to watch the puking Communist Cable Non-news channel. But in this a$$hole's case, I don't have any desire to expend one miserable cent of tax money to snuff his @$$. Let the NA do it with a 25 cent bullet. Easy, quick, cheap. Justice. Fini. A little chlorine for the gene pool.

[Iwo Jima]

I appreciate your comments and am not going to try to dispute them, as I perceive that we basically see things the same way but with a different emphasis on procedure.

How long has it been since we had a treason trial in this country? 50, 60 years? Well, that's too long. This traitor allows us the rare opportunity to put on public display the crime of and punishment for treason. That object lesson may be more valuable than whatever happens to his miserable @$$.

If one could guarantee that there would be no "O.J." - that he would get offed even if he got off -- would you feel better about putting him on a public trial? Don't fret it -- he's not going to get off.