For 'American Taliban,' spiritual journey began in suburbia

AP ^ | 12-03-01 | JUSTIN PRITCHARD

[Oldeconomybuyer]

FAIRFAX, Calif. (AP) -- The 20-year-old American who fought alongside the Taliban and was injured in a bloody uprising of prisoners in Mazar-e-Sharif has long been fascinated with Islam.

John Phillip Walker Lindh -- who gave his name in Afghanistan as Abdul Hamid -- apparently began his spiritual journey as a teenager in the wealthy, free-spirited San Francisco Bay suburbs of Marin County.

[mean_mike]

Some "spiritual journey" that was. I guess because he had a "pacifist's heart for social justice" that makes it OK to whatever liberal twit at the AP that wrote that story. This character needs to suffer the same fate as that poor CIA agent.

[macky]

Inside Edition just said that guy supported the 9-11 attacks on America

[AAABEST]

Send a message:

SHOOT THE UNGRATEFUL, MISERABLE TRAITOR ASAP.

[colorado tanker]

Your #14 is right on target. Sounds like these were radical boomer parents, people like Sarah Olsen, who romanticised 60's radicalism and stuffed their kid's head full of mush.

These refugees from the 60's just don't get it that their actions have consequences. Sarah's bomb killed a policeman. The regime this idiot offspring of idiot parents was fighting for established a repressive dictatorship that supported the terrorists who killed 5,000 people on 9-11.

There's an old book about the nature of evil called "People of the Lie." These people lie to themselves and others about who they are, what they believe and the consequences of their actions. That's how they can call a Taliban soldier a "nice boy." Pure evil.

[Yardstick]

Yeah, I know where you're coming from, and that's fine. I just find it hard to get real wound up over this Walker kid's wacky adventure.

[LibKill]

He's not worth a bullet.

Hang him.

[LADY J]

>That's how they can call a Taliban soldier a "nice boy."

Did you mean a Taliban terrorist?? Soldiers are someone with honor.

[maranatha]

We are worked up because he is a traitor and deserves swift and sure punishment as an example of what is right. This is important because there are a bunch of people in this country who do not believe truth exists, no right or wrong, and every evil act can be excused because of what society did to him...the victim. We see it coming and will not have it and that is why we feel so strongly that the right thing be done quickly. Already on news reports the question arises, "what shall we do with him?". That should not be asked.

You can read his book and enjoy it, I have no interest in his personal life.

[Yardstick]

The regime this idiot offspring of idiot parents was fighting for established a repressive dictatorship that supported the terrorists who killed 5,000 people on 9-11.

Well, if we're going to blame some punk kid for fighting for a repressive dictatorship, then we must really be angry with the folks whose efforts really helped establish the Taliban in the first place, namely the United States Federal Government.

Wouldn't it be interesting if just one tenth of the patriotic energy spent raging at people like John Walker was channeled instead into regaining control of our unconstitutional mega-government? I think the real People of the Lie can be found prancing around the halls and corridors of Washington DC.

[Yardstick]

Like I said, let him receive whatever the law has in store for him. The position you articulate is perfectly sound, though I do think "what should we do with him?" is a reasonable question to ask.

But I think the best question to ask is: why did our government help put a regime into power that would later be linked to the murderers of 5,000 Americans?

[meyer]

You are either with us,... or you are with the terrorists.

[BenF]

He's not worth the rope either. Drop him out of a plane over the middle of the ocean. Sharks have to eat too you know.

[LizM]

In interviews with Newsweek, his mother, home health care worker Marilyn Walker, described him as a "sweet, shy kid" with a pacifist's heart for social justice.

From a pacifist to a terrorist training in Osama's camps. The same training camps that instruct people to wage war against American citizens 9/11 style. I had to cut the father's comment that he was proud of his son. It made me sick to my stomach.

[loulou]

I am sure this isn't the only one of these traitors. They could easily travel in & out of the country and live among us.......

[MinuteGal]

You nailed it with "instant hero". If the traitor wasn't eating pomegranates in Afghanistan right now, he would have been on the Larry King show tonight instead of his father. If he's ever returned to these shores, he'll be much sought after for TV, films and a book. He'll become a folk hero. There'll be a "Ballad of John Walker" sung in every coffee house across the country. The white wine and quiche set will hold fund-raisers for his defense.

The young (and dead) CIA employee will be forgotten.

Leni

[ozzymandus]

I just think it would be a lot better if he was already dead when they identified him.

[IronJack]

For 'American Taliban,' spiritual journey began in suburbia

And ended in front of a wall outside Mazar-e-Sharif. Adios, traitor.

[fso301]

A firing squad would be the most appropriate treatment.

[scannell]

Not sure how you would frame any American Violation of law, but he could be extradited to India to stand trial for Murder whereas he participated with the rebels in the Kashmir province and either killed or abeted others that killed. Let the Indians give him a trial.

[crystalk]

Liberal, lefty parents...failure to impart moral values...failure to teach their children the difference between Islam and Christianity, between Christ and Satan...

"Mama's don't let...your Babies grow up to be Muslims!"

To fail to instil moral and religious values in one's children, is a far worse abuse than to deprive them of vitamin C, or of a kiddy seat in the car, or of living in a place like Marin County...Betcha if he had grown up in Hot Coffee, Miss, or in Cut and Shoot, Texas, he wouldn't have done this.