Posted on 12/19/2001 7:29:13 AM PST by rface
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:07:10 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
WHAT COULD have driven an educated young American from a loving and prosperous family to embrace the Taliban cause?
His parents have said that he was brainwashed. I have not met John Walker Lindh, who was recently captured in Afghanistan, but I believe his parents are probably right. In fact, I had a similar experience as a student at Queens College in New York City when I was 19 - Lindh's age. I never participated in actual combat, but I was engaged in a holy war on the streets of New York.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
This is where we go wrong. I understand Hassan's point regarding the mind-control of the cults and that the Taliban movement uses these techniques very well.
However, Lindh still must be held accountable for his actions.
First, he voluntarily placed himself in the mind-controlled situation with no coercion. He became a Moslem, he traveled to Pakistan, and he joined and pledged allegiance to the Taliban. Nobody made him do it, just as no one made Hassan join the Moonies.
Second, while in the Taliban, Lindh took up arms against the US and fought against the US and our allies. While an argument could be made, as in the case of a mentally ill defense, that he was not capable of making a rational decision at the time, Lindh must be held accountable both personally and as an example for other potential traitors. Because that is what he is, a traitor.
His bad decisions and immaturity are not a reason to overlook his actions. Those are reasons to punish him.
It was bound to come to this in the Boston Globe and Marin County: The Taliban as victims.
WRONG! Whose definition is that?
The first is any religious group where the leadership has an unhealthy psychological control over its members is a cult. The second is any group that claims to be the newest, purist, truest, best version of a religion, while denying one or more essential teachings is a cult. RIGHT!
The Taliban are an example of both the above definitons. That still does not excuse Lindh. He made bad decisions, took teasonous actions and must be punished.
Yeah, it's really terrible that this author is making excuses for poor Johnnie.
(A mind is a terrible thing to waste in Public Education.)
The media keeps saying that Walker joined the "Taliban". According to military reports, Walker has proudly told his interrogators that he was Al Qaeda.
Big difference there.
The Taliban were the quasi-government of Afghanistan before the war and, officially, had no quarrel with the USA. Al Qaeda, on the other hand, was an organization of unlawful combatants with international reach who had a history of direct attacks on U.S. Embassies and on the U.S. military.
If Walker is determined to have been merely "Taliban" he might weasel out of this one. If Walker is determined to have beenm Al Qaeda, his goose is cooked.
Ultimately, the person responsible for the actions of John Walker, is John Walker, and he is a traitor to his country, and should be treated as such.
You know liberals, it is always someone elses fault.
Dear Steve,Sorry to hear you were brainwashed. If you had killed while being so effected, I would want you tried for that murder since it was your own choices that put you in that position.
Johnny fought against his country ... he chose to go to that part of the world and embrace that ideology ... just like you chose to "make the world a better place".
Johnny also chose to fight his own country and stated that he supported the attacks of 911.
I am sorry he did this. I am sorry for the anguish and confusion of his parents. I am more sorry for the innocents of 911 who had no choice and I am particularly sorry for the Spann family who have been deprived of a father and husband when Johnny could have made a differnece but chose not to.
No, Johnny "Taliban-Terrorist" Walker deserves to die an inglorious traitor's death as an example to all others with similar inclinations or weakmindedness. That example and that message will be more valuable than your mushy-minded, weak-spined proposal for his disposition.
Sincerely,
Jeff Head
Emmett, ID
don't know if I agree....
extortion, kidnapping, drug running, and embezzlement.
...here I agree. So to make a case for his innocence, they would have to tease apart the threads of Islam and al Qaeda. They will have to show that Islam does NOT support terrorism, murder, extortion, kidnapping, drug running, and embezzlement. Hmp. Good luck to 'em. It's going to turn out that half the muslim world is one big cult.
Pity.
I think in dealing with Walker, we don't have to make that decision. I think it's clear that he took up arms against his country and he should be treated appropriately. Now the trial may not necessarily result in a death sentence, especially since he was 16 when he ran away to join these finatics.
I wonder why kids who grow up on the streets with no decent parental guidance and join gangs at 16 aren't considered "brainwashed" and cut any slack. If this little SOB gets away with it, I'll begin to think Jesse Jackson is only 85% full of shi'ite.
Personally, I hope he's hauled before a hungry tribunal who already has a mouth-watering recipe for goose in mind.
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