SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- After years of silence, the father of American-born Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh asked President Bush on Thursday to grant clemency to his son, who he says was wrongly maligned as a traitor and murderer.
"In simple terms, this is the story of a decent and honorable young man embarked on a spiritual quest," said Frank Lindh, swallowing back tears at times during a speech at the Commonwealth Club, a nonprofit organization.
Frank Lindh said that although his son had nothing to do with the September 11 attacks, they ended up adding dire consequences to his decision to join the Taliban, targeted by the U.S. after the 2001 attacks for harboring al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
"Being viewed through the prism of those attacks has caused this young man to be vilified as a terrorist and a traitor," the elder Lindh said.
John Walker Lindh, who turns 25 next month, was 20 when he was captured by American forces on November 21, 2001, alongside Taliban fighters.
Charged with conspiring to kill Americans and supporting terrorists, the younger Lindh avoided a potential life sentence in 2002 by pleading guilty to lesser charges of supplying services to the Taliban in violation of U.S. economic sanctions and of carrying weapons against U.S. forces. In exchange, John Walker Lindh agreed to withdraw claims of abuse or torture.
Until now, his parents have mostly maintained a public silence about the case, hoping to avoid a media barrage that could be detrimental to their son. But on Thursday, Frank Lindh shared baby pictures and other photos of his son during the presentation and said he is proud of his child.
Frank Lindh said he decided to break his silence because he hoped the story of his boy's journey from bucolic Marin County to harsh Afghanistan battlefields will help him get a reduction in his 20-year prison sentence. Last year, his son renewed his request for clemency, already rejected once.
How is he not a traitor again? Oh, he's just a young rascal that decided to join a terrorist organization bent on destroying the United States. You know, normal kid stuff...
Sound like this guy is a turncoat and should be punished accordignly. For me though one thing jumped out of the article, yet another prisoner held by the making claims of abuse and torture and in this case the US made a deal for the complaint to be withdrawn.
Yeah, but they'll probably let this John Walker Lindh out for good behaviour...down to the local ice cream shop or to visit his parents....
kind of like John Hinkley
or that Turkish dude they let go recently who tried to off the Pope and killed other people too. <Oh, but now they are hunting him down and can't find him. Too late!>
01-20-2006 05:37 PM
