American Taliban Appears in Court By Larry Margasak Associated Press Writer Thursday, January 24, 2002; 9:58 AM ALEXANDRIA, Va. –– Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh, in his first appearance Thursday in federal court, told a judge "Yes I do, thank you" when asked if he understood charges that he conspired to kill his fellow Americans in Afghanistan. Lindh, wearing a green prison jumpsuit, his previous long hair and beard shorn, stood straight with his arms at his side throughout the hearing, glancing several times to prosecutors at his right as they outlined the charges against him. His attorney and several federal marshals stood behind him. U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Curtis Sewell also asked Lindh whether he understood the penalties, which could include life in prison. "Yes I do, sir," Lindh said in a quiet voice that could still be easily heard in the courtroom. Lindh spoke a third time when the judge asked whether he understood that he would be kept in custody until a preliminary hearing, set for Feb. 6. "No sir, I don't have any questions," Lindh said, still standing at attention. Heavy security surrounded Lindh's arrival at the federal courthouse here, just a few miles from the Pentagon, which was extensively damaged in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Snipers stood on the roof and armed officers ringed the building. Those entering the courtroom had to pass through a second metal detector in addition to the one at the courthouse door. click for complete article --
With his head and face shaved, he bears an amazing resemblance to Jason Williams, the Memphis point guard, doesn't he?
thats funny! I wonder who cut his hair or if he decided to do it himself? Also, all that black tar on his face is gone. this should all be fun...
He was de-loused. All of the "detainees" have had their facial and cranial hair shaved. One more of those little psychological games we're playing... (they grow long beards for religious reasons)
No, the government says he requested that his head and chin be shaved before he returned to America. Why is his lawyer playing games with bail? He's not going to get out. And I don't think he'll get life in prison, instead 20 to 30 years. I wonder if he'll plea out or try a trick like renouncing his religion and group affiliations?
Yeah. That's what I'd do. I'd brainwash the entire country and force them to kill muslims everywhere... dumbass
I agree with gettinbranded... Johnny wil get around 20-30years, probably do those 2 for 1 jail time type of thing and be out before 2020. I also predict Johnny will not live in this country, probably go to Saudi or another muslim country and find him a nice veiled wman and settle down.
I will be truly frustrated if this turns out to be another media circus in which his plight is romanticized and it talks about how he was brainwashed and blames his actions on others. One thing I am absolutely sick of is that people do not take responsibility for their own actions. We have reporters that asked Mrs. Clinton about Bubba's sexual adventures, and she replies "he had a strained relationship with his Mother" What the hell is that??? There is no honor left anymore, if someone did something then take responsibility for you actions. Temporarily insane, brainwashed etc... c'mon thats garbage. If this kid was in Afghanistan and was only fighting Northern Alliance troops and did not know he was fighting against Americans I would cut him a little slack, but I don't see this as the case. If he knew about September 11th and that the people he was with perpetrated the action, and continued to fight against the US on their behalf then this kid needs to get the death penalty ala the Rosenburg's and their selling of US information. Throw in Jonathon Pollard too, i'm sick of that treasonous slime as well. I heard John Walker Lindh's father speaking yesterday and he stated that the Charges were false and that John was innocent of all alleged crimes. This is before he had even spoken to his own son!!! How the hell does he know he's innocent without even talking to him!! Traitors to America should be dealt with swiftly and severly. Whether its a John Walker Lindh, Marc Rich, Jonathon Pollard or any other that sells out their own nation for ideology or money!
It sounds like you half-believe he's guilty already. I don't think he has any malicious intent against the US, instead, he got caught up in a web that was far bigger than he knew. And I think that---rather than technicalities---should be what he's judged on. Demonstrated Malicious Intent.
Then he's an accomplice to murder..... If you go light on him and give him...say...2 years for each count; give him time off for good behavior....he should be eligible for parole in about 1500 years. Stick a fork in him...he's done.
You sound like you think he's innocent? I know, innocent until proven guilty and all, but... He's guilty as f**k. Only his defense lawyer thinks he's innocent. He's toast. Do you really, truly think that there's a teeny tiny chance that he's actually innocent? I'm not talking about whether he'll be convicted - that's a different issue. Do you actually think he's innocent? And as for malicious intent - ask Mike Spann about that. Oh, and why didn't he warn his parents about 9/11? His OWN FRIGGEN' PARENTS? He apparently knew that something was going to happen - that's what he's told investigators. He's pretty much spilled the beans, and thrown the "I was brainwashed and used" idea out the window all on his own... Anyone who feels sorry for him wins my Naive Dumbass of the Year Award.
You know, I don't really buy the brainwashing idea. But if he *was* brainwashed, would you expect him to admit it? Or even know it? Wouldn't be a good job of brainwashing...
What is he guilty of? Fighting against Americans and their allies, the Northern Alliance, yeah. But he certainly wasn't a bigwig with the Taliban, he wasn't even a member of Al-Queda, and I doubt he knew what was going to happen on 9-11. Heck, alot of the people doing the hijacking didn't know that it was a suicide mission. Why would bin Laden have told him? The charges against him are based on the fighting in Afghanistan, not the attacks on September 11.
