Johnny Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban” who was captured by U.S. forces and was at the prison uprising that resulted in the first U.S. combat casualty after September 11, 2001, is back in the news. His parents are petitioning President Bush to issue a pardon after Johnny has served nearly seven years in prison.
Johnny Taliban’s parents and lawyers insist he was railroaded and unfairly treated. But Johnny wasn’t merely a Taliban foot soldier. Before reaching Afghanistan, he trained with Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, an al Qaeda linked terror group operating in Pakistan. He then trained at the notorious Al Farouq training camp, which is run by al Qaeda. While at Farouq, he sat in on a lecture by none other than Osama bin Laden. He fought the Northern Alliance during the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan in 2001. After his capture, he concealed his identity when he had the chance to make his break from the Taliban and al Qaeda fighters surrounding him. He was then involved in the Qala-i-Jangi prison uprising that resulted in the death of CIA officer Johnny “Mike” Spann. Spann had interviewed him just moments before he was killed by the captive al Qaeda and Taliban fighters. During the interrogation, Johnny claimed he was Irish. The U.S. government, eager to avoid a protracted court battle and the scrutiny over the conditions of Johnny’s capture, dropped the main charges, which included: Conspiracy to Murder U.S. Nationals; Conspiracy to Provide Material Support & Resources to Foreign Terrorist Organizations; Providing Material Support & Resources to Foreign Terrorist Organizations; Contributing Services to al Qaeda and Conspiracy to Contribute Services to al Qaeda; Supplying Services to the Taliban and Conspiracy to Supply Services to the Taliban. Johnny pled guilty to two charges: providing services as a soldier to the Taliban and illegal use of a weapon. He was given a sentence of 20 years. Given what he could have been charged with, he should consider his 20 years a gift. Instead, he is made out to be a victim.
