-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good little traitor

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© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com

All together now: Awww.

Again, for good measure: Awww.

Listen to the words in the media of the "shocked" family and friends.

Frank Lindh, father: "a very sweet kid ... devoted to his religious conversion ... a good boy."

Marilyn Walker, mother: a "sweet, shy kid."

Friend, Abdulla Nana: "a gentle person."

Family friend, Bill Jones: a "sweet, kind, intelligent kid."

It's just so California. Just so Marin County. Just so – so!

The 20-year-old is known, sort of, as John Walker. He's an American in custody in Afghanistan after the Taliban prison revolt at Kala Jangi in which an American CIA agent, Johnny "Mike" Spann, was beaten and killed by the prisoners. Some 80 prisoners were also killed.

Walker was among the prisoners at the time of the riot and the attack on American agents as well as the Northern Alliance guards. He was injured in the melee and has been treated for grenade and bullet wounds.

Should I add here that Johnny Spann is dead, his wife a widow and his children without a Daddy?

When the revolt was over, Walker was one of the men who came out of the prison. He had a rifle slung over his shoulder. Presumably he put it there and presumably he knows how to use it.

This "young American" wasn't there by accident. He'd become a Taliban. He lived among them, dressed like them, trained with them, carried their weapons, spoke their language and, from all accounts, shares their beliefs.

Among those beliefs, along with whatever part of Islam he picked and chose to profess, were those dealing with putting an end to Americans and Israel and the West. He was, after all, one of the Taliban and al-Qaida prisoners held by the Northern Alliance.

Do you remember that Johnny Spann is still dead?

In interviews with him it's been learned that he not only was among the Taliban but he told CNN that he was trained by al-Qaida and fought with Osama bin Laden's forces.

He was quoted by Newsweek as saying he was fighting with the Taliban to help build a "pure Islamic state." He also told Newsweek that he thought the attack on the USS Cole was "justified" and that he "supported" the attacks on Sept. 11 in the United States.

Somehow that doesn't jibe with what we are told incessantly that Islam is about. It also doesn't jibe with Marilyn Walker saying that her son has a pacifist's heart for social justice.

His parents say his given name is John Philip Walker Lindh. He sometimes uses that, other times uses his mother's surname and is known as John Walker.

In his current incarnation with the Taliban, he's known as Abdul Hamid. Earlier, as he dipped his toes into the mysteries of the Koran as well as Malcolm X, he called himself Suleyman al-Lindh.

For a "sweet innocent" from the land of fruit and nuts, which is much of California, it's a far cry. Or is it?

His mother is a home health aide and his father a utility company lawyer. His family moved to Northern California from the Washington, D.C., area and he grew up in the touchy-feely atmosphere of Marin County, outside of San Francisco. Named for John Lennon, and raised a Catholic by a Catholic father and a Buddhist mother, he moved into Islam as a teen-ager with the support of his parents, who are now divorced.

They also supported his "religious studies" abroad with thousands of dollars to cover trips to Yemen and Pakistan. And then Afghanistan. And now this, although he's been out of touch for six months.

So what does Daddy say? As quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle: "His heart became attached to Islam, and from there he made some decisions to go into Afghanistan and work directly with the Taliban. But he never came to his Papa to ask for permission."

All together now: Awww.

But remember, it's California. In local news coverage, his experience was referred to as his "Afghan ordeal," his decisions were referred to as his "fate," Taliban prisoners are referred to as "pawns" and a friend called him a "victim." Now they're talking brainwashing and cults.

Did I mention the father has hired a high-powered lawyer? Of course.

The real issue is clear. This is a grown man, not a little boy who needs to ask Papa's permission. He chose to embrace a different religion, a different culture, a different cause. He chose to take up arms against his own country. He made a choice. That means living with the consequences. Or rather dying with them.

Did I mention that Johnny Spann is still dead?

This is treason. Get it over with openly and quickly and when the verdict is in, let him face a firing squad. And do as the Chinese do – send the bill for the bullets to Papa.

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Barbara Simpson, "The Babe in the Bunker" as she's known to her KSFO 560 radio talk-show audience in San Francisco, has a 20-year radio, television and newspaper career in the Bay Area and Los Angeles and currently co-edits SpinCritic.com, a news and opinion site.

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

Answers

IMO, the most logical charge is treason. However, heard there is something in the Constitution (maybe just the part providing for capital punishment) that a charge of treason requires two eye witnesses. I'm wondering if we have appropriate witnesses in Walker's case. (Recalling, for instance, that Johnny Spann is dead...) So, it may get a might complicated.

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

Im sure we could "manufacture" a couple of witnesses to expedite the process to its logical conclusion ...after all this is war ...we can do anything ! The constitution also offers another way ...confession in open court ....Im willing to bet that being the fanatical idiot he has got to be ...he could be "baited" into a confession pretty easy ....similar to Jack Nicholson's character in "A Few Good Men" !! Let him stand up and make his case all the way to the gallows !!! Too bad he's not eligible for one of GW's tribunals ....we could save alot taxpayers money and liberal bias bleeding heart news coverage ! I like the idea of sending Daddy the bill for the bullets !!!

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

Odds are good that someone will put a bullet in him before he can step foot in the US. I'm sure that his very existance has upset a great many .mil types.

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

Sounds good to me ! Tried to escape ....dealt with accordingly ...

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

l-n-l, my!, I'd hate to be on the Bad side of YOU!!!! hehehehehe

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

No you wouldnt ....I promise !

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

Argh. Get a room!

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

There's another option. Let little Johnny walk but charge his parents with treason...?

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2001