Never forget what a real hero is:
Posted on 05/13/2002 5:21:17 PM PDT by Asmodeus
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - Defense attorneys said Monday that American-born Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh was nothing more than a foot soldier against the Taliban's opponents and that a wide-ranging conspiracy charge against him should be dismissed.
Foot soldiers cannot be charged with committing war crimes, said Lindh's lawyers in urging that a murder conspiracy charge be thrown out. It is the first in a 10-count indictment and carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
``While the indictment alleges a nebulous and far flung-conspiracy to 'kill American citizens around the world,' as well as a conspiracy to kill American military personnel in Afghanistan, the alleged overt acts support only an intent to be a foot soldier'' against the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, the defense said.
The principal of ``combat immunity'' in armed conflict is accepted in international law, and the United States has asserted the principal for its captured soldiers, said the motion filed in U.S. District Court.
For example, the United States objected to the threatened prosecution of three U.S. infantrymen captured in Kosovo and to a threat by North Vietnam to prosecute U.S. captives as war criminals.
In a separate motion, Lindh's lawyers sought dismissal of four other counts that charge Lindh with conspiracy to contribute services to al-Qaida and to the Taliban, and actually providing those services.
The motion said those charges were based on regulations designed to freeze the assets of a foreign state or foreign national, and prohibit certain international financial transactions during a declared national emergency.
``The government does not allege that Mr. Lindh traded in Taliban or al-Qaida goods, that he provided any financial services or financial support ... that he provided or received any property ... or that he engaged in any commercial transactions of any kind,'' the motion said.
Not a good choice of words, guys. That second one is really damning.
Isn't that treaosn?
Isn't that treason?
I'm sure his lawyer would feel that you are going on about irrelevancies again.
I am reminded of an old Far Side cartoon, where a dog defense attorney is addressing a jury of cats about his client (also a dog). The attorney is saying, "Does my client look like a cat killer? A cat chaser, sure. What dog hasn't done that?"
So let's treat him like a foot soldier. Gut him and leave him in a field to rot.
...“In my travels, I came in contact with some of the original teachers of the leaders of the Taliban movement,” he said. “The ideas of the Taliban occupied my mind a lot.” Six months ago, he entered Afghanistan “to help the Islamic government” because “the Taliban are the only government that actually provides Islamic law.” When asked if he supported the September 11 attacks, he hesitated. “That requires a pretty long and complicated explanation. I haven’t eaten for two or three days, and my mind is not really in shape to give you a coherent answer.” When pressed, he said, “Yes, I supported it.”
Shoot him! I personally will volunteer to keep others from having to bear the burden of it.
I hope he ops for the "NO blindfold thing".
Never forget what a real hero is:
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