Global War on Terror Watch: John Walker Lindh’s Father Asks President Bush for Clemency

Frank Lindh, the father of American-born Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh, talks about his son at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006. Lindh says his son is an honorable and decent young man who simply embarked on a — quote — ‘spiritual quest.’ The quest found the younger Lindh captured by American forces in 2001, alongside members of the Taliban. He pleaded guilty to supplying services to the Taliban in violation of U-S economic sanctions and of carrying weapons against U.S. forces.

Associated Press: ‘American Taliban’ Father Urges Clemency

After years of silence, the father of American-born Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh said Thursday he has asked President Bush to grant his son clemency, adding that the then teenager never raised arms against the United States.

“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.

John Walker Lindh, now 24, was captured by American forces on Nov. 21, alongside the Taliban. Frank Lindh said his son thought he had been rescued by U.S. soldiers until he was taken into custody and tortured.

Flap understands a father’s concern for his son. And John Walker Lindh was young and immature.

But, he was an enemy combatant in a foreign country aiding the enemies of the United States.

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.

Last year John Walker Lindh asked President Bush for a reduction in his 20-year sentence, repeating a September 2004 request the government rejected.

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.

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 gain him a reprieve.

If a teenager from California can enlist in the United States Army and fight the Taliban in Afghanistan or Al Qaeda in Iraq why should John Walker Lindh be given a reprieve or clemency when he aids enemies of this soldier? If this Army teenager makes a conscious choice to fight for the United States didn’t Lindh make the same choice to consciously fight against this American soldier?

If Frank Lindh is arguing that his son was young and clueless then he is wrong. Afghanistan is a long way from California. There was a concerted effort by his son to join the Taliban. He did not happen upon the scene.

John Walker Lindh should serve his sentence according to the federal sentencing guidelines and serve not one day more or less than prescribed by law.

American John Walker Lindh is seen in this undated photo obtained Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002, from a religious school where he studied for five months in Bannu, 304 kilometers (190 miles) southwest of Islamabad, Pakistan. Lindh, who fought with the Taliban in Afghanistan, began his journey home from the war in Afghanistan on Tuesday to face charges he conspired with Islamic radicals to kill fellow countrymen.

No clemency for John Walker Lindh, the American Taliban.

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