Full Tilt Boogie
10 Jul 2011, 03:33 AM
Now ignoring the fact the US decided to ignore all the Geneva Conventions, and it's own Constitution, when transporting just about anyone who they didn't like in Gitmo (torture, sorry, "enhanced interrogation techniques" and waterboarding aside, for the moment), here's a story to make you weep.
Frank Lindh: America's barbaric treatment of my son John Walker Lindh (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/10/john-walker-lindh-american-taliban-father)
In 1998, aged 17, my son John Walker Lindh travelled to Yemen to study Islam and learn Arabic. In April 2001 he went to Afghanistan. Then 9/11 happened. He was captured by US troops, tortured, and jailed for 20 years, an innocent victim of America's 'war on terror'
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2011/7/6/1309966768801/-John-Walker-Lindh-007.jpg
John Walker Lindh following his capture by US troops in December 2001. Photograph: Getty Images
John Phillip Walker Lindh, my son, was raised a Roman Catholic, but converted to Islam when he was 16 years old. He has an older brother and a younger sister. John is scholarly and devout, devoted to his family, and blessed with a powerful intellect, a curious mind, and a wry sense of humour.
Labelled by the American government as "Detainee 001" in the "war on terror", John occupies a prison cell in Terre Haute, Indiana. He has been a prisoner of the American government since 1 December 2001, less than three months after the terror attacks of 9/11.
John is entirely innocent of any involvement in the terror attacks, or any allegiance to terrorism. That is not disputed by the American government. Indeed, all accusations of terrorism against John were dropped by the government in a plea bargain, which in turn was approved by the US district court in which the case was brought.
Despite its proud history as a stable constitutional democracy, the US has, for 10 years, been affected by post-traumatic shock, following the horrific events of 11 September 2001. I can find no other explanation for the barbaric mistreatment and continued detention of a gentle young man like John Lindh.
Frank Lindh: America's barbaric treatment of my son John Walker Lindh (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/10/john-walker-lindh-american-taliban-father)
In 1998, aged 17, my son John Walker Lindh travelled to Yemen to study Islam and learn Arabic. In April 2001 he went to Afghanistan. Then 9/11 happened. He was captured by US troops, tortured, and jailed for 20 years, an innocent victim of America's 'war on terror'
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2011/7/6/1309966768801/-John-Walker-Lindh-007.jpg
John Walker Lindh following his capture by US troops in December 2001. Photograph: Getty Images
John Phillip Walker Lindh, my son, was raised a Roman Catholic, but converted to Islam when he was 16 years old. He has an older brother and a younger sister. John is scholarly and devout, devoted to his family, and blessed with a powerful intellect, a curious mind, and a wry sense of humour.
Labelled by the American government as "Detainee 001" in the "war on terror", John occupies a prison cell in Terre Haute, Indiana. He has been a prisoner of the American government since 1 December 2001, less than three months after the terror attacks of 9/11.
John is entirely innocent of any involvement in the terror attacks, or any allegiance to terrorism. That is not disputed by the American government. Indeed, all accusations of terrorism against John were dropped by the government in a plea bargain, which in turn was approved by the US district court in which the case was brought.
Despite its proud history as a stable constitutional democracy, the US has, for 10 years, been affected by post-traumatic shock, following the horrific events of 11 September 2001. I can find no other explanation for the barbaric mistreatment and continued detention of a gentle young man like John Lindh.