John Walker Lindh Moved to Supermax

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Trials
Posted on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 03:10:32 PM EST
Tags: John Walker Lindh (all tags)

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John Walker Lindh, known as the "American Taliban" has been moved to Supermax at Florence, Colorado from a medium security prison.

Last week he sought a sentence reduction. Are the two related?

The Bureau of Prisons says the move is for security reasons. Whose security? John Walker Lindh's? I have a hard time believing they can't find a place other than Supermax to keep him safe. Where are the cops who have been convicted of federal crimes doing their sentences? I haven't heard of any at Supermax.

More...

As I wrote here:

I have never understood what crime Lindh committed against the United States. He was fighting against the Northern Alliance, not America. An American citizen, he was captured in Afghanistan. He is a devout, religious Muslim, not a terrorist.

The government ultimately dropped its charges of terrorism, conspiring with al-Qaeda and attempting to kill Americans. Lindh pleaded guilty to providing services to the Taliban and carrying explosives. His plea agreement contained no reference to involvement in a plot to kill CIA agent Johnny Spann.

John Walker Lindh, now called Hamza Lindh, has been silenced by his plea agreement. Only members of his family may visit him and they can't discuss what he tells them.

John Walker Lindh was a trophy to the Ashcroft Justice Department. Hopefully, his sentence will be revisited once the Bush Administration is gone.

I suspect a habeas action will be filed soon by his lawyers.

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John Walker Lindh Moved to Supermax | 25 comments (25 topical)

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lindh (5.00 / 3) (#1)
by Carolyn in Baltimore on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 03:18:19 PM EST

It was also pretty clear he was tortured and the DOJ tried to hide that fact. A DOJ ethics atty lost her job and reputation over that.

Mistrial and freedom for this poor guy is in order.

Carolyn - Somethings I just can't understand. (none / 0) (#4)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 05:16:33 PM EST

Do you realize that this guy was associated with the people who shot women in the back of the head for the accused "crime" of infidelity?

That wouldn't let women see a male doctor?

That wouldn't let women go to school?

Yet I bet you consider yourself a strong women's rights person.

BTW - What's your stand on abortion??


There is no excuse (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by Carolyn in Baltimore on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 05:44:20 PM EST

for how he was treated.
Yes he was captured in Afghanistan fighting for the Taliban.
But there's really no evidence against him doing anything against the US, he was tortured and abused, he was not allowed to see his lawyer and the government lied about how they treated his civil rights. He is in jail because if he hadn't made a plea bargain, they were threatening to execute him.

Obviously not a great guy, but no one deserves what he got.


You are known by the company you keep (none / 0) (#10)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:21:50 PM EST

As was pointed out he was fighting against the Northern Allaince, who was our ally.

And.....

Obviously not a great guy, but no one deserves what he got.

Not a great guy??? No one deserves??

Pleaseeeeeee


Actually ... (none / 0) (#14)
by Sailor on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 02:03:13 AM EST

... the Taliban was our ally. At what data did the NA cecome our 'ally?'


: Sailor (none / 0) (#15)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 09:10:30 AM EST

I am speechless.

pot, meet kettle (5.00 / 5) (#6)
by Sailor on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 05:58:57 PM EST

ppj is associated with folks who torture, kidnap children as 'leverage' and imprison people without charge indefinitely.

Let me rephrase that, ppj isn't 'associated' with them, he has endorsed their every act.

According to ppj (and bushco logic), ppj should serve LWOP in supermax w/o a trial.

And I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.


sailor (1.00 / 1) (#11)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:25:01 PM EST

Huh?

Without debating your incorrect claims, what does that have to do with someone joining the Taliban and training to fight the US??

And yes you would. I know you.


Seems Appro to me (none / 0) (#16)
by Molly Bloom on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 10:48:46 AM EST

Joinging with Bushco, being anti-the US constitution, Anti-American values of freedom and liberty, pro monarchy....

Strikes me as an apt comparison.

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us
An foolish notion:
What airs in dress an gait wad lea'es us,
An ev'n devotion!

Molly B - You like poems?? (none / 0) (#17)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 02:52:03 PM EST

I prefer C&W to describe, in general, the Left's feelings about this, and other matters concerning prisoners, GITMO, etc.

"If I had a nickel
I tell you what I'd do
I'd spend it all on candy
and give it all to you..."

Or as others see it...

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Shakesphere


BTW - Molly (1.00 / 1) (#18)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 02:54:18 PM EST

Laying aside the various claims...

Why is it that Left in general can not condemn the terrorists acts, especially against women and minorites?????????


That is so silly and untrue (none / 0) (#20)
by Molly Bloom on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 03:40:15 PM EST

it doesn't deserve a reply. This is a "when did you stop beating your wife" type of question you claim to abhor.

Molly (none / 0) (#21)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 03:52:55 PM EST

Not at all.

It is a very simple straight forward question.

You are just trying to avoid answerung.


It assumes facts not in evidence (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Molly Bloom on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 04:46:06 PM EST

(I've explained this sort of thing to you before- you must have just forgotten. Happens a lot with you, you might want to have that checked out).

Just for you then...

"the left in general" (whatever this bogeyman of yours might be) has no trouble condemning terrorist acts. That is not the issue.

What specific acts of terrorism did John Walker Lindh commit? Is the sentence he received out of proportion with the sentences others received? Do you have any evidence that he conspired to shoot women in the back of the head? How about evidence that he wouldn't let women see male doctors?

You show very little knowlege of this case (there is a surprise) or any interest in the concept of justice (another shocker). Why is it rightwingers in general have no concept of justice? Or evidence?

Molly B (1.00 / 1) (#23)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 06:03:46 PM EST

If you can read as well as you think you can, then you know that I was speaking of the "Taliban" not the perp in question.

And the execution described was carried on CBS.. Are you saying CBS would lie??

Now. Show me some of those condemnations you speak of.....

Since you can't answer the previous, please explain why the various women's rights groups haven't regularly and publicly condemned the terrorists position on minority rights, especially women and gays.

Isn't a failure to condemn a wrong to approve it??


: When did the left not condmen the Taliban? (none / 0) (#25)
by Molly Bloom on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 07:18:34 PM EST

Dude admit it- you've been eating mushrooms again, haven't you?
When did anyone (other than the Taliban) condone the execution you describe?
Gets back to my "how come rightwingers in general have no concept of evidence or justice

The Supermax prison at Florence CO has a fairly (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by JSN on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 09:14:58 PM EST

large campus consisting of several clusters of buildings with several security levels. The supermax security section is mostly underground. Lindh may not be placed in the most secure section because I have not heard that he is considered a threat to other prisoners or to the staff.

I have no idea if the security threat is real but it is possible that other prisoners have threatened to kill him. Oddly enough Federal supermax prisoners have the highest status among prisoners so in one respect the BOP has elevated his status.

I doubt he will leave prison while GWB is in office.

"Poor Guy" (none / 0) (#2)
by HeadScratcher on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 03:26:02 PM EST

I just don't have sympathy for anyone who was fighting for the Taliban. A bunch of cruel, repressive, people for whom anything other than a strict adherence to their view of Islam was reason for death. Just ask the women who weren't allowed to leave their homes...

No sympathy whatsoever...

Hmm (none / 0) (#3)
by jarober on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 04:34:17 PM EST

"I have never understood what crime Lindh committed against the United States. He was fighting against the Northern Alliance, not America. An American citizen, he was captured in Afghanistan. He is a devout, religious Muslim, not a terrorist."

Here's a quiz question: In late 2001, which group in Afghanistan did we ally with? Why, that would be the Northern Alliance.

Recent photo of Lindh? (none / 0) (#7)
by MSS on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:25:05 PM EST

Can't you try to find a recent photo of Lindh? (I tried on line and could not.) Perhaps you could ask his parents?

The grim photo you use to illustrate your story reinforces the picture of Lindh as a terrible terrorist -- which I believe is not accurate.

: I think it reinforces him (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by Jeralyn on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:44:46 PM EST

as being wounded and mistreated.

Well Gee (none / 0) (#9)
by jarober on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:04:39 PM EST

You mean enemy combatants can't be wounded and look miserable?

It looked like a good deal (none / 0) (#13)
by bx58 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 11:22:12 PM EST

amid the 9/11 hysteria/hoopla.

If he kept his mouth shut while his compatriots plotted to kill Americans he's a traitor. You can't have it any other way.

Jeralyn (none / 0) (#19)
by Claw on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 03:28:10 PM EST

I'm not sure I agree with you about the supermax move. Celebrity prisoners are in danger in gen pop. Granted, supermax is incredibly inhuman...but probably better than getting attacked...though I guess that's debatable. The other thing about supermax facilities is that many, as I'm sure you know, are kind of poorly designed as far as isolation goes. Prisoners can talk to each other through vents, the toilet, etc. Also, fishing (not the hook and bait kind) is allowed by many guards. That said, I've never met a guy who doesn't absolutely hate supermax...so maybe I'm wrong.

Jeralyn, I'd be (none / 0) (#24)
by Claw on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 06:36:21 PM EST

interested in hearing a little more about your take on the argument that the supermax move is a good idea for safety reasons. Moussoai, the Unabomber, et al are housed in supermax...I assume because not offering them that protection would be dangerous.