EXCLUSIVE: John Walker Lindh’s Parents Discuss Their Son’s Story, from Joining the US-Backed Taliban Army to Surviving a Northern Alliance Massacre, to His Abuse at the Hands of US Forces

In their first extended interview, the parents of John Walker Lindh, Marilyn Walker and Frank Lindh, join us for the hour to tell their son’s story. He was born in Washington, DC in 1981. At the age of sixteen, he converted to Islam. In 1999, Lindh left the United States for Yemen to study Arabic and the Koran. He later traveled to Pakistan and then to Afghanistan, before 9/11, where he received military training from the US-backed, Taliban-run Afghan Army to fight against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan’s civil war. He was captured in late 2001, found emaciated and wounded, one of the few to survive a massacre by the Northern Alliance. To his parents’ relief, he was handed to US forces, but they brutalized him, as well. Donald Rumsfeld had ordered them to “take the gloves off.” He was designated Detainee 001 in the war on terror. When he returned to the United States in January 2002, he was being held as a prisoner accused of conspiring to kill Americans. As part of a plea deal, Lindh pleaded guilty to serving in the Taliban army and carrying weapons and was given a twenty-year sentence.


We turn now to a Democracy Now exclusive – for the first time in over seven years the parents of John Walker Lindh have agreed to sit down together for an extended interview to discuss their son who is known by many as the American Taliban.

The basic outline of John Walker Lindh’s story may be familiar to many listeners and viewers.

He was born in Washington D.C. in 1981 and later moved with his family to Marin County outside San Francisco. At the age of 16 he converted to Islam. In 1999 Lindh left the United States for Yemen to study Arabic and the Koran. He later traveled to Pakistan and then Afghanistan where he received military training from the Taliban-run Afghan Army to fight against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan’s civil war.

When he returned to the United States in January 2002 John Walker Lindh was being held as a prisoner accused of conspiring to kill Americans. Newspapers around the world published photos of him naked, blindfolded and strapped to a gurney.

On January 15, 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced charges were being filed against him. At the time John Walker Lindh was 20 years old. Days after Ashcroft’s press conference, Lindh was allowed to briefly see his parents. His father spoke to the media soon after.

While John Walker Lindh was constantly being referred to as the American Taliban and as a traitor in the U.S. media, the government’s case against him largely fell apart. As part of a plea deal the Bush administration eventually dropped all of the terrorism-related charges and the charge that he had conspired to kill Americans.

In exchange Lindh plead guilty to serving in the Taliban army and carrying weapons. He was given a 20-year sentence. Attorney General Ashcroft imposed a gag order, prohibiting him from speaking to the press or having any visitors other than his immediate family. Under the gag order, he also was prohibited from speaking Arabic.

Since his sentence began, Lindh has never given an interview from prison. His parents, Marilyn Walker and Frank Lindh, have also avoided most interview requests over the past seven years but they have been quietly campaigning for their son to be released from jail.

Today, Marilyn Walker and Frank Lindh join us in the firehouse for the hour.

Frank Lindh, John Walker Lindh’s father.

Marilyn Walker, John Walker Lindh’s mother.



http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/31/exclusive_john_walker_lindhs_...

Views: 71

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Tara on July 31, 2009 at 12:28pm
Yep, there is a grey area but it just goes to show you how every suspected terrorist turns out to have been backed by the US somewhere in their past! Can we say CIA!!!!!

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

What US Scientist unwittingly helped the Nazis devise the V-2 Missile?

  In the early 1920’s and leading up to World War II German technology outpaces the peace time…See More
yesterday
tjdavis favorited Sandy's video
Monday
tjdavis posted a photo
Monday
Christopher Walker is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Sunday
tjdavis posted videos
Sunday
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Reflection

"Let's see if this goes past indictment."
Saturday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"cheeki kea That's very interesting history. So many things about history that go ignored or…"
Saturday
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Saturday
Burbia posted a video

Programmed To Kill/Satanic Cover-Up Part 433 (The Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Show)

https://www.programmedtokill.net/projects---- DISCLAIMER! ----Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair u...
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"Yip I've looked again and this is what the creature looks like, even has stripes just like…"
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"The mystery continues I guess. ( reminds me of something out of the under world )"
Saturday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"Another fine story Doc V. I think it's Dogman the werewolf out there roaming around in high…"
Saturday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Saturday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post What Four UFO Whistle Blowers All Suffered in Common?
"Less Prone Thanks for you comment Buddy! Dabbling in government kept secrets can cost you dearly. I…"
Saturday
Burbia posted a blog post

Sebastion Piñera and 5G

 Sebastion Piñera “The start of the bidding process for the 5G network. Let’s listen to the threats…See More
Saturday
tjdavis posted a photo
Friday
Doc Vega posted a blog post
Thursday
Less Prone left a comment for Tammy
"Welcome"
Oct 16
tjdavis posted a video

Mike Benz: DARPA & USAID are Weaponizing Music to Control Human Behavior

Watch every episode ad-free & uncensored on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dannyjonesMike Benz is a former State Department official and current Executive Dire...
Oct 15

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted