Johnny Walker Lindh assaulted in jail...

[Guest MD2020]

Walker Lindh assault claimed

'American Taliban' reportedly beset in High Desert prison

By VINCE LOVATO, Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE - The FBI is investigating a reported attack on American Taliban John Walker Lindh by one or more white supremacists at the Federal Correctional Institution here.

 

"I can confirm there was an incident regarding Lindh (on) Monday night,' said FBI spokeswoman Laura Bosley. "There was a report that Lindh was assaulted by another inmate but I cannot disclose any details beyond that.'

 

At the request of his attorneys, Walker Lindh was placed in the general population in February and was working as an orderly cleaning indoors where guards could keep him under close scrutiny for his safety, said a source who works at the 960-acre prison complex.

 

The source, who asked not to be identified, said Muslim inmates had been protecting Walker Lindh because they viewed him as a hero. But they pulled back their support because they decided he was not a radical dissident, the source said.

 

Since Monday, Walker Lindh has been in special housing, a type of solitary confinement for his protection, the source said.

 

The prison workers see him as young, vulnerable and socially immature, the source said.

 

Walker Lindh was moved to the Victorville prison after pleading guilty to one count of supplying services to the Taliban and carrying a rifle and two grenades while fighting against the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance.

 

He was taken into custody after U.S. military forces found him bloodied and dazed during a prison uprising near Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan.

 

As part of his plea bargain, the government dropped all other counts in a lengthy criminal indictment, including one of the most serious charges conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals.

 

Walker Lindh, 21, is expected to serve most of his 20-year term in the Victorville medium-security prison.

 

When crimes are committed in federal prisons the FBI investigates and the Justice Department decides whether to prosecute, Bosley said.

 

The Sun was tipped to the incident by an anonymous male caller who left a voice message at the newspaper office Tuesday morning.

 

The message said, 'Yes, I'd like to inform your newspaper that John Lindh Walker, who is incarcerated in Victorville, was assaulted this night by a white-supremacist organization that is imprisoned there. Thank you.'

 

The caller's identity could not be determined.

 

George Harris, an attorney with the San Francisco firm that represents Walker Lindh, said he was not aware of any incident regarding his client and was concerned for his safety.

 

"I don't know anything about an attack,' Harris said. "We would be concerned if my client would be in danger.'

 

He said the more information about Walker Lindh that is public, "the more danger he's in.'

 

Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Dan Dunne said in Washington, D.C., that to preserve the safety and security of inmates, the bureau does not release information about them.

 

He said the prison bureau only releases information about a crime if the U.S. attorneys decide to prosecute.

 

"Walker Lindh remains safely housed at Victorville,' Dunne said. "He's being housed there in a unit that is consistent with security needs.'

 

Dunne said he could not comment on the existence of any white-supremacist gang that might be incarcerated in the prison.

 

"If there were any concerns about any inmate's security,' they would be addressed immediately, Dunne said.

 

Walker Lindh, his parents and his legal representatives are under a gag order as a condition of his plea bargain and are barred from talking to the media, Dunne said.

 

Inmates, including Walker Lindh, have the right to contact certain people outside the prison, Dunne said.

 

The complex, which is directly south of Southern California Logistics Airport on Air Expressway, includes a minimum-security camp. The two facilities have a combined 1,650 inmates and 362 full-time employees.

 

A high-security penitentiary and a second medium-security prison are under construction on the site.

 

Walker Lindh was moved to Victorville to be closer to his parents, who live in Marin County. His father, Frank Walker Lindh, is an attorney for Pacific Gas & Electric

 

 

"Young, vulnerable, and socially immature". Well, duh--he did join the Taliban.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Shit happens.

[Guest BDC]

Hmmmmm...

 

Who didn't see this one coming...

[Guest DrTom]

He'll take a shiv between the ribs before he serves half of his sentence. I predict very few tears will be shed over it.

[cawthon777 0]

*In Nelson voice*

 

HA HA!

[Guest Some Guy]

Well that's one good thing that white supremisists have done.

 

I agree with Tom, this kid will be killed in prison sooner or later.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Since he's a Muslim, I have to wonder if this ranks as a hate crime...

[Guest Vern Gagne]

He's not extreme enough for the other muslim prisoners and naturally the white supremicist hate is guts. Good luck.

 

Just watch he'll be transfered to some soft minimum security prison.

[Guest phoenixrising]

This is probably the only situation where White Supremecists deserve praise.

 

He got attacked. Boo Hoo.

 

Yeah he'll probably be sent to a lower security prison and given his own room. Definitely solitary confinement after this.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Normally I'd defend his right to fight against the government, and that it's not treason by any means, but he deserves to die for just being stupid. He was just being an attention whore.

 

It's like when you used to get beat up at a Blackhawks game if you showed up in a Red Wings jersey. Sure, you have every right to do it, but you had it coming just for intentionally starting trouble.

 

However: The prison system has a responsibility only to fufill the convict's sentences. His sentence doesn't involve beatings or death. I'll leave it at that.

[cawthon777 0]

However: The prison system has a responsibility only to fufill the convict's sentences. His sentence doesn't involve beatings or death. I'll leave it at that.

Maybe this was a special addition to his sentence? I hope rape isn't in there too.

[Guest Mad Dog]

Did anyone not think he was going to be attacked by other prisoners?

[Guest JangoFett4Hire]

I don't think anyone disputes the fact that Walker is a moron and a criminal and is justly rotting away in prison. To take up arms against your own countrymen in a war is truly an offense to any American. However, to cheer on the acts of equally vile human beings in the form of neo-nazi's is apalling.

[cawthon777 0]

However, to cheer on the acts of equally vile human beings in the form of neo-nazi's is apalling.

Then call me apalling.

[Guest DrTom]

However: The prison system has a responsibility only to fufill the convict's sentences. His sentence doesn't involve beatings or death. I'll leave it at that.

They have an obligation to protect him just like any other prisoner, using reasonable means at their disposal. But they can't watch Lindh all the time, and if he requests to be in general population, they should put him there. People get beaten up and killed in prison every day; this is only drawing attention because of the person who was on the receiving end. Even though Lindh is a scummy traitor, he deserves the same level of protection other prisoners get, but he deserves no special protection because of who he is.

 

This incident could have been avoided by simply executing him, of course.

[Guest JangoFett4Hire]

Trust me cawthon, I already have.

 

BTW you do realize that Bono is among the most bleeding heart liberals out there, right?

[Guest DrTom]

QUOTE (JangoFett4Hire @ Mar 7 2003, 03:30 PM)

However, to cheer on the acts of equally vile human beings in the form of neo-nazi's is apalling. 

 

Then call me apalling.

Sometimes, crude justice works the best.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

The best hope for him is plastic surgery

[Guest Youth N Asia]

Maybe I'm just an asshole then...but I take the "good for him" stand on this...wonder how long till he gets shanked

[Guest JangoFett4Hire]

Sometimes, crude justice works the best.

Well, in the minds of extremists everywhere 9/11 was crude justice... two wrongs don't make a right.

[cawthon777 0]

Trust me cawthon, I already have.

 

BTW you do realize that Bono is among the most bleeding heart liberals out there, right?

...And?

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Even though Lindh is a scummy traitor

Uhm. LOL?

 

He wasn't an American anymore. He fought for the ruler of the country he was a citizen of: Afghanistan. Do you have this kind of resentment toward any soldier or any patriotic citizen of any country that has ever fought the United States? Or is it merely because the media paraded his ass around on a silver platter, shouting, "This man betrayed America! This man joined the terrorists! He is a traitor!"? If you're that gullible and that easy to sway in opinion, then I honestly feel sorry for you.

 

This incident could have been avoided by simply executing him, of course.

 

God, you had best pray that your ideas don't become unpopular then.

[cawthon777 0]

Even though Lindh is a scummy traitor

Uhm. LOL?

 

He wasn't an American anymore. He fought for the ruler of the country he was a citizen of: Afghanistan. Do you have this kind of resentment toward any soldier or any patriotic citizen of any country that has ever fought the United States? Or is it merely because the media paraded his ass around on a silver platter, shouting, "This man betrayed America! This man joined the terrorists! He is a traitor!"? If you're that gullible and that easy to sway in opinion, then I honestly feel sorry for you.

 

This incident could have been avoided by simply executing him, of course.

 

God, you had best pray that your ideas don't become unpopular then.

Hey enthusiastic critical guy, what's up?

 

Lindh is a traitor. He is a stupid kid that caught up in something he didn't understand. Maybe the media portrayed him as betrying the US because he did? Let's see ... priviledged young American from California goes over to Afganistan and supports a regime that wants to destroy America.

 

Now I don't have my graduate degree yet or anything so don't laugh too hard if I get out of line here ... but isn't that being a traitor?

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Let's see ... priviledged young American from California goes over to Afganistan and supports a regime that wants to destroy America.

That still does not make him guilty of treason, nor does it conflict with the concept of free will. He did what he thought was the right thing in accordance with his own beliefs. You and I may not agree with his beliefs, but it is his right as a human being to make such choices on his own, and to hold such beliefs. Accepting the consequences of that choice, however, is his responsibility as a human being. Those consequences shouldn't include being labelled a traitor, nor should they make him a special, seperate case from the other POWs at Guantanamo Bay.

[cawthon777 0]

That still does not make him guilty of treason

Earth logic might say otherwise but to each his own.

[Guest Vyce]

That still does not make him guilty of treason

Earth logic might say otherwise but to each his own.

Um, LOL?

 

[Naw, I'm just being a dick, I'm with you. ]

 

Jobber's from Earth Two.

 

Up is Down there. Bizarro am Superman too.

 

Oh, and I'm not gay, but I will award a free hand job to whichever inmate kills this kid in the most extreme and painful way possible.

[Guest DrTom]

He wasn't an American anymore. He fought for the ruler of the country he was a citizen of: Afghanistan. Do you have this kind of resentment toward any soldier or any patriotic citizen of any country that has ever fought the United States? Or is it merely because the media paraded his ass around on a silver platter, shouting, "This man betrayed America! This man joined the terrorists! He is a traitor!"? If you're that gullible and that easy to sway in opinion, then I honestly feel sorry for you.

Save your pity, since it's worth about as much as your opinion. Lindh was an American who decided he'd rather help and extremist regime destroy the country of his birth. Hell yes, he's a traitor, and hell yes, he was guilty of treason. I don't really see how these are difficult concepts to grasp. I don't care WHY he ended up with the Taliban, only that he willingly did. And that definitely makes him a traitor.

 

God, you had best pray that your ideas don't become unpopular then.

Let me clarify something for you. Saying something negative about the President is an "unpopular idea." Helping a despicable froeign regime murder 3000 people goes pretty fucking far beyond being an "unpopular idea." I know this conflicts with your buttered-scones-and-happy-puppies view of the world, but too bad. Sometimes, the scones get burnt and the puppies die.

 

That still does not make him guilty of treason, nor does it conflict with the concept of free will. He did what he thought was the right thing in accordance with his own beliefs. You and I may not agree with his beliefs, but it is his right as a human being to make such choices on his own, and to hold such beliefs.

Jesus Christ, that's probably the most stupid and appalling display of moral relativism I've seen in these parts. Free will and following one's beliefs are great concepts, but when 3000 people are murdered as a result, then fuck someone's free will and the beliefs they were following. Spouting feel-good platitudes doesn't do anything in the Lindh situation. He was a traitor who helped murder 3000 Americans, and he should have been put to death for treason. His right to his beliefs stops when those beliefs kill people. End of story.

[Guest TheMikeSC]

Even though Lindh is a scummy traitor

Uhm. LOL?

 

He wasn't an American anymore. He fought for the ruler of the country he was a citizen of: Afghanistan. Do you have this kind of resentment toward any soldier or any patriotic citizen of any country that has ever fought the United States? Or is it merely because the media paraded his ass around on a silver platter, shouting, "This man betrayed America! This man joined the terrorists! He is a traitor!"? If you're that gullible and that easy to sway in opinion, then I honestly feel sorry for you.

 

This incident could have been avoided by simply executing him, of course.

 

God, you had best pray that your ideas don't become unpopular then.

Um, if you don't mind me asking --- if, according to you, Lindh was not an American anymore --- what RIGHTS does he have? His civil rights weren't violated because, again as you pointed out, he wasn't an American anymore to begin with.

 

Do I have the same level of resentment towards any person who fights for an enemy against the U.S? Absolutely. I STILL want to see Jane Fonda strung up by her toenails for her behavior during the Vietnam War. I have precious little tolerance for traitors.

 

You can pity people for being "gullible" and having an opinion easily swayed --- but it doesn't appear that YOUR position was gained by a great deal of deep intellectual insight, either. Simply disagreeing with the gov't is no more intellectually honest than blindly following it, either.

-=Mike --- Who wouldn't have ANY problems with the U.S treating Lindh the way the Taliban would've treated a Christian in prison

[Guest TheMikeSC]

Let's see ... priviledged young American from California goes over to Afganistan and supports a regime that wants to destroy America.

That still does not make him guilty of treason, nor does it conflict with the concept of free will. He did what he thought was the right thing in accordance with his own beliefs. You and I may not agree with his beliefs, but it is his right as a human being to make such choices on his own, and to hold such beliefs. Accepting the consequences of that choice, however, is his responsibility as a human being. Those consequences shouldn't include being labelled a traitor, nor should they make him a special, seperate case from the other POWs at Guantanamo Bay.

So, he shoud be treated like ALL American prisoners --- even though he fought for our enemy against us?

 

Wow, throwing the book at him, are we?

 

He IS suffering the just desserts of his decisions. That is a major problem with the American left today. They wish to call America evil and bad --- but should they be treated as, well, ANY OTHER COUNTRY ON EARTH TREATS THEIR TRAITORS, they gripe about it.

 

You wish to betray your country? You DESERVE the beatings and the pain. You've earned it.

 

I can only wish they did it to Jane Fonda.

-=Mike --- Who wouldn't even piss on Lindh if he were on fire

[Guest DrTom]

-=Mike --- Who wouldn't even piss on Lindh if he were on fire

That's harsh.

 

If he were on fire, I'd put it out with a hatchet.