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x ** TOP_VIEW ** x
The Bigger Picture
7.7.02
Psycho Ashford's Obsessive Vendetta: Lynch Johnny Lindh
Ashcroft -- a deranged, psychotic, DEEPLY sociopathic criminal, should
be put on trial IMMEDIATELY for proven massive attacks against bedrock
principles set forth in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence.
= = = = = = = =
http://www.counterpunch.org/baughman0705.html
July 5, 2002
Ashcroft's Vendetta:
Lynching John Walker Lindh
by Steve Baughman
The frenzied cry to string John Walker Lindh up by his thumbs is a fine
example of America's determination never to let facts get in the way of
a good temper tantrum. Attorney General John Ashcroft accuses Lindh of
dedicating himself to "killing Americans," and a 10-count felony
indictment includes allegations that Lindh committed "conspiracy to
murder United States nationals."
The Attorney General even went so far as to accuse Lindh of complicity
in the atrocities of September 11. At his January 15, 2002 press
conference Aschroft stated that the filing of criminal charges against
Lindh was compelled "by the inescapable fact of September the 11th." "We
cannot," Ashcroft said, "overlook attacks on America when they come from
United States citizens."
The mainstream media coverage of this case has been characteristically
shoddy, shallow and sensational. Much attention has been given to
Lindh's Marin County upbringing and to the pathetic attempts by his
parents to make him look like a good boy. Less frivolous commentary has
tended to focus on such things as the conditions of Lindh's battlefield
confinement, whether he was properly Mirandized and whether his
statements will be admissible at trial. Almost completely absent has
been a discussion of what exactly Lindh did and whether it justifies the
government's attempt to put him away for life plus 90 years.
A close look at the facts will embarrass both the government and the
mainstream press. It will also shame the alternative media, which has
been unforgivably silent about what seems to be a blatantly political
prosecution of a United States citizen.
A detailed account of Lindh's conduct can be found in the "overt acts"
section of the indictment, a 21-paragraph recitation of his journey from
Pakistan to Afghanistan to prison. Its most striking feature is the
absence of evidence that Lindh engaged in, attempted to engage in,
assisted or attempted to assist others in engaging in acts of terror
against the United States. Indeed, it makes abundantly clear that Lindh
was simply on a mission to prevent the Northern Alliance from retaking Afghanistan.
The indictment alleges that Lindh entered Afghanistan in May or June of
2001 "for the purpose of taking up arms with the Taliban." He then
presented a letter to Mujahideen headquarters in Kabul and indicated
that "he wanted to go to the front lines to fight." He later underwent
military training at an "al-Qaeda training camp." In June or July of
2001 he left Kabul for the front. After the United States entered the
conflict in October of 2001, Lindh remained with his unit until they
were captured in November. It is nowhere alleged that Lindh ever fired a
shot at anyone. He and several other trainees also met with Osama bin
Laden in the summer of 2001 for several minutes. During this meeting bin
Laden "thanked him and other trainees for taking part in jihad."
That's it. That's the government's case. That's the basis of the
hysterical cries to throw away all keys. Where, one wonders, is the
evidence of intent to "murder United States nationals" or to assist in
"attacks on America?" And if these rather tame facts are not
sufficiently humbling for the lynch mob, there is paragraph 14 of count
1 of the indictment. That paragraph states that in June or July of 2001
Lindh was offered the chance to travel outside of Afghanistan "to
conduct operations against the United States and Israel" but that he
"declined in favor of going to the front lines to fight." Thus, the
government's own pleadings have Lindh declining to participate in terror
operations against the United States.
Obviously Americans have not bothered to pay attention to the facts of
this case. And those charged with defending the public's right to know
have not been much help. Paragraph 14 has been all but ignored by the
press. A San Francisco Chronicle reporter told me that "that detail got
lost in the avalanche of other information." A Cox News reporter with an
apparent reading disability told me that "there are no court documents
or testimony to support that [Lindh] expressly turned down assignments
to commit terror against the United States." Yet there it is in the
indictment, evidence that this kid was not out to harm the United
States, that his purpose in entering Afghanistan was to fight an
undisputably vicious group of warlords who were seeking to regain
control of a country that had four years earlier given them the boot.
One may not approve of Lindh's choice of causes. But to divine from
these facts a "conspiracy to murder United States Nationals" is a
laughable bit of Ashcroft-speak.
Unfortunately, nobody is laughing. Perhaps we have taken to heart White
House spokesman Ari Fleischer's command that Americans start watching
what they say. This is disturbing because much more is at stake here
than the fate of the accused. The Lindh prosecution is a power grab that
has staggering implications for the expressive rights of all Americans.
Multiple life sentences for John Walker Lindh might just be what the
government needs to bring annoying dissenters a little more into line.
And it looks like the strategy may just work.
Steve Baughman is a partner in the San Francisco law firm of Baughman &
Wang. The indictment can be found at his website,
http://www.freejohnwalker.net. Baughman can be reached at: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
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