Newshour Extra Feature:

Life after 9.11

Newshour Extra:

Coming to America: How did the terrorist attacks change the way we welcome foreigners? (12/12/01)

Future of Afghanistan: Political rivals try to agree on a future government of Afghanistan. (11/21/01)

Reacting to the War: Dealing with feelings by staging protests, learn-ins, and joining the military... (11/7/01)

Q and A: Answers to the big eight questions about anthrax, Afghanistan and life after 9.11 (10/31/01)

The Mood of a Nation: How television, movies and ads adjusted after 9.11... (10/24/01)

It's My Right: The anti-war protest movement. (10/18/01)

NewsHour Features:

U.S. Response

Online NewsHour:

U.S. Taliban: What could lie ahead for American Taliban fighter John Walker. (12/12/01) .

A Dangerous Mission: Examining the CIA's role in the war on terrorism after an operative is killed on a mission in Afghanistan. (11/29/01)

Limits of Dissent: Should there be limits on dissent during times of war and crisis? (10/16/01)

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Special Educational Resources for the Attacks

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Religion Online

IslamiCity.com

Islam Online

Malcom X Online

U.S. Department of Justice

American Taliban
January 16, 2002

One of the most unexpected stories in the war on terrorism is that of American Taliban fighter John Walker.

Walker was a Taliban soldier, a part of the Islamic militia that ruled Afghanistan until U.S.-led forces defeated them in November. The U.S. military captured him during November airstrikes.

Though most Taliban captures will face justice in their native Afghanistan, John Walker's fate will be decided by the American government. On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced that it will charge Walker with conspiracy to kill U.S. military forces in Afghanistan. If convicted, Walker faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The Attorney General said a treason charge, which could have led to a death sentence, would have been difficult to prove. He did not, however, rule out the possibility of additional charges stemming from further investigations.

The 20-year-old faces a trial in a regular court.

Investigating Walker's crimes

John Walker's trial will certainly address his connection to the death of CIA agent Johnny "Mike" Spann.

Spann was killed during a prison uprising while interviewing captured Taliban. Although Walker was a prisoner, he was found hiding in the basement of the prison and his role in the fighting is unclear.

However, shortly before the violence erupted, Spann had interrogated Walker personally about his support of the Taliban.

While the Justice Department prepares its prosecution, many in the public already have formed their opinion. In an USA Today poll, more than 60 percent of Americans believe Walker is a traitor, and almost 50 percent believe Walker should serve some jail time.

Since Walker is a U.S. citizen, he will not face the much-talked about military tribunal court system. Only foreign-born terrorists in U.S. custody can be tried before the military tribunals.

Walker could claim to be a prisoner of war (POW). Rules under the international Geneva Convention might allow him to avoid charges in a civilian court.

The U.S. is reluctant to give Walker POW status, because granting it could allow other captured Taliban to use the status also. The United States does not want to legitimize fighters from the Taliban, a government that even before the war was only recognized by three other countries.

Treason a tricky charge…

Legal experts say treason, as defined by the U.S. Constitution, fits Walker case. But they agree trying someone for treason is difficult.

To convict on treason, the U.S. Constitution requires "confession in open court" or testimony by two witnesses to the same treasonous act.

Walker would be guilty of treason if he had any substantial knowledge of the September 11 attacks or if he took up arms against American troops after the U.S. began military strikes.

Less than 30 treason convictions have ever happened in United States history. Since World War II, no successful prosecution has occurred.

Although rare, treason cases and convictions do occur.

John Walker's History

John Walker's odyssey to Afghanistan began five years ago in an unlikely place, a wealthy suburb of San Francisco, California.

In search of a new personal religion, Walker began a spiritual quest at age 15. Baptized as a Roman Catholic, Walker first explored the religion Buddhism as an alternative to Catholicism.

After reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X, in which Malcolm X details his conversion to Islam, Walker began researching the religion.

While using Internet chat rooms to speak with Muslims and attending mosques in the San Francisco area, Walker decided to convert to Islam.

As a Muslim, Walker met members of the "tablighi movement," or preaching society of Islamic followers. The movement pushes Muslims to live life as the prophet Mohammed did in the seventh century.

"He wanted something pure," John Walker's farther, Frank Lindh, said recently. "We encouraged him to look."

Following his high school graduation, Walker asked his parents if he could attend an Islamic school in Yemen, a Muslim country in the Middle East.

After nearly a year of study in Yemen, Walker returned to California for about eight months. Then in February 2000, reportedly feeling lonely and unsettled, Walker returned to Yemen for additional studies.

Eventually, Walker moved to Pakistan to study at an Islamic school near the Afghan border. There Walker met and joined the Taliban.

"I started to read some of the literature," said Walker in an interview with CNN. "My heart became attached to the movement."

That movement, the Taliban, has been accused of murder, oppression of women and harboring terrorists. Most religious scholars say Islam promotes none of those tenets.

Islam is one of the world's oldest religions. More than a 1,000,000,000 people practice the religion and it's currently the fastest growing religion in the world.

While Walker may have found his faith in Islam, the U.S. government will continue to wrestle with what to do with its American Taliban fighter.

-- By Carl Ballard, NewsHour Extra

What do you think? How would you handle the John Walker case?