Keep Lindh in jail

Submitted by Johnny Spann (United States), Nov 29, 2008 at 23:56

False and misleading statements by Mr. Frank Lindh omits

many known facts

Article of appeal by Johnny Spann

February 01, 2006

This rebuttal of statements and claims made by Frank Lindh, father of John Walker Lindh, will

address these issues. Frank Lindh is pushing for an official pardon or clemency of his son for the

Al Queda activities of which he is known to have been involved. These activities came to

the public's attention in November of 2001, and involved the death of my son, Johnny Micheal

Spann, a CIA agent sent to interview the prisoners at the Qala I Jangi fortress outside Mazar E

Shiref. My son met his death at the hands of Al Queda terrorists on November 25, 2001… one of

the Al Queda terrorists present that day was Frank Lindh's son.

First and foremost I would like to clarify two primary points:

• Frank Lindh claims that his son never fired his weapon. This is false.

• Frank Lindh claims that his son did not fight against Americans. This also is false.

Some other known facts that Frank Lindh

chooses to overlook are listed below.

1. John Walker Lindh, changed his name to Suleyman al-Faris and was also known

as Abdul Hamid.

2. John Walker Lindh was a member of, and trained with Al Queda. Al Queda is a

league of foreign fighters who are trained by Osama Bin Laden. Members of this

group of fighters are typically not citizens or natives of Afghanistan. John Walker Lindh

was not allowed to join the Taliban, because he did not speak any of their languages like

Dari or Postum, and was not a Afghan. But was allowed to join and train with the Al

Queda.

The Taliban harbored Bin Laden and his Al Queda terrorist.

3. Al Queda terrorist members flew airplanes into U.S. buildings on September 11,

2001, killing over 3,000 Americans.

4. John Walker Lindh trained in the mujahideen terrorist camps first.

5. After trying to join the Taliban and being refused. John Walker Lindh trained at Al

Farooq - Osama Bin Laden's terrorist training camp - and has officially stated that

he met and talked to Bin Laden more than once while in this training. He also

stated he spent time at Bin Laden's guest house.

6. John Walker Lindh stated that he had knowledge of the plans for the 9-11 attacks

against the U.S. He stated that he knew that Al Queda members had been sent to the

United States to carry out suicide missions. He stated that he had also been told about

the 9-11 attacks on America, but chose to stay and continue to fight with the Al Queda

terrorists. For all Lindh knew, his own family members could have been victims of

the suicide missions.

Frank Lindh claims that his son was not responsible for 9/11 attacks, and that he

had nothing to do with them. He is not telling that he not only knew about the

plans, but also opted - as an American - not to alert anyone about his knowledge.

Lindh stated that after training camp he was asked if he like to go to other places

to carry out terriost activities, This proves he was just like the rest of the trainees

or he would never have been ask to go.

7. John Walker Lindh sent an email to his mother stating that the attacks on the USS

Cole were justified, and that he did not care if he ever set foot in America again.

8. After leaving the training camps, John Walker Lindh went to Takar. While in the

trenches on the front lines in Takar, he said that his rifle malfunctioned and was

issued another one.

Frank Lindh said his son never fired his weapon. How can his rifle malfunction, if

he never fired it?

9. John Walker Lindh surrendered with the other terrorist Al Queda fighters at

Kundus, having retreated there from Takar. He did not let anyone know that he was

American, or that he wanted to leave. (He stated that he was told to say that he was

Irish if anyone should ask).

10. John Walker Lindh was transported to Qala I Jangi Fortress on Saturday evening,

November 24, 2001, and stayed in the basement house, also known as the Pink House,

that night.

11. The revolt was planned that night while at the Pink House. Two of the prisoners

stated that everyone there that night had to choose if and how they were going to be

involved.

12.Sunday morning, November 25, 2001, my son and his partner arrived at the prison.

During this time Micheal Spann attempted to question John Walker Lindh. This

encounter was captured on the, approx. 2 hours of video, being filmed by General

Dostum's soldier.

The prisoners being interviewed were led one at a time, from the Pink House to an open

courtyard. They were lightly restrained with their elbows tied behind their back. This left

their hands free to the front. This was the afghan way of restraining.

John Walker Lindh was one of these prisoners. After being asked to identify himself,

(practically begging him). He would not talk to his fellow Americans, and yet another

opportunity went by to tell someone whom he was and that he needed help. John

Walker Lindh also did not inform Mike Spann, or any other American there, about

the planned revolt.

If that information had been shared it would have saved my son's

life.

13. At approx. 11 AM Sunday Morning, as planned on Saturday evening by the

prisoners, a grenade was thrown to signal the attack. This is verified on the twohour

video.

The prisoners inside the Pink House, which were approx. 300, began their attack against

the guards, and the Americans. The prisoners in the courtyard, which only had their

elbows tied, jumped to their feet and attacked my son, Mike, from behind while he was

engaging the terrorist that were charging him from the basement house.

This is verified in the FBI documents released in late 2004, of interviews with

prisioners at Guantánamo Bay. which have the accounts of that attack how it

started and what ensued. Additionally, two doctors and other northern Alliance

soldiers that I personally talked to in Afghanistan, stated that they were within feet

of Mike when the grenade was thrown by the terrorist to start the revolt.

John Walker Lindh jumped to his feet to take part, just like the other terrorists,

and was shot in the leg. ( His father says he jumped to his feet to run)

14. John Walker Lindh, and the others in the courtyard, retreated to the basement

house (Pink House), and continued to fight the Northern Alliance and the

Americans.

On the second day, the Northern Alliance sent Red Cross workers inside to get

them to surrender, and John Walker Lindh, and his fellow terrorist fighters, killed

them. Some 5 days later they finally surrendered.

15. Robert Young Pelton, a reporter working in Afghanistan, was the first to

interviewed John Walker Lindh after they finally surrendered. After bringing John

Walker Lindh food and an American Medic, he tried to help him during their interview

offering to get in touch with his parents. John Walker Lindh stated to Pelton, when

asked if this was what he thought it would be like. He stated "This is exactly what I

thought that it would be like". Pelton stated that John Walker Lindh showed no

remorse for his actions. Pelton's account is also attached to this article.

16. Frank Lindh maintains that the terrorists' prisoners were beaten. This is blatantly

false. I personally have a copy of the original video, which clearly shows that no

beatings took place. It is documented on the video that two doctors were brought

to the site and were treating and tending to the wounds of the terrorist prisoners.

There was no violence at all until the grenade was thrown to start the revolt. This is

also shown on the video.

This is only a portion of information that Frank Lindh is not making public

during his quest for his son's pardon.

The facts stated in this letter are documented in the following ways:

• Video from General Dostum, taken the morning of the attack, which is the video the

French reporter obtained and sold to CAPA TV, which in turn sold a small portion to 3

American TV news networks. This small portion was then shown on television showing

Mike Spann trying to talk with Lindh.

• Reports of the attack given by the prisoners at Guantánamo Bay and released by FBI,

• Eyewitness accounts: including the accounts of two Afghan doctors that I personally

spoke with while visiting Afghanistan. A Northern Alliance intel officer, and several

northern alliance soldiers. The two doctors and the intel officer are shown on the video.

• Information given to Mark Kukas, by two prisoners in Shurbergon prison.

• Information supplied by Robert Pelton, whose letter is attached.

• John Walker Lindh's own personal statements.

* Information given to me by General Dostum and his staff

As an American, and one of many parents who have lost a child to war in order to protect our

country, I appeal to you to not allow Frank Lindh to achieve a pardon for his Al Queda, terrorist,

traitor son, John Walker Lindh, Aka: Sulleyman al Farris, Aka: Abdul Hamid

Respectfully,

Johnny Spann

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