Feds Loosen Restrictions on 'American Taliban'

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 17, 2009 5:54 PM CDT

(Newser) – Federal prison officials are easing up a bit on John Walker Lindh, better known as the American Taliban, reports the Washington Post. All "special administrative measures" against Lindh will expire on Friday, meaning he'll be able to get more visitors, mail, and access to the media, among other things. Lindh, 28, has served 6 years of a 20-year sentence after he got captured fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Lindh's parents have long maintained that their son is no terrorist, that he simply fell under bad influences as a youth while abroad. President Bush rejected their request to commute his sentence as one of his last acts in office. Images of a captured Lindh caused a furor when they surfaced only months after the 9/11 attacks.

Marilyn Walker, left, and Frank Lindh, right, smile after a news conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

This file television footage from 2001 in Afghanistan shows John Walker Lindh, right. (AP Photo/APTN)

An undated file photo of John Walker Lindh. (AP Photo/File)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 13 comments

riffran

Mar 20, 2009 2:05 AM CDT

I say set him free.......and let his release site known, way ahead of time, and do it near a military base......I know a few of us "war mongering vets" that would LOVE to talk about "philosophy" with him.....*wink*

PhillytoWinnetka

Mar 18, 2009 12:45 PM CDT

Nuts:Aren't you late for your spot in the unemployment line?? Rob: Numnuts hasn't met a talking point from the NYTimes "it" didn't like and could easily repeat on Newser atleast a thousand times.

Rob

Mar 18, 2009 11:47 AM CDT

If you really don't know what newser points are then all you are doing is showing that you do not pay attention to your surrounding and further taint your ability to make useful comments.

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Feds Loosen Restrictions on 'American Taliban'

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Feds Loosen Restrictions on 'American Taliban'

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Taliban • terrorism • prison • John Walker Lindh

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

Backed By Pakistan, Taliban Set to Retake Afghanistan

ISI providing direct assistance, says secret NATO report viewed by the BBC

'No Surprise' Marines Urinated on Taliban

War always dehumanizes, but America's torture policies make it worse

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

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More News

What is Newser?