An American Disgrace: Johnny Bin Walker

This is the first in a series titled "An American Disgrace". In this article I ponder the society that has produced someone known as "Jihad Johnny" or the "American Taliban". Further we will ponder his current treatment and what his possible future may or shouldbe...

I am saddened by the speculation in the press that seems to support or condone the behavior of John Walker. The actions of his father and legal team is understandable. One witnessed the miracle of his birth, the innocence of his youth, the tumultuous relationship brought about by puberty, and the sadness brought on by his son's disgrace. The team is paid for their support.

What brought this American boy to the door of the Moslem faith? What was his father thinking when he supported his son's decision to travel half-way around the world to attend school in Yemen then Pakistan?

I often wonder what it would be like to be raised in another culture, another country. I have read books and performed some research on life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. I lived in Panama for two years in 1976-1978, General Trujillo was in power, and the United States signed an agreement to return the Panama Canal to the government of Panama. I lived in South Korea from 1983-1985, and Germany from 1989-1992. I experience 6 months in the Arabian Peninsula during 1991-1992 and can say for certain that life in the United States far surpasses what I have found elsewhere.

So obviously it wasn't the living conditions that drew John to the Middle East. Somewhere, this spoiled upper class kid felt adrift from his parents. Somewhere, somehow they failed him. John turned to religion, and not a traditional religion at that. What is it about Islam that seems to draw so many converts? I don't pretend to know, suffice it to say, I am tolerant of any religion until that religion starts to negatively impact my life or family. In the case of John Walker, or John Lindh his religious choice and subsequent choices led to a negative impact on my American family. No matter how confused, how influenced he may have been by his Islamic brothers in Yemen and Pakistan, John Walker himself made the choice to enter Afghanistan and undergo training at a terrorist training camp. He later made the choice to pick-up a weapon against the United States military, John Walker has no one to blame but himself for the position he finds himself.

It's easy to fall into the media trap of here is a misunderstood youth, he deserves a second chance, boo-hoo. There are some things that are just beyond a second chance! If it was the discipline of Islam, the excitement of the Al Queda training camps, and the comraderie of fellow brothers, then John Walker would have been a natural for the U.S. military. He would have had all the benefits of the route he chose with the added benefit of remaining a loyal citizen rather than becoming the traiterous rat he did become.

Rumor has it there are 2 more U.S. citizens still in Afghanistan hiding in the hills with the remnants of the Taliban. Let's hope if they escape from Afghanistan that they find a hole in some backwater place and remain there for the rest of their natural lives.