TALIBOY PLEADS GUILTY!
Well, ain't that something. He's apparently smarter than I ever gave him credit for. But, there is this little bit of wisdom:

Lindh's father said he was thankful the government dropped the more serious terrorism charges. Frank Lindh said he told his son after he was brought back to the United States that South African leader "Nelson Mandela served 26 years and I told him to be prepared for something like that."

"John has no bitterness," Frank Lindh added.

Of course, I guess since we're making wildly idiotic comparisons, I guess we can look forward to a "Lindh in 2024" campaign and watch as he is swept into the presidency by a tide of public sentiment upon his release, just like my good buddy Nelson. And, it's lucky for all of us that John is not bitter. I was really concerned that he might be upset with us for placing his traitorous little sensitive self on trial. Gosh if he was sore at us, he might have well, you know, taken up arms and try to kill a few of us. Whew! Glad he's not bitter.

UPDATE: From another viewpoint, here are some comments from the mother of Mike Spann:

[...] Gail Spann, whose son was shot and killed in the Taliban prison uprising at Mazar-e-Sharif on Nov. 25 after interviewing Lindh, said the deal wasn't what her family wanted out of the Justice Department's prosecution of Lindh.

Lindh pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he supplied help to the Taliban and carried explosives. He will serve two 10-year prison sentences and must cooperate with U.S. officials in anti-terrorism efforts.

"I don't think it's a victory to the American people, to the ordinary people," Gail Spann said. "I don't think it is a victory to my son, who gave his life."

Spann said the sentence probably seemed fair to Lindh's family, but didn't seem fair to hers.

"As Mike's mom, I would like for Mike to have had 20 years to live," she said. "Of course, the whole family would have liked to have seen (Lindh) charged with treason from the beginning."

"But we do live in a country where we have to abide by our justice system, and I respect our justice system, as did my son," she added. [...]

And there you see the difference between a true American and everyone else. If you ever wanted to know what "reasoned dissent" means, this is it. I disagree, I think it's wrong, but I respect our system of justice. One wishes John Lindh and those who would defend his actions against his country had similar respect. But at least poor John is not bitter.
posted by Terry at 11:31:00 AM