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-Farisand 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 two-
hour 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 thatJohn 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, whichclearly 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 asmall 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 hisAl Queda, terrorist,
traitor son, John Walker Lindh, Aka: Sulleyman al Farris, Aka: Abdul Hamid
Respectfully,
Johnny Spann
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