Will the American Taleban member, John Walker Lindh, be tried by a military tribunal?
No, John Walker Lindh will be tried by a civilian criminal court in the United States – the District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, following President Bush’s decision that only foreign nationals, not US citizens, will be sent to military tribunals. He will be charged with conspiring to kill American citizens abroad and aiding Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terror network. If found guilty of the charges, he could face life imprisonment. A military trial could have ended with a death penalty. A similar case has arisen with an Australian Taleban fighter who is being held in Cuba. Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill has called for him to be tried in Australia under Australian law. So far, there has been no public response from Washington.
