Dealing With Captured American al-Qaida, Adam Gadahan

Karachi, Pakistan—In 2004, I began investigating Adam Gadahan in Southern California. He’d become a big news story following a captured American Taliban fighter, John Walker Lindh now doing serious federal prison time. I interviewed Gadahan's family members and people that knew him before he relocated to Pakistan.

Gadahan grew up in a rural area of Riverside County, CA. Gadahan's father still owns the goat farm there. Gadahan became a Muslim joined a Mosque in Orange County where his hot temper got his a brush with the law. His assault on another Muslim at the Mosque resulted in his only known criminal record.

Gadahan was vigorously defended by is aunt who first claimed that her nephew was not involved with al-Qaida but later suggested that he’s must have been brainwashed in Pakistan.

One thing we know for sure Gadahn made videos that threatened his former country, tried to recruit Americans to join the al-Qaida terror campaign and pissed off a lot of Americans. He also urged al-Qaida sympathetic Americans to make war here.

Gadahan was soon indicted and had a $1 million bounty placed on his head. Finally Gadahan has been captured and may face now the music for his behavior.

Gadahan was charged with Treason. The only person in recent memory to face that charge was 70 year-old lady lawyer Lynne Stewart. Stewart is doing time for that right now.

The defense of treason is protected free speech. Gadahan’s propaganda videos are all speech but really nasty speech at that.

I’m much more interested in his associations and knowledge. I’d give him immunity if his revelations could cripple or destroy al-Qaida. I’d hope they’d give this kid the opportunity to redeem himself. Of course if he can’t deliver that he can rot in prison for the rest of his life. Treason is not a capital offense these days.