Washington — John Walker Lindh, the young Muslim convert accused of joining al-Qaida soldiers in Afghanistan, returned to the United States Wednesday under FBI custody to face criminal charges that he conspired to kill fellow Americans.
Lindh flew back aboard a military cargo plane amid high secrecy and tight security, roughly two years after he left the United States for Yemen to study Arabic and Islam. He was captured in Afghanistan after a November uprising by Taliban prisoners in which a CIA officer was killed.
Lindh's flight landed at Dulles International Airport, just outside Washington, said a law enforcement official, speaking on the grounds of anonmity. The plane, with a large American flag painted on its tail, landed on one of the airport's primary runways.
The FBI alleges in court papers that Lindh in June became a foot soldier for Osama bin Laden, who thanked him personally for "taking part in jihad," or holy war. The FBI also claims Lindh learned within weeks of joining bin Laden about suicide teams being sent to America. Those allegations are largely based on statements Lindh made to investigators during two days of interviews in December, when Lindh waived his rights to speak with a lawyer.
"Terrorists did not compel John Walker Lindh to join them," U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said. "John Walker Lindh chose terrorists. Our American system of justice will allow Walker the rights and due process that the terrorists he fought side by side with sought, and still seek, to destroy."
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Wednesday that President Bush believes that Lindh "will now get the justice he deserves." Fleischer called the criminal charges against Lindh "extraordinarily serious."
"He will now have his day in court and he will be judged impartially and fairly," Fleischer said.
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