| Walker Lindh, the
so-called "Taliban American," told U.S. District Judge T.S.
Ellis III that he "made a mistake by joining the Taliban" and
"had I realized then what I know now about the Taliban I would never
have joined them."
"Life is making choices and living with the consequences," Ellis said. "You made a bad choice to join the Taliban." Walker Lindh sniffled, paused several times and nearly broke down during his 14-minute statement to the court before he was sentenced to spend two decades behind bars. Lindh could get out of prison in less than 17 years. The judge gave him credit for the entire time he has been in custody, including the almost two months that he was in military custody, and good behavior could further reduce his sentence by 54 days each year. This is a tricky situation. While Lindh was involved with the Taliban, does that necessarily mean he knew what he was doing? I don't think a true Taliban is one to admit crimes he committed to a federal court. What I am concerned about his how much he is going to get his ass beaten (or whatever else they might do to it...) by other inmates for being involved with the Taliban.
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| A trail-blazing
initiative appearing on the state ballot asks the public to decriminalize
possession of less than 3 ounces of cannabis for people over 21 and to
require state legislators to devise a regulatory system for its production
and sale.
Under Nevada law, even if the measure passes in November, it would have to be approved by voters again in 2004 to become a constitutional amendment. But proponents are hopeful the measure will pass, marking a startling break from federal drug laws that bar all marijuana possession. The petition effort that placed the initiative on the ballot garnered more than 109,000 signatures or nearly double the required number. A September 26 poll by the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas showed a majority of voters supporting the measure, with 55 percent in favor and 43 percent opposed. In addition, the group promoting the constitutional change, Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, or NRLE, is flush with money -- it has almost $500,000 on hand -- and has run TV ads since September 12. Opponents, who waited until September 27 to officially form Nevadans Against Legalizing Marijuana, may not even have money for mailers, according to the group's members.
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