Story Outline

American Captured as Taliban Fighter From a news story by CNN San Francisco Reporter Rusty Dornin December 3, 2001

I. A Taliban fighter was captured.

A. He was starving and could barely walk.
B. The man is only 20 years of age.
C. His name is john Walker.
D. Walker is an American.

II. Frank Lindh is Walker’s father.

A. For seven months, Lindh had not seen or heard from John.
B. Lindh thought his son was a gentle, sweet boy.
C. He never thought John would fight a war.
D. His son converted from Catholicism to Islam at age sixteen.

III. John Walker wanted to study Arabic and Islam abroad.

A. Twice Walker studied Arabic in Yemen.
B. In Pakistan, he learned about the Taliban.
C. Walker read Taliban literature and history.
D. He was moved by the writings of the scholars.

IV. He went to Afghanistan and joined the Taliban in May.

A. Walker joined the Taliban army.
B. When the Taliban troops retreated, he walked a hundred miles.
C. Most of that time, Walker was very sick.
D. Finally, he was captured and taken to prison.
E. Walker said that he supported the September 11th attacks.

V. Frank Lindh has hired a lawyer for his son.

A. Lindh thinks he son was stressed out when questioned.
B. In the prison, men were dying and bombs were exploding.
C. Lindh, an attorney, is not sure his son has done anything wrong.
D. Walker may be tried before a military tribunal.
E. For now, Walker’s future is uncertain.

 

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