Of all the surprises since

Sept. 11, perhaps the most unexpected development is the discovery of

at least one American, possibly as many as three, who have been fighting

with the Taliban. Two of the suspected Americans are said to be in the

hands of the Northern Alliance and have not yet been identified. One,

however, has been positively identified as John Philip Walker of Fairfax,

Calif. Currently, he is in the custody of American forces.

Defense Secretary Donald H.

Rumsfeld said last week, "We found a person who says he's an American

with an AK-47 in a prison with a bunch of al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners."

The Associated Press reported that an injured man who identified himself

as John Walker was receiving medical treatment from U.S. forces after

emerging from a battle-scarred fortress in Mazar-e-Sharif. Walker, 20,

the son of Roman Catholic parents, who converted to Islam when he was

16, was said to have suffered grenade and bullet wounds.

The question on the minds of

some is, "What is going to happen to John Walker?" If Walker's

father has his way, apparently nothing very dramatic.

On CNN's "Larry King Live"

program Monday night, Walker's father, Frank Lindh, said it appeared his

son had been a combatant with the Taliban. "He's really not much

more than a boy," he said. "We want to give him a big hug. I

also want to give him maybe a little kick in the butt for not telling

me what he was up to and for not getting my permission, because I would

not have given him permission to go to Afghanistan."

Not much more than a boy? Give

him a big hug? A little kick in the butt? What does Lindh not understand

about this situation? His son is a traitor to his country, he has renounced

the faith of his childhood, and he is a terrorist (excuse me "alleged

terrorist") who has taken up arms against his own nation.

While Lindh may think his 20-year-old

son is little more "than a boy," there are hundreds, perhaps

thousands, of 17-, 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old men (who have earned the

right to be called "men") who are serving with honor and distinction

with The United States Army and United States Marines on the ground in

Afghanistan. There are many others of that age range who are serving on

board ships with The United States Navy and others who are proudly serving

in the United States Air Force in or near that troubled land.

My wife and I have a 20-year-old

son who is serving his nation with the United States Air Force and this

much I know my 20-year-old is not a "little boy." He is a man

with a man's load to carry. A little boy? John Walker is old enough to

carry an AK-47 and presumably fire upon other human beings.

The Taliban is well known for

torture, brutality, and murder in Afghanistan. Is there any reason to

suspect that Walker, already confirmed as a traitor, would hesitate to

be a good Taliban soldier? Was he among those who routinely murdered farmers,

peasants, women, and children in Afghanistan?

Give him a big hug? As a father,

I understand the desire to hold one's son and to think the very best about

him. But I have to wonder why did this father not oppose his son's conversion

to Islam at the age of 16? Sixteen-year-olds are not trusted to buy ammunition,

buy alcohol, or vote. Why did he think that he was responsible enough

to choose a faith other that that of his training? And who paid for his

Islamic studies in Yemen and Pakistan, of all places? Perhaps Walker should

have been given a few swift kicks a few years ago, instead of being offered

sentimental hugs today.

Give him a little kick in the

butt? Is that really what Lindh thinks should be the fate of his son?

Does he really think that the folks on the ground who have been shot at

confused. Here, have a Twinkie and go home to Daddy"?

If the Northern Alliance has

their way (as one could argue that they should, since Walker has been

shooting at them), Walker could be tortured, mutilated, and executed.

After all, that's the Taliban way. This past week, Taliban soldiers cut

the noses and ears off of six men who had shaved their beards in violation

of Taliban rules.

Or does Lindh think that these

"misguided" Taliban soldiers are little more than boys who need

a big hug and a little kick? These vicious butchers are members of the

same Taliban that Walker joined and fought with. The same Taliban that

supported the attacks on American that took thousands of lives on Sept.

11. The same Taliban that would kill Lindh, and all other Americans, if

they could.

If Walker is judged a traitor,

as he should be, one supposes that he could merely be shot or hanged.

Or perhaps he could be brought