DUNDERHEAD ROAD :

Ballad Honors Taliban John (AP | July 21, 2002)

American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh is glorified and called Jesus-like in a country-rock song to be released soon by maverick singer-songwriter Steve Earle.

The controversial ballad called "John Walker's Blues" is backed by the chanting of Arabic prayers and praises Allah.

Earle's lyrics describe the United States as "the land of the infidel." Those fighting Usama bin Laden's declared jihad against the United States and Jews are said to have hearts "pure and strong."

The song says when Lindh dies, he will "rise up to the sky like Jesus."

I'm a big Steve Earle fan, despite the many troubles he's had in his own life. But one assumes that stupidity like this flows from some bitterness he feels at being sent to prison during his drug addict days. Maybe he should watch Midnight Express before he decides he got a raw deal here. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 21, 2002 8:20 PM