.. and to say that the US was not at war with al Qaeda or Taliban when he joined them? That he somehow accidentally found himself taking up arms against his own country when the US responded??? Come on. al Qaeda was certainly certainly at war with America from HIS perspective, before 911. Since long before the attacks against the US on 911, John was studying ways to attack America and its civiliam population. He knowingly took part in a jihad against his own culture. The arguement that the rules changed afterwards when America responded - simply doesn't hold water.