<< Well, here's another point for ya. Let's say you get a credit card. You read in the terms of use that you have to make your payments on time, otherwise your credit score will be affected negatively. That is a predetermined consequence that you agree to by using the credit card. You make your first payment 30 days late. You get a mark. Are you really going to fight that? You made your payment late, so it's time to live up to your actions.
Treason has always been punished with death. Always. Everyone knows that. John Walker defected to the Taliban, knowingly turning his back on his country. He committed treason, now it's time for him to live up to his actions. >>
I bet that even if not making your cc payments on time would be punished with death, there would still be people failing to do so
The cc example is understandable, but the punishment for reason is without reason. It just is, it's a mere tradition, a leftover from other times when people were far less civilized. Again, of all Western countries, the US is the only country which punishes treason with death. Does that make the US superior, or wiser, than all other Western countries?
Also, I'm very careful with blaming people for their actions in the sense of 's/he knew what s/he was doing.'. In the words of Red Dawn, the only thing you can charge this guy with, is poor judgement.
What threat is this guy at the moment to the US? Will he attempt to destroy the US or something on his own, or organise some kind of islamic sect, which will carry out terrorist attacks on targets in the US?
This John Walker make a mistake, so he'll have to live with it. People will remember his actions when they hear his name. Let him live with this disgrace, don't save him from this punishment by some cowardly act.