Gary Faulkner, seen in this 2006 mugshot, traveled to Pakistan several times to find Osama bin Laden.
Intrigue over Gary Faulkner’s one-man hunt for Osama bin Laden has sparked both outrage and praise on the internet and blogosphere.
Pakistani authorities announced this week that they had picked up the 50-year-old Colorado man near the border with Afghanistan. Armed with a pistol, sword, night-vision equipment and Christian literature, Faulkner told police that he had been hunting bin Laden since the September, 11, 2001 attacks.
Some have dismissed him as mentally unstable, which his brother, a physician, has denied.
But others have lauded his attempt to do what the U.S. government has failed to do for nearly a decade: find the head of al Qaeda, which carried out the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
Faulkner’s exploits have inspired a slew of nicknames on Twitter and Facebook, including Rambo, American Ninja and the new Chuck Norris.
He’s even been turned into an animated character on YouTube.
A Twitter post suggested Faulkner should face off against another daunting foe: the BP oil spill.
“Ask #GaryFaulkner to swim to the sea floor and plug the hole with his fist,” @HerbCarmen posted.
Faulkner’s family is taking it all in stride.
“I do like American ninja, that is pretty cool,” Scott Faulkner said
He said he believed his brother’s mission has tapped into an element of American society.
“It’s true Americana. We all fall in love with Chuck Norris, we fall in love with Clint Eastwood, We fall in love with John Wayne,” Scott Faulkner said. “Why? Because they fight for the American way. They find the bad guy, they may get roughed up a little bit, knocked in the dirt but at the end of the day they come out on top.”
But not all of the internet chatter has been favorable. “Looney Christian warrior” pops up a lot. Scott Faulkner admits his brother’s plan is not something he would attempt, but he insists that Gary is perfectly sane.
“Having known Gary for 43 years I can honestly say he’s not a sociopath, he’s not psychotic, he’s not crazy. He hasn’t harmed anyone.” Faulkner said. “He is an American hero.”
He predicts that Gary will enjoy the media attention when he returns to the United States and suggests who should play the lead role if his brother’s his story ever becomes a movie:
“Jackie Chan with a wig,” Faulkner said. “He’s got the sense of humor and the physical ability.”
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Why is it that modern day christians are so violent, and so intent on killing heathens? They have become a rabid bunch of lunatics, with nothing in common whatsoever with the founder of their religion. Guns and Jesus.........
This man may have his heart in the right place but he delusional on what all he claims to have done out there. I don't doubt he went out there in attempt to help but his claims are false. By the way he talks and the information he does and doesn't give tells me that. I have spent many of years and will continue to be living overseas between Europe, Middle East, Asia, you learn about all cultures when your there and you learn about yourself, your home, America/Americans so much better. And if this man had any respect for the Pakistanis that helped him, befriended him out there he sure as hell would not go disrespecting them on national television with 'It was God Almight Himself and no one else...'that lead him. Seriously that line alone told me this man has a mental issue or is a straight up liar who wants attention.
@anon: No, but YOU are an example of why people think many Americans are becoming left-wing pushover retards. You wouldn't last a day over there trying to find bin Laden or do anything remotely productive lol.
You are very wrong. This guy is taking matters into his own hands and I applaud him. Too many people, particularly in the govt, believe that individual Americans are incapable of protecting themselves or doing something that is good. They think we must be protected, be it from others or ourselves. This guy should be provided with guns, ammo and info. Hope he gets another shot at ti.
And you would? I doubt it, since you seem like one of those rednecks anon was describing, I could imagine you going around insulting everyone you see because they aren't real 'Mericans like yourself, and then you would end up getting shot in the street. But anyway, I don't see what's so wrong with they guy trying to kill Bin Laden, he's a modern-day Boba Fett.
Zack- No he's not. Boba Fett would deliver Bin Laden to the White House frozen in carbonite, done deal. We need him.
Anon, you are right. This is one example of why the world thinks of Americans that way. He is in a foreign country, and the US put the bounty on his head – which in retrospect might have been a bit of a problem for the Pakistani and Afghan governments if more now try to go out there with weapons etc. This guy may not be legally crazy and may have a good heart, but he's not logical and definitely not prepared for the job. I also think his brother is way off the mark saying he blends right in. He may have a beard but he does not look like a native Afghani or Pakistani for that matter.
That would be a great story. "Bin Laden transported to White House encased in Carbonite" lol
If you think we're liberals here, I wouldn't travel outside the US if I were you. But yeah, these kinds of guys are exactly why others laugh at us.
I agree with David!!
What are you doing? What are you fighting for? Do you like this world and what our country has become? Since your such a great example of an American are you willing to kill Bin Laden yourself if you came across him? Or are you a wuss OK with "Obama's world tour of apology"? Guess what Obama's 5 year will kill you, his 8 year old niece will kill you, etc. You sicken me. I am ex-military and myself and others do the dirty work that you and everyone of you holly-er than thou crowd – gets to enjoy the freedom we afford you and the security. You don't have it. I just saw "the Road" either you have in you to survive or die. You don't have it. Go hug Bin Laden and see what will happen. Either you'll turn a traitor or be dead. As far as I am concerned – either your an American ot your not and that mean living and dying for this country by the way you wuss is how we became a great nation. The Civil War was not a waste – it was Americans fighting Americans because they believed in America. In 2010, the average American is a fat spoiled,fat, stupid and willing to negotiate with a terrorist because we like to talk. Talk is great. Let's talk about our feelings- we can all be friend- your are stupid.
Agree with you 100%. Wasn't it Patton who said "The trick is to get the other sob to die for his country"? With this nutcase it worked.
I am not sure what is worse, taking the fight man to man or hiding behind an air drone like the liberals are doing, and killing innocents on the way.
"The only good muslim is a dead one." Wow. If that deserves a patriot medal, I guess we're a nation of violent racists then.. yay us.
You're a nut and clearly someone full of hate and a lack of understanding. There are extremist Islamists, you're right, but there are extremist Christians as well – MOST of them in the US. But MOST Islamists are not extremists, same as most Christians are not.