Interestingly, while Walker is being provided a trial in the United States, hundreds of his comrades in arms have been denied any such "luxury".
Many across the world should have been relieved to see Walker enter the courtroom without handcuffs or fetters.
No one, however, seems to be concerned about the fate of hundreds of al Qaeda and Taliban captives being kept in Cuba precisely so they cannot approach a court of law.
And this under the aegis of the government of the United States, the defender of liberty and democracy.
Prior to their shifting to this legal no man land of Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, special cages were reportedly built for the captives.
Yes, we are talking about human beings held prisoners in a war.
On shifting of these prisoners from Afghanistan, a photograph taken at Guantanamo Bay showed detainees wearing blackout goggles, earmuffs and surgical masks, and kneeling in open-air cages.
US officials said the prisoners were required to wear the items while being transported to prevent them from biting or attacking guards.
US government said the measures were needed against "hard-core terrorists" who have vowed to kill Americans.
Among these "hard-core terrorists" were a few British Taliban.
The British government, however, criticized the treatment given to them, although Prime Minister Tony Blair took pains to express his satisfaction over the matter later on.
Discrimination based on nationality between captive al Qaeda and Taliban seems to be the result of a confusion.
After all, why should the matter of nationality crop up when a person is to be tried (or punished) for committing a crimeóor for taking sides with an outlawed group.
Those killed by stray bombs in Afghanistan will not return to ask if justice has been heavy-handed with them.
It is heartening that at least some of the captives of the campaign in Afghanistan are being recognised as bona fide citizens of states, and thus entitled to certain rights.
It is time to recognise that others al Qaida, too, are bona fide humans.
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