Gary Faulkner arrives at LAX after returning from Pakistan, where he was detained for allegedly 'hunting' Osama bin Laden. (KTLA-TV) |
LOS ANGELES -- An American construction worker detained in Pakistan while on a solo mission to kill Osama bin Laden has returned to the United States, landing at LAX Wednesday afternoon.
50-year-old Gary Faulkner, orginially from California, boarded a plane at LAX Wednesday evening to return to his home in Colorado, his brother, Scott Faulkner, said.
Before boarding, Faulkner was asked by reporters if he planned to return to Pakistan. "Absolutely," he said. He added cryptically, "You'll find out at the end of August."
Faulkner said he was well cared for during his confinement and that Pakistani medical workers administered dialysis to treat his kidney disease.
Faulkner said he put his "life on the line to go out there."
"This is not about me. What this is about is the American people and the world. We can't let people like this scare us," he told reporters at LAX.
"We don't get scared by people like this. We scare them. And that's what this is about. We're going to take care of business and we will take care of business very soon."
Faulkner had been detained in Pakistan since June 13, when authorities found him in the woods near the Afghan border with a pistol, a 40-inch sword and night-vision equipment.
"We initially laughed when he told us that he wanted to kill Osama bin Laden," said senior Pakistani police official Mumtaz Ahmad Khan. "But when officers found weapons... our suspicion grew."
Khan said Faulkner was trying to cross into the nearby Afghan region of Nuristan, one of several rumored hiding places for bin Laden along the rugged Afghan-Pakistan border.
He was questioned in the main northwest city of Peshawar and then moved to Islamabad before being released. Scott Faulkner said the Pakistani government decided to released him without charges.
Gary Faulkner reportedly told authorities that God prompting him in one of his dreams to travel to Pakistan in search of al-Qaida's leader.
Catching bin Laden was Faulkner's passion, his brother Scott said. A devout Christian with a prison record, Faulkner has been to Pakistan at least six times, learned some of the local language, and even grew a long beard to blend in, relatives and acquaintances said.
Faulkner retained vivid memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was serious but rational about his search, his brother said. When Scott Faulkner dropped his brother off at Denver's airport May 30, the two discussed the possibility Faulkner would not return alive.
"He's as normal as you and I," Scott Faulkner said. "He's just very passionate."
Scott Faulkner said his brother sold all his tools to finance his trip and was prepared to die in Pakistan. He said Faulkner had a travel visa, obtained his weapons inside Pakistan and only took with him a Bible and plastic handcuffs.
Gary Faulkner was in and out of Colorado state prisons between 1981 and 1993, serving a total of about seven years in five separate stints for burglary, larceny and parole violations, state officials said.
Bin Laden has evaded a massive manhunt since Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, which he is accused of masterminding along with other attacks. The federal government has offered a bounty of $25 million for information leading to his capture.
Khan said when Faulkner was asked why he thought he could trace bin Laden, he replied, "God is with me, and I am confident I will be successful in killing him."
50-year-old Gary Faulkner, orginially from California, boarded a plane at LAX Wednesday evening to return to his home in Colorado, his brother, Scott Faulkner, said.
Before boarding, Faulkner was asked by reporters if he planned to return to Pakistan. "Absolutely," he said. He added cryptically, "You'll find out at the end of August."
Faulkner said he was well cared for during his confinement and that Pakistani medical workers administered dialysis to treat his kidney disease.
Faulkner said he put his "life on the line to go out there."
"This is not about me. What this is about is the American people and the world. We can't let people like this scare us," he told reporters at LAX.
"We don't get scared by people like this. We scare them. And that's what this is about. We're going to take care of business and we will take care of business very soon."
Faulkner had been detained in Pakistan since June 13, when authorities found him in the woods near the Afghan border with a pistol, a 40-inch sword and night-vision equipment.
"We initially laughed when he told us that he wanted to kill Osama bin Laden," said senior Pakistani police official Mumtaz Ahmad Khan. "But when officers found weapons... our suspicion grew."
Khan said Faulkner was trying to cross into the nearby Afghan region of Nuristan, one of several rumored hiding places for bin Laden along the rugged Afghan-Pakistan border.
He was questioned in the main northwest city of Peshawar and then moved to Islamabad before being released. Scott Faulkner said the Pakistani government decided to released him without charges.
Gary Faulkner reportedly told authorities that God prompting him in one of his dreams to travel to Pakistan in search of al-Qaida's leader.
Catching bin Laden was Faulkner's passion, his brother Scott said. A devout Christian with a prison record, Faulkner has been to Pakistan at least six times, learned some of the local language, and even grew a long beard to blend in, relatives and acquaintances said.
Faulkner retained vivid memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was serious but rational about his search, his brother said. When Scott Faulkner dropped his brother off at Denver's airport May 30, the two discussed the possibility Faulkner would not return alive.
"He's as normal as you and I," Scott Faulkner said. "He's just very passionate."
Scott Faulkner said his brother sold all his tools to finance his trip and was prepared to die in Pakistan. He said Faulkner had a travel visa, obtained his weapons inside Pakistan and only took with him a Bible and plastic handcuffs.
Gary Faulkner was in and out of Colorado state prisons between 1981 and 1993, serving a total of about seven years in five separate stints for burglary, larceny and parole violations, state officials said.
Bin Laden has evaded a massive manhunt since Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, which he is accused of masterminding along with other attacks. The federal government has offered a bounty of $25 million for information leading to his capture.
Khan said when Faulkner was asked why he thought he could trace bin Laden, he replied, "God is with me, and I am confident I will be successful in killing him."
