Rambo-style hunter of Osama bin Laden dying of kidney disease

ISLAMABAD/LOS ANGELES - An American aiming to hunt down Osama bin Laden in a Rambo-style solo mission is reportedly dying from a kidney disease.

Gary Brooks Faulkner, 51, was detained in northern Pakistan where security forces believe he was on a one man quest to find and decapitate bin Laden in revenge for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Faulkner, who has been dubbed “Rambo” and the “American Ninja,” was arrested with night-vision goggles, a pistol, dagger and 40-inch sword that may have been intended for use on bin Laden, the Telegraph reports.

He had grown a long beard in an attempt to pass for a Taliban fighter and was carrying with him a book containing Christian verses and teachings.

Unlike Rambo, the elite soldier character made famous by actor Sylvester Stallone, he also had with him medication to treat his high blood pressure and kidney condition.

His sister Deanna Faulkner, 55, said he needed dialysis every three days but could survive without for up to two weeks.

She said: “He only has nine per cent kidney function and the only thing that can cure him is a transplant. I’m guessing that he wanted to do one last thing for his country before he died.

Since 1981, Faulkner has been arrested at least 10 times on charges ranging from traffic offences to theft and domestic violence, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Meanwhile, the New York Times quoted another sister of Faulkner, Martin, as saying that she wasn’t totally surprised he had been detained.

Describing her brother as “very patriotic,” she said he had grown frustrated with the public debate over the country’s involvement in two major wars because, in his view, the main cause had been forgotten.

His brother, Dr. Scott Faulkner, said Gary was not crazy.

“He’s not a psychopath. He’s not a sociopath. He’s a man on a mission,” Dr. Faulkner said.

Ms. Martin said she was at a bit of a loss to explain Mr. Faulkner’s quest. “I love my brother,” she said. “He’s always been a good guy. People are asking me, ‘Why?’ For me, it’s not what I would do.” (ANI)