I find it sad that the very people that are so gungho about sending kids that are 18 years old into another country to wage war are the very ones that wish to exact the harshest punishment upon that same kid for being scared and making poor choices when they get there.
Some kids can take it, some can't. He made a poor choice and paid dearly for it. Others paid dearly for it as well. Enough tragedy has come from this story. Putting this boy in prison for life won't help prevent those other kids that find themselves scared on the battlefield. Newer policies, better counseling within the military, and better filtering of soldiers that may not be able to take the pressure should come from this, not more ruined lives.
Well said. IFF he deserted, then he needs to be punished and imprisoned, period, but unless he intentionally deserted to and aided the enemy nowhere near life. But clearly we need better incentives and better screening and support. I don't particularly care about Bergdahl, but there's no reason to break otherwise functional people who simply don't have the fortitude to be combat soldiers, and there's damned sure no reason to subject real combat soldiers to the poorly planned, rushed and therefore unusually dangerous missions looking for them. Bergdahl is the only soldier to desert to the Taliban, but people like Bradley Manning can also do a great deal of damage. They might want to spend some time looking at generals' mistresses as well, mistresses traditionally being a popular cover occupation for spies.
He's been:
-brought home, like he should have been
-charged, like he should have been
Seems to me like the system is working.
As far as the 5 crazy Talibans, they are a drop in a bucket and Afghanistan's, not America's problem.
Yep - although they are now America's problem as much as or more than Afghanistan's. But regardless of whether these five were retained in custody, it's not like there's a shortage of crazy Muslims.
Over 2000 soldiers per year desert the army. I wouldn't call it systemic, but the fact is some people can't take what they signed up for. This kid felt so trapped that he decided to walk out into the desert.
I'm certainly not saying he was in the right, but perhaps those few that can't take the pressure should have a way to be removed safely before they feel the need to endanger their fellow soldiers.
If, in fact, it comes out that he tried to help the terrorists, then all bets are off IMO. He deserves a very, very harsh punishment.
EDIT: FWIW, I do not disagree with him being charged with desertion. I'm speaking to those that are foaming at the mouth and happy to hand down a life sentence already.
Again, well said. Although I can certainly understand why those who served (risking being sent out to search for people like Bergdahl) would have less sympathy for him than do I.
Can't really compare deserting in a combat zone with deserting in the states though. It's not like MPs looking for deserters face ambuscades and IEDs.
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