Bergdahl to be charged with desertion

[OutHouse]

Good. Fuck that coward.

 

[bshole]

Good. Fuck that coward.

We need more heroes like you on the front lines. I quaver and cower before your valor..... matched only by your deep and heartfelt empathy.

 

[werepossum]

Even traitors should be brought home to face trial.

Agreed. He may be a traitor, but he's OUR traitor. And he went to seek out the Taliban, but maybe he's not a traitor, just bug fucking nuts. Won't really know until the trial.

Susan Rice: Bergdahl Served With 'Honor and Distinction'

This the same Bergdahl whose return Obama celebrated with a White House Rose Garden photo op?

The same Bergdahl that Obama's National Security Adviser claimed served with "Honor and Distinction?"

The same Bergdahl that the Obama administration traded for five Taliban leaders? A transaction that the Government Accountability Office later found in 'clear violation of the law"?

The same Bergdahl that military.com reports is in line for $300,000 in back pay and special compensation?


Uno

That was a WTF moment from the get go. Obama obviously expected to be lauded as some sort of hero for arranging his return and was preparing to fete Bergdahl as someone who, well, had served with "Honor and Distinction" even though the Army investigation clearly showed he had intentionally deserted to the Taliban. Was Obama that poorly served, or just that arrogant to believe he could control the message?

I hope they throw the book at Bergdahl, but I'm glad he was brought in.

 

[bshole]

That was a WTF moment from the get go. Obama obviously expected to be lauded as some sort of hero for arranging his return and was preparing to fete Bergdahl as someone who, well, had served with "Honor and Distinction" even though the Army investigation clearly showed he had intentionally deserted to the Taliban. Was Obama that poorly served, or just that arrogant to believe he could control the message?

Did every cross your mind, that maybe, just maybe, Obama KNEW going in that he would pay a heavy political price for this move? That he put principle and ethics BEFORE politics and went ahead did the right thing anyways. That is how I see it and respect Obama all the more for it.

Obama is an ivy league grad surrounded by incredibly sharp people. One would have to be rather naive to believe he was unaware of the political blowback from this move. I was certainly aware that he would take heavy hits from the moment the swap was announced. This is the very definition of great leadership.... to do the right thing even when it is unpopular.

 

[cabri]

Did every cross your mind, that maybe, just maybe, Obama KNEW going in that he would pay a heavy political price for this move? That he put principle and ethics BEFORE politics and went ahead did the right thing anyways. That is how I see it and respect Obama all the more for it.

Obama is an ivy league grad surrounded by incredibly sharp people. One would have to be rather naive to believe he was unaware of the political blowback from this move. I was certainly aware that he would take heavy hits from the moment the swap was announced. This is the very definition of great leadership.... to do the right thing even when it is unpopular.

Nope - he did it for political gain and it back fired.
Otherwise, there would not have been all the chest beating/press conferences and dog/pony shows at the WH.

 

[highland145]

Nope - he did it for political gain and it back fired.
Otherwise, there would not have been all the chest beating/press conferences and dog/pony shows at the WH.

QFT

 

[werepossum]

Did every cross your mind, that maybe, just maybe, Obama KNEW going in that he would pay a heavy political price for this move? That he put principle and ethics BEFORE politics and went ahead did the right thing anyways. That is how I see it and respect Obama all the more for it.

Obama is an ivy league grad surrounded by incredibly sharp people. One would have to be rather naive to believe he was unaware of the political blowback from this move. I was certainly aware that he would take heavy hits from the moment the swap was announced. This is the very definition of great leadership.... to do the right thing even when it is unpopular.

Nope. Obama clearly was caught wrong-footed by the backlash. Besides the Rose Garden fiasco, there were several events scheduled and then hastily canceled. Obama lauded Bergdahl as having served with honor and distinction, invited the man's parents to the White House for the event. He not only wasn't expecting to take any political heat for this, he was expecting to be lauded as a hero and was completely unprepared for the firestorm that erupted - even though pretty much everything in D.C. is a firestorm. I don't think I've ever seen a President get caught so completely flat-footed. It was just bizarre.

We can't really blame Obama since apparently neither the New York Times nor ESPN warned him, but where the hell were all the smart people who normally surround a President?

 

[nickqt]

How dare the President bring an American soldier home who was being held as a hostage.

It's disgusting, and we should lambaste the President for doing so.

Mission Accomplished.

 

[cabri]

How dare the President bring an American soldier home who was being held as a hostage.

It's disgusting, and we should lambaste the President for doing so.

Mission Accomplished.

Except that he was not as what was made out to be.

The President would have been advised and still went through with teh dog/pony.

Only after the backlash, did they WH start to back pedal.

Same as with the Libyan incident - they put forward a story that made them look good; then when the facts wre able to trickle out, the story changed.

 

[Subyman]

He should go to trial no doubt. I'm sure the judge will take into account all he's been through when or if he is found guilty.

 

[Fern]

The guy has been punished plenty already. His punishment was the hell he went through as a Taliban prisoner. Let him get on with his life.

This reminds me of the man who, having killed his mother and father, asks the court for mercy because he is an orphan.

Fern

 

[cabri]

He should go to trial no doubt. I'm sure the judge will take into account all he's been through when or if he is found guilty.

Based on information currently available, probably found guilty, busted to PFC.
DD

No prison time because that would then be vindictive due to he MAY have been a "captive"

 

[TreVader]

So, I am not knowledgable at all on this subject, but thankfully that hasn't prevented me from forming an opinion....


Assuming this guy is a deserter, what value is it if you trade 5 taliban for him, then lock him up when he gets here? Why not just leave him with the taliban, and if he's here set him free? It costs tons of money to hold a man imprisoned for the rest of his life.


Also, I don't know if you guys have been paying attention, but there is this thing called "ISIS" now. It is currently invading like 5 different countries and one of those countries happens to be afghanistan, and guess who isn't too keen on ISIS rolling into their pashtun tribal society and creating thier own islamic state? That's right, our old frenemies, the taliban! So maybe these 5 taliban are more value to us in afghanistan fighting ISIS than stuck in Guantanamo?

 

[schmuckley]

Well, yeh, but it's what they want to believe, so Charge! Into the breach bearing the flag of Glenbeckistan!

When the Army makes an official statement, I'll believe 'em.

:awe:
LOL
:thumbsup:
I hope they do.

 

[schmuckley]

Nope. Obama clearly was caught wrong-footed by the backlash. Besides the Rose Garden fiasco, there were several events scheduled and then hastily canceled. Obama lauded Bergdahl as having served with honor and distinction, invited the man's parents to the White House for the event. He not only wasn't expecting to take any political heat for this, he was expecting to be lauded as a hero and was completely unprepared for the firestorm that erupted - even though pretty much everything in D.C. is a firestorm. I don't think I've ever seen a President get caught so completely flat-footed. It was just bizarre.

We can't really blame Obama since apparently neither the New York Times nor ESPN warned him, but where the hell were all the smart people who normally surround a President?

@ the Mosque..It's prayer time.

 

[Angry Irishman]

Did every cross your mind, that maybe, just maybe, Obama KNEW going in that he would pay a heavy political price for this move? That he put principle and ethics BEFORE politics and went ahead did the right thing anyways. That is how I see it and respect Obama all the more for it.

Obama is an ivy league grad surrounded by incredibly sharp people. One would have to be rather naive to believe he was unaware of the political blowback from this move. I was certainly aware that he would take heavy hits from the moment the swap was announced. This is the very definition of great leadership.... to do the right thing even when it is unpopular.

Ha
Ha ha
Hahahhahahahhahahhaaaa!!!!!!

 

[Victorian Gray]

@ the Mosque..It's prayer time.

Would that be a mosque in Kenya?

 

[Vic]

This story is fake. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/bowe-bergdahl-desertion-army-114634.html

 

[rudeguy]

Who were always going to be traded back to the Taliban eventually for something anyway or simply sent home when the detention center at Gitmo closes...which by the indications is something Obama wants to do before the end of his last term.

It's the first thing Obama is going to do if he's elected, close Gitmo and restore habeas corpus.

 

[MongGrel]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...ith-desertion-ex-military-intel-officer-says/

Gotta be honest, I didn't think any GOs would have the guts to charge him. Should be interesting.

One of the current administrations biggest fuck ups in my opinion.

Should have been left to rot where he was.

I just don't care for deserters in general, in a combat zone on a guard post even worse, that get other soldiers killed looking for their dumb ass while on patrols later.

Probably should have done the exchange and immediately shot him in the field.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertion

Penalties

In the United States, before the Civil War, deserters from the Army were flogged; after 1861, tattoos or branding were also used. The maximum U.S. penalty for desertion in wartime remains death, although this punishment was last applied to Eddie Slovik in 1945. No U.S. serviceman has received more than 24 months imprisonment for desertion or missing movement in the post-September 11, 2001 era.[39]
A US service member who is AWOL/UA may be punished with non-judicial punishment (NJP) or by court martial under Article 86 of the UCMJ for repeat or more severe offenses.[1][40] Many AWOL/UA service members are also given a discharge in lieu of court-martial.[39][41][42][43][44][45]
The 2012 edition of the United States Manual for Courts-Martial states that:
Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the desertion or attempt to desert occurs at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.

 

[DrDoug]

The Army Times says the story is bs.

One of the current administrations biggest fuck ups in my opinion.

Should have been left to rot where he was.

Yup, we should support our troops until we shouldn't. Leaving them behind is perfectly fine because we support our troops!

I just don't care for deserters in general that get other soldiers killed looking for their dumb ass.

Why waste the time to treat them like an American that has rights, like a trial, to determine if they did something wrong. Just abandon them in the field and forget about them.

Probably should have done the exchange and immediately shot him in the field.

I think that line sounds better in the original German.

 

[Subyman]

The Army Times says the story is bs.



Yup, we should support our troops until we shouldn't. Leaving them behind is perfectly fine because we support our troops!



Why waste the time to treat them like an American that has rights, like a trial, to determine if they did something wrong. Just abandon them in the field and forget about them.



I think that line sounds better in the original German.

I agree with your points. "No man left behind" doesn't quite fit if you are selective about who you try to save.

 

[MongGrel]

The Army Times says the story is bs.



Yup, we should support our troops until we shouldn't. Leaving them behind is perfectly fine because we support our troops!



Why waste the time to treat them like an American that has rights, like a trial, to determine if they did something wrong. Just abandon them in the field and forget about them.

I'm just not even stressing out over this one, the chips will fall where they shall at this point.



I think that line sounds better in the original German.

I'm a former Marine.

I know about "No man left behind", it normally doesn't apply to someone that just walks off a guard post intentionally, like this guy was known for doing in the past and getting others killed looking for him.

I'll just leave it at that, the chips in his case will fall however they do at this point I guess.

 

[DrDoug]

I'm a former Marine.

I know about "No man left behind", it normally doesn't apply to someone that just walks off a guard post intentionally, like this guy was known for doing in the past and getting others killed looking for him.

I'll just leave it at that, the chips in his case will fall however they do at this point I guess.

I can understand people getting pissed if this guy did what he was accused of but what I have problems understanding are those who believe that you are an American until they decide you aren't. We are supposed to be the civilized ones, the ones who use due process, the ones who let the accused confront their accusers if they are wrongly accused and judgment passed if they are guilty. We are not barbarians or at least we're not supposed to be. That's the enemy we fight and we should not be just like that enemy. Bringing him home was the right thing to do. The military will decide what, if anything, should be done with him.

This is as it should be because he has that right as an American soldier.

Here's another grunt's take on this.

 

[Matt1970]

This guy was trying to join sides with the Taliban. The only difference between him and the American Obama ordered the strikes against and had killed was the Taliban decided to take him prisoner instead. I swear to god if Obama decided to nuke half the United States you people would find a way to support it.