Washington Post: Bowe Bergdahl Faces Charges of Desertion

[pcgeek11]

What I find weird about this whole thing are the pro-military neocon chicken hawks thinking we should of left him in captivity until he ended up in a beheading video.

I never served in the military and I would like to hear from someone who has/does serve in a wartime theater and believes he should of been left as a pow. I also want to know the reasons they believe this so strongly.

For everyone who says he should of been left there and has NEVER served I dont think your opinion on the matter should have any weight.

Rudeguy -Have you served? Saying this guy should be shot is a pretty extreme stance to take before any trial.

As a retired serviceman 20 years. I do not think he should have been left. I do think we gave away too much, but whatever. I am glad he is back to answer for himself what and why he deserted his fellow servicemen in a war zone? For this alone if convicted he should get jail time and a loss of all pay and benefits.

Yes I do feel that he is guilty.

 

[JSt0rm]

Nope, never served.

Read his emails. Read the wiki page on him. Read the facts that are already known. Read how people died trying to save his worthless ass.

I thought that it was established those people didn't die trying to save him but died because they were in a war zone? What is the truth on that? (not pointing fingers at anyone just would like to know)

 

[JSt0rm]

As a retired serviceman 20 years. I do not think he should have been left. I do think we gave away too much, but whatever. I am glad he is back to answer for himself what and why he deserted his fellow servicemen in a war zone? For this alone if convicted he should get jail time and a loss of all pay and benefits.

Yes I do feel that he is guilty.

Ok yeah. I dont think anyone around here thought we should of left him over there but some people have expressed that idea. But with the internet I guess every idea gets expressed.

 

[rudeguy]

I thought that it was established those people didn't die trying to save him but died because they were in a war zone? What is the truth on that? (not pointing fingers at anyone just would like to know)

It all depends on if you believe the guys that were there or the politicians trying to save face.

 

[JSt0rm]

It all depends on if you believe the guys that were there or the politicians trying to save face.

So the guys that were there said people died on rescue missions looking for him?

 

[JSt0rm]

So I did a quick search and found this:

"While many questions remain, a Reuters reconstruction of his disappearance indicates that at the time when Bergdahl’s six comrades in the 1st Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment were killed in August and September 2009, his fallen comrades were on other missions like securing the Afghan elections and, according to one U.S. military official, the period of intensive ground searches had already ended.
But several soldiers in his unit say the quest to locate him never really ended, and that it was an element of every mission they undertook, prompting some to blame the deaths on him."

So I guess it doesnt seem so black and white to me. Im not saying he is guilty or innocent of things but that should go to trial for sure.

 

[rudeguy]

So the guys that were there said people died on rescue missions looking for him?

Yes.

I believe what you are thinking of was there were reports that 14 people died, which was bull. 6 died on patrols that can be tied to him. The other 8 were a stretch to connect at best. Thats why I encouraged you to read up a bit. Get past the media headlines and political talking points. There is too much garbage being spread by both sides.

 

[JSt0rm]

Yes.

I believe what you are thinking of was there were reports that 14 people died, which was bull. 6 died on patrols that can be tied to him. The other 8 were a stretch to connect at best. Thats why I encouraged you to read up a bit. Get past the media headlines and political talking points. There is too much garbage being spread by both sides.

Yeah. Found this in a cnn article and I think it supports your point more:

"
"The fact of the matter is, when those soldiers were killed, they would not have been where they were at if Bergdahl had not have left," said former Sgt. Evan Buetow, Bergdahl's former team leader. "Bergdahl leaving changed the mission."
Those charges were repeatedby a noncommissioned officer who requested anonymity because he is still in the Army, one who described himself as a two-time voter for President Obama, lest anyone think his comments were political in any way.
"If Bergdahl hadn't left it's entirely plausible that they wouldn't have had those follow-on missions or been where they were," said the NCO, who served in the 501st.
Some also argue that the personnel recovery mission angered the local population, and created patterns in troops' movement that made insurgent attacks easier."




Still it should all come out in court and Im glad he didnt become beheading fodder for isis propaganda.

 

[rudeguy]

Yeah. Found this in a cnn article and I think it supports your point more:

"
"The fact of the matter is, when those soldiers were killed, they would not have been where they were at if Bergdahl had not have left," said former Sgt. Evan Buetow, Bergdahl's former team leader. "Bergdahl leaving changed the mission."
Those charges were repeatedby a noncommissioned officer who requested anonymity because he is still in the Army, one who described himself as a two-time voter for President Obama, lest anyone think his comments were political in any way.
"If Bergdahl hadn't left it's entirely plausible that they wouldn't have had those follow-on missions or been where they were," said the NCO, who served in the 501st.
Some also argue that the personnel recovery mission angered the local population, and created patterns in troops' movement that made insurgent attacks easier."




Still it should all come out in court and Im glad he didnt become beheading fodder for isis propaganda.

I just wish we had done this the right way. We broke our laws, we broke international laws, we released seriously bad people for him, we showed the bad guys that we will deal with them on their terms.

Maybe we still shoot him but just kneecap him.

 

[ivwshane]

I just wish we had done this the right way. We broke our laws, we broke international laws, we released seriously bad people for him, we showed the bad guys that we will deal with them on their terms.

Maybe we still shoot him but just kneecap him.

We didn't break any laws, we did exactly what nations are supposed to do at the end of a conflict, exchange POWs.

 

[Jhhnn]

Yes.

I believe what you are thinking of was there were reports that 14 people died, which was bull. 6 died on patrols that can be tied to him. The other 8 were a stretch to connect at best. Thats why I encouraged you to read up a bit. Get past the media headlines and political talking points. There is too much garbage being spread by both sides.

So "can be tied to him" is kinda like "links to al qaeda" from the Cheney era, I take it.

 

[Jhhnn]

I just wish we had done this the right way. We broke our laws, we broke international laws, we released seriously bad people for him, we showed the bad guys that we will deal with them on their terms.

Maybe we still shoot him but just kneecap him.

Yeh, just make Bergdahl the whipping boy, right after making the perfect the enemy of the good.

 

[Fern]

We didn't break any laws, we did exactly what nations are supposed to do at the end of a conflict, exchange POWs.

Conflict hasn't ended.

We still have about 10,000 troops there and they aren't leaving anytime soon.

The whole 'end of conflict' angle was just BS spouted by the WH.

Laws were broken; Congress should have been notified.

Reminds me of another line of BS put forth by the WH: His health was failing. His US medical checkup upon release said he was fine.

Fern

 

[rudeguy]

So "can be tied to him" is kinda like "links to al qaeda" from the Cheney era, I take it.

LOL, you ate your Wheaties tonight!

But no. "Can be tied to him" is coming from the guys directly involved and not a politician.

 

[Jhhnn]

Conflict hasn't ended.

We still have about 10,000 troops there and they aren't leaving anytime soon.

The whole 'end of conflict' angle was just BS spouted by the WH.

Laws were broken; Congress should have been notified.

Reminds me of another line of BS put forth by the WH: His health was failing. His US medical checkup upon release said he was fine.

Fern

Yeh, the North Vietnamese tried to fatten 'em up a little at release, too.

What it all comes down to is that Repubs have no intention of admitting that Obama ever did anything right so they'll pick away at what really was a good thing.

The whole broke the law! didn't inform congress! is a truly ridiculous line of attack when we're dealing with things beyond our control. You know, the Taliban. The deal had been talked up around congress long before it was done, anyway, so when the details were set, the Admin acted.

It's the hurf burf sour grapes attack.

 

[Fern]

Yeh, the North Vietnamese tried to fatten 'em up a little at release, too.

What it all comes down to is that Repubs have no intention of admitting that Obama ever did anything right so they'll pick away at what really was a good thing.

The whole broke the law! didn't inform congress! is a truly ridiculous line of attack when we're dealing with things beyond our control. You know, the Taliban. The deal had been talked up around congress long before it was done, anyway, so when the details were set, the Admin acted.

It's the hurf burf sour grapes attack.

IMO not a good thing. Bringing back? Yes, good. Releasing those 5 guys? No, not at all.

3 are reportedly already back at it. If they cause any deaths to Americans, or anybody else for that matter, would you still consider it a "good thing"?

It has been reported that there were alternatives offered for his release. Short of a free nuke weapon this one was likely the worst.

Let's not kid ourselves. Obama doesn't give a crap about Bergdahl. He was merely a convenient excuse to let those guys out of GITMO; that was his real objective

Fern

 

[touchstone]

Do I think it's a good thing that we are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by not housing these fools for the rest of their lives, yes. Do I think releasing them gives us credit on the world stage and especially with arab states, yes. Do I care that 1 of them was killed in a drone strike, and that 2 are unaccounted for? Not at all. They were not high value assets.


You imprison goat farmers and act like they are Mi6 or some crap. Idiot.

 

[JSt0rm]

Let's not kid ourselves. Obama doesn't give a crap about Bergdahl. He was merely a convenient excuse to let those guys out of GITMO; that was his real objective

Fern

That's a pretty wild statement.

 

[nickqt]

That's a pretty wild statement.

Obama wanted those guys out of Gitmo because Obama is secretly a Mooselman and supports the terrerrerrerrists.

 

[touchstone]

Obama wanted those guys out of Gitmo because Obama is secretly a Mooselman and supports the terrerrerrerrists.

Does he really believe this stuff? I don't get it. I really don't at all, it can't be real... people can't be so afraid of a black president that they actually believe he is colluding with the taliban. rofl

 

[Jhhnn]

3 are reportedly already back at it. If they cause any deaths to Americans, or anybody else for that matter, would you still consider it a "good thing"?

Pure fear mongering hogwash-

http://www.newsweek.com/taliban-leaders-are-living-luxury-qatar-316122

They can't leave Qatar because they have no place to go.

 

[ivwshane]

You can claim it was White House BS but the war has been officially declared over.

http://nypost.com/2014/12/28/war-in-afghanistan-officially-over-after-13-years/

Conflict hasn't ended.

We still have about 10,000 troops there and they aren't leaving anytime soon.

The whole 'end of conflict' angle was just BS spouted by the WH.

Laws were broken; Congress should have been notified.

Reminds me of another line of BS put forth by the WH: His health was failing. His US medical checkup upon release said he was fine.

Fern

 

[werepossum]

You don't understand the difference between hating ones country and hating what ones country is becoming or has become?

Surely you aren't this regarded? You've been pretty level headed until you started equating bergdahls comments with hating America and wanting to join our enemies.

If I'm ashamed to be an American because of the racial injustice that still plagues this country, does that mean I hate America? Does that mean I want to join al queda?

What if I'm ashamed to be an American because the country that used to stand for liberty and freedom now spies on it's citizens and pays governments bills off the back of it's citizens in a never ending cycle? Does that mean I hate America? Am I now implying that I want to join a terrorist organization?

If I say I'm ashamed to be an American because of the amount of stupidity out citizens not only consume but also the level of stupidity they express and the amount of stupidity they elect to office. Does that mean I hate America? Should the NSA/CIA be screening my communications?

What's scary is that in your mind, the answer appears to be yes, yes I hate America. How very authoritarian of you.

Bergdahl's statements are copious and speak for him. If you wish to believe that someone can hate America and yet not hate America, well, it's a free country and people believe pretty much any fool thing one can imagine.

So I did a quick search and found this:

"While many questions remain, a Reuters reconstruction of his disappearance indicates that at the time when Bergdahl’s six comrades in the 1st Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment were killed in August and September 2009, his fallen comrades were on other missions like securing the Afghan elections and, according to one U.S. military official, the period of intensive ground searches had already ended.
But several soldiers in his unit say the quest to locate him never really ended, and that it was an element of every mission they undertook, prompting some to blame the deaths on him."

So I guess it doesnt seem so black and white to me. Im not saying he is guilty or innocent of things but that should go to trial for sure.

Well said. It certainly isn't black and white at all. Bergdahl surely played a part in their patrols, but they would have been pulling missions either way. I tend to believe the people on the ground, but due to Bergdahl's betrayal they are understandably anything but neutral. I don't think those of us safe in the States can make an educated guess, and I'd guess even Army investigators would have difficulty saying either way. War is dangerous, period. In any case, even if evidence is overwhelming that Bergdahl walked off on his own, the Army is still going to send people looking for him. That's only right, as occasionally overwhelming evidence turns out to be wrong.

Conflict hasn't ended.

We still have about 10,000 troops there and they aren't leaving anytime soon.

The whole 'end of conflict' angle was just BS spouted by the WH.

Laws were broken; Congress should have been notified.

Reminds me of another line of BS put forth by the WH: His health was failing. His US medical checkup upon release said he was fine.

Fern

Agreed, laws were broken and Congress should have been notified as required by law. But to more or less quote Chris Rock, I'm not saying I agree - but I understand. If you give Obama the benefit of the doubt and assume he truly believed that repatriating Bergdahl was the right thing to do - and since I agree, I have no trouble giving him the benefit of the doubt in spite of his ham-fisted attempt to score political points for it - then following the law would make his task materially harder.

 

[cabri]

At any rate.... bergdahl says he wasn't looking for the taliban... he was simply trying to walk to the nearest Army base to report wrong doing in his unit.

http://antiwar.com/blog/2015/03/27/army-report-confirms-bergdahl-never-intended-to-desert/

Did he come up with story after he realized he would lose the $300,000 back pay?

Bunch of BS

Link - CNN

U.S. troops who served alongside Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on the day he disappeared told CNN that the emerging "whistleblower" defense being prepared for him makes no sense.

Bergdahl's lawyer is making the case that Bergdahl left his post on foot to report his unit for troubling behavior, but his fellow troops say the platoon was already scheduled to drive back to their Forward Operating Base, or FOB, just hours after his disappearance.
"We were literally going back to the FOB Sharana the next day," then-Sgt. Evan Buetow, Bergdahl's team leader, told CNN. "If for whatever reason Bergdahl had complaints, he could have brought them to the attention of senior officers before our five-day mission, or easily could have waited a few more hours till we returned to the FOB."

Then-Specialist Josh Cornelison, the platoon medic, said the base was "a lengthy drive away from" Observation Post Mest, where Bergdahl was last seen by his fellow troops.
"And he wanted to walk back? Knowing full well how many times we'd been blown up on the way there and back? Everyone knew bad dudes were around and watching us move to and from OP Mest," Cornelison said.

If Bergdahl waited to return to FOB Sharana he could have used a computer at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation center at Sharana "to send out a mass email to whoever he wanted or he could have used to phones to call any news outlet about the misdeeds that we never committed," he said.

in addition to questions as to why Bergdahl would walk on foot to FOB Sharana to report alleged malfeasance instead of waiting a few hours to drive there, his fellow troops note that Bergdahl, against protocol, left his weapon and other equipment behind.

"He was going to violate military protocol to report violations of military protocol?" Full asked. "There are so many ways you can do things like this in the Army. The Army has an open door policy."

Bergdahl also mailed many of his essential items back to the U.S. before disappearing, Full said.

 

[rudeguy]

We didn't break any laws, we did exactly what nations are supposed to do at the end of a conflict, exchange POWs.

You are a liar.