Bergdahl to be tried for Desertion

Posted by $ blarman 9 years, 2 months ago to News
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This is a big deal because it emphasizes how disastrous Obama's trade for Bergdahl was in the first place and how wrong his entire Administration has been on the matter.
SOURCE URL: http://www.gopusa.com/freshink/2015/01/27/report-bergdahl-to-be-charged-with-desertion/?subscriber=1


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    Posted by DrZarkov99 9 years, 2 months ago
    I spent 20 years in uniform, and was a defendant's advocate (not lawyer, but investigator on behalf of the accused) for several courts martial. Why this has been so muddy and drawn out is the following: Bergdahl walked away from his post without authorization, so he is unquestionably guilty of being absent without leave (AWOL); there are statements he made about feeling it wasn't right for him to be there, so that implies outright desertion (departure from assigned post without intent to return); the big question is whether he cooperated with the Taliban as a willing "captive" to enable the exchange that took place. If the latter is true, then he's guilty of treason (aiding and abetting the enemy).

    I'm betting the only reason Bergdahl hasn't been charged with treason is politics. He may well have been a cooperative "prisoner", with his defense claiming he was not in his right mind due to the stress of being imprisoned. The big question has to be if the President or his representatives were aware of such cooperation and proceeded with the swap anyway, which implies a treasonous act on their part as well. I have no doubt there has been careful scrubbing of all discussion of the incident to eliminate the latter possibility.
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  • Posted by Technocracy 9 years, 2 months ago
    It should not have taken this long to make this decision.

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    • Posted by edweaver 9 years, 2 months ago
      Took the words from my mouth!
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      • Posted by $ Susanne 9 years, 2 months ago
        That should have been a dropkick right out of the gate, and the likely reason it wasn't right off the bat is ol' Potus wanted it to die down in the media as not to bring attention to their failure (on so many levels)... Walk from your unit? In time of war? he's lucky that he won't face a firing squad, tho if he walked "in the heat" or conspired with the enemy that should be on the table as well... just like those who have done so in former conflicts.
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    • Posted by $ jdg 9 years, 2 months ago
      I disagree. When a soldier has been held by the enemy for a long time, "Stockholm syndrome" is very common and understandable. I would only convict him if he actually went over to them voluntarily in the first place, and that answer may very well not have been known right away. Good for DoD for not rushing to judgment.

      (I add that even if I thought him not guilty because of Stockholm syndrome, I would discharge Bergdahl and make sure he never gets a clearance again. And probably surveil him in case he tries to do anything for the enemy.)
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  • Posted by $ AJAshinoff 9 years, 2 months ago
    O set free 5 hardcore terrorists and gave them each essentially 1 Billion US tax dollars for this POS. The man is a traitor if actually a Citizen or a mole of some foreign power, the only explanation.
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  • Posted by $ Susanne 9 years, 2 months ago
    Ever since this travesty has gone down, all those many months ago, a song has been running through my head... Maybe I ought to write it down... :-)

    It goes something like this:
    (with thanks to Harry Belafonte)

    Hey, "O" (The terrorist boat song)


    Hey, "O". Hey, "O".
    Bergdahl come, and you sent your friends home
    "O", me say go, me say no, me say foe me say woah, me say no f'n mo'...
    Bergdahl come, and you sent your friends home

    Backroom deal from da gub'mint scum
    Bergdahl come, and you sent your friends home
    Send dem home, so dat more can come
    Bergdahl come, and you sent your friends home

    Come, Mister Taliban, send home my banana
    Bergdahl come, and da scumbags go home
    Send scumbags back to madrasa cabana
    Bergdahl come, and da scumbags go home

    Kill our troops, kill dem by the bunch
    Bergdahl come, and the enemy go home
    Kill our kids, kill dem by the bunch
    Bergdahl come, and the enemy go home

    "O", me say go-o-o-o...
    Bergdahl come, and da scumbags go home
    "O", me say go, me say no, me say foe me say woah, me say no f'n mo'...
    Bergdahl come, and da scumbags go home

    They a rotten soul ripe with moral pus
    Bergdahl come, and da scumbags go home
    Protect the deadly friends of potus
    Bergdahl come, and da scumbags go home

    Kill our troops, kill dem by the bunch
    Bergdahl come, and the enemy go home
    Kill our kids, kill dem by the bunch
    Bergdahl come, and the enemy go home

    "O", me say go-o-o-o...
    Bergdahl come, and da scumbags go home
    "O", me say go, me say no, me say foe me say woah, me say no f'n mo'...
    Bergdahl come, and da scumbags go home

    Go, Mister Taliban, back to your madrasa
    Bergdahl come, and your scumbags go home
    Please take you back that traitorous Bergdahl bahsta,
    Bergdahl come, and your scumbags go home

    "O", me say go-o-o-o...
    Take your scum, why don't you take them all home
    "O", me say go, me say no, me say foe me say woah, me say no f'n mo'...
    Take your scum, why don't you take them all home
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    • Posted by $ jlc 9 years, 2 months ago
      Oh. That is wonderful. I can hear it...

      Jan
      (and, in my imagination, Gulchers with gourd rattles and bright garments are performing it...)
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  • Posted by term2 9 years, 2 months ago
    Obama is an idiot when it comes to foreign relations. Congress should find some way to keep him from dealing with foreign relations for the next couple of years. I think they should send Birddog back to the Taliban, not waste more money on legal proceedings for desertion. He thought they would treat him better than our government, so let him stew in his own juices.
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  • Posted by Ben_C 9 years, 2 months ago
    ..and most matters. Its time the military show some spine and deal with this matter and the "work place violence" that happened in Fort Hood. We will not be able to sudue Islam with kindness. The Battle Hym of the Republic says it all. If convicted of desertion Bergdahl should by shot by a firing squad. As for the prisoner excgange - I thought we didn't negotiate with terrorists. Oh, I forgot, Obama is King and makes up his own rules. Silly me.
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    • Posted by sumitch 9 years, 2 months ago
      Our true military would take action. Unfortunately it is commanded by a traitor to this country and will continue to be until the elections. Hopefully enough people in this nation that vote have seen what Obama has done and is doing to this country. He should be impeached but congress is full of professional politicians who care far more for their jobs and power than they do for their oath.
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      • Posted by Ben_C 9 years, 2 months ago
        Agreed. The youth of our nation are the problem. With age comes wisdom. Sadly it's the "greatest generation" and their immediate offspring that recognize the treason. The twenty and thirty year olds have drunk the koolaide and haven't a clue to realize what is happening to them. My fear is that it will be too late when they achieve wisdom. Something about The Hunger Games comes to mind.
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        • Posted by $ Susanne 9 years, 2 months ago
          That's assuming the brainwashing doesn't continue and they will be allowed to someday recover from their programming... God help them (and us) if we continue the Dynastic Presidency model we've been following...
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        • Posted by $ jlc 9 years, 2 months ago
          Most of my liberal friends - in their 50's - think that Obama is the greatest president ever and wish they could elect him for another term. Yes, these are highly intelligent people.

          Sigh.

          Jan
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    • Posted by $ 9 years, 2 months ago
      I think you mean the Marines Anthem, which starts:

      'From the Halls of Monteczuma to the Shores of Tripoli' ... in reference to the Marines first major encounter with the Barbary Pirates and their victorious assault on the fortress there.

      The Battle Hymn of the Republic begins "Mine eyes have seen the glory..."
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 2 months ago
    Four terrorists for one deserter? Doesn't seem very fair to me. Did Bergdahl's parents hypnotize Obama? Could anyone be that dumb? Is it possible that BHO has a different agenda for the exchange? Why is this guy president? After these types of antics and another Democrat is elected in 2016, the USA will, no matter what it calls itself, cease to exist.
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  • Posted by woodlema 9 years, 2 months ago
    And where is the mainstream media in covering this.

    I would LOVE to see, although I am sure it will never happen, MSNBC and Chris Matthews say Oppsies, we were wrong Obama made a STUPID move releasing terrorists for a deserter.
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  • Posted by NealS 9 years, 2 months ago
    I heard this from LTC Shaffer one day, then the next day I heard from the administration that he would not be charged. I imagine they had determined he would be charged then changed their mind because of LTC Shaffer's bringing it to the media. They are all about politics and will do anything in their power to keep it political, even letting this deserter off. Nothing will be done about his cooperation with the enemy, they will avoid any comment about that, period.

    I predict this administration will order the military to let this guy off. The president doesn't want to look bad with Bergdahl's parents invited to the White House in that Rose Garden display, and in letting 5 terrorists go for the trade. They will let this deserter walk away with all kinds of combat and prisoner of war benefits.

    This is a complete disgrace to the military. In Vietnam there were usually three men in a perimeter bunker, one to sleep the other two to keep each other awake, One night (about 3:00am) I couldn't sleep (actually there were many nights I couldn't sleep) so I walked the perimeter and visited several bunkers just to say hello none of these guards were not from my unit) and see how things are going. One bunker had three guys sound asleep. I found the officer in charge of the guard that night and he relieved them immediately. All three were brought up on a courts martial. I don't know what they got (we moved out the next day) but I'm sure it was a lot more than this intentional deserter will get. Please don't tell me precisely when and where this Bergdahl will be released.
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  • Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 2 months ago
    it's like trading 5 mafia kingpins for one wimpy
    police-academy turncoat. . it takes an enemy
    of the u.s. to think of such a thing. -- j

    p.s. there is a thing called the summary court-martial
    in the military, where an officer may kill a deserter
    at will ... good thing that *that* didn't happen.

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  • Posted by Eyecu2 9 years, 2 months ago
    Not only should this have come out much sooner it should also have been front page news as opposed to back story intended for only those actually paying close attention.

    Just another example of the criminal elements in our Goverment and their complicity of the in evisceration of law that they are carrying out on a regular basis.
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