After months of alleged delay for political reasons until after the elections, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, has been charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.
The evidence of desertion is strong, leading many to question the long delay in the investigation. The impression has been that the Administration did not want to address the growing criticism of Taliban leaders with terrorist ties for a deserter. There has also been an allegation that lives were possible lost in missions that included searches for Bergdahl.
I have previously said that the Administration clearly violated federal law in this swap. The fact that Bergdahl is now viewed as a deserter is likely to rekindle the controversy, particularly over the allegation of possible lost lives in searches for Bergdahl.
For a discussion of possible defenses, see this earlier posting.
Normally, the fact that he suffered through five years of captivity with vicious terrorists would militate in favor of a lighter sentence. Article 85 makes desertion a crime that is punishable with up to five years. Article 99 (misbehavior) includes a maximum of confinement for life. That would give the defense a great incentive for a plea but the prosecutors may be sensitive to the prior allegations that the Administration has been delaying the case to avoid an embarrassing prosecution.
Precisely SteveF., but I suspect that 99guspuppet’s comment was toungue in cheek.
99guspuppet
As I read your post, I am reminded of Goebbels’ “Total War”speech.
The Germans got what they wanted – they came to regret it.
Don’t be too quick to demand death and destruction – we might not like the totality of the package.
Looking at your photograph, I suspect that you are too old to go to war. Let’s not be too quick to push others into a fight when we remain safe.
Walter Mitty knows better than even the Pentagon, dontcha know?
I speak w/ brave Marines and Sailors in San Diego all the time. They would slit this guys throat if given the chance.
Bergdahl should be tied across an ant hill. He should be kept alive as long as possible. ( Hot sun and honey dripped in his eyes. ) His parents should be burned alive in an italian sports car. His friends , relatives should be kept in cages and analyzed. Anyone whoever said a nice thing about Bergdahl should be put on a ” we will get to you later ” list.
People in the USA are getting too soft ….. it is time to show what real patriots are all about. No more wimpy peace talk ……. let’s go team America … war … war ..war
IdFaciam
Ingannie and I have very few political beliefs in common, but she made some very reasonable points about the Bergdahl situation. I am glad that she told me something that I did not know..
She did not defend Obama at all.
We all are (or should be) seekers of truth.
Let’s not allow our political beliefs to skew everything.
He was not in the least bit confused and knew that he wanted to leave the United States because of what some would call disinformation propaganda and that the Sergent was mean to him and the others and it was wrong that he was in this country so he was going to run away and desert.
It’s the same thing with the new Jim Crow laws serving up hatred and dissension. A certain type of person thrives on that type of divisiveness and will flock to it because it is “cool”
Now our tax payer dollars are down the tubes with 5 terrorists back to their countries. Good Show Obama. Glad the Liberals are happy about this. I know they despise Christianity and think that it’s okay for the Sunni Muslims to Burn and Torture their Women
David , do you think this president’s body language suggests he has any trace of shame or embarrassment? On the contrary he appears to think of himself as God’s gift to this nation of fools that elected him twice !
This was “Another Obama Big Tent Event” where he paraded the parents out before the cameras, giving another “hidden message to Muslims” with the speech as he wanted to be thanked by them, as he “RELEASED 5 MUSLIM TERRORISTS IN EXCHANGE FOR BERGDAHL.” OBAMA “KNOWINGLY GAVE BACK THESE TERRORISTS KNOWING THEY WOULD GO BACK INTO BATTLE TO ‘KILL OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS….ALL THIS DOES NOT MATTER TO THIS ANTI-AMERICAN LEADER IN OUR WHITEHOUSE.”
OBAMA USED THE “NO AMERICAN MILITARY LEFT BEHIND?” IS THAT WHY OBAMA INTERVENED IN SGT. TAHMORISSI BEING HELD IN A MEXICAN PRISON AND NEVER MENTIONED A WORD ABOUT IT FOR 6 MONTHS, AND IT TOOK GRETA VAN SUSTERN’S SHOW TO GET HIM RELEASED, AS SHE NEVER GAVE UP ON HIM, OR HIS MOTHER?”
OBAMA’S A LYING, HYPOCRIT,AND LOOKS OUT FOR MUSLIMS/ISLAM.
Ben Rhodes. . . all around administration protector. He also rewrote the talking points regarding Benghazi. What a guy!
@Idf,
Who or what is “The Precious”? I’m defending an American soldier who was screwed up in the head and did something very stupid and dangerous because of it. If he is court martialed, it’s warranted, so be it. What more do you want? Him hanging from a noose or being put in front of a firing squad? Sorry our military is held to a higher standard, or should be.
Obama like Bergdahl, finds woman holding baby and eggs on adversary. Hiding behind skirt of woman is good cover. But not for long.
Ingannie, serious question. Is there any excuse you’re unwilling to make, any length you are unwilling to go in order to defend The Precious?
I want to know when Gerge W. Bush will be tried for desertion.
BTW where are those girls that Obama was going to get from Boko Haram?
Any chance of getting the lads back from Qatar.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/06/two-soldiers-from-bergdahl-unit-killed-while-search-was-ongoing-pentagon-finds/
“The official said the two soldiers in Bergdahl’s unit who died were in a combat outpost that was attacked. The official said it was impossible to prove a link between their deaths and Bergdahl’s disappearance.
In addition, investigators have determined that some of the other eight soldiers were killed while driving a logistic delivery to the base, and likely would have been doing so regardless of the search. The official said a few others were involved in explosive ordinance detection, but did not say whether that job was related to their deaths.”
Are you going to blame the deaths of any soldier, sailor or Marine on Bergdahl stationed in Afghanistan during Bergdahl’s absence? Ridiculous.
Bergdahl should be lined up and shot like they used to do with traitors and deserters…..being a ‘confused young man’ is not an acceptable excuse for his behavior….strip him of every single benefit he thinks is due him and let him go get a minimum wage job and start all over again…..do not give the traitor a single penny of our tax dollars…..if he gets paid and rewarded with benefits for being a deserter and a traitor, what incentive is there for ANYONE else in this country to do the right thing? None. There is none. Go work for the government. You will never be fired. No matter what you do.
Oh bulloney DBQ. No one was killed or harmed looking for him, that was debunked. And people who are without empathy are a sad waste of humanity.
Bergdahl is a criminal. A deserter in a combat situation. I’m not glad he is home especially since his trade released more dangerous terrorists who will undoubtedly be active in attacking and killing more innocent people. The trade was done illegally by Obama (so what else is new).
Bergdahl put other people in jeopardy trying to find and retrieve him. Other soldiers DIED because of him.
Anyone who expresses sympathy for this disgusting worm is a traitor and a coward.