Posted on 06/06/2015 7:57:47 AM PDT by darkwing104
Last Thursday, the Army announced it will delay the Article 32 hearing for Bowe Bergdahl, from July 8 to Sept. 17th. The delay was granted at the request of Bergdahl’s lawyers. Last March the Army charged Bergdahl with one count of desertion to avoid hazardous duty and misbehavior before the enemy. The misbehavior charge carried the claims that Bergdahl’s actions endangered his unit and soldiers died looking for the alleged deserter. It is very likely that defense lawyers and Army JAGs are negotiating a possible plea deal. The delay request was approved because the defense team claimed it was necessary to review additional material and evidence. Oh really?
An Article 32 hearing is similar to a civilian grand jury. It is a preliminary hearing required before a defendant is referred to a general court-martial for trial. The hearing is used to determine if there is enough evidence to merit a general court-martial, or whether some other course of action might be recommended. The defense is given wide latitude to cross-examine witnesses and challenge evidence. This is their last shot to intercede for the accused before an actual trial.
Bergdahl’s actions involve a rare case of a soldier abandoning a unit in Afghanistan or Iraq. Since 2001 there have been 41 desertions in Afghanistan and 150 in Iraq. Most desertions, 6077, have been from stateside units. Of the combat zone deserters, the majority have either pled guilty or been convicted. Odds are Bergdahl will have to plea or face conviction. Should a court martial take place, those taking part in the punishment phase will have to consider that soldiers were killed searching for the accused Deserter
Does the Army really want to court-martial Bergdahl?
(Excerpt) Read more at coachisright.com ...
In lieu of the firing squad, put this POS in a deep, dark, damp cell for the rest of his worthless life.
Obama may pardon him.
Emperor hussein still has his filthy, enemy islamist hands in this.
A plea deal in a desertion case? Heck NO!
Guilty, or not guilty, no in between.
From My Cousin Vinny: “How do you plead, guilty or not guilty....there is no other choice.”
This POS should be given a choice: plead guilty, go before a firing squad. Plead not guilty and be convicted, burned at the stake.
I hope he draws this out past the IWON’s time in office so he cannot parole him.
No doubt
It took them 4 years to try Hassan, with an open and shut case. I expect he’ll get a Presidential pardon as Obama goes out the door.
Bergdahl is Field Marshal Obama’s kind of soldier.
It's a tad bit off-topic, but I never understood why the Founders gave the President absolute pardon powers. That's a king-like power, and presents too many opportunities for mischief.
It would have been so much better to give Congress the power to veto Presidential pardons, perhaps by a 2/3 majority.
If I ever get around to perfecting Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine, I'm going to mention this to Ben Franklin.
Seriously?
Hell, no!
There are certain senior officials (commissioned and non-commissioned) in the United States Army that have signed on to the obama HOPE train, all hoping that if they kiss obama's ass enough, they will retire with a few dollars more, or even better, with a medal that they can display on their coffee table and tell war stories and "this ain't no shit" lies about.
I am disgusted with the current crop of so-called "leaders" that are responsible for this debacle.
Bergdahl is a traitor.
His actions demand the death penalty.
Those that would sympathize with him, by virtue of association, are also traitors and their crimes cry out for the death penalty.
Poos misguided boy, my ass!
The last thing in the world El Commandante Obola wants is for the army to try and convict this traitorous POS of anything and then to be faced with whether to pardon the thing and accept personal responsibility. Hence,he’s doing all he can secretly to pressure the army into a quiet deal. The trouble is just about every enlisted soldier and most officers at and below O6 know Bergdahl is a traitor and expect him to be tried and convicted. That puts the O7 and above boys and girls on the horns of a horrible dilemma: do the right and honorable thing and keep the troops’ respect or drop trou to Obola and totally lose the troops’ respect. It’s a horrible choice that makes me glad not to be a general, indeed a much harder thing than going into combat and risking one’s life.
Tell me. Who is the pitcher and who is the catcher.
Bo is crying because he didn’t want to leave his fellow anti-American Muslims.
No plea deal. Try, convict, and execute forthwith, after he receives a fair trial with all the usual guarantees of course.
L
Wonder if he will pardon himself before he writes or has written his mega million dollar expose` on the fooling, fleecing and destruction of the USA.
Obama just wants it stretched out so nothing happens while he’s in office.
And color me shocked. I’m surprised the Army is allowed to call the Taliban “the enemy.”
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