Posted on 08/06/2014 8:32:18 PM PDT by Second Amendment First
During his first interview with the general leading an investigation into his capture by the Taliban, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on Wednesday described details of his disappearance from his tiny combat outpost in eastern Afghanistan five years ago.
It was the first time Sergeant Bergdahl, of the Army, had formally described those events since he was released by the Taliban to Special Operations troops in May and flown to Texas after five years of captivity.
As soon as the session began, the investigating officer, Maj. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, warned Sergeant Bergdahl that he did not have to say anything that might incriminate himself. But the sergeant did not exercise his right to remain silent, one of his lawyers, Eugene R. Fidell, said in a brief telephone interview from Fort Sam Houston, Tex., where Sergeant Bergdahl is based. Continue reading the main story Related Coverage
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, right, with a Taliban fighter in eastern Afghanistan. Bergdahl Is Said to Have History of Leaving PostJUNE 5, 2014 A sign outside Zaney’s, a coffee shop in Hailey, Idaho, announced Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s release. Concern for Health of Bowe Bergdahl Drove Prisoner ExchangeJUNE 4, 2014 Bowe Bergdahl’s Vanishing Before Capture Angered His UnitJUNE 2, 2014
“He has responded to every question asked of him, and he has been afforded an opportunity to tell his story,” said Mr. Fidell, who attended the interview along with a military lawyer for the sergeant, Capt. Alfredo Foster. It was mostly “just letting the facts unfold in his own voice.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I didn’t serve, so some of this escapes me. For the uninitiated, I’m guessing a 2-star is way higher than should be doing this interrogation? Also guessing the politics at that rank far outweighs being an actual soldier?
I’m surprised his lawyer, Fidell, would allow him to talk unless he believed that Bergdahl’s punishment would be “administrative or non-judicial”.
“And what is even more important — how did the general respond?”
that is the question of the day, one that will likely remained unanswered to our satisfaction....
Facts hah. More like bs. And a general questioning him? Isn’t it usually OSI or someone?
They have fired all the captains. Or at least 550 of them.
Agreed on this reeking of UCI.
I was under the impression that desertion in time of war is a crime, therefore I’d think that CID would be running the investigation.
I can see a two star chairing a panel to review the outcome of the investigation to bring charges but this seems like their minds are made up because of The Won’s fiasco.
The NCIS grilled the Haditha Marines and some of it was done illegally IIRC.
Thanks for the pings y’all.
Thanks for the post 2AF.
..........
“Are you listening, Capitol Hill and America? The Bowe Bergdahl mess isn’t just a story about one deserter, but two. There’s the muddle-headed lowlife who left his post and brothers behind. And there’s the corrupt commander-in-chief who has jeopardized more American soldiers’ lives to “rescue” Bergdahl by bowing to the Taliban, while snubbing the surviving heroes and at least 8 dead American soldiers who lost their lives because of him.”
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/07/20/questions-about-the-reported-abduction-of-pfc-bowe-bergdahl/
Michelle Malkin has it exactly right!
Article 15 investigation conducted by a General? Lol. The perfumed princes have the fix in here.
Company Commanders or the XO’s do the Article 15 stuff. At least they did when I had my hearing for a little disagreement with an MP.
There is a video on YouTube about the Navy's Littoral class ships. I was shocked to see the Captian and XO doing cleanup on the ship, just being one of the buddies/butties, what cr@p.
National Geographic Inside 21st Century Warship
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Waterboarding would be a thought.
IMVHO.
Generals don’t get to be generals without being politically astute.
My brother will get a kick out of that. Did 5.5 years sea duty on the Ike. But he liked his Captain a lot and that’s saying something real good about the Captain knowing my brother of 60 years.
How many days half pay did you get? They frown on you bending MPs too badly :)
But yep - this is the sort of petty stuff that should be handled at CO level, at least for the prelim investigation.
There is an alternate possibility. They’ve whacked some heavy brass into the investigation because they give full credence to his squad mate’s testimonies. I know, expecting the brass to react rationally is a stretch, but it is possible, especially since Bergdahl’s CO and his XO are both retired.
Just a thought. I think he’s going to go for the “I just snapped” defense. Pick any vet on here completely at random and they’ll have at least one story of someone who cracked under pressure. Devilishly hard to disprove, too.
given the vast number of substantiated claims that this ouke deserted.....waterboarding might in fact be in order
oh how cruel
Top Marine Speaks Out About Obama Losing the Iraq War: ‘It Breaks Our Hearts’
Sad thing is, he will likely be given a general discharge at the worse, possibly even given an “honorable” discharge at best.
At the very least Leavenworth should be in his future and a bad conduct discharge (no VA benefits).
Youse all lack a sense of history
The Bergdahl Affair is as if General Benedict Arnold came back and told George Washington, "It was all a dreadful misunderstanding."
This will be sold to the Wal-Mart shoppers as
O BTW, Bergdahl deserted. It is obvious he prepared his exit quite carefully. Equally obvious: man is now, was then, and will always be a nut case. A solution to please everyone: 5 years in a military hospital for the insane.
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