Posted on 01/28/2015 5:02:03 AM PST by Kaslin
Multiple news sources are now reporting that the US Army is charging Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl -- the American soldier handed over by terrorist hostage takers in exchange for the release of five high-ranking Taliban commanders from Guantanamo Bay last spring -- with desertion. This comes as no surprise for those who followed the Bergdahl controversy closely; as Katie reminded us earlier, Bergdahl's platoon mates unanimously spoke out against his actions. The evidence of his desertion is overwhelming. Other facts suggest that he may have crossed a line into active collaboration with the enemy. Despite the fact that the military had drawn negative conclusions about Bergdahl's conduct as far back as 2010 and declined to list him as POW, White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice declared that his service was marked by "honor and distinction" on national television. This was part and parcel of the Obama administration's public relations strategy surrounding the entire affair: Wave the flag about a captured American returning home to his family, and hope that the good vibes and emotional images of relieved family members and friends would crowd out the more sordid details -- such as the freed terrorists' long trail of blood and destruction, Bergdahl's alleged crimes, and the manner in which Obama bypassed strong objections from top military and intelligence officials to close the deal. Remember this?
Leaders of the U.S. intelligence community and military were opposed to freeing five senior Taliban commanders in exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl when the White House first began exploring the prisoner swap in 2011 and 2012.The U.S. military wanted to bring Bergdahl home, but releasing Mullah Mohammad Fazl, Mullah Norullah Noori, Abdul Haq Wasiq, Khairullah Khairkhwa, and Mohammed Nabi Omari was seen as too dangerous at the time.
James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, according to three U.S. intelligence officials flat out rejected the release of the five detainees, saying there was too high a risk these Taliban commanders would return to the battlefield and orchestrate attacks against Americans.
Clapper was not alone. Leon Panetta, who was then the Secretary of Defense, declined to certify that the United States could mitigate the risk to national interests of releasing the Taliban commanders...Current U.S. intelligence and defense officials who spoke to The Daily Beast on Monday say the process for exchanging Taliban for Bergdahl this time was rushed and closely held, in some instances leaving little room for any push back against a policy clearly favored by the White House.
“This was an example of forcing the consensus,” one U.S. military official said. “The White House knew the answer they wanted and they ended up getting it.”
Before he was released from a U.S. maximum-security prison last week, a confessed al Qaeda sleeper agent was offered up in a potential prisoner swap that would have freed two Americans held abroad. The Daily Beast has learned that the proposal was floated in July 2014 to the then-U.S. ambassador in Qatar by an individual acting on behalf of that country’s attorney general. According to two individuals with direct knowledge of the case, the proposition was made shortly after the Obama administration traded five Taliban fighters for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Those fighters were also sent to Qatar, where they’re to remain under government watch until later this year. U.S. officials have said they’re at risk of plotting further attacks against the United States. The proposed swap involving the al Qaeda agent, Ali Saleh Al-Marri, raises troubling questions about whether the Bergdahl trade opened a kind of Pandora’s box, signaling to foreign governments that they can pressure the United States to make concessions on terrorism by trading American prisoners abroad for dangerous extremists held in the United States.
I doubt if the WH ever knew the entire story on Bergdahl or discussed the matter with the Army prior to proceeding.
I’d also suggest this...if this goes to a court martial and he’s convicted...getting twenty-odd years, then I might expect him to do himself in. He’s extremely fragile and not able to handle any normal circumstance that people face. He should have gotten that message after the Coast Guard dismissed him from training...but apparently, he just wasn’t bright enough to figure that out.
I imagine there is an internal struggle.
The military wants to try him for desertion and aiding the muslim enemy.
Obama probably wants to award him a medal for the exact same acts.
I am betting he wont do any hard time. I think his attorney will plea bargain a Guilty plea in exchange for a reduction to Pvt E-1, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and a less than Honorable discharge (perhaps Dishonorable)but no confinement. Anybody want to take bets?
Once again...releasing Taliban commanders to plot and kill Americans again is AIDING the enemy. This is treason.
Arrest. Try. Convict. Administer proper punishment for treason.
Impeachment is NOT an option.
Not that the media (even Fox that I can recall) site the death toll of this POS pResident anymore, like they did with Bush.
When the sh!t storm comes in force from this farce, there will be many a story of ‘How did *this* happen?’ and nary a finger pointed to the occupant of the White House.
For one thing, the ratio of prisoner exchange was VERY lopsided. That alone established a very bad precedent.
Now five prisoners may be sprung from Gitmo for every casual prisoner taken by various factions of Islamic Jihadist terrorists.
And now, having gotten Bergdahl back, it was no heroic plus for our side, as he had little to recommend him for any honors or decorations. In fact, he may have not even have been held to the provisions of the UCMJ, as regards the behavior of captured military personnel while a prisoner.
UCMJ spells out very specifically, the captured service member may only provide name, rank, and serial number when captured, and imparting of any additional information, as to assigned unit, probable mission of that unit, or names of other members of that unit, are all prohibited.
Was Bergdahl guilty of any of this behavior, or not?
Kabuki theatre...and then he’ll get a pardon if anything.
Obola is an undocumented-Moslem
documented-traitor pRes_ _ent,
... and the EXEMPT US Congress does NOTHING.
I never knew someone could be dismissed from the Coast Guard, then sign up for the Army. Seems there should be a way to prevent people like him from joining after the first attempt in another service.
Something has to topple this regime, it is run by amateurs and held together with press clippings, any strong political wind should have blown it away by now. I think it is a form of “beginners luck” that it still stands, though wobbles. Gust after political gust comes and it barely hangs in. I predict one day soon, something, maybe not large, will come along and the house of cards will flutter down. Maybe this is it? (But I’ve said that to myself so many times in the past 6 long years.)
Does anyone know if Bergdahl ever contacted his parents? Back when he was released last Spring, I heard he wouldn’t even call them. Weird.
Given that the father decided to learn the language of that Afghanistan territory, if one could access his cell phone records and email accounts they would likely discover that he had been in contact with Bowe and the “captors” since the day he deserted.......
NO!
Many don’t know this but the MAJOR reason Japanese were rounded up in WWII was for prisoner exchange. In fact the Japanese govt insisted on this for their protection.
Maybe we better round up more Muslims?
OBAMA = TRAITOR = BERGDAHL
if this puke did himself in it would be a good thing.
When my son enlisted he had to provide a letter from his Navy ROTC chain saying he had good service. Although he was applying for a competitive MOS.
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