Bowe Bergdahl, Once Missing U.S. Soldier, Charged with Desertion (Army presser 3:30 p.m. EDT)

The Washington Post ^ | Wednesday, March 25, 2015 | Dan Lamothe

[halfright]

Article 85 - Desertion. This is the most serious of the absentee offenses. Remember the primary difference between AWOL and desertion is intent to remain away from the military permanently.
(1) If a member deserted, but voluntarily returned to military control: Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to the lowest enlisted grade, and confinement for 2 years.(2) If the member deserted and the desertion was terminated by apprehension: Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to the lowest enlisted grade, and confinement for 3 years.(3) If the member deserted with the intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service (and example of this would be a member ordered to deploy to Iraq and then deserts to avoid the deployment): Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to the lowest enlisted grade, and confinement for 5 years.(4) If the member deserts during time of war: Death or such other punishment (such as life in prison) as a court-martial may direct.
think it is covered under the last article(4)

[bergmeid]

Patriots died in trying to find that little traitor.

[dead]

He'll get off with a slap on the wrist, but it's still important to establish that he was in fact a deserter.

Team Obama is so clueless, they really thought America was going to embrace his homecoming like he was a favorite son, rather than a traitor. And Obama was going to be the hero.

In the circles Team Obama move in, people like his appeasing leftwing moonbat parents represent the pinnacle of respectability.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Bergdahl didn't 'desert'.. He DEFECTED. The Taliban's IED strikes became MUCH MORE PRECISE after Bergdahl defected.

So, the U.S. traded five Taliban commanders for one defector to the Taliban? Only a TRAITOR U.S. president would do this.

[EBH]

So when do the charges get filed against 0bama for conspiring to release 5 terrorists for this piece of scum?

[matginzac]

How about charging him with murder for the troopers who lost their lives looking for the POS....

[Jet Jaguar]

Bergdahl ping.

[Baynative]

What about treason and the special circumstance of the soldiers who died looking for him!

[austinaero]

SWEEEEEEETTTT!!!!!!!

Is Daddy Bergdahl going to be part of the presser, giving his praise to the terrorists?

[BluH2o]

The Army definitely has strung out the Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl desertion issue ... it was desertion no question. At the very least he should be stripped of rank and given a Dishonorable Discharge. A 3-5 year stint of hard labor at Ft. Leavenworth would be a nice touch.

[BigEdLB]

[Farmer Dean]

What took so long,good men died trying to find this POS.

[Gay State Conservative]

...misbehavior before the enemy...

IMO his misbehavior should earn him a 21 gun salute...aimed right at his chest.

[devildognc]

The article at WAPO “He is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy according to his lawyer. The charge sheet is for both. Good on the charging Officer.

[McGruff]

Frickin ISIS wannabee. Hang him.

[don-o]

Good. Would like to see an enterprising journalist do a story on the five terrorists O swapped.

[Farmer Dean]

That’s the part of the story that really pisses me off.

[wiggen]

Gee whiz, how can it be so? Thats like saying Obama made a mistake.

[xzins]

The desertion charge is a no brainer. His entire unit and every other bit of evidence says he deserted. The ‘misbehavior before the enemy’ charge will be harder to prove, but it suggests they have evidence of his time in captivity. I don’t think they’ve Article 32’d this yet, have they?

His lawyer should plea bargain for your suggested 3-5 year stint and consider it a gift from the American people. Obama will heave a sigh of relief. If this goes to trial and consorting with the enemy is proven, then the Qatar 5 will appear to be totally criminal (which it is).

[Reno89519]

About time. Maybe Obama should join him.