Posted on 02/26/2017 8:42:05 AM PST by xzins
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl walked away from his post without permission or orders to do so, in Afghanistan in 2009. He spent 5 years as a prisoner of the Taliban until May 2014 when President Obama traded 5 Taliban prisoners for him. Since being back in the US, he has been awaiting court martial on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.
During the campaign, Trump referred to Bergdahl as a traitor. And Bergdahls defense tried to argue that it threatens their clients chance at a fair trial. That argument was thrown out this past Friday by Judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance. The judge stated that although Trumps remarks were disturbing and disappointing, they were not a threat to Bergdahls due process rights to a fair trial.
He continued by saying: The accused was merely the foil for delivering that political message. All reasonable members of the public and potential panel members will know that was what he was doing and will not allow the rhetoric to affect their impartiality.
Did Bergdahl desert? It wont be long before the trial begins and the truth can begin to unfold. Until then, his defense team cannot use campaign remarks to get the charges dismissed.
A President has a certain character as demonstrated perfectly in and by President Trump. There is no way under the sun that obama can match those characteristics of Character.
Bergdahl was made a political issue the moment his former Commander-in-Chief let 5 Taliban hoodlum terrorist leaders walk free from Guantanamo Bay Prison in exchange for his release.
He looks pretty stressed out. /sarc
A "happy medium" outcome with a much reduced or suspended sentence - that's my prediction.
I totally agree with you.
They’re going to take the easy way out on this one.
If anything, the jury will be stacked with jurors who are told to get this over with without media attention.
Now,about that three way!
Wasn’t he flirting with Sweden’s Prime Minister at Mandela’s funeral with Michael Obama looking pissed off?
I predict they convict on all/most charges and he gets the max.
It was a signal to a potential jury and to affect public opinion.
The judge's words themselves are prejudicial and can have an effect on a potential jury pool.
My feeling is that the judge has his mind made up already to STICK IT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP...and he will even stoop to influence the public's mind as well as potential jurors in order to do so.
The "hidden state" exists in the judiciary, not only the executive and legislative branches.
Leni
He DEFECTED to the Taliban to HELP THEM KILL U.S. TROOPS!
Is this a MILITARY trial?
Trump should FIRE this ‘judge’ for those comments. He is the commander-in-chief and he just publicly questioned his authority.
plus he’s a pu$$y and does not deserve to have a military
career
I think it was Denmark.
Don’t forget the fun of the crazy Negro pretending to do sign language.
You and I both know from our careers that this is the most likely scenario.
To be truthful, part of the political game the services play in DC are budget related.
I worked at the Pentagon for a general who eventually made 4 star rank. I was going over some things with him, and was complaining about having to kowtow to Congress during testimony.
He sighed, and sat me down. He explained to me that politics in DC was a dirty, and sometime dangerous game. Dangerous not only for individuals, but dangerous for the nation. He said, "There is one advocate for national security on XXX issue - us. No one else."
He explained that budget were in the billions, as well as manpower levels, research dollars, and approval. And he disabused me of trusting either political party (in terms of budget support). "The politicians you think will always be on your side will turn on you on a dime."
He was right. In the last few years, it was the Republicans who were hot and heavy to cut budgets. Did they go after welfare, entitlements, foreign aid, money for illegals? No. In fact, entitlements were exempt from cuts under Sequestration, while the military was forced to "pay for" 50% of all cuts. This was after Obama had already cut the military budget 5 years in a row.
I say all only to explain why I believe the Army will go the middle route on Bergdahl. If they chose to throw the book at him, a lot of Democrats will read this as the Army was trying to embarrass their "god" Obama. And when it comes time to approve budgets, they will probably retaliate against the Army (right or wrong).
mookabooker belongs at the business end of a rope.
What a dumbass. He deserted in Afghanistan, the amoebic dissentary capital of central Asia, and went to Afghan prison (yikes!). For that act of cowardice and idiocy, he deserves an extra harsh sentence.
Money is an issue.
I also think the Army is just tired of it and wants to bury it.
Anyone who’d desert to the Taliban deserves a dunce cap among others things.
Some lead pills being one of them.
Your assignment, Mr. SkyPilot, if you choose to accept it, is;
#1, Find out who the one in the middle with the sun glasses is,
#2, Call Laz
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.