If I remember right, Bergdahl wanted to attain rank so he could create his own militia for religious reasons. He is lucky he isn't charged with treason.
There is absolutely no political issue here. Bergdahl was a US soldier and he was held captive. We are stepping down from any battle position and POW exchange is the legal demand of the Geneva Accords. End of discussion.
The USA command structure needs to review why this soldier was repeatedly allowed to remain in the ranks when there was a desertion pattern in his activities. The command structure is responsible for this mess.
But, as far as receiving POWs after war is standard operating procedure.
July 16, 2014
By Brian Ross and Luis Martinez
President Obama called it a "good day" when Bergdahl was freed, (click here) but critics, including some high-ranking Republicans, loudly denounced the deal, likening it to negotiating with terrorists. Also, lawmakers complained that Congress had not been consulted about the exchange, as they said the law requires. The White House defended the deal, saying that rescuing a prisoner of war was “absolutely the right thing to do” and that the deal had to be done secretly and urgently to be successful.
There is absolutely no political issue here. Bergdahl was a US soldier and he was held captive. We are stepping down from any battle position and POW exchange is the legal demand of the Geneva Accords. End of discussion.
The USA command structure needs to review why this soldier was repeatedly allowed to remain in the ranks when there was a desertion pattern in his activities. The command structure is responsible for this mess.
But, as far as receiving POWs after war is standard operating procedure.
July 16, 2014
By Brian Ross and Luis Martinez
President Obama called it a "good day" when Bergdahl was freed, (click here) but critics, including some high-ranking Republicans, loudly denounced the deal, likening it to negotiating with terrorists. Also, lawmakers complained that Congress had not been consulted about the exchange, as they said the law requires. The White House defended the deal, saying that rescuing a prisoner of war was “absolutely the right thing to do” and that the deal had to be done secretly and urgently to be successful.
After Bergdahl's dramatic return to the U.S., the Army launched an
investigation into whether the soldier willfully left his post in
Afghanistan before he was taken by the Taliban in 2009, as some Afghan war veterans alleged.
The Army said today Bergdahl has been charged with two counts under the
Uniform Code of Military Justice: one count of “desertion with intent to
shirk important or hazardous duty” and one count of “misbehavior before
the enemy by endangering the safety of a command, unit or place.”
The second count is the more severe of the two, carrying a potential
sentence of “confinement for life” should Bergdahl be convicted....
The other detainees in Gitmo have to be renamed as POWs. I can't help but believe if the USA took these detainees before the World Court their disposition would require life in prison or a death sentence. I think the World Court is where these detainees belong. They are too dangerous if returned to their native countries. The World Court understand that and consider testimony to the knowledge our intelligence already has about their activities.
There is no political issue here, it is the obligation of the President of the United States of America to secure the return of POWs. Ask McCain. Joe the Plumber has no vote in the matter.
This is already policy and the USA is not going to turn it's back on POWs because the Boehner right wing needs a reason for living.
The other detainees in Gitmo have to be renamed as POWs. I can't help but believe if the USA took these detainees before the World Court their disposition would require life in prison or a death sentence. I think the World Court is where these detainees belong. They are too dangerous if returned to their native countries. The World Court understand that and consider testimony to the knowledge our intelligence already has about their activities.
There is no political issue here, it is the obligation of the President of the United States of America to secure the return of POWs. Ask McCain. Joe the Plumber has no vote in the matter.
This is already policy and the USA is not going to turn it's back on POWs because the Boehner right wing needs a reason for living.
