Bergdahl scandal; a Veteran's perspective

My father was a marine, but he was a pilot, veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. I don't think he ever saw anyone that he killed. Then again, his squadron lost 2/3rd of its pilots. I wouldn't say that I know nothing about the military nor what is expected of its members. Then again, it's certainly not the same as being engaged in combat yourself, something I would never have been suited for.

I agree with everyone who thinks that he's a deserter.

No, Bergdahl was in no way "aiding and abetting" the enemy. He was captured and held as a POW.

Bergdahl didn't kill a little girl. He witnessed her death the day before he left when someone in his unit ran over her.

I think that I understand what's going on a whole lot better than you do.

 

oh look, you're posting more more fairy tales, what a surprise

and what i defended was the rule of law, justice and respect for the constitution

 

republicans were once again for it before they were against it

 

I thought you had a pretty damn low opinion of the value of an american soldier.

What other options? Its easy to say, oh other options should have been used, but American ain't a seller in this deal, they are a buyer and the seller knows it. Could the taliban comprehend capitalism? Seems many on the american right have decided they will conveniently and temporarily forget one of its basic tenets.

Prisoner trades are not unusual and are actually quite a normal practice in times of war and at the end of wars.

I am not using Israel's size as a comparison, I am using 11th strongest armed forces (out of 106) and comparing it to the strongest armed forces.

The country itself can't be compared, but the military can and Israel for "such a tiny country" its punches way out of its weight class.

They don't think they are wrong at all as you can plainly see how much value they place on their soldiers lives AND their dead bodies. They actually are steadfast in their insistence that no soldier is left behind, unlike current american conservative attitudes who are more concerned with the price tag than the goods. Not to mention having no problem with suspension of due process.

 

Nice. Stories like that are fun to hear and common in the surfing brotherhood. We had this giant David Nueva (Super Tongue) tanker of a board. It was only 9'2", but thick as a kayak. Whenever a new guy was around or someone needed to learn, that was the board. Then one day I was in Rosarita Beach and we had it stuffed in the back of the truck. The waves were firing off and there was no need for that beast. People were camped out with tents and low and behold, Surf God himself! David Neuva! My buddy Aggy (Famous Mural Artist: PCH - Sunset to Newport) runs to the truck, gets the board, and has David Nueva sign the beast! No one ever got to surf it again and we retired it hanging on the wall at 312 8th Street Downtown H.B. Good times. I later saw the board on the wall at Perq's on Main Street.

I only have 3 boards in my quiver now. One is a 10' long board, but my new favorite is an old school design fish 6'6" with new technology quad fins. It's thick and paddles like a long board, but surfs like a short board. The new designs and thoughts are taking the best from the past and combining them with the new technology. My 3rd board is the 90's style thruster potato chip, but I am getting too old for that action. It will go to my 12 year old soon.

 

then you are operating from a severe lack of knowledge and experience...............now, the insults start like a schoolyard bully.

 

then you have no experience either. Just because dad and grandpa went to war does not make you an expert with the UCMJ.
Watching reruns of JAG or watching "A Few Good Men" hardly qualifies your opinion.

 

that sounds like your method, if you throw in over-emotional replies

my comments are based on ucmj, the rule of law, justice and respect for the constitution

 

Abandoning your post is not desertion under Article 85, it is UA.

Serving in the military was far different in the 1940's, 50's, 60's, and 70's than it is today. The Army took great steps not to displine the men who fouled up because you were more valuable with that M16 than in some stockade for six months. Second, during WWII, there were 20,000 soldiers who deserted their post. Only one was executed. And that was controversial because it was so late during the war. The Army never prosecuted fully those who deserted with the 102nd and 106th infantry division during the first days of the Battle of the Bulge, They were reassigned to duties away from the front, disciplined with strike in pay and/or rank, or sent back to the front lines.

this case is complicated because you have solider who did not perform his duties well outside of combat and was psychologically strained when he was in combat. Furthermore, it is possible that Sgt Bengdahl is a whisle blower to his unit, who were not very disciplined at that time, a constant problem for the Army today. On top of that, he was captured and from what it appears, not treated very well by the Taliban. A fact that would go against him willingly joining the Taliban.

In a court martial, it is only what you saw or heard directly. Your personal feelings will not be asked. And there are no facts at this time that support desertion, UA, yes, but not desertion.

 

Dude, this is something you should not post on the internet. Personal information should be held to an absolute minimum. You just shown where you live by the info you gave.

 

Despite your military service, you are not an expert of the UCMJ either.

To be an expert with the UCMJ, you don't have to be in the military.

 

Just let this play out, If found guilty than prosecute him to the letter of the UMCJ, if found not guilty let him go. No need to endlessly speculate and spin yourself up or through a bunch of BS at each other.

 

what the gop is doing is using this incident to try to create another fake scandal and raise funds using the photos of dead soldiers


Allen West already fundraising over the Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl POW exchange

http://www.examiner.com/article/allen-west-already-fundraising-over-the-sgt-bowe-bergdahl-pow-exchange

 

dude, the Constitution has nothing to do with the UCMJ. That shows you grasp of Military Law.
and with the "emotional rant comment just merely shows your attitude. I don't give a rat's ass about your level of "expertise because you have none.
Civilian Law is NOT applicable in military courts. There is no such thing as "Rule of Law" in the military, there is only the UCMJ.
again, you insult yourself by demanding that there is substance to your claim.
You have never served one day in the military.
You have never participated in military justice.
go back to watching JAG.....

 

i've already shown valid references that say you're wrong

which is why i didn't say civilian law is applicable in military courts

read what i wrote and respond to that, instead of throwing in things i never said

 

again, what experience have you had with either the military or the military justice system?
Desertion in combat is called desertion, not UA. The note he left behind is the most damning, he wasn't planning on returning. Again, that's desertion. UA is when you are a day or two late returning,(key word: returning) Feller was not planning on returning. That's desertion

 

This thread has sadly once again become a name-calling contest between children and it's therefore time to get out!

 

you keep applying civilian values where thy are not even considered. And you damned sure better be an expert in the UCMJ if you are in service.............. almost anything will land you in the stockade/brig.
Shall we begin to talk about civilian insubordination and military insubordination?

 

Actually, it does James. The UCMJ is based, in part, on the guarantees within the Constitution. YOu have a right to a trial by your peers, you have a right to due process, and you have a right to a speedy trial.

 

wrong again Your jury is a group of officers, If you are an enlisted, you don't have enlisted sitting on your jury. Major difference.
Due process is different, arrest and detainment is different. And you have no Right to a speedy trial.
You have no knowledge such as you espouse.

 

What civilian values? YOu simply do not understand the UCMJ. I don't think you have read it at all. Gong to the scokage or brig would require some form of judicial punishment today. However, there are plenty of ways in which your commanding officer can displine yhou withn the UCMJ and that is not judicial. And that is where you are getting confused.

 

Democrats are rapidly morphing Bergdahl into a national hero. When he "recovers" he's going to be on all the talk shows, make a movie, ghostwrite a book, and be in parades.

When he recovers? Recovers from what? There's nothing wrong with the little turncoat and defector. He should be flogged and drummed out of the Army.

 

If you are an officer, the jury of your peers will be officers. If you are enlisted, the jury of your peers would be both enlisted and officers.
Due process is there. That is why there are different hearings within the UCMJ depending on which avenue the Judge Advocate would take, if it is a judicial crime under the UCMJ. If it is non judicial, then you would be in a hearing with your battalion commander, evidnce would be presented, and you will be given the opportunity to make a statement. Of course, the evidence is clear and you cannot make claims in the military that you would in a civilian court.

 

However in a Corrupted and criminal administration you can easily get away
with having an Attorney General who flagrantly LIES to Congress { as in
when did he first learn about Operation Fast & Furious }
and then obstruct Congress by refusing to turn over documents { not in
a timely manner but in NO manner } and then pooh pooh any subpoenas to
get to the bottom of Fast & Furious.Meaning NO speedy anything.
Unless of course you are a White cracker and commit a Polar Bear
" Knockout Game " assault and used social media to highlight.Then you
are immediately hunted down and charged with a Hate Crime.
Whereas all the throngs of Blacks doing the exact same thing,often times
don't even merit mention in the newspapers,let alone their Race or Names.

It is officially Open Season on blatant in yer face racial hyporcrisy and
driven Liberal agendas at the expense { always } of Americana.

 

I met a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient once and he claims, to his dying death some ten years ago, that he was not a hero.