rickyp wrote:There was an American Admiral a few days ago who said, "when a sailor goes over board we turn the ship around and try to find him. It doesn't matter whether he fell overboard, was pushed or jumped. We go get him".
You then worry about disciplinary action.
Yes you do. It used to be hanging or a firing squad. Apparently, we now have Rose Garden ceremonies where parents of deserters are feted.
(Since Begdahl was promoted well held in captivity there seems to be some genuine confusion about the facts of his leave taking. At least within the command structure of the army. Perhaps it would be best to pass judgement when a full story is forthcoming, and he has a chance to face charges?)
False. There is no "confusion." He was promoted because of time in service and time in grade.
You're confused, likely because you're believing the propaganda coming out of the State Department (Jen Psaki must be related to Baghdad Bob because she lies more than Joe Isuzu).
The truth is not hard to find. According to firsthand accounts from soldiers in his platoon, Bergdahl, while on guard duty, shed his weapons and walked off the observation post with nothing more than a compass, a knife, water, a digital camera and a diary.
At least six soldiers were killed in subsequent searches for him, according to soldiers involved in the operations to find him. The Pentagon was not able to provide details on specific operations in which any soldiers killed during that time were involved.
Also, many soldiers in Bergdahl's platoon said attacks seemed to increase against the United States in Paktika province in the days and weeks following his disappearance.
"Any of us would have died for him while he was with us, and then for him to just leave us like that, it was a very big betrayal," said former U.S. Army Sgt. Josh Korder, who has the name of three soldiers who died while searching for Bergdahl tattooed on his back.
Many of Bergdahl's fellow troops -- from the seven or so who knew him best in his squad to the larger group that made up the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division -- told CNN that they signed nondisclosure agreements agreeing to never share any information about Bergdahl's disappearance and the efforts to recapture him. Some were willing to dismiss that document in hopes that the truth would come out about a soldier who they now fear is being hailed as a hero, while the men who lost their lives looking for him are ignored.
"I don't think I could have continued to go on without being able to share with you and the people the true things that happened in this situation," Korder said Monday. "Because if you guys aren't made aware of it, it will just go on, and he'll be a hero, and nobody will be able to know the truth."
As for trading for the 5 Taliban. First, it should be noted that none of them are convicted of any acts of terror in a court of law.
Oh my. You've been reading Mad Magazine, haven't you? They have a "Saving Private Ryan" takeoff:
In fact the UN and the World Court wanted one of them and would charge him with crimes against humanity (the massacre of Afghani Shiites ) but the US would not release him to the World Court.
The other five are essentially prisoners of war. There have been prisoner exchanges forever. Even Jeff Davis was released from confinement and went to live in Quebec.
You've got a contradiction here. If you say, "They are POWs," then there is a "war." What war? If you grant a "War on Terror," then we have no obligation to try them. After all, they are "enemy combatants" and the war is not over.
I think most of the problem stems from the legal mess that Gitmo is....
No, most of the problems stem from the inability of our government to decide if this is a war or a crime wave. Gitmo is brilliant and should be open until we no longer need it.
By now, if these men were actually guilty of terrorism they should have gone through a legitimate trial process. They haven't.
I see you can't decide. Either they are "POWs" or alleged criminals. Which is it? Did we give Germans or Japanese soldiers (not war criminals) taken POW trials DURING the war?
That's a pretty strong indication that there isn't sufficient evidence to convict in a genuine trial.
Jackassery.
It's not a "crime scene." You don't send forensic teams into Afghanistan. Why not? Because it's a war zone, not a crime scene!
And when the UN came calling to ask for the one fellow to stand trial, he should have been given up . By now he would be in jail for life in The Hague. And the world would have viewed this punishment with legitimacy. And calls for his release would need to go from his captors to the World at large.... (as represented by the WC and UN)
Nonsense. If a globalist like Obama doesn't hand him over, then no one remotely in their right mind would.
....The problem with giving the fellow up to the UN and WC for the US is that it would have legitimized the World Court. (Which the US does not participate in or recognize) And it would also demonstrate a legitimate workable legal system versus the shambles that Gitmo started out as, and evolved into even worse.)
Meh. Start another thread and prove your statements. This is about a deserter and a traitor, not Gitmo.
03 Jun 2014, 3:36 pm 
