“The horror that is America is disgusting.”
There was Obama, proud as a peacock:
Good afternoon, everybody. This morning, I called Bob and Jani Bergdahl and told them that after nearly five years in captivity, their son, Bowe, is coming home.
Sergeant Bergdahl has missed birthdays and holidays and the simple moments with family and friends, which all of us take for granted. But while Bowe was gone he was never forgotten. His parents thought about him and prayed for him every single day, as did his sister, Sky, who prayed for his safe return.
He wasn’t forgotten by his community in Idaho, or the military, which rallied to support the Bergdahls through thick and thin. And he wasn’t forgotten by his country, because the United States of America does not ever leave our men and women in uniform behind.
Obama watched proudly as Bowe Bergdahl’s father praised Allah:
At the end of brief event, the soldier’s father, Bob Bergdahl, recited the most frequent phrase in the Koran — “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” —which means “In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate.”
Bergdahl’s father sported a Taliban beard for the occasion.
Susan Rice was proud:
“It was an extraordinary day for America,” Rice told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Hagel was proud:
“This is a very happy day for the Bergdahl family,”
There were many who were not happy, among them those who served with Bergdahl.
“I was pissed off then and I am even more so now with everything going on,” said former Sgt. Matt Vierkant, a member of Bergdahl’s platoon when he went missing on June 30, 2009. “Bowe Bergdahl deserted during a time of war and his fellow Americans lost their lives searching for him.”
Bergdahl made it very clear he hated America and its military in emails to his family.
“The future is too good to waste on lies. And life is way too short to care for the damnation of others, as well as to spend it helping fools with their ideas that are wrong,” Bergdahl reportedly wrote his father. “I have seen their ideas and I am ashamed to even be american (sic). The horror of the self-righteous arrogance that they thrive in. It is all revolting.”
He also attacked the army saying it cut down people “for being honest,” and rewarded sycophants. “The title of US soldier is just the lie of fools,” he wrote. “I am sorry for everything here.
There is contention about how Bergdahl became separated from his unit but there is this:
On the night prior to his capture, Bergdahl pulled guard duty at OP Mest, a small outpost about two hours south of the provincial capitol. The base resembled a wagon circle of armored vehicles with some razor wire strung around them. A guard tower sat high up on a nearby hill, but the outpost itself was no fortress. Besides the tower, the only hard structure that I saw in July 2009 was a plywood shed filled with of bottled water. Soldiers either slept in poncho tents or inside their vehicles.
The next morning, Bergdahl failed to show for the morning roll call. The soldiers in 2nd Platoon, Blackfoot Company discovered his rifle, helmet, body armor and web gear in a neat stack. He had, however, taken his compass. His fellow soldiers later mentioned his stated desire to walk from Afghanistan to India.
The Daily Beast’s Christopher Dickey later wrote that “[w]hether Bergdahl…just walked away from his base or was lagging behind on a patrol at the time of his capture remains an open and fiercely debated question.” Not to me and the members of my unit. Make no mistake: Bergdahl did not “lag behind on a patrol,” as was cited in news reports at the time. There was no patrol that night. Bergdahl was relieved from guard duty, and instead of going to sleep, he fled the outpost on foot. He deserted. I’ve talked to members of Bergdahl’s platoon – including the last Americans to see him before his capture. I’ve reviewed the relevant documents. That’s what happened.
And there’s the problem of the Taliban- they don’t take prisoners:
The scene cuts and one of the killers stands behind him and shoots him in the head with a pistol, five times. Another man stands off to the side, out of his victim’s view, and fires three bursts from his AK-47 rifle into his torso, which convulses at each round.
It was yet another example of a terrible truth, one that has been a commonplace for so long that it is seldom commented upon: insurgents in Afghanistan rarely take any prisoners.
The price to recover Bergdahl has been high:
One of my close friends was the company executive officer for the unit at Zerok. He is a mild-mannered and generous guy, not the kind of person prone to fits of pique or rage. But, in his opinion, the attack would not have happened had his company received its normal complement of intelligence aircraft: drones, planes, and the like. Instead, every intelligence aircraft available in theater had received new instructions: find Bergdahl. My friend blames Bergdahl for his soldiers’ deaths. I know that he is not alone, and that this was not the only instance of it. His soldiers’ names were Private First Class Aaron Fairbairn and Private First Class Justin Casillas.
Though the 2009 Afghan presidential election slowed the search for Bergdahl, it did not stop it. Our battalion suffered six fatalities in a three-week period. On August 18, an IED killed Private First Class Morris Walker and Staff Sergeant Clayton Bowen during a reconnaissance mission. On August 26, while conducting a search for a Taliban shadow sub-governor supposedly affiliated with Bergdahl’s captors, Staff Sergeant Kurt Curtiss was shot in the face and killed. On September 4, during a patrol to a village near the area in which Bergdahl vanished, an insurgent ambush killed Second Lieutenant Darryn Andrews and gravely wounded Private First Class Matthew Martinek, who died of his wounds a week later. On September 5, while conducting a foot movement toward a village also thought affiliated with Bergdahl’s captors, Staff Sergeant Michael Murphrey stepped on an improvised land mine. He died the next day.
And it gets more and more curious. SecDef Hagel said Congress wasn’t notified of the trade because Bergdahl’s health was failing:
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan—U.S. officials had intelligence suggesting Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s safety and health were in jeopardy, justifying a prisoner swap without the required congressional notification, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sunday.
He said the government believed it had to act quickly to save Sgt. Bergdahl’s life after he was held prisoner for nearly five years. But Mr. Hagel declined to provide details of his condition, citing privacy rules. He spoke on a flight to Afghanistan, where he was to meet with American troops and commanders.
Yet CBS News reports this:
Bergdahl was in good condition and able to walk,
And most curious of all is this- the most transparent President in history of the world forced all of Bergdahl’s fellow soldiers to sign non-disclosure agreements:
Many of Bergdahl’s fellow troops — from the seven or so who knew him best in his squad, to the larger group that comprised 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.
Exactly why would Obama need to stifle the voices of those who knew Bergdahl best? Would it ruin the party?
There is little doubt that Obama’s new policy of negotiating with terrorists puts a larger and larger target on the backs of Americans- especially soldiers- everywhere.
In the days ahead however, we must carefully examine the means by which we secured his freedom. America has maintained a prohibition on negotiating with terrorists for good reason. Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Berghdal’s release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans. Our terrorist adversaries now have a strong incentive to capture Americans. That incentive will put our forces in Afghanistan and around the world at even greater risk.
This incident is a convenient distraction from the string of Obama foreign policy failures and the VA scandal but ultimately this action does little more than diminish the US further.
Barack Obama traded five high value Taliban for an America hater who walked away from his post, but is unable to rescue a decorated war veteran from a Mexico jail. Maybe he’ll trade Tahmooressi for more automatic weapons for the cartels.
What I’d like to see is Obama standing at the podium with the families of the six US soldiers who died looking for Bergdahl with Obama telling America how much Bergdahl hated this country. How happy are those parents now?
DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 30 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 30 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter on her way into the field of education.
DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.
Except for liberals being foolish.
Bowe’s hometown had balloons up and a parade ready to go when Obama pointed out that bowe is going to be in Texas until at the very least, June 28th.
Apparently its going to take at least that long to ”re-integrate” him into American society again.
As if he ever was!
He was a weird man.
A ”Calvenist.”
He aspired to go to Uganda (of all places).
He wanted to join the French foreign legion.
Walking to India was par for his normal course.
I am wondering about this Texas custody bit that will last at least a month.
Is he so Islamic extremist that he cannot hide it?
One more thing:
About those 5 terrorists Qatar took and supposedly put behind bars.
They could ”escape.”
Qatar might open all the prisons for mercy’s sake come Ramadan.
IF they remain behind bars they can become strengthened by being in prison there, working with their old buddies from there and literally made into heros while there.
The right would rather slime the solider and Obama than celebrate his release. Just disgusting. Please keep it up and show Americans what you are truly made of. It will guarantee your loss in 2014. Shameless screechers. Especially since Reagan illegally gave arms for hostages and Bush/Cheney should have been charged with war crimes.
“What I’d like to see is Obama standing at the podium with the families of the six US soldiers who died looking for Bergdahl with Obama telling America how much Bergdahl hated this country. How happy are those parents now?”
I can hear it now:
“What difference, at this point, does it make?!?”
This is a disgrace to this country but no surprise since it’s just another anti-American gesture as Obama sucks up to his true religious peers.
But remember Susan (the video did it) Rice said obama did not negotiate with terrorists. I’ll have to agree, bending over and grabbing your ankles is definitely not negotiating.
@This one: My very first reaction before I even heard the soldier’s name or was aware of the circumstances, was “why are we trading terrorists for prisoners?” I didn’t think we did that and, as anyone could easily figure out, that is NOT a good precedent to set.
Then came the facts. Obama skirted Congress (again). The circumstances of the soldier’s disappearance requires some consideration (I suppose you regard his comrades as lying liars while Mr. Obama has never lied?) and, if those details related by the soldiers in his unit are true, what should the reaction be, This one?
A Republican President once embarked on a noble pursuit; eliminate a source of dangerous WMD’s from access by al Qaeda and other terror groups. Due to being a Republican, this President and the effort has been vilified for 9 years. I have yet to run across any columns of liberals complaining about how good intentions got punished with vicious attacks.
Pfc. Jose Baggett neglected one obvious possibility that could explain Bergdahl’s actions: He may have had some sort of psychotic episode. Walking off into hostile territory without your weapon doesn’t seem like the most rational sort of behavior.
@Greg: So that is why he sent all of the messages. You would defend the jack the ripper!
I’m not defending him. I’m only suggesting that what little we know about him could add up to crazy instead of traitor. It probably does. If he went nuts, I doubt if he recovered his sanity while he was a guest of the Taliban.
I don’t think anybody is trying to make the guy into a hero. Rather, there’s been praise for the mission that got the guy back. This actually is noteworthy. He was the only known American prisoner of war in Afghanistan.
I don’t think anyone should expect objectivity from his parents. Nor was Obama likely to condemn him in front of them. Nor do I expect much in the way of objectivity from the right.
A win-win situation for the Bamster White house. Make Congress irrelevant, also.
One great diversion.
The IRS is off the entire papers/media coverage.
The VA is at least off the front pages.
Did you know Obama actually ”knocks on wood?”
Yeah, and his little childish syncophantic boys who he attends meetings with (dude) do it with him!
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/the-obama-paradox-107304.html
I do hope, as we see these guys get their heros’ welcome and take up their old work again, we remember why.
Obama wanted them tried in federal court but there was NO evidence which would have stood up under those rules.
These prisoners were caught on battlefields, not in a police sting!
@Greg: How about objectivity from those who died trying to find him!
@oil guy from Alberta: :A win-win situation for the Bamster White house. Make Congress irrelevant, also. :
Congress is already ‘irrelevant’ due to their inaction on everything.
I wouldn’t presume to speak for them.
Radical Islam went through its greatest increase in the 80s when the USA funded them to fight the Russians in Afghanistan.
Anyone still think that was a good idea?
@john: “Anyone still think that was a good idea?” Well, Obama does, since he has been doing it in Libya and Syria. However, who at the time DIDN’T think it was in our interests to fund them to fight the Russians?
Therein lies to point of confusion with the left; we helped the Islamists and they turned around and showed their appreciation by flying airliners into our buildings. See, they don’t hate us because we did something to them; they hate us because we are us. Obama can apologize or kowtow to them all he wants; they aren’t going to “like” us. Now that they have tasted blood, they want more.
Now that they have exchanged one American for 5 bags of garbage, they will want more. This one foolish act will put even more Americans at risk.
You know, Obama found bin Laden all by himself in only two years (we are repeatedly told how Bush failed to contribute); why didn’t Obama just FIND Bergdahl?
@Greg:
Really, Greggie? Could have fooled me, and everyone else on this board reading your drivel.
So what you are saying is this deserter was such a Section 8 case, that he should have been mustered out before the Army sent him to Afghanistan in the first place? If our military is that incompetent under Obama, the sooner we get Obama out of office the better.
Yeah, that’s it. Use the word probably meaning you don’t have a clue and haven’t bothered to research the issue.
Maybe you should read this:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/02/we-lost-soldiers-in-the-hunt-for-bergdahl-a-guy-who-walked-off-in-the-dead-of-night.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=cheatsheet_morning&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bcheatsheet_morning&utm_term=Cheat%20Sheet
My suspicion is that Bergdahl is another John Walker Lindh. And we lost a lot of good men, better than this slime bag, in the search to find him.
And what with his father claiming Bergdahl no longer speaks English, so he has to speak to him in Pashtu as well as praising Allah for Bergdahl’s release, after the deserter is released?
If a fair and open fact-finding investigation concludes he was a deserter, he should be court martialed.
We released 5 war criminals for this guy.
Obama’s forcing his known associates in the military to sign non-disclosure agreements is hindering fact-finding.
Obama needs to release these soldiers from that obligation.
@retire05, #16:
As usual, the right is simply looking for another politically exploitable issue. The truth is that neither you nor I nor anyone else here presently has a clue about Bergdahl’s mental state. That being the case, I’m withholding judgement. You, on the other hand, are ready to hold a trial, and seem to already have your mind made up what the outcome should be.
@Greg:
.
No, but his platoon brothers do, and did, and they are saying he went AWOL. Dispute that issue with them. I choose to believe them over you, any day. And what you are saying by trying to claim that Bergdahl had some kind of mental breakdown is that our military, under Obama, is no longer capable of being able to diagnose mental disorders that would cause someone to just wander off in enemy territory.
Then there is this:
“Without much publicity or official announcements, the Unites States released five Guantanamo Bay detainees as a nod of willingness to open peace talks in Afghanistan. After officials in Kabul expressed desire for negotiations, the Obama administration released five members of the Taliban who were detained at the US detention center. ”
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4411028,00.html
Got that, Greggie? We gave up five radical Islamists held in Gitmo just to beg the Taliban to enter into talks with us, now making the grand total of 10 . How is this any different that FDR giving up German POWs just to be able to talk to Hitler’s bunch? We are at war, and we don’t negotiate with those we are at war with; we make minced meat out of them.
Oh, and one other thing; an investigation in Bergdahl’s missing was conducted in 2009/2010 and was dropped by the military in 2010 as the report suggested that he left on his own. It was at the end of that investigation that the military ordered the search for Bergdahl to be ceased.
@Greg: Just like libs did to Bush, at every turn, on every issue.
What goes around…
Libs want to fight? Than fight.
Deal with it.
@Greg, #19:
Five guys, each of whom have been in captivity for 12 years… They’re probably a bit out of touch at this point, don’t you imagine?
By the way, in what sense is any of the five actually a terrorist, as opposed to an enemy military combatant? I’m curious what acts of terrorism any of the five have been accused of, let alone convicted of. Twelve years is a long time to spend in a cage without a trial or charges.
Not that such judicial trivialities as specific charges and established guilt matter to you, of course.
@Greg:
Anwar Awlaki wasn’t even an enemy combatant, nor was his son.
Go easy on Greg. Seriously. He’s become a polite debater and I respect that.
@DrJohn, #23:
A good point.
@Greg:
The US Constitution and its legal protections apply to US citizens, not terrorists.
Under the parameters of the Geneva Convention and the laws of war, the Taliban do not qualify for those protections, as they are terrorists, not soldiers in service to the army of a nation.
It is typical leftist inconsistency to hide behind a (mistaken) legal requirement, while ignoring the violation of the legal requirement to notify congress 30 days in advance of any gitmo detainee release, which Obama did in this horrifically stupid move.
@Greg:
Greggie, why don’t you tell us what an enemy military combatant is according to the Geneva Convention? I’m sure you can explain how terrorists are considered to be military?
@Pete:
Don’t burst Greggie’s bubble. He basically just makes things up as he goes along and hopes the rest of us are dumb enough to believe his garbage.
@retire05, #27:
Why don’t you review what the word military means in common English usage?
The Taliban is specific to Afghanistan. In 1996 they formed the governing body of that country, which became the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. They remained in control until the end of 2001.
I don’t imagine anyone who participated in the campaigns that toppled the Taliban government would dispute the fact that they went to war with Taliban military forces in order to do so. All of the five had positions in Afghanistan’s Taliban government or command positions in the Taliban’s military.
Don’t bother to suggest that I’m defending these guys. I’m only pointing out that they arguably did all have an official legal standing that we totally ignored for 12 years. That was never put it to the test. They were never formally charged and tried. They were one of Obama’s numerous inheritances from the Bush/Cheney administration. I can’t believe Cheney is breaking wind on FOX News about how Obama has resolved the situation when the frickin’ Bush administration failed to do so for 7 years.
@Greg:
The Geneva Convention refers specifically to uniformed combatants.
@Randy: It is just troll puke — ignore.
@This one: troll puke!
@Nanny G: Dream on — and maybe the 80 or so from Benghazi — still haven’t heard what they have to say
@retire05: You said:
Works for most of the idiot voters in this country!
It’s too bad that Obama didn’t trade himself for this guy.
@Greg: “By the way, in what sense is any of the five actually a terrorist, as opposed to an enemy military combatant? I’m curious what acts of terrorism any of the five have been accused of, let alone convicted of. Twelve years is a long time to spend in a cage without a trial or charges. ”
“Here is the US military’s assessment of the three detainees named in the article to be included in the swap:
Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa, Herat governor and acting interior minister. Khairkhwa is “directly associated to Usama Bin Laden (UBL) and Taliban Supreme Commander Mullah Muhammad Omar” and was “trusted and respected by both.” After 9/11 he “represented the Taliban during meetings with Iranian officials seeking to support hostilities against US and Coalition forces” and “attended a meeting at the direction of UBL, reportedly accompanied by members of HAMAS.” He is “one of the premier opium drug lords in Western Afghanistan” and was likely “associated with a militant training camp in Herat operated by deceased al-Qaida commander (in Iraq) Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.”
Mullah Norullah Noori, governor-general of Afghanistan’s northern zone. Noori “is considered one of the most significant former Taliban officials detained at JTF-GTMO” who “led troops against US and Coalition forces” and “was directly subordinate to Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Omar.” He “is wanted by the UN for possible war crimes,” is “associated with members of al-Qaida,” and is assessed “to be a hardliner in his support of the Taliban philosophy.” He “continues to be a significant figure encouraging acts of aggression and his brother is currently a Taliban commander conducting operations against US and Coalition forces…. Detainee would likely join his brother if released.”
Mullah Mohammed Fazl, deputy defense minister. Fazl is “wanted by the UN for possible war crimes while serving as a Taliban Army Chief of Staff and … was implicated in the murder of thousands of Shiites in northern Afghanistan during the Taliban reign.” He has “operational associations with significant al-Qaida and other extremist personnel,” was “involved in Taliban narcotics trafficking,” and is so senior in the Taliban hierarchy that he once threatened the Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Omar. Military officials assess that Fazl wields “considerable influence throughout the northern region of Afghanistan and his influence continued even after his capture” adding, “If released, [Fazl] would likely rejoin the Taliban and establish ties with anti-Coalition militias (ACM) participating in hostilities against US and Coalition forces in Afghanistan.”
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/obama-to-give-5-top-terrorists-to-taliban
This is from 2012. Obama had a long time to vet Bergdahl and these miscreants.
Then, this from the NYT:
“Mohammad Nabi Omari is described in the files as “one of the most significant former Taliban leaders detained” at Guantánamo. He is said to have strong operational ties to anticoalition militia groups, including Al Qaeda, the Taliban and the Haqqani network. The fourth detainee is Abdul Haq Wasiq, a former top Taliban intelligence official.”
“Both Mr. Noori and a third detainee being exchanged, Mullah Mohammad Fazl, a former Taliban deputy defense minister, are accused of having commanded forces that killed thousands of Shiite Muslims, a minority in Afghanistan, before the Taliban were toppled in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.” They are wanted by the U.N. for war crimes.
@Greg:
You can be as obtuse as you want, giving me the dictionary definition of military, but the fact remains that there are specific definitions of military (legal forces of a nation) combatants and non uniformed combatants. Terrorists are NOT legal uniformed combatants who are covered under the Geneva Convention.
So trying to worm your way out of that one is simply laughable.
The narcissist in the Oval Office has just put every American in a higher state of danger, and now you want to defend a man who deserted his brothers in arms, and simply walked away. What we can say now is that Obama lied, and more will have died because of it, and those that will die will be your fellow Americans. And you will continue to bury your head in the sand and try to defend the indefensible.
@Greg: I just can’t believe how much an indoctrinated tool you are…
“Blame Bush”
Do you paid by the DNC, or are you just a volunteer?
According to media reports as well as video, the five (two wanted for war crimes by international courts) have been given a hero’s welcome and the free run of the country of Qatar.
If you are as high up in organizing terror campaigns as they were, you don’t need to be physically on a battlefield to help your side fight more effectively.
Think of them as if we were fighting Germany and Japan in WWII and they had captured 5 of our top generals and admirals who had the most experience in how they fought and how to counter them…..then, they let our leaders come back to us on the proviso that we not let them leave the mainland USA.
They could and would still help us win.
And the plot continues to thicken.
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/06/03/bergdahl-never-listed-by-pentagon-as-prisoner-of-war/
@another vet:
Indeed. Stay tuned.
@Greg:
Guess you forgot about the Northern Alliance and the fact that the Taliban were just ONE group of warlords claiming to rule Afghanistan, eh Greggie?
Obama never lifted a finger to get the release of Jon Hammar.
What about Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi? We have about 12 million people we could exchange for him.
@This one:
Again, you are nothing but a lying, completely ignorant idiot. Not only do you have no shame at being so phenomenally wrong, but you have no concept at just how stupendously moronic you are. You should change your moniker to Parrot, because that is all you seem capable of doing is parroting the easily disproven lies of your leftist masters.
It is disgusting that actual Americans have had to sacrifice their lives so that despicable fools like you can continue to breathe.
@Greg:
You again display the most vicious deceit possible with your pathetic attempt to classify Taliban terrorists as equal to the uniformed military of a sovereign nation. In case you missed the last 12 years, the Taliban were REMOVED from power and have not been a government in any country since the US invasion in 2002. As such, the thugs who continue to fight for the taliban are nothing but terrorist cockroaches, not covered by the Geneva Convention, and most certainly not protected by the US Constitution.
Furthermore – to show just how insane Obama’s act in freeing 5 senior taliban terrorists scum in exchange for a US deserter, from the NYT no less…
The members of his platoon certainly seem to have plenty to say about Bergdahl:
And the men – actual Americans who did their duty in Afghanistan – have strong opinions about what should be done with Bergdahl:
So the story seems to indicate once again that Obama is either grossly incompetent or deliberately evil. There was absolutely no justification for trading five taliban terrorist scumbags – who arguably should already have been exterminated if they were no longer useful for obtaining intelligence on terrorist activities – for a self-absorbed, cowardly, unpatriotic deserter.
As a deserter in time of war, one of the punishments under the UCMJ is death by firing squad. Bergdahl should have nothing else to look forward to upon his “release” by the taliban.
@DrJohn: Whatever the reason Bergdahl did what he did, be it him being a misguided soul going on a personal pilgrimage to “find” himself or be it because he betrayed his country by trying to throw in with the Taliban, one fact is certain- he was a deserter. At the very least, Obama has openly embraced a deserter. At worst, he openly embraced a traitor. It will be interesting to see if the Army has the you know what to follow through and find out why he deserted and stand up to what will no doubt be the political pressure of trying to brush it under the table or to lie. Susan Rice praising Bergdahl’s “distinguished and honorable” service equates desertion with honorable service. A true slap in the face to everyone who has served honorably. The administration once again breaking the law by not notifying Congress is just one more example of how we really are no longer a nation of laws, i.e. a republic, given that nothing will come of this either.
@retire05, #36:
I just pointed out that they were part of a nation’s legal forces at the time they were captured. They were part of the government and/or military forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which existed from 1996 through 2001.
This is a backwards argument. You’re assuming the truth of what you’re attempting to prove. Maybe Cheney also fits the definition of a terrorist, since he doesn’t get to claim uniformed military status:
We could throw in torture for good measure.
And now we’re getting to the point of all these assertions—about Bo Bergdahl being a traitor to his country, the parallels between the soldiers who died attempting to rescue him and the lives lost in Benghazi, and about the five former Taliban commanders kept prisoner for 12 years without formal charges or trial being “The Taliban Dream Team,” and having no legal status. It’s all the setup for another SCANDAL. Clearly immediate formal investigations are in order.
@Greg:
What you are claiming is that the Taliban, because of its attacks on the Afghanis themselves, became the legitimate government of Afghanistan. I think you might want to do a little better research on that subject.
And what do ducks and goats have to do with anything? Are there arms bearing ducks and goats in Afghanistan that are attacking our soldiers? If so, then we need to train those ducks and goats to man our own southern border.
Your absurdity seems to know no bounds.
Try running that crap past the soldiers who served in Bergdahl’s platoon. Tell that to the parents who lost sons because they were looking for a deserter who walked off his FOB.
But the bottom line is that now Obama is admitting there is nothing to prevent the Dream Team Talibanis from returning to the battle field. Oh, and what about that heroes welcome the five received when they arrived in Qatar? Yeah, we can trust radical Islamists to keep an eye on other radical Islamists, can’t we? Qatar is just about as trustworthy as Yemen.
My God, Greggie, is there no lengths you are unwilling to go to to defend this misadministration? Americans are going to die because of Obama’s actions and you seem to not care as long as you have a Marxist in office.
@Pete: Read some of the comments coming out from those who served with him. The last two say a lot. But hey, just like everything else, the lefties back here know what happened far better than the guys who were there do. I guess the guys down range opinions don’t count for much because they don’t tow the Party line.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/we-swore-oath-and-we-upheld-ours-he-did-not_794093.html
@Greg:
You have written the most concise definition of your – and every other leftist’s – pathologic projection of your own mental illness as methodology.