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Bowe Bergdahl, U.S. soldier held in Afghanistan, freed in swap

I was listening to a radio commentary while driving a couple of hours ago and the talk show host--I didn't catch his name--said the jury was out on whether Bergdahl had deserted and we should be very careful not to impune the name of a uniformed member of the armed services without knowing about that for sure.

But some 50 of our soldiers were killed when out looking for Bergdahl--the level of violence escalated greatly in the months following his capture. His father mentioned he was more comfortable talking in Pashto than in English, but that could be lack of contact with any English speakers for the past five years. The five guys traded for his release were top Taliban leaders and had been classified extremely dangerous.

And yes, that certainly would appear to be encouragement for Islamic terrorists to look for more people to kidnap and hold for ransom.

And I can't shake the feeling too that Obama was almost desperate for something--ANYTHING--to get the VA and Benghazi scandals off the front pages. He had tried almost everything in his arsenal without success. But Bergdahl's release accomplished that.
 
American said:
Mr Unilateral with his pen bypassed Congress in undertaking the swap. He's a total ****up as President, and making it worse everyday. Laws mean nothing to him personally. No doubt his crooked attorney general told him it was okay.

Bergdahl release arrangement could threaten the safety of Americans, Republicans say - The Washington Post
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The statute in the law might be unconstitutional and violates the separation of powers.

Barack Obama: Statement on Signing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

If it goes to the SCOTUS I think they'll side with Obama on this one.
 
AlbqOwl said:
I was listening to a radio commentary while driving a couple of hours ago and the talk show host--I didn't catch his name--said the jury was out on whether Bergdahl had deserted and we should be very careful not to impune the name of a uniformed member of the armed services without knowing about that for sure.

But some 50 of our soldiers were killed when out looking for Bergdahl--the level of violence escalated greatly in the months following his capture. His father mentioned he was more comfortable talking in Pashto than in English, but that could be lack of contact with any English speakers for the past five years. The five guys traded for his release were top Taliban leaders and had been classified extremely dangerous.

And yes, that certainly would appear to be encouragement for Islamic terrorists to look for more people to kidnap and hold for ransom.

And I can't shake the feeling too that Obama was almost desperate for something--ANYTHING--to get the VA and Benghazi scandals off the front pages. He had tried almost everything in his arsenal without success. But Bergdahl's release accomplished that.
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The news is reporting that only six soldiers were killed, not fifty......

"....At least six soldiers were killed in subsequent searches for Bergdahl, and many soldiers in his platoon said attacks seemed to increase against the United States in Paktika province in the days and weeks following his disappearance.....

On August 18, 2009, Staff Sgt. Clayton Bowen and Pfc. Morris Walker were killed by an IED in the search for Bergdahl. Staff Sgt. Kurt Curtiss was killed on August 26; 2nd Lt. Darryn Andrews and Pfc. Matthew Michael Martinek were killed after being attacked in Yahya Khail District on September 4; Staff Sgt. Michael Murphrey was killed September 5 by an IED at the Forward Operating Base, Sharana .......read...."
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Fellow soldiers call Bowe Bergdahl a deserter, not a hero - CNN.com


Do you have a link to your claim below?
"His father mentioned he was more comfortable talking in Pashto than in English, but that could be lack of contact with any English speakers for the past five years."
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Travis007 said:
Thsi deal puts every American at risk to be taken hostage..
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But....but....but, I thought we were ALREADY at risk to be taken hostage by them bad, bad and Oh So Dangerous terrists....? :lamo
 
Henry David said:
But....but....but, I thought we were ALREADY at risk to be taken hostage by them bad, bad and Oh So Dangerous terrists....? :lamo
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it increased the odds that our servicemen will taken hostage...

this guy was a deserter.. we should have left him.. 6 brave gave their lives looking for this "jihadist from within"
 
Zyphlin said:
Going to withhold coming to my final initial judgement on this until a bit more information, but my gut is very uncomfortable with this. I understand the emotional argument of this guys family and such that's been placed in this thread. Emotional arguments as a matter of foreign and defense policy is idiotic and a poor foundation to work from.

I will say that initially this looks like a CLEAR breach of the law from the President. You don't get to sign a law and simultaneously sign a signing statement that says you disagree the laws constiutional and will ignore it. That absolutely should be persued, even if it's simply a manner of the SCOTUS ruling in on the constitutionality of the reporting requirement.
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Obama is funding Hamas with the PLO today so Obama has no laws left to break... He needs to be impeached is the only way..
 
Travis007 said:
it increased that odds that our servicemen will taken hostage...

this guy was a deserter.. we should have left him.. 6 brave gave their lives looking for this "jihadist from within"
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I'm sure sorry about those 6, RIP

More importantly, what about the several hundred members of Congress and Executive who brought us this fraud? Should they be punished? Are they responsible in any way for sending young men off to their death under fraud?
 
Henry David said:
I'm sure sorry about those 6, RIP

More importantly, what about the several hundred members of Congress and Executive who brought us this fraud? Should they be punished? Are they responsible in any way for sending young men off to their death under fraud?
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ridiculous...

our army is not a draft army...
 
Moot said:
The statute in the law might be unconstitutional and violates the separation of powers.

Barack Obama: Statement on Signing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

If it goes to the SCOTUS I think they'll side with Obama on this one.
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I think to say that this could be a violation of the separation of powers is a major reach. Congress determined the framework for the operation of the military including the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Also, this law requires that Al Qaeda be held "in military custody pending disposition under the law of war." I think Obama utilized Section 1021, paragraph c, item 4: "Transfer to the custody or control of the person’s country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity" to bypass Congress. Poorly written laws tend to be easily bypassed. Not sure what Obama was objecting to in his signing statement.
 
Travis007 said:
ridiculous...

our army is not a draft army...
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Mercenary armies existed before the draft, and in different jurisdictions, at the same time I suppose.

What does that have to do with it, in your opinion?

Soldiers can be sent off to fight a just war or an illegitimate war, whether they are draftees or volunteers. The justness of any given conflict is mostly dependent upon the character of our leaders.
 
AlbqOwl said:
And I can't shake the feeling too that Obama was almost desperate for something--ANYTHING--to get the VA and Benghazi scandals off the front pages. He had tried almost everything in his arsenal without success. But Bergdahl's release accomplished that.
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How could this possibly be perceived as 'less controversial' or damning for the administration?
 
Moot said:
The news is reporting that only six soldiers were killed, not fifty......


Fellow soldiers call Bowe Bergdahl a deserter, not a hero - CNN.com


Do you have a link to your claim below?
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No, I'm sorry. I was watching an interview with the father this morning on the early news--I'm thinking probably around 7 or 7:30 this morning? That's when I heard that--from the father.

And you're right about the six, and Fox News is even questioning that using the term 'alleged' that they were killed looking for Bergdahl. Pentagon to review claims US soldiers killed during search for Bergdahl | Fox News
 
Lursa said:
How could this possibly be perceived as 'less controversial' or damning for the administration?
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Because most people think it is just fine that the Administration got the guy out of captivity. It just isn't as emotionally volatile as is the VA scandal or, for many, Benghazi. And it doesn't hurt Hillary.
 
AlbqOwl said:
No, I'm sorry. I was watching an interview with the father this morning on the early news--I'm thinking probably around 7 or 7:30 this morning? That's when I heard that--from the father.

And you're right about the six, and Fox News is even questioning that using the term 'alleged' that they were killed looking for Bergdahl. Pentagon to review claims US soldiers killed during search for Bergdahl | Fox News
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Until they do an investigation I'm inclined to call it "alledged" at this point, too. Although, I don't know how they would prove it since they were killed in a conflict zone.
 
apdst said:
I prefer that soldiers don't get killed looking for a deserter.
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Odds are you're going to look for a deserter anyway. You don't want him handing information over to the enemy so getting him back is going to be a priority. It may not, depending on the circumstances, be a top priority but it's pretty important.

Generally speaking I don't think it's a particularly good idea to hand over high level prisoners for a low level deserter but that's another issue all together.
 
AliHajiSheik said:
I think to say that this could be a violation of the separation of powers is a major reach. Congress determined the framework for the operation of the military including the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Also, this law requires that Al Qaeda be held "in military custody pending disposition under the law of war." I think Obama utilized Section 1021, paragraph c, item 4: "Transfer to the custody or control of the person’s country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity" to bypass Congress. Poorly written laws tend to be easily bypassed. Not sure what Obama was objecting to in his signing statement.
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It looks like congress was trying to infringe on the presidents powers through the defense budget bill. If the GOP doesn't take Obama to court for breaking their law, then I think it safe to assume the statute is probably unconstitutional. Besides I think it's to the GOP's advantage that the court doesn't decide the case because it allows them to continue to falsely accuse Obama of breaking the law. See how that works? lol
 
Lutherf said:
Odds are you're going to look for a deserter anyway. You don't want him handing information over to the enemy so getting him back is going to be a priority. It may not, depending on the circumstances, be a top priority but it's pretty important.

Generally speaking I don't think it's a particularly good idea to hand over high level prisoners for a low level deserter but that's another issue all together.
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Did you see the story on Bergdahl's father? The man grew a long beard and learned the language while his son was captive, and stated he would go get his son himself if necessary! He actually looked like a member of the Taliban, so he may have tried!

Greetings, Lutherf. :2wave:
 
Lutherf said:
Odds are you're going to look for a deserter anyway. You don't want him handing information over to the enemy so getting him back is going to be a priority. It may not, depending on the circumstances, be a top priority but it's pretty important.

Generally speaking I don't think it's a particularly good idea to hand over high level prisoners for a low level deserter but that's another issue all together.
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You won't send out teams to go renegading across no-man's land looking for a deserter.

The Tals used Bergdahl as bait in several ambushes.
 
American said:
Really? The law isn't plain enough to understand, it has to go to nine judges to get a meaning?
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Litigation is the American way. lol


Apparently the law was wide open for interpretation and the president determined that parts of the statute were unconstitutional and infringed on the separation of powers. If congress disagrees then let the courts decide... after all, that's what they're for.
 
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