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Former POW Bergdahl set to return to active duty [W:159]

danarhea

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was set to return to regular active duty status as early as Monday, having completed therapy and counseling following his return from captivity in Afghanistan, according to reports.

Bergdahl, who was released in May after five years as a Taliban prisoner of war in Afghanistan, will work at the Army North headquarters at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, the New York Times and CNN reported, citing defense officials.

So it turns out that investigators did not press AWOL charges against him, and from previous stories that he frequently left the base to take hikes, and then came back each time, it turns out that the accusations against him from many pundits here were unfounded. So why the firestorm over the trade to get him back? We don't leave our own in the hands of the enemy, whether or not they were AWOL, but it seems that some here were very willing to do that, whether or not Bergdahl had been AWOL or not. What the hell is happening to us if we are willing to throw our soldiers into the garbage over allegations, even before an investigation shows the evidence was not enough to put Bergdahl on trial? So we traded 5 Taliban members for Bergdahl - I call that a good trade. Bergdahl is one of ours, and we don't leave ours behind to rot on the battlefield, or in the prisons of the enemy. That is the American way.

Article is here.
 
First of all, that's not nearly long enough to recover sufficiently from that long in captivity.

Second, the investigation isn't over...nor should it be.

I would consider this guy a danger and security risk until proven otherwise.
 
Let the games begin.

The question will now be simple. Do you believe this man (Bergdahl) and the investigators / government that used him for a big media splash, the same regime that has lied over and over or do you believe the soldiers that claim he is a deserter and traitor to the nation? I know who I believe, and I suspect anyone that loves our current regime will believe opposite. Sad that the truth may never be known, but I can't take for granted anything that comes from this government.

So it turns out that investigators did not press AWOL charges against him, and from previous stories that he frequently left the base to take hikes, and then came back each time, it turns out that the accusations against him from many pundits here were unfounded. So why the firestorm over the trade to get him back? We don't leave our own in the hands of the enemy, whether or not they were AWOL, but it seems that some here were very willing to do that, whether or not Bergdahl had been AWOL or not. What the hell is happening to us if we are willing to throw our soldiers into the garbage over allegations, even before an investigation shows the evidence was not enough to put Bergdahl on trial? So we traded 5 Taliban members for Bergdahl - I call that a good trade. Bergdahl is one of ours, and we don't leave ours behind to rot on the battlefield, or in the prisons of the enemy. That is the American way.

Article is here.
 
Let the games begin.

The question will now be simple. Do you believe this man (Bergdahl) and the investigators / government that used him for a big media splash, the same regime that has lied over and over or do you believe the soldiers that claim he is a deserter and traitor to the nation? I know who I believe, and I suspect anyone that loves our current regime will believe opposite. Sad that the truth may never be known, but I can't take for granted anything that comes from this government.

I believe the Army, who put him back on active duty instead of prosecuting him.
 
So it turns out that investigators did not press AWOL charges against him, and from previous stories that he frequently left the base to take hikes, and then came back each time, it turns out that the accusations against him from many pundits here were unfounded. So why the firestorm over the trade to get him back? We don't leave our own in the hands of the enemy, whether or not they were AWOL, but it seems that some here were very willing to do that, whether or not Bergdahl had been AWOL or not. What the hell is happening to us if we are willing to throw our soldiers into the garbage over allegations, even before an investigation shows the evidence was not enough to put Bergdahl on trial? So we traded 5 Taliban members for Bergdahl - I call that a good trade. Bergdahl is one of ours, and we don't leave ours behind to rot on the battlefield, or in the prisons of the enemy. That is the American way.

Article is here.

Your article never said that they did not press AWOL charges it said the investigation is ongoing. That means they are still looking into it not that he has been cleared. You either need to slow down your bias or at least read your own article.
I think any way you look at it the turd left his post on his own accord. That at a minimum is dereliction of duty if not more and more than likely a lot more.
 
I believe the Army, who put him back on active duty instead of prosecuting him.

Who's in charge of the Army and all of our armed forces?

Dunno how much the Army has actually changed since 1991, but if this "hiking" which btw is not part of the article (is this REALLY the story they came up with? :lamo) occurred back then, they'd be found guilty via court martial and DD'd so fast it'd make your head spin. So some questions here that weren't addressed in the article:

- Did his CO provide permission for him to take these "hikes"? If so, I'd like to see that since it wasn't mentioned in the article in the OP....
- Who from JAG is investigating and when is the investigation expected to be complete?

Let me put it this way... either way he should be hauled in front of a judge and either found guilty or not guilty to desertion. I'm way to cynical to see this as just the Army following SOP - this has the fingerprints of political activity all over it.
 
I believe the Army, who put him back on active duty instead of prosecuting him.

So how was he captured? Did he just walk off his post? And if so, that isn't the army that won World War II, I'll tell you that.
 
So it turns out that investigators did not press AWOL charges against him, and from previous stories that he frequently left the base to take hikes, and then came back each time, it turns out that the accusations against him from many pundits here were unfounded. So why the firestorm over the trade to get him back? We don't leave our own in the hands of the enemy, whether or not they were AWOL, but it seems that some here were very willing to do that, whether or not Bergdahl had been AWOL or not. What the hell is happening to us if we are willing to throw our soldiers into the garbage over allegations, even before an investigation shows the evidence was not enough to put Bergdahl on trial? So we traded 5 Taliban members for Bergdahl - I call that a good trade. Bergdahl is one of ours, and we don't leave ours behind to rot on the battlefield, or in the prisons of the enemy. That is the American way.

Article is here.
You have placed the cart before the horse. There has been no announcement regarding the outcome of the still ongoing investigation into Bergdahl's disappearance. In fact, it seems you did not even bother to read your own linked article, as it contains the following:
The Pentagon also said the Army was still investigating the circumstances surrounding Bergdahl's 2009 disappearance from his post in Afghanistan and subsequent capture by Taliban militants.

If you really can't fathom why there was a "firestorm" about the Bergdahl trade I doubt anyone at DP can help you with that. Simply repeating the administration mantras offered as reasoning behind their decision? Is just so much reheated and re-stated rhetoric and spin. Particularly given that we don't even know what the outcome of the investigation is.

One can be happy that the obviously troubled young man has been brought home and given help. One can also at the same time have rational concerns, issues and questions about the deal that procured his release. Having just gone back and looked through several of the threads at DP that related to this matter, it is no surprise that you are saying essentially the same thing now that you were then. Even as you lay claim to an outcome to the investigation that has not been reached. Which would have been obvious had you actually read the article you linked to before you posted it. Clearly you had your mind made up very early in the process of the breaking of this story. Not surprisingly you are of the same mindset now you had then, confused by the fall out of developments and revelations. And claiming an outcome which obviously you desire, but is far from a fact, even though you act as if this is the case.

I'll await the outcome of the investigation and see what if any recommendations are made then. Before I reach any conclusions or start making claims about events which have not been resolved. As much as you really really want your version of events and your peculiar failure to grasp the issues at play here to the definitive take on this "good trade"? I'll also await confirmation about the death toll to other soldiers who were searching for Bergdahl and lost their lives as a result, as well as what the panel finds to have been Bergdahl's actual actions before I pronounce this a "good" situation or a pitiable one.
 
So how was he captured? Did he just walk off his post? And if so, that isn't the army that won World War II, I'll tell you that.

Look at it from a purely political perspective.... Bergdahl is the face of the Presidents decision to release 5 top Taliban terrorists. Obama met with Bergdahl's parents and had a photo op in the Rose garden celebrating their son's release. Then the WH finds out the American people aren't fawning over how wonderful the decision is so now, Bergdahl is the lynch pin - and he's been reported by his squad as walking off base and desertion on the record. How do you salvage that? Well... by absolving Bergdahl, by giving him doctors and psychologists, and a re-integration plan etc.... then delay any investigation until late 2016 or better yet 2017, have an "on going investigation" which may or may not exist but will buy time, and then get this guy back into daily Army life. You may ask - so what's the end game? The end game is, to delay and let most of this blow over, and then either go through a dog and pony show court martial, or better yet just find that there was no wrong doing in an official "investigation" report, or if you have to, court martial the guy after Obama is out of office so it's not his problem any more and he can deflect questions and blame it on anyone and anything other than him (which has been his MO for the past 5 1/2 years). :shrug:
 
First of all, that's not nearly long enough to recover sufficiently from that long in captivity.

Second, the investigation isn't over...nor should it be.

I would consider this guy a danger and security risk until proven otherwise.

Right, to imagine he couldn't speak English and now is ready to be back on active duty after 5 years of being a prisoner.

And yes the investigation is continuing, maybe Bergdahl needs to be back on active duty to be tried...
 
Let me put it this way... either way he should be hauled in front of a judge and either found guilty or not guilty to desertion. I'm way to cynical to see this as just the Army following SOP - this has the fingerprints of political activity all over it.

Certainly you're cynical. Now if this same Army had condemned him, I doubt you would be nearly so cynical. :lamo
 
Let the games begin.

The question will now be simple. Do you believe this man (Bergdahl) and the investigators / government that used him for a big media splash, the same regime that has lied over and over or do you believe the soldiers that claim he is a deserter and traitor to the nation? I know who I believe, and I suspect anyone that loves our current regime will believe opposite. Sad that the truth may never be known, but I can't take for granted anything that comes from this government.

Why would you believe any one about something that you have no way of knowing the truth of? Instead of believing whoever it telling you what you want to hear, you should question and have doubts about every one.
 
Certainly you're cynical. Now if this same Army had condemned him, I doubt you would be nearly so cynical. :lamo

The Army doesn't "condemn" anyone. Either there's enough evidence for a court martial hearing or there is not. That nothing has yet happened also doesn't mean something won't. I'm cynical because I don't see much urgency here and that has political fingerprints all over it.
 
Any clown that believes this is nothing more than hoping it all goes away by the White House (not to be confused with the military brass) is asking for a dunce label on their heads and forced to sit in a corner for the remainder of their lives. This White House are chalk full of liars, period! I'm just waiting for the headline, "Bergdahl, former POW, involved in work place violence, alleged to have bombed barracks killing 100's".


Tim-
 
Any clown that believes this is nothing more than hoping it all goes away by the White House (not to be confused with the military brass) is asking for a dunce label on their heads and forced to sit in a corner for the remainder of their lives. This White House are chalk full of liars, period! I'm just waiting for the headline, "Bergdahl, former POW, involved in work place violence, alleged to have bombed barracks killing 100's".


Tim-

That sounds like hoping too. Just sayin'.
 
First of all, that's not nearly long enough to recover sufficiently from that long in captivity.

Second, the investigation isn't over...nor should it be.

I would consider this guy a danger and security risk until proven otherwise.

Apparently the Pentagon involved in Bergdahl's situation has satisfied any of those concerns.
 
That sounds like hoping too. Just sayin'.

So, you're "just sayin" I hope Bergdahl kills 100's of American services members? No, Dan, what I'm saying is that this clown has had more than enough time to become indoctrinated by an enemy of the US, and more than enough time to hide it well, reintegrate, and perhaps cause damage all in the name of Allah. It's not just plausible, it's likely. To what degree I'm not sure, hopefully I'm wrong, but this tells me that the Army, who's cherry picked yes-men doctors, and psychologists cleared this guy for active duty, are they themselves derelict insodoing.

Tim-
 
Who's in charge of the Army and all of our armed forces?

Dunno how much the Army has actually changed since 1991, but if this "hiking" which btw is not part of the article (is this REALLY the story they came up with? :lamo) occurred back then, they'd be found guilty via court martial and DD'd so fast it'd make your head spin.
After doing some checking your scoffing at danarhea's "hiking" claim was the correct reaction. Whatever "source" he plucked that little factoid from is so far off the scope as to rate as hysterical. In every meaning of the word. Seriously, what is it with posters at message boards? Can't be bothered to read what they post and then act as if what they did bolsters a contention, of theirs, that was born in the recesses of their own imagination.:screwy

Like you I'm highly cynical of this claim he is fit for duty. Clearly this announcement has the same political fingerprints on it that have been present from the start of this matter. I've been following the story closely and my suspicion is becoming more and more simple. Bowe Bergdahl is just lucky he was an appealing political football for the administration.


Anecdotally speaking, knowing staff at Fort. Sam and BAMC? The idea anyone recovers from these kinds events as rapidly as this announcement claims? Presents even more questions born of common sense and a none too naive view of political manipulation. As well as bucking prior claims about the usual length of "recovery" in situations like this.
Back in U.S., Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl probably faces a long recovery*-*Los Angeles Times

The "normal" and most healthy course would be not to call attention to the fact that he is moving about and interacting with the public/service members. That is if this was a "normal" situation. Privacy and sensitivity are the usual considerations being exercised by the excellent staff that helps soldiers reintegrate in San Antonio. That this announcement has been made at such a crucial and early point in Bergdahl's recovery/reintegration process? Just smacks of obvious political manipulation, unless one is just plain naive.


Something is fishy in Denmark, with regard to this announcement. Outside of danarhea's rather creative take on the matter. ;)
 
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And yes the investigation is continuing, maybe Bergdahl needs to be back on active duty to be tried...

This is what I'm thinking as well. To be tried he would have to be placed back onto active duty. I doubt the investigation is over, there is still many questions that need to be answered and they are probably gathering up testimony as well.

I don't think this is over, nor should it be IMO.
 
This is what I'm thinking as well. To be tried he would have to be placed back onto active duty. I doubt the investigation is over, there is still many questions that need to be answered and they are probably gathering up testimony as well.

I don't think this is over, nor should it be IMO.
Again, as stated in the article, the investigation is not over. ;)

The Pentagon also said the Army was still investigating the circumstances surrounding Bergdahl's 2009 disappearance from his post in Afghanistan and subsequent capture by Taliban militants.
 
I do - mostly our government - since they routinely lie to us.

The soldiers that called him out, that called his integrity into question, they have not lied to me - our government most definitely HAS.

Why would you believe any one about something that you have no way of knowing the truth of? Instead of believing whoever it telling you what you want to hear, you should question and have doubts about every one.
 
I do - mostly our government - since they routinely lie to us.

The soldiers that called him out, that called his integrity into question, they have not lied to me - our government most definitely HAS.

That's what governments do to the people, forever. Or did you think that was just a democratic tactic?
 
It was predicted. In Obama new politically correct army, abandoning your post in combat and surrendering to the enemy is now considered to be "serving with honor and distinction."

Who wants to bet that Obama awards Bergdahl with the POW Medal ?
 
First of all, that's not nearly long enough to recover sufficiently from that long in captivity.

Second, the investigation isn't over...nor should it be.

I would consider this guy a danger and security risk until proven otherwise.

Innocent before guilty, not the other way around.

I've been defending this guy since the story came out and people started asking for him to be shot (I mean really? Let's shoot American soldiers! Because god knows they aren't being shot at enough...).
 
It was predicted. In Obama new politically correct army, abandoning your post in combat and surrendering to the enemy is now considered to be "serving with honor and distinction."

Who wants to bet that Obama awards Bergdahl with the POW Medal ?

I won't bet but I'll safely say he will give him the medal.
 
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