• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Bergdah get no prison!

Old Sarge

Active member
Joined
Oct 7, 2017
Messages
483
Reaction score
193
Location
Florida
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Conservative
The judge in the Berg Dahl desertion case sentenced him to reduction to E-1 forfeiture of all pay and allowances and a dishonorable discjarge.

What a miscarriage of justice.
 
The judge in the Berg Dahl desertion case sentenced him to reduction to E-1 forfeiture of all pay and allowances and a dishonorable discjarge.

What a miscarriage of justice.

It's literally the worse case scenario for a judge to sentence for.

If Bergdahl went AWOL and no one came after him but eventually he was released, do you think he'd serve time? Of course not.

We sent in a team to save him and that team was ambushed. Do we hold that against him since he didn't give that order?

It's not an easy case.
 
It's literally the worse case scenario for a judge to sentence for.

If Bergdahl went AWOL and no one came after him but eventually he was released, do you think he'd serve time? Of course not.

We sent in a team to save him and that team was ambushed. Do we hold that against him since he didn't give that order?

It's not an easy case.

Bergdahl left his post in a combat zone, that alone was enough to get jail time.

Because of his actions people in his unit were placed in harms way unessarly. Have you ever served? There is a special bond between members of a unit in combat. The unit was duty bound to try and find out what happened to him and return him to safety. So the little punk should have been sentenced to jail.
 
Bergdahl left his post in a combat zone, that alone was enough to get jail time.

Because of his actions people in his unit were placed in harms way unessarly. Have you ever served? There is a special bond between members of a unit in combat. The unit was duty bound to try and find out what happened to him and return him to safety. So the little punk should have been sentenced to jail.

I have but I don't see how that applies.
Yes, he'd serve time in jail but the judge believed his time in captivity was equal to any punishment that would be dealt out.
 
I have but I don't see how that applies.
Yes, he'd serve time in jail but the judge believed his time in captivity was equal to any punishment that would be dealt out.

Tell that to the victims and their families,.......along with the hundreds of thousand of ground pounders.
 
I have but I don't see how that applies.
Yes, he'd serve time in jail but the judge believed his time in captivity was equal to any punishment that would be dealt out.

The judge was wrong.
 
The judge in the Berg Dahl desertion case sentenced him to reduction to E-1 forfeiture of all pay and allowances and a dishonorable discjarge.

What a miscarriage of justice.
Yes, because being held prisoner by the Taliban for five years was exactly like going to soccer camp.
 
Yes, because being held prisoner by the Taliban for five years was exactly like going to soccer camp.

When you abandon your post and seek out the enemy because you sympathize with them the results of that decision should be immaterial when it comes to sentencing.
 
Tell that to the victims and their families,.......along with the hundreds of thousand of ground pounders.
Sorry, but that's not how justice works.

The goal of justice is not to punish someone until the victims' thirst for vengeance is satisfied. It's to determine the appropriate punishment, based on a variety of circumstances and factors, including the motive of the accused.

In this case, Bergdahl was imprisoned by the Taliban for 5 years. He was almost certainly beaten and tortured during his captivity, and tried to escape several times. He didn't join the Taliban, he didn't ask to be swapped for other prisoners, we aren't even clear why he left his post. He didn't ask to become a partisan football. What we do know is that he made a huge mistake, and paid for it.
 
Sorry, but that's not how justice works.

The goal of justice is not to punish someone until the victims' thirst for vengeance is satisfied. It's to determine the appropriate punishment, based on a variety of circumstances and factors, including the motive of the accused.

In this case, Bergdahl was imprisoned by the Taliban for 5 years. He was almost certainly beaten and tortured during his captivity, and tried to escape several times. He didn't join the Taliban, he didn't ask to be swapped for other prisoners, we aren't even clear why he left his post. He didn't ask to become a partisan football. What we do know is that he made a huge mistake, and paid for it.

I don't care. I hope some some one takes him out.

Feel free to trash me for my opinion if you like.
 
When you abandon your post and seek out the enemy because you sympathize with them the results of that decision should be immaterial when it comes to sentencing.
You know what really shouldn't be considered? Totally fabricated claims.

His reason for abandoning his post is not clear. The Taliban make varying claims, such as that he wandered off while drunk, or he was captured when he fell behind his patrol. During the trial, he claimed he was deeply upset by events in his unit, and wanted to notify a general officer of the problems. No one claims that he planned to join the enemy. No one claims he was trying to find them at all. There is zero evidence that, at any time during captivity, he engaged in any misconduct.

So yes, when you wander off your post like an idiot, get captured by terrorists and turned over to the enemy, who then holds you captive and tortures you? Yes, I'd say it is legitimate consideration during sentencing.
 
Tell that to the victims and their families,.......along with the hundreds of thousand of ground pounders.

Former ground pounder in Afghanistan here. I for one am glad they showed some leniency. He's already been held prisoner for years to include torture. He's suffered enough and piling on serves no purpose. No soldiers are thinking of reproducing his actions to get that sweet Bergdahl treatment.
 
Former ground pounder in Afghanistan here. I for one am glad they showed some leniency. He's already been held prisoner for years to include torture. He's suffered enough and piling on serves no purpose. No soldiers are thinking of reproducing his actions to get that sweet Bergdahl treatment.

I respect your opinion.

I hope he gets run over in traffic.
 
You know what really shouldn't be considered? Totally fabricated claims.

His reason for abandoning his post is not clear. The Taliban make varying claims, such as that he wandered off while drunk, or he was captured when he fell behind his patrol. During the trial, he claimed he was deeply upset by events in his unit, and wanted to notify a general officer of the problems. No one claims that he planned to join the enemy. No one claims he was trying to find them at all. There is zero evidence that, at any time during captivity, he engaged in any misconduct.

So yes, when you wander off your post like an idiot, get captured by terrorists and turned over to the enemy, who then holds you captive and tortures you? Yes, I'd say it is legitimate consideration during sentencing.

There is ample evidence that he intentionally abandoned his post. If you've been following this case you should be aware of the email he sent to his parents before he took off. In that email he expressed shame and revulsion at being an American. His parents responded to him by suggesting that he obey his conscience. He deserted. He plead guilty to desertion. His capture by the Taliban was not an accident.
 
I have but I don't see how that applies.
Yes, he'd serve time in jail but the judge believed his time in captivity was equal to any punishment that would be dealt out.

It matters because those who have never worn the uniform don't understand the bonds formed between troops.

You didn't say he would go to jail for leaving his post the first time.
 
There is ample evidence that he intentionally abandoned his post.
Yes, there is. He even admitted as such.

However, you also said he "seek[ed] out the enemy because you sympathize with them," and there is no evidence whatsoever for this claim.


If you've been following this case you should be aware of the email he sent to his parents before he took off.
I did read it. He was deeply upset over what he perceived as bad decisions by the military. Nothing in that email suggests that he planned to actually join the Taliban.
 
Back
Top Bottom