Posted on Oct 10, 2015
Another officer recommends no jail time for Bergdahl: do they know something we don't, or are there other motivations?
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According to Army Times, Lt. Col. Mark Visger's report will recommend no jail time for Bergdahl and no punitive discharge. It also recommends a special court-martial which only allows for a maximum punishment of one year imprisonment and a bad conduct discharge. Do these officers that are speaking out know something we don't, or are there other motivations behind their suggestions?
Personally, I believe there is probably more to the story; however, we need to look at the long term issues that are going to come of this. If the Army doesn't give Bergdahl a punitive discharge, he will still be eligible for benefits. I also believe that it is highly likely that he could receive a medical discharge for psychiatric reasons and end up with a 70+% disability rating that will be paid for the rest of his life. That's not something I want to see come to fruition.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/crime/2015/10/10/lawyer-officer-recommends-no-jail-bergdahl/73726990/
Personally, I believe there is probably more to the story; however, we need to look at the long term issues that are going to come of this. If the Army doesn't give Bergdahl a punitive discharge, he will still be eligible for benefits. I also believe that it is highly likely that he could receive a medical discharge for psychiatric reasons and end up with a 70+% disability rating that will be paid for the rest of his life. That's not something I want to see come to fruition.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/crime/2015/10/10/lawyer-officer-recommends-no-jail-bergdahl/73726990/
Bergdahl
Crime
Desertion
Afghanistan
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 22
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If convicted of desertion Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl definitely should get prison time SSgt David Tedrow
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LTC Stephen F.
COL Jon Thompson - I concur with you that "leadership owes to all of the Soldiers who did their duty and did not leave their posts to explain why not."
If I agreed with Donald Trump in this instance it would be one of the few areas where we agree. :-)
I doubt he would be staying awake each night because we don't agree on much though :-)
If I agreed with Donald Trump in this instance it would be one of the few areas where we agree. :-)
I doubt he would be staying awake each night because we don't agree on much though :-)
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MSG (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) - Should I send that SPC a Hurt Feelings Report? Might save some time in the future.
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MSG (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) - Well, I am all about helping the troops. Even if that means wiping their tears and giving them some Tucks pads for their hurt butts.
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Simply put. Yes, they absolutely do know things we don't. They have FAR more information in this story than the breadcrumbs the Media has been PROFITEERING off of since this began years ago.
The Media (et al) is a Profit Generating Organization. Repeat, the Media is a Profit Generating Organization. They do NOT have our (the People) best interest at heart. They have THEIR best interest at heart, and that is to sell one more story.
I will continue to reserve judgement until the final verdict comes out, and this is resolved... However based on General Dahl's initial comments, my running assessment is, "it's quite possible Sgt Bergdahl is just nuts." Not an excuse. Just an explanation. Doesn't change anything that happened, but it does modify the narrative... A LOT.
The Media (et al) is a Profit Generating Organization. Repeat, the Media is a Profit Generating Organization. They do NOT have our (the People) best interest at heart. They have THEIR best interest at heart, and that is to sell one more story.
I will continue to reserve judgement until the final verdict comes out, and this is resolved... However based on General Dahl's initial comments, my running assessment is, "it's quite possible Sgt Bergdahl is just nuts." Not an excuse. Just an explanation. Doesn't change anything that happened, but it does modify the narrative... A LOT.
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COL Jon Thompson
I just hope the Army is open and transparent when this is all said and done. I think the Army leadership will owe it to Soldiers to explain why he got what he did.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
COL Jon Thompson I think the UCMJ is possibly the last transparent and actually Just system we have left. I'm sure there will be things left behind the curtain. There always are. But if WE can't trust the UCMJ (et al), we can't trust any of it.
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TSgt Marco McDowell
I'm not big on conspiracy theories nor do I rage about things I have zero substantial information on. Whatever the government and the Army know is more than those who claim "intimate" knowledge of the situation. Either way, he'll be miserable in a brig, on duty or as a civilian because he will always be known for this.
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Brave men died because of him. I might Trump on this one. He sure seemed to be a happy traitor.
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SPC (Join to see)
You should look at some of the pictures taken of our POWs during the Vietnam War before you cast such judgement based on a picture. You should also read Nick Rowe's Five Years To Freedom to further see how the enemy can propagandize a single moment.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Right.
“June 30, 2009, Bergdahl deserts his post in southeast Afghanistan,” Retired Col. David Hunt said. “July 1st and 2nd, in a standard briefing to a commander of his unit, Fourth Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division, we have tapes of Taliban talking on Bergdahl’s phone saying that Bergdahl wanted to join them. And we have the Taliban on their own phones talking about Bergdahl trying to join them.”
“June 30, 2009, Bergdahl deserts his post in southeast Afghanistan,” Retired Col. David Hunt said. “July 1st and 2nd, in a standard briefing to a commander of his unit, Fourth Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division, we have tapes of Taliban talking on Bergdahl’s phone saying that Bergdahl wanted to join them. And we have the Taliban on their own phones talking about Bergdahl trying to join them.”
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SPC (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) - Right.
We all know he deliberately abandoned his post. Good job on presenting something everyone knows. Yet you are advocating a death sentence for something that has very rarely merited a death sentence before (an not since WWII). It isn't like he went all "Salt and Pepper" (two traitors from Vietnam) against US forces. Bergdahl abandoning his post and him committing treason are two totally different things.
We all know he deliberately abandoned his post. Good job on presenting something everyone knows. Yet you are advocating a death sentence for something that has very rarely merited a death sentence before (an not since WWII). It isn't like he went all "Salt and Pepper" (two traitors from Vietnam) against US forces. Bergdahl abandoning his post and him committing treason are two totally different things.
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I will add my two cents to this. While I do not condone what he did that caused him to be captured, he was held prisoner for 5-6 yrs. Of course, the DON is going to way extreme by stating he needs to be executed. Is prison in the cards, some would say his time in captivity was enough for him. I, while not really much having any care for this "Soldier," do tend to agree. What I do think should happen is this: He should receive and Dishonorable Discharge. Forfeiture of all pay and allowances. No jail time, but to be under constant surveillance. And one hell of a hefty fine.
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SSG Stephen Arnold
"If" he was "imprisoned" it was of his own doing. That does NOT excuse him from the consequences he SHOULD face HERE.
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There's always more to the story. It's hard to believe that this man is innocent though. Soldiers in his platoon clearly stated that he defected. It's clear to us what happened. There's more politics involved in this case that we'll never know about. It's sad, but justice will not be served.
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
SGT Jerrold Pesz - Because the POTUS orchestrated this maneuver, I wouldn't doubt it.
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He is a peace of shit. He should be given the death penalty. NO QUESTIONS. SSG HUNT USA.
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First off I want to say I DO NOT like this man. I DO NOT like what he did, DO NOT like the fact that lives were lost looking for him, nor the fact that we traded lives for him. With that said my personal feelings do not matter. No one's does. If you're Army (and I'm sure the sister services have this too), you know with this Creed we couldn't leave him there knowing he's alive (which the US did for years). So with this in mind, the POTUS did what had to be done (you do not have to like it), and the Army got back her "Soldier". Now had we left him there and it got out (which it always does), the Army would've lost face with the troops for knowing where he was and not using every option to get him back. The Army will also loose faith and trust in the force by not convicting him and allowing him to "retire" with rank, backpay, and future benefits intact. So now we're in a catch 22 where there is no right answer. There's more to this, and I believe for the sake of the Army the service tells the story before a "tell-all" book is released with misinformation. I think and believe the Army has suffered enough behind this and it's time to close the door and move on.
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I am sure they do know some things that we don't. Some of it will probably be made public later, some won't. I don't think we actually need to know. The problem is how public the whole thing's become.
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COL Jon Thompson
If this indeed happens, I think we do have a need to know why the Army did this. Otherwise, I think the Army leadership would have a breach of trust with the rest of the Army.
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It's all politics, both the Army and the administration will be disgraced if he is found guilty of all charges. Especially if he is sentenced to life, dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of all benefits and pay. I believe there will be those who have a strong will to side with him, that he has been through enough. They will cave and he will be allowed to retire medically with full benefits and no jail time. Again taking advantage of the American tax payer like he has since his recovery.
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