Posted on Mar 28, 2015
Bergdahl's Defense... The gauntlet has been thrown...
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Inside sources have leaked a potential outline for the Bergdahl defense.
What would you be willing to do to report wrong doing in your unit?
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bergdahl-reportedly-didnt-trust-commanders-tried-to-walk-to-nearest-u-s-outpost/
What would you be willing to do to report wrong doing in your unit?
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bergdahl-reportedly-didnt-trust-commanders-tried-to-walk-to-nearest-u-s-outpost/
Ethics
Values
Bergdahl
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 13
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Keep in mind that the Defense's job is to cast doubt on the Prosecution's claims. Enough doubt and they win. It doesn't have to be realistic, juts "plausible." Additionally, they have to work with what they have, and the specific charges the Prosecution is bringing.
I realize most of the people here have already made up their minds regarding Bergdahl. That is outside the issue of his actual Right to Due Process. It doesn't matter what we believe happened. The Court Martial process is supposed to investigate what did happen, and if there was wrong doing then punish it.
This Defense, as stated isn't bad.
How many of us have been in a Command that we haven't trusted at one point or another? Just ask yourself that question.
Now, if you said you had, place yourself in a position where you need to "escalate up" but in order to "jump" a Commander, you have to go Off Post. How would you go about it? You know you're in a world of trouble the second you do this. Do you take government property with you? Do you trust your Command if they find you on the way?
What if you are in a "stressed" mental state (or were a service member with known "psychological issues" - he was kicked out of USCG for undisclosed psychological issues)?
Now, I'm not trying to make excuses for Bergdahl. I don't have enough data. I'm making an opinion on his Defense Team Strategy. It's slick. It could work. It will probably "mitigate" the misbehavior before the enemy charge to some degree (cast just enough doubt).
I realize most of the people here have already made up their minds regarding Bergdahl. That is outside the issue of his actual Right to Due Process. It doesn't matter what we believe happened. The Court Martial process is supposed to investigate what did happen, and if there was wrong doing then punish it.
This Defense, as stated isn't bad.
How many of us have been in a Command that we haven't trusted at one point or another? Just ask yourself that question.
Now, if you said you had, place yourself in a position where you need to "escalate up" but in order to "jump" a Commander, you have to go Off Post. How would you go about it? You know you're in a world of trouble the second you do this. Do you take government property with you? Do you trust your Command if they find you on the way?
What if you are in a "stressed" mental state (or were a service member with known "psychological issues" - he was kicked out of USCG for undisclosed psychological issues)?
Now, I'm not trying to make excuses for Bergdahl. I don't have enough data. I'm making an opinion on his Defense Team Strategy. It's slick. It could work. It will probably "mitigate" the misbehavior before the enemy charge to some degree (cast just enough doubt).
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PO1 Glenn Boucher
Sgt Aaron Kennedy I agree that the defense is only doing their job by casting any doubt that they can.
That being said, I am pretty certain that all of us have been to a command that was less than perfect or just really sucked.
There is a system in place and if used properly it works. It may not be the most efficient or quickest system but it does work. Bergdahl could have used the chain of command and documented it all so that when he went over his commanders head he would not look like a fool or crybaby.
I am doubtful though that this defense will work because the jury of peers are, I am just guessing here, combat veterans themselves and have been there, done that and got the t-shirt.
I do not think the defense is using a good strategy given that the jury is military, might work with a civilian jury but I am doubtful it will work on a military jury.
That being said, I am pretty certain that all of us have been to a command that was less than perfect or just really sucked.
There is a system in place and if used properly it works. It may not be the most efficient or quickest system but it does work. Bergdahl could have used the chain of command and documented it all so that when he went over his commanders head he would not look like a fool or crybaby.
I am doubtful though that this defense will work because the jury of peers are, I am just guessing here, combat veterans themselves and have been there, done that and got the t-shirt.
I do not think the defense is using a good strategy given that the jury is military, might work with a civilian jury but I am doubtful it will work on a military jury.
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With his demonstrated integrity and record of superior performance I do not buy this malarkey!
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Yeah.... So that's why he left his weapon back at the OP and the initial reports from the locals were that he was asking for directions to the Taliban to join them. I think this is a case of him trying to do or say anything to mitigate his level of responsibility for his actions, to include smearing the name and reputation of his unit, and the people he served with. I don't trust his word at all. I really know I should be more open minded but I have a really hard time believing anything he says after that Rolling Stone article laid it out point by point back when this first started.
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I think that will be extremely hard to prove being that allegedly he left a note, his weapon, and his body armor. The last two actions are what I'd argue prove he was acting in a rational, albeit flawed manner. He chose to go, and he chose to do go out in such a way as to appear non threatening to potentially hostile locals. If I'm going to another post (which I'll be honest, that's completely insane thinking it would work if that was his logic imo), I'm not going to walk there completely unarmed or unprotected. His alleged actions, in my opinion, show a clear intent to leave and do so in a way that would make him appear harmless to the outside eye.
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No excuse for leaving your post, putting the lives of the entire at risks, and costing of Soldiers looking for him . I'm pressing GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad BS button
Prosecute to the fullest intent of the law
Prosecute to the fullest intent of the law
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Personal opinion - if true, good move by the defense. Can be rolled into a mental health defense.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Concur. It's a good "Defense Strategy" as a whole.
"Ignore the man, look at the Plan"
"Ignore the man, look at the Plan"
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If he had an ounce of honor or character he would accept his fate, plead guilty, take his punishment and move on. Clearly he has neither honor or character, no surprise.
This defense will not work. Based upon what I have read there is too much evidence to the contrary about him looking for the Taliban to meet with by many locals for starters. You don't abandon your post to go file a grievance about your unit if you have one. This is a smoke screen and this jury will be made up of military personal not a bunch of civilians that do not understand the military.
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS . It is not just doubt the defense needs to create (as you mentioned on another post on the topic). They need to create reasonable doubt. The prosecution does not have to prove "beyond a shadow of a doubt" he did what they charged him with only "beyond a reasonable doubt".
This defense will not work. Based upon what I have read there is too much evidence to the contrary about him looking for the Taliban to meet with by many locals for starters. You don't abandon your post to go file a grievance about your unit if you have one. This is a smoke screen and this jury will be made up of military personal not a bunch of civilians that do not understand the military.
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS . It is not just doubt the defense needs to create (as you mentioned on another post on the topic). They need to create reasonable doubt. The prosecution does not have to prove "beyond a shadow of a doubt" he did what they charged him with only "beyond a reasonable doubt".
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS, I agree with everything you said just now. The only difference is who pisses me off more. Snowden does not. But either way, right on all accounts.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SGT (Join to see) Snowden's original act isn't what pisses me off (in whole). It's the fact that he ran. He claims to have done it for the correct reasons, but refuses to take the consequences of said actions (going to trial to be punished or cleared).
In regards to Bergdahl, I don't have enough data. I don't trust the media enough to take their story as "truth" nor the administration. I work under the assumption that the CM will be the closest, and reserve judgement until then.
In regards to Bergdahl, I don't have enough data. I don't trust the media enough to take their story as "truth" nor the administration. I work under the assumption that the CM will be the closest, and reserve judgement until then.
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS, I agree with you about Snowden too then. About Bergdahl, I hope that they televise the CM. I read somewhere that it would be, but I can't remember exactly where. I think due to the public doubts in the decision making surrounding Bergdahl, the only hope they have of this not further turning into a conspiracy theorist's wet dream is by offering a bit of transparency.
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Cpl Jeff N.
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS. I agree, he gets his day in court. As I have to interest in the matter I can render an opinion as to innocence and guilt without tipping the scales of justice one way or the other, as can you.
If he is guilty and he knows he is guilty, the honorable thing to do is accept your just punishment. I know he will never, ever do that and his legal team will throw every last piece of crap against the wall to see what sticks. That is the society we live in. No one wants to be held accountable for their actions, period.
If he is guilty and he knows he is guilty, the honorable thing to do is accept your just punishment. I know he will never, ever do that and his legal team will throw every last piece of crap against the wall to see what sticks. That is the society we live in. No one wants to be held accountable for their actions, period.
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Can I have a double handful of that for my rose bushes? They should be trees in about 10-12 days! I think that expresses my opinion well enough.........
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I just think he's full of it and is trying to get out of some rather unthoughtful decisions.
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