Is there anyone who thinks that Bergdahl did not walk away from his post?

2015-10-13T09:05:46-04:00

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Oct 13 at 2015 9:10 AM

2015-10-13T09:10:14-04:00

He left his weapon and his battle buddies and walked away. A lot of effort went into looking for him. He deserves the harshest punishment available.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 13 at 2015 9:15 AM

2015-10-13T09:15:30-04:00

That's not what is being tried.

You have the act, and you have the "scope of the act."

Think of it like a spectrum. There is no doubt he committed AWOL/UA. That's not up for debate. That's been admitted to. That has statutory penalties.

Beyond that is Desertion. That requires the "intent not to return." That's debatable, as we have Gen. Dahl saying he was trying to make his way to the next camp over (20~ miles) to report issues in his own camp. That can potentially take Desertion off the table.

Then we have Misbehavior before the Enemy. This is the tricky argument from the prosecutions' side, as it can be said it's just a pumped up Desertion charge, which means they are trying to charge him twice for the same crime. It would be like charging him for AWOL and Desertion. It's "one or the other" is the Defense's stance. There's more to the charge than that, but there's layers, and this is a "major" layer.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 9:24 AM

2015-10-13T09:24:57-04:00

... ... I got a gut feeling that he may walk free from this ... ...

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 13 at 2015 10:19 AM

2015-10-13T10:19:54-04:00

I believe he did walk away, but did so under orders...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-10-13T10:29:49-04:00

Just based on your wording of the question and the details that did emerge...........yes, he walked away from his post. That has been admitted to. Now, if you want to get deeper into the issue, then the question will need to be reworded.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-10-13T10:56:32-04:00

I am not sure. I will let the courts do their job and go from there

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Oct 13 at 2015 11:34 AM

2015-10-13T11:34:14-04:00

He deliberately planned and walked away....I don't believe the fact that he left can be disputed....his ass was not there, he left!

Response by SFC Stephen King made Oct 13 at 2015 11:47 AM

2015-10-13T11:47:16-04:00

No.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Oct 13 at 2015 11:53 AM

2015-10-13T11:53:11-04:00

Not at all he did it, everyone knows it, and the evidence is there to prove it in court . He is just lucky that the current "command climate" is in his favor. If this happened 20 years ago he would already be serving a life sentence at Ft Leavenworth and everyone know that as well.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 13 at 2015 12:20 PM

2015-10-13T12:20:09-04:00

I believe he admitted that he did. If he gets away with it there will be more

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Oct 13 at 2015 10:13 PM

2015-10-13T22:13:33-04:00

No. (At least not this guy), there may be somebody...

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Oct 14 at 2015 2:05 AM

2015-10-14T02:05:15-04:00

He heard the Eagle caw and knew there was a village in need of liberty and justice so he took advice from the great military hero Rambo and went on his own to free them. Unfortunately the Taliban menace found him before he made it.

Seriously though, I don't know why it's even a question anymore as to whether he walked away or not. He left his post, cost the military both money and lives in the efforts to rescue him and was ultimately traded for by freeing terrorists who I think we all know most likely went back and joined up with their old Jihadi buddies. He needs to face charges plain and simple. Regardless of how he was treated by them while in captivity he needs to face justice back here in the States for his screw ups.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 15 at 2015 6:10 AM

2015-10-15T06:10:42-04:00

Yea I don't think he walked away from his post but rather Bergdahl ran as fast as he could & when the Taliban caught him..he said "Thnax for rescuing me from that horrible US Army"....He is a deserter who may have provided the Taliban with everything they wanted to know about Bergdahl's Infantry Company..

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 15 at 2015 6:51 AM

2015-10-15T06:51:31-04:00

He may have picked up a light jog at some points...