Should President Obama pardon SGT Bowe Bergdahl?

There should have been a third choice: "Not only "NO!" but "HELL NO!!"

SFC Jim Ruether - That little sissy girl that Obama commuted the sentence on Bradley/Chelsea Manning should immediately be placed back in prison and Obama should be found guilty of a temporary lapse of judgement, approximately 8 yrs. long and then he and Chelsea/Bradley can share a cell together.

If SFC Ruether were in a real unit he'd be disciplined for that bullshit.

SFC Jim Ruether - Even though Bradley deserves everything he gets we do have the cruel and unusual aspect to consider here.. Did what he did make him deserve Obama in the cell?

I don't think he wanted to come back, he deserted he should be prosecuted.

It has already been said it won't happen.

If obama pardons him. Obama needs to go to jail. period.

Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay - What? That's a load of crap.

Considering his prior behavior, Col Joseph Lenertz, it's exactly what I expected of him.

LTC Stephen C. - Yes. No sense of integrity. Not just "no integrity". No SENSE of what integrity even IS.

Sgt Margot Gall - Yes. Perfect word for it.

Manning and Bergdahl need to be UNDER the prison!!! Both betrayed the US and caused loss- Bergdahl caused 5 lives to be lost due to Conduct or RUNNING away from duty and Manning was intel. Strip them both of ALL rank and BCD their sorry hides, THEN BURY THEM UNDER LEAVENWORTH never to see light of day!!!!

I agree the CM needs to go forward, but in the mean time the commander could have hit him with several other lesser included offences and given him an Article 15/CPT mast so he isn't walking around with SGT stripes on.

Exactly, SGM Matthew Quick. The POTUS has no business in this military process. He needs to stay out of it.

Maj John D Benedict - I wouldn't normally agree that the PotUS has no business in this, or any, military process. He is, after all, the Commander-in-Chief.

However, even the Commanding Officer of a 2-man project understands that discipline and order rely on delegation, and on trusting those charged with authority under your command to handle the authority you've given them. Still, if the CO of an aircraft carrier wants to grab a broom and go clean the decks with the seamen, it *is* his business... since he's ultimately responsible for the ship.

I did say "normally," though. The current Commander-in-Chief has shown disregard for all kinds of things, from the military in general, to maintaining good order. He seems to "accidentally" revert to his "community organizer" days (also known as a "rabble rouser"). He has already encouraged our troops to question authority when President-elect Trump relieves the watch. He seems to willingly seed discontent.

So, in this case (and many others), I have to agree with you. He has no business in this military process.

If POTUS does or does not weigh in on this, either option will provide the liberal socialist media negative broadcast/print against him.

SSgt Clare May -

SSgt Clare May - Or SFC McIntire: The reason we have federal and Military Prisons is to incarcerate people who have violated the laws of this country. Bergdahl willingly violated the oath he swore when he joined the United States Army. He walked off his post because he thought he knew a better way to stop Islamist Radicals from bringing war and death to Americans. Now he has to pay for his stupid mistake. I am not sure, but I don't think we have executed a deserter in the past 100+ years. If he is sentenced to death I firmly believe that Trump would not permit that. If it costs $30 thousand a year to keep him alive for 30 or 40 years, that's the price we have to pay. We pay much more than that for the prisoners in our state prisons, and there are many, many ore of them than there are in Leavenworth. The UCMJ proscribes the punishment, all we have to do is follow the orders.

As I recall Sgt Charles Malcom it was used in the Vietnam war... the death penalty that is. Lt Kelly? perhaps? !970 time frame... been a while ago... but yes it wasn't a deserter situation. Vietnam had a major different circumstance than Iraq and Afghanistan. Forced military service via the draft.

Now the question is, Why should innocent taxpayers "pay the price" for the arrogance and the desertion of a volunteer military soldier in a combat zone who had ample opportunity to conscientiously object prior to deployment? He was not a draftee... there was no obligation on his part to join...Sign me up as those two factors add in as aggravating circumstances, certainly not mitigating. Add in other died attempting to rescue/find him... add in another aggravating circumstance.

That is where I see a skewed system in which the end result behavior is to punish, (economically), innocent taxpayers, UPON CONVICTION... where others perished because of DIRECT ACTIONS of this volunteer soldier.

Now I know that you have never worked in a prison system, military or civilian. I can tell by your response Sgt Charles Malcom you believe in a complete use of the military judicial system, and your response implies taking the death penalty off the table.

Let me explain future victims that are going to be created by the 30-40-50 or 60 year incarceration of this bastard. It will be the unfortunate ones acting as his glorified babysitter... when he has a hissy fit over possible shit like... he didn't get his sex change operation on time... and then his response will be something like tossing fecal matter on his keepers... on urine... or subject his keepers to constant vulgar insults. maybe he will be one who will become the jailhouse rapist... maybe the receiver of rapes... maybe he will become numb to undressing in front of what he will call "his capturs" and become the masterbation specialist in cell block H...Maybe he will be the first to escape... Maybe he will kill another inmate over a homemade alcohol theft... or a toothbrush theft...

Now lets get to another avenue you brought up... This maggot thought he knew a better way to solve the peace problem between radical islamic terrorists and he knew much more than every leader in the free world, and in some nations that are not full time members of the free world. Had this maggot succeeded...We would not be having this conversation. But its not rocket science to guestimate that this shitbird failed....AND... His failure was absolute.

The UCMJ...unless its been modified yet again by the liberal left within the last 30 years... includes the penalty of Death as the maximum punishment for desertion in a combat zone. Its time to use it and this maggot reached that burden level of proof to meet that sentence. The death penalty is a proper usage of the Courts in this case. The issue is up to the prosecutors to work their combined asses off to get that sentence. If they are not working for that sentence, they open the doors to more conscientious objectors conducting the same conduct in war for every situation in the foreseeable future. Lifetime imprisonments for deserters in a combat zone is not a future that any worthwhile military desires, nor is it one that is workable for any successful VOLUNTEER military.

Even a volunteer military must have just laws and applicable rules that render pussy's like this mute and when a line is drawn... there are times it must not be crossed. I guarantee you, absolutely, without a millisecond of doubt, had someone crossed that 6" red line to that B-52 that was fully loaded sitting on the ramp waiting its turn in line for that elephant walk to fly off and drop its nuclear payload when or if that time came, and if I was guarding that 6" red line and the penalty was shoot, disable or kill any person attempting to interrupt that payload or that aircraft... and if you were that idiot that was on the other side of my M16... you were going to get numerous different holes in your body within the appropriate time limitations of that M16.

And then there is the defense of the maggot. It must be done, someone must defend the indefensible... But... lets take another path... the Prosecution... The Prosecution has the upper hand every time. How's that you say? Simple... the more that this maggot shitbird is in the press, the more negativity placed in the papers or online in this case, the more it is disclosed that this asswipe chickenshit fuckup is put out about WHO DIED FOR HIM... The more the jury pool that is going to be selected can be influenced before trial. The more negative against him... the better chance for a guilty verdict. I've been waiting for the Defense to begin minimizing this maggots actions.... maybe your post can start that process... Maybe your good with a dismiss and comply with only forfeiture of pay and allowances, reduction in grade to E-1, credit time served and a dishonorable discharge. If that is your stance, that is your stance...not mine.

Do not forget that he was traded for terrorist

I second that motion!!!!

Share a cell with Hillary? THAT would be cruel and inhuman punishment. I would rather chew on a .45 ACP. Quick and painless.

GySgt David Weihausen - All in favor say aye.

LOL Prison is too good for either one, but we are all civilized, up to a point at least! LMAO

Great comment!

The POTUS already injected himself into the fray... by inviting the parents of the maggot to the steps of our house.

SFC (Join to see) Great insight

It seems to me that the president being the Commander in Chief certainly has rights to weigh in on the UCMJ. I think the sucker should be executed for his crime of desertion and cowardice in the face of the enemy. I suppose he thought he would have a better life living among the Muslims, and learned a lesson the hard way and thus "became" a prisoner instead of a willing recruit.

He will not issue Bergdahl a Pardon.

Actually, I can see Barry pardoning a bunch of Terrorists from GitMo before this slime.

The White House said they are not getting involved. And how does he hate the Military?

Chopping off the head of the snake. VOLUNTEER MILITARY. He didn't belong there in the first place. His sense of duty and honor resulted in walking away and turning his back on those he was sworn to fight beside, defend from harm. He found out he was a pussy, and he found out before he was deployed and didn't do anything to stop his discontent with trying to be a hero. The military is not the place to find out that yourself is a pussy, but it damn sure is nowadays. Far left liberal responses always hope and pray that what he did "Wasn't so bad after all" I mean look at all the others who were captured and held prisoner and did atrocious things... That's nothing more than a line of crap to avoid the solution. Hide from the fact that others died for this piece of shit. History shows a non-volunteer military will do anything to survive when captured, and even ion captivity, the human spirit can survive under intense destructive conduct. The human spirit can be broken and humans will do anything to survive in extreme conditions. WHen CAPTURED... when NOT DESERTING... most POWs do not become POWs... they become KIA's or worse yet MIA's. I know about MIA and the family toll it takes.. and years later becoming a KIA... I have an uncle in my family buried with his entire flight crew in a communal grave at Jefferson Barracks, Saint Louis, Mo... The UCMJ penalty is DEATH for DESERTION UNDER WAR CONDITIONS. The law exists already and has existed since the inception of the UCMJ. Its time to use it that is also a preventative measure so that pansy ass pussy's like this sick bastard will think before putting another soldier in harms way. I believe in teamwork, in my 38 year career and in my lifetime, we have all worked together, through bad and good, but when it came to a life or death..I HAD YOUR BACK. The far left liberal shitbirds can stay at home and breed while the soldiers of war can continue to insure your peaceful life is uninterrupted by a dictator. I cannot defend this ass. I will not defend this ass. Someone, if its me so be it, has a firm line in the sand that must be drawn... its not about "It didn't matter to me what he did or I didn't belong to his unit... He represented what I stand for and he disgraced and others died for his ignorance and his direct actions. People like him need to know that there are people like me... If you do not believe in our military, or the concept of disgraceful conduct including DESERTION UNDER WAR CONDITIONS... There will be consequences up to...and including... the Death Penalty. I wont vote you up or down, you have your opinion, I have mine. I will not change my opinion because you attack with this wasn't my troop or my unit it didn't involve me so why am I angry. We will agree to disagree, if you can accept that.

SSgt (Join to see) - I have to address the "Because he is innocent until proven guilty..."
The actual legalese is that you have "the presumption of innocence until proven guilty." It's a different thing, despite the similarities. We (the U.S.) regularly imprison (mean "jail", not "prison") people who are charged with certain crimes. They have the "presumption of innocence," in that they're not incarcerated in a prison setting, yet they're not allowed to wander freely, because of either the severity of the charge, the evidence against them, or the mood of the public (locked up for one's own protection).

It's a common misunderstanding, but it's incorrect, nonetheless.

SFC (Join to see) - The main 2 differences are 1) he was denied entry into one Military branch because he is defective yet persisted, leads me to believe that this Desertion/Sign-on with the Enemy was planned, 2) he was NOT captured But Joined the Enemy in order to Train them in How to more Effectively Kill American soldier ! TREASON - DEATH !!

A rule dating back to WWII or earlier about automatic promotion while a POW? Still if he is found a deserter then wouldn't he not have been POW and should still be a private?