Posted on Oct 8, 2015
Trump says that Bowe Bergdahl should have been executed for what he did. What does RP think?
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Donald Trump feels that Bergdahl should be executed for leaving his post. I am wondering what y'all think.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/10/08/donald-trump-says-bowe-bergdahl-should-have-been-executed/73616286/
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/10/08/donald-trump-says-bowe-bergdahl-should-have-been-executed/73616286/
UCMJ
Donald Trump
Desertion
Death Penalty
Bergdahl
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 132
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I think Mr. Trump doesn't believe in Due Process based on his comments thus far.
Regardless of our "gut" and what "we think" everyone has the Right to Due Process, and both WE and the PRESIDENT are sworn to the Constitution of the United States of America.
We've already lost one President because he thought the rules didn't apply to him. You don't get to go with your gut on matters of Justice. You go with the Constitution and the Justice System(s) (including the UCMJ).
On this case, Mr. Trump is wrong.
Sgt. Bergdahl may deserve to executed for his transgressions. But he deserves Due Process FIRST. Mr. Trump is bypassing that. And the Senior member of the Executive Branch. The COMMANDER IN CHIEF, CANNOT, and SHOULD NOT, ever do that.
He's WRONG. Ethically WRONG. Morally WRONG. CONSTITUTIONALLY WRONG.
Regardless of our "gut" and what "we think" everyone has the Right to Due Process, and both WE and the PRESIDENT are sworn to the Constitution of the United States of America.
We've already lost one President because he thought the rules didn't apply to him. You don't get to go with your gut on matters of Justice. You go with the Constitution and the Justice System(s) (including the UCMJ).
On this case, Mr. Trump is wrong.
Sgt. Bergdahl may deserve to executed for his transgressions. But he deserves Due Process FIRST. Mr. Trump is bypassing that. And the Senior member of the Executive Branch. The COMMANDER IN CHIEF, CANNOT, and SHOULD NOT, ever do that.
He's WRONG. Ethically WRONG. Morally WRONG. CONSTITUTIONALLY WRONG.
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SPC (Join to see)
TSgt Robert Ashley - president Nixon resigned as well as Clinton. Both very well would have been if they stayed but both resigned prior to impeachment
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PFC Don Palumbo
Obama is wrong. The military justice system should not have been interfered with. They fall under our laws also and they know best in these cases. They don't use politics. They use Military law.
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CPT Mark Gonzalez
And Obama spoke out calling this guy a hero so he is just as bad as Trump in your eyes. You cannot rip one guy without balance. Show equal outrage .
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
CPT Mark Gonzalez - False comparison. Mr. Trump called for Sgt Bergdahls execution and referred to him as a Traitor. President Obama has not tried to do anything near the "opposite end of the spectrum." My stance is, and has always been "Wait until the resolution of the Courts Martial as we do not know the full details." I'm not going to let my dislike of specific individuals get in the way of the process.
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SGM Steve Wettstein - Bergdahl should be court-martialed and, if found guilty, be subjected to the punishment recommended by the members and approved by the convening/approval authority.
My personal belief is that execution is not warranted in this case. A very long prison sentence is more appropriate. Executions for desertion were meant dissuade military members from deserting, which was a major issue in times past. That is not the case now, as it is infinitely more dangerous to be away from your unit than to be with it under the conditions our troops now find themselves in. I doubt we will ever see executions for desertion again.
The Misbehavior Before the Enemy charge is interesting and has not been used in a very long time. If a death penalty is adjudged, it will be for that.
My personal belief is that execution is not warranted in this case. A very long prison sentence is more appropriate. Executions for desertion were meant dissuade military members from deserting, which was a major issue in times past. That is not the case now, as it is infinitely more dangerous to be away from your unit than to be with it under the conditions our troops now find themselves in. I doubt we will ever see executions for desertion again.
The Misbehavior Before the Enemy charge is interesting and has not been used in a very long time. If a death penalty is adjudged, it will be for that.
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CPT Pedro Meza
SGM Steve Wettstein, I find the Misbehavior charge interesting given the fact that he walk into enemy territory unarmed, which looks more like a suicide attempt. A court martial will bring out the issue of the E-8 that was informed about Bergdahl.
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SSG John Erny
COL Jean (John) F. B. SGM Steve Wettstein CPT Pedro Meza
No matter what his fate, he is finished. His name is less than mud and should he ever be a free man he will find it very hard to live a normal life.
No matter what his fate, he is finished. His name is less than mud and should he ever be a free man he will find it very hard to live a normal life.
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CPT Pedro Meza
SSG John Erny - I am more concerned with the leaders that could have prevented this but did not because they are still in and my concern have they learned their lesson or will they do it again.
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PFC Don Palumbo
He needs at the least life in prison. Good soldiers lost their lives because of him. I would like to know how in hell did he get promoted to sgt. Our commander in chief and his policys suck. He belongs in prison also. He is a traitor as well as Bergdahl. We couldn't count how many are dead because of him.
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Since Trump is not in the chain of command or involved in the investigation he can render any opinion he likes. It is just that, an opinion. Bergdahl is scum of the highest order. Trump is connecting with the visceral dislike of cowards/deserters/traitors to the country.
The one thing that seems to be getting avoided here is due process. There is a move afoot to try to get Bergdahl off so Obama will not be embarrassed for releasing 5 Taliban leaders for him. There are families of people that died looking for this asshole that deserve some closure too.
The delay in getting this to trial tells you all you need to know. There is no more evidence to be found this is delay for political purposes.
The one thing that seems to be getting avoided here is due process. There is a move afoot to try to get Bergdahl off so Obama will not be embarrassed for releasing 5 Taliban leaders for him. There are families of people that died looking for this asshole that deserve some closure too.
The delay in getting this to trial tells you all you need to know. There is no more evidence to be found this is delay for political purposes.
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Capt Jeff S.
SGM Steve Wettstein - We should NEVER sacrifice good lives or put our troops in harms way trying to get a deserter back, nor should we pay ransom to terrorists and negotiate one sided deals that give terrorists everything in exchange for nothing of benefit to our interests. Bergdahl was not worth it. At most he was worth ONE low ranking minion [not 5 high ranking Taliban officers!]... and zero ransom money.
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Cpl Jeff N.
SPC John Rennpferd . You keep confusing POW with deserter. Had he been captured by the enemy in action we should move heaven and earth to get him back. As I understand it, he did not just walk off his post, he skulked out in the wee hours of the night when he was not actually on duty.
We have zero obligation to move heaven and earth for someone that decided to turn his back on his country, his unit and his platoon mates. I don't have any issue with getting him back if it can be done a low risk to lives and without releasing senior commanders of an enemy we are still engaged with on the battlefield and paying ransom (through intermediaries).
Bergdahl was not a POW he was a deserter and turned his back on his country. Only in Obama's America could we think him worthy of the price paid to return his sorry ass.
We have zero obligation to move heaven and earth for someone that decided to turn his back on his country, his unit and his platoon mates. I don't have any issue with getting him back if it can be done a low risk to lives and without releasing senior commanders of an enemy we are still engaged with on the battlefield and paying ransom (through intermediaries).
Bergdahl was not a POW he was a deserter and turned his back on his country. Only in Obama's America could we think him worthy of the price paid to return his sorry ass.
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CW3 Jim Norris
Bravo Corporal, the senior Army leadership can't take the heat round headed their way if this little bastard is sentenced to life (which is a good outcome). If they let the little creep go, I hope a fatal accident occurs shortly there after, somebody take him hunting....
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PFC Don Palumbo
PVT John Doe - How could he be a POW.??? He went to them according to what has been reported. I would like to read the note he left before taking off. Also, How in hell did he get promoted.??? Who promoted him, Obama.???? I would guess it had to come from the Commander in "GRIEF." What next a promotion to Colonel,----- Battalion commander.???? We need our real officers back to put an end to this insanity.
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