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Cha

(295,925 posts)
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 12:18 AM Jun 2014

"U.S. troops in Afghanistan ‘so happy’ Sgt. Bergdahl released by Taliban militants"

Last edited Mon Jun 2, 2014, 12:57 AM - Edit history (1)

snip//

To ensure troops stayed on the lookout for Bergdahl, commanders had installed a screen saver on every American soldier's computer in Afghanistan that carried a photo of the captured sergeant as a reminder

"I always wondered what happened to him," said Gloria Goomtam, 37, a US Army specialist. "I'm so happy for him."

But Bergdahl, held by insurgents for nearly five years, was never spotted by American forces or rescued in a raid.

Instead, his freedom was brokered by Qatar in a swap that required the United States to transfer five Taliban detainees out of the Guantanamo prison.

The deal has sparked an outcry among some lawmakers that President Barack Obama sold out to Taliban "terrorists," but Goomtam said the agreement was worth it.

snip//

"My wife told me that a soldier had been freed and I knew who it was,"said Mashburn, a member of the 101st Airborne.

That Bergdahl's release came at a price, with five senior Taliban figures allowed to leave the US prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, posed a difficult dilemma, he said.

"Letting them (Taliban militants) go, I don't want to see that happen. At the same time, I would do anything for that soldier, " he said.

snip//

Bergdahl's release was reassuring for troops as it showed the US government had worked relentlessly to secure his freedom, he said.

"Whatever your beliefs, if you think we should be here or we shouldn't be here, we have someone, an American, in captivity and we've got to get him. I think everyone can agree on that," he said.

"Someone was out there pushing for this. I'm thankful for that."

raw story

The Political Game @politicgame
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Hey Twitter, Bob Bergdahl grew out his hair & beard in solidarity with his captive son. Also learned Pashto & Arabic. Give the guy a break.
10:07 AM - 1 Jun 2014 21 Retweets 8 favorites

MOre "Bergdahl Tweets"..
TOD







More Pics & Vid..
TOD

Welcome Back, Sgt Bowe Bergdahl

72 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"U.S. troops in Afghanistan ‘so happy’ Sgt. Bergdahl released by Taliban militants" (Original Post) Cha Jun 2014 OP
Thanks for the rec.. now I'll just kick this.. Cha Jun 2014 #1
.. Cha Jun 2014 #2
.. Cha Jun 2014 #3
I like how the GOP is pretending Union Scribe Jun 2014 #4
Thank you, Union Scribe! Anything to make Obama look bad even whining about a returning POW. :( Cha Jun 2014 #5
.. Cha Jun 2014 #6
KICK! Cha Jun 2014 #7
This is a good sign treestar Jun 2014 #8
Yes, it is, treestar.. and the warmongers/Obama haters are eternally bitter.. Cha Jun 2014 #10
Welcome home, soldier. Welcome home. Hekate Jun 2014 #9
Right, Hekate.. I forgot to give my Cha Jun 2014 #11
.. Cha Jun 2014 #12
K&R Don't let them slander this heroic family mwrguy Jun 2014 #13
I know, huh, mwrguy? Thank you! Cha Jun 2014 #14
The Right HATES the idea of presenting the enemy as something other than murdering crazies.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #15
I hadn't thought of that, Spitfire.. it messes with their brainwashing. nm Cha Jun 2014 #18
You have to remember that in their fictional bubble this is a conflict between good and evil... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #31
Poor tucker.. it must be so easy to know all you have to do for your job Cha Jun 2014 #32
The Republicans only know how to run a negative campaign. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #49
Can you imagine the republicans running a positive campaign?!.. Cha Jun 2014 #60
Sorry GOP. Sad day for you. blackspade Jun 2014 #16
Exactly, blackspade.. Mahalo! Cha Jun 2014 #19
Beautiful. beautiful pictures, Cha! The dedication to getting him home, no matter what. Impressive. freshwest Jun 2014 #17
It is "impressive", fresh! No wonder the Cha Jun 2014 #21
I didn't hear any repukshitassholes volunteering to take Bergdahl's place so he could come home NBachers Jun 2014 #20
They are after all the Enemy of America, NBachers. Cha Jun 2014 #23
The parents look so happy, so happy for them ! steve2470 Jun 2014 #22
You're very welcome, Steve! Cha Jun 2014 #25
Very Kicked! defacto7 Jun 2014 #24
Very Much Thank you, defacto! Cha Jun 2014 #26
Bergdahl reaches Germany; Obama aides defend prisoner exchange Cha Jun 2014 #27
So, Ted Cruz would rather potentially lose more soldiers/Bergdahl in a dicey mission TwilightGardener Jun 2014 #28
Ah, how fucking stupid is ted cruz?.. let me count the ways.. Cha Jun 2014 #29
Very stupid, but his constituents are worse. nt IronLionZion Jun 2014 #47
Worth no more losses DustyJoe Jun 2014 #52
Did anyone else hear that Bergdahl was drunk and wandered off? Sometimes it is just that simple...n monmouth3 Jun 2014 #37
Hadn't heard that, monmouth.. I'm just glad he's coming home and they Cha Jun 2014 #38
Me too. I'm arguing with two tea party cousins and you know how that goes. I'm concerned he forgot monmouth3 Jun 2014 #39
Leave no man/woman behind. Cha Jun 2014 #40
No, but there was a very long story linked here. He was losing it for some time and very stressed. freshwest Jun 2014 #46
Mental casualty Red Mountain Jun 2014 #63
Hagel needs to skip any 'investigation' blackspade Jun 2014 #41
I'm thinking Hagel agrees with you.. I know I do. nm Cha Jun 2014 #43
K&R Jamaal510 Jun 2014 #30
Mahalo Jamaal~ Cha Jun 2014 #33
.. Cha Jun 2014 #34
Mahalo~ Cha Jun 2014 #35
.. Cha Jun 2014 #36
This... sheshe2 Jun 2014 #42
War is winding down, she.. Cha Jun 2014 #55
Finally is right Cha. sheshe2 Jun 2014 #57
What's not to Cha Jun 2014 #59
.. Cha Jun 2014 #44
k warrior1 Jun 2014 #45
Kick. nt msanthrope Jun 2014 #48
mahalo, msanthrope Cha Jun 2014 #61
Kicking! sheshe2 Jun 2014 #50
K&R Tarheel_Dem Jun 2014 #51
Mahalo Tarheel Dem~ Cha Jun 2014 #62
thanks for the perspective, Cha! bigtree Jun 2014 #53
Oh yeah, bigtree! Cha Jun 2014 #64
I hope Bo gets to meet Bo flamingdem Jun 2014 #54
Me too, flamingdem.. Cha Jun 2014 #65
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #56
thank you, Uncle Joe~ Cha Jun 2014 #66
Kick! n/t sheshe2 Jun 2014 #58
Mahalo for the extra kicks, she! Cha Jun 2014 #68
It needs to be said Cha. nt sheshe2 Jun 2014 #69
mahalo Cha ! spanone Jun 2014 #67
A`ole pilikia, spanone! Cha Jun 2014 #71
K & R Scurrilous Jun 2014 #70
Thanks Scurrilous~ Cha Jun 2014 #72

Union Scribe

(7,099 posts)
4. I like how the GOP is pretending
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 12:34 AM
Jun 2014

that these 5 Taliban guys are so critical. So critical we haven't charged them with anything, and so critical that the Taliban has apparently had no trouble whatsoever operating without them. What a joke!

The rest of us who actually care about our soldiers are plenty happy to have the Sgt. back. This is a victory.

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
15. The Right HATES the idea of presenting the enemy as something other than murdering crazies....
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 01:19 AM
Jun 2014

The fact that they held a prisoner and negotiate makes them sound like people and not demonic monsters.

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
31. You have to remember that in their fictional bubble this is a conflict between good and evil...
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 04:34 AM
Jun 2014

With themselves as the heroes and defenders of all that is good and pure in the world.

It wasn't that long ago when even Tucker Carlson was claiming the demands from bin Laden were the same as the things Liberals and Democrats were saying which was PROOF that the Dems were working to destroy America from within.

That was back when they claimed to be the Party of National Security before the Neocons were tossed out on their asses.

Cha

(295,925 posts)
32. Poor tucker.. it must be so easy to know all you have to do for your job
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 04:37 AM
Jun 2014

is makeup a lie and know there will be a certain amount of idiots who will buy it lock stock and barrel.

blackspade

(10,056 posts)
16. Sorry GOP. Sad day for you.
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 01:22 AM
Jun 2014

It was a great trade. Democrats need to hang their opposition to the trade around the GOP like a lead weight.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
17. Beautiful. beautiful pictures, Cha! The dedication to getting him home, no matter what. Impressive.
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 01:31 AM
Jun 2014

Cha

(295,925 posts)
21. It is "impressive", fresh! No wonder the
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 02:58 AM
Jun 2014

haters are frothing at the mouth to make this look bad for President Obama. If anything should blow back in their face.. this should.

NBachers

(17,007 posts)
20. I didn't hear any repukshitassholes volunteering to take Bergdahl's place so he could come home
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 02:56 AM
Jun 2014

Sorry our guy came home, shitheads. Better luck next time.

Let's trade republicans for prisoners. Ten million repukeshits for one prisoner.

Airdrop 'em in cargo nets from C-130's

Cha

(295,925 posts)
27. Bergdahl reaches Germany; Obama aides defend prisoner exchange
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 03:45 AM
Jun 2014

snip//

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s health was deteriorating and that his life was in danger, while White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the deal met a “a sacred obligation” to bring Bergdahl home.

snip//

Obama advisers fired back by saying Republicans would be in full attack mode if the U.S. government had squandered an opportunity to gain Bergdahl’s release.

Speaking to reporters traveling with him in Asia, Hagel also left open the possibility that the circumstances of Bergdahl’s capture might one day be investigated, but said that was not the Pentagon’s first priority. Bergdahl was first noticed missing from his base in Afghanistan June 30, 2009, amid allegations that he left the base voluntarily.

“Sgt. Bergdahl is a member of the United States Army,” Hagel said. “He's a sergeant in the United States Army. Our first priority is assuring his well-being and his health and getting him reunited with his family. Other circumstances that may develop and questions, those will be dealt with later.”

Miami Herald

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
28. So, Ted Cruz would rather potentially lose more soldiers/Bergdahl in a dicey mission
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 03:55 AM
Jun 2014

than release 5 guys we can't seem to try and convict even after a decade, and have to release soon anyway because the war is almost over...how fucking stupid is he?

DustyJoe

(849 posts)
52. Worth no more losses
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 04:02 PM
Jun 2014

All the comment blogs are already screaming that 6 US Soldiers were killed and many wounded in the months after he was taken prisoner in the search to try and rescue him.

How many more did they think needed to be lost ?

monmouth3

(3,871 posts)
37. Did anyone else hear that Bergdahl was drunk and wandered off? Sometimes it is just that simple...n
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 07:38 AM
Jun 2014

monmouth3

(3,871 posts)
39. Me too. I'm arguing with two tea party cousins and you know how that goes. I'm concerned he forgot
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 07:49 AM
Jun 2014

the english language but that may have been caused by his capture. I'm with you, get him home and let the rest of it work itself out..

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
46. No, but there was a very long story linked here. He was losing it for some time and very stressed.
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 10:05 AM
Jun 2014

His story is one of a military that was stretched past the limit and his unit was in trouble from the onset, even during training stateside. The details reflect very badly on the army Bush sent to war. And the prosecution of that war in Afghanistan, quite insane to an average person.

It's a long read but I'll try to find it for you if you want. He sounded more depressed in his letters to his parents and preparing to die, and it seemed that he just finally went over the edge.

The amount of work through the years that the Obama administration went through to get him back, with the one clear goal to get him back alive and not as a digit on a casualty list to justify more hatred and war, was impressive, as well as the efforts of fellow soldiers who were always on alert. Yes, he apparently left but was likely in his mind trying to go home by an alternate route and was kidnapped.

He had been physically ill and he was unwilling to be with the Taliban, and they constantly threatened to kill him as an example. It was dangerous for his fellow soldiers and costly to go looking for him, but he'd been in despair for a long time, and one of his friends was just killed.

A mental breakdown, with mental wounds, IMO. Those soldiers are not supposed to be abandoned either, as they are our fellow citizens going about doing what they saw as the nation's needs. His father said he cannot speak English anymore. Seems he had a complete breakdown emotionally, physically and cognitively.

The GOP hates him because he destroys their narrative that war is glorious and that dying that way is also. Really they want these guys to die so they can do their talking for them, when I suspect the dead or wounded might have a very different tale to tell than they want us to hear.


Red Mountain

(1,705 posts)
63. Mental casualty
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 08:05 PM
Jun 2014

Too many choose suicide. I don't think the world would be a better place if he had.

The killed and wounded in the process of searching for him give the story a lot of moral ambiguity. I think that given a choice between a captured soldier and one that wandered off as a mental casualty the troops tasked with finding him would have done the same thing willingly. They would have gone to find him.

Grey areas don't compute in the Republican brain. That's why we're here to help them.

blackspade

(10,056 posts)
41. Hagel needs to skip any 'investigation'
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 08:08 AM
Jun 2014

Even if they thought he went AWOL, he already served his time.
Let that shit go, he has suffered enough.

sheshe2

(83,349 posts)
42. This...
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 08:12 AM
Jun 2014
"Whatever your beliefs, if you think we should be here or we shouldn't be here, we have someone, an American, in captivity and we've got to get him. I think everyone can agree on that," he said.


They can sort the rest out later if need be, Cha. We had to bring him home, that is first an foremost.

sheshe2

(83,349 posts)
57. Finally is right Cha.
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 07:02 PM
Jun 2014

Sad that it had to take this long to undue the warmongering of Bush and The Chicken Hawks.

The fact that they feel that they have one ounce of credibility to speak out against Obama's foreign policies is unbelievable crap!

I hate their twisted souls.

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