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MowCowWhoHow III

(2,103 posts) Mon Dec 14, 2015, 05:37 PM Dec 2015

Ex-POW who was held in Afghanistan to face US court-martial: attorney

Source: AFP

Washington (AFP) - Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, the US soldier who was held by Taliban-linked insurgents for five years before being freed in a swap for five Guantanamo Bay detainees, will face a court-martial for desertion, the Army said Monday.

Bergdahl's case has generated massive controversy in the United States after it emerged he walked out of his unit willingly, prompting a massive manhunt, and because of the circumstances of his release.

In a statement, the Army said Bergdahl will stand trial on two charges: desertion with intent to shirk important or hazardous duty; and misbehavior before the enemy by endangering the safety of a command, unit or place.

The charges were referred to court-martial after a preliminary hearing to find probable cause, known as an Article 32 hearing. Bergdahl, 29, faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/ex-pow-held-afghanistan-face-us-court-martial-200132756.html;_ylt=A0LEVjPDIm9WQbcAyoNjmolQ

21 replies

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Ex-POW who was held in Afghanistan to face US court-martial: attorney (Original Post) MowCowWhoHow III Dec 2015 OP

Oh brother, why don't they just give him a discharge? Sam_Fields Dec 2015 #1

Isn't that likely what will happen? Massacure Dec 2015 #9

They can just give him his walking papers now. Sam_Fields Dec 2015 #10

Not someone who deserts during wartime, especially in a combat zone. GGJohn Dec 2015 #12

The most troubling part of the Bergdahl case... jmowreader Dec 2015 #2

It's been Obama can do no right ever since he assumed office. n/t totodeinhere Dec 2015 #3

That's what the right wing says Andy823 Dec 2015 #5

OFFS! blackspade Dec 2015 #4

The issue is not what happend gladium et scutum Dec 2015 #6

No one disputes what happened Yupster Dec 2015 #8

Were Munificence Dec 2015 #11

Same here. eom. GGJohn Dec 2015 #14

I'm not a veteran leftynyc Dec 2015 #20

Which, in addition to his prior confinement, will accomplish precisely what? LanternWaste Dec 2015 #21

IMO, he should receive the same opportunity to a fair trial GGJohn Dec 2015 #16

Try the facts, find a verdict from the evidence presented, and render that verdict in open court Big_Mike Dec 2015 #18

If he hadn't deserted in the first place, GGJohn Dec 2015 #13

Totally unnecessary CM. Very disappointing. marble falls Dec 2015 #7

Why totally unnecessary? eom. GGJohn Dec 2015 #15

Because whatever punishment he required he got at the hands of the Taliban... marble falls Dec 2015 #19

Well, when he said "Yeah, I did it" in a radio interview Blue_Tires Dec 2015 #17

Sam_Fields

(305 posts)

1. Oh brother, why don't they just give him a discharge?

Reply to MowCowWhoHow III (Original post)

Mon Dec 14, 2015, 05:41 PM

Dec 2015

He is a screwy guy and suffered in a Taliban prison for 5 years. How much more BS does he have to suffer. BTW, I'm a vet.

Massacure

(7,526 posts)

9. Isn't that likely what will happen?

Reply to Sam_Fields (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 11:13 PM

Dec 2015

I'm not a veteran and so I'm probably less familiar with the UCMJ than you are, but in most cases doesn't the military usually demote deserters to private and then dishonorably discharge them?

Sam_Fields

(305 posts)

10. They can just give him his walking papers now.

Reply to Massacure (Reply #9)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 11:54 PM

Dec 2015

If they court-martial him he will be a convicted felon.

GGJohn

(9,951 posts)

12. Not someone who deserts during wartime, especially in a combat zone.

Reply to Massacure (Reply #9)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 12:57 AM

Dec 2015

If found guilty, Sgt. Berghdal is going to a military prison for a very long time.

jmowreader

(50,563 posts)

2. The most troubling part of the Bergdahl case...

Reply to MowCowWhoHow III (Original post)

Mon Dec 14, 2015, 05:51 PM

Dec 2015

Before Bergdahl was released, the Hard Right wanted to hang President Obama by the balls for not rescuing Bowe Bergdahl.

After he was released, the Hard Right wanted to hang Bowe Bergdahl by the balls for desertion and President Obama by the balls on the next hook for getting him back.

MAKE UP YOUR MINDS, GUYS!

totodeinhere

(13,059 posts)

3. It's been Obama can do no right ever since he assumed office. n/t

Reply to jmowreader (Reply #2)

Mon Dec 14, 2015, 05:59 PM

Dec 2015

Andy823

(11,495 posts)

5. That's what the right wing says

Reply to totodeinhere (Reply #3)

Mon Dec 14, 2015, 06:44 PM

Dec 2015

And the really sad thing is I have heard here on DU from those who "claim" to be democrats.

blackspade

(10,056 posts)

4. OFFS!

Reply to MowCowWhoHow III (Original post)

Mon Dec 14, 2015, 06:38 PM

Dec 2015

Being tortured and abused in an Afghan 'prison' isn't enough, huh?
I guess stripping him of all benefits and destroying whatever life he has put back together since he got home is all part of military 'justice'

gladium et scutum

(808 posts)

6. The issue is not what happend

Reply to blackspade (Reply #4)

Mon Dec 14, 2015, 08:22 PM

Dec 2015

to the Sgt. after he was captured. The issue is that he made a conscious decision to walk out the gates of the Army compound where he was assigned into territory known by him to be held by the Taliban. Did he desert his post? That is the issue the Court Martial will deal with.

Yupster

(14,308 posts)

8. No one disputes what happened

Reply to gladium et scutum (Reply #6)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 05:23 AM

Dec 2015

He deserted.

The question is should he be afforded mercy?

Munificence

(493 posts)

11. Were

Reply to Yupster (Reply #8)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 12:40 AM

Dec 2015

the 5-6 lives that were lost trying to rescue this asshat shown "mercy"?

I'm and X-combat soldier and I may be a bit prejudice due to that fact, but my thoughts are what they are - No mercy should be afforded.

GGJohn

(9,951 posts)

14. Same here. eom.

Reply to Munificence (Reply #11)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 01:01 AM

Dec 2015

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)

20. I'm not a veteran

Reply to Munificence (Reply #11)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 08:33 AM

Dec 2015

but the thought of no punishment for someone who walked off post willingly and got people hurt and killed looking for him makes me sick. He deserves whatever punishment the military gives him.

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)

21. Which, in addition to his prior confinement, will accomplish precisely what?

Reply to Munificence (Reply #11)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 10:18 AM

Dec 2015

"No mercy should be afforded...."

Which, in addition to his prior confinement, will accomplish precisely what?

GGJohn

(9,951 posts)

16. IMO, he should receive the same opportunity to a fair trial

Reply to Yupster (Reply #8)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 01:03 AM

Dec 2015

and if found guilty, the maximum penalty minus the DP.

Big_Mike

(509 posts)

18. Try the facts, find a verdict from the evidence presented, and render that verdict in open court

Reply to GGJohn (Reply #16)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 02:47 AM

Dec 2015

Frankly, I cannot see any other verdict than guilty. If that is indeed the case, then nuke him with a Life sentence. You MUST be able to rely on those to your left and right. This is one case where I would go along with the death penalty.