American POW freed in prisoner swap. And the GOP doesn't like it.....

I think that's probably what the disconnect here is. If you've never been in the military, you probably don't have any clue how things really work in the military. This will almost certainly be swept under the rug. How long were they able to hide the truth about the Pat Tillman friendly fire incident? When the truth is harmful to their image, they bury it.

 

Alleged traitor, that's the big difference you don't seem to be able to grasp. On a positive side note, you'll probably never get selected for jury duty.

And nothing involving Mr. Obama will ever elude scrutiny; excruciating, repetitive, dead horse beating scrutiny.

 

Okay, I think it's inexcusable for the government to give up 5 HVP's for an alleged traitor.

On a side note, it's funny how many people want to equate an internet thread with a courtroom. I mean, there's a pretty big difference you don't seem to be able to grasp.

 

outrage on if you like, having a wrongheaded opinion has never stopped you before

 

What, in your mind, is questionable about my opinion on the subject?

 

you're sure Mr. Bergdahl is a traitor

the US doesn't negotiate to return hostages

it's wrong to do so

the Gitmo prisoners will return to conflict with the US from whatever their fate is in Qatar; after 10 years captivity where they have been evaluated for future threats by the best trained interrogators we have

that the US military has the desire and means to cover up this affair

that our support for due process only applies when it concerns Mr. Obama

 

I think it's inexcusable for the USA to give up 5 HVP's for a medal of honor winner.... there are other incentives to bargaining with the enemy, it's just that we've become so gutless as a country anymore that we won't do it.

"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

 

Heh, fair enough. In my opinion that suggests that your judgement of what is questionable and what is not questionable is questionable at best.

 

And the same would be true for your point of view. To summarize your view, all the army would have to do is run operations to find him for a few weeks, then insinuate he's a deserter to cover their own ass. Two sides of the same coin. The only viable position to take is that he is a pow until proven otherwise. Period.

 

It is never in the Army's best interest to advertise someone is a deserter.

The controversy that would have erupted if a POW was declared a deserter while in captivity? Fox News would have had the family on claiming he was a loyal soldier. Hannity would say Obama was orchestrating the deserter claim to protect him politically.

 

Yeah, regardless of whether he deserted I don't get why they gave up 5 to get 1. I suppose they felt they had no leverage and wanted to get him before full pullout but it still feels unsatisfactory.

There has to be more to it I suppose because they had to know what the heat would be for making a 5 for 1 exchange that is compounded by the desertion issue.

 

How does the costs of maintaining 5 prisoners in Gitmo compare to 1 dude locked in a closet?

We made out like bandits.

(eh, probably about the same as 1 military tribunal... it's a wash)

 

Jesus, this one made me LOL...

Belief. What is so hard to understand about that?

You mean the longstanding policy of not negotiating with terrorists? Or do the Haqqani network (hardcore Al Qaeda affiliates) no longer qualify?

It's *stupid* to do so. Once you set that precedent, how do you come back from it? When the bad guys know that they will be rewarded for their efforts, what sort of behavior do you think that incentivizes?

Again, you've seen way too many movies. Most of these guys didn't say crapola during their stay at Gitmo, and you are nuts if you think they're done with the jihad and won;t go back to their old ways. These guys will NEVER change.

They absolutely WILL attempt to cover it up if it is embarrassing. You know nothing about how DoD operates.

As far as I can tell the entire purpose of your presence is to defend Obama in this thread. I am not after Obama, I am after justice. And if it turns out that this guy did desert - or worse, defect - then POTUS will absolutely share the blame in making such a boneheaded move as trading 5 high value prisoners for him. Your attempts at denial and deflection notwithstanding.

 

No, it's not. I believe that the guy deserted because people from his unit say he did. Those first-hand reports are evidence. Remaining completely neutral is not the only viable position to take in those circumstances.

Here's some reading for everyone, though I know most will never bother.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/02/we-lost-soldiers-in-the-hunt-for-bergdahl-a-guy-who-walked-off-in-the-dead-of-night.html

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/01/us/bergdahl-deserter-or-hero/index.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/debate-stirs-over-us-taliban-captive-swap/2014/06/02/cf276c70-ea25-11e3-b10e-5090cf3b5958_story.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2646345/EXCLUSIVE-Outraged-parents-officer-died-searching-deserter-Bergdahl-hit-Obama-cover-just-like-Benghazi-claiming-told-LIES-hero-son-died.html

It's reeeaaallllyyy hard to read these and not be convinced that Bergdahl deserted. In which case the hardcore defend-Obama-at-all-costs types might not want to click on them...

Particularly interesting to note are the reports that the soldiers who served with him and participated in the hunt were made to sign non-disclosure agreements about the affair. Why do think the Army would have made them do that?

 

Thanks for the info on the men released - our Sgt 'POW' definitely sounds like a deserter.

 

Is it standard procedure to get promoted while in captivity? Is it just some way to acknowledge a sacrifice? Any details as to what that is about?

 

The whole thing is troubling. I get the feeling there's a lot about this that we don't know about.

 

Agreed.

 

You only trade prisoners when the war is over and the war with Al Qaeda is not over. This 5 of the worst for a guy who most likely walked off the job only makes matters worse on many levels. Why would you do that?

 

I like obama though in the end, they're all the same..selling arms to terrorist to fund illegal wars,bjs in the office, and waterboarding. But wow, Obama got Donnie walsh'd big time. 5 for 1 bust in the 2009 military draft. ouch.