62 replies to this topic

[camay2327]

Boehner: Lawmakers briefed on Bergdahl trade 2 years ago, had 'serious' concerns

 

Top congressional leaders were briefed more than two years ago about the possible exchange of five Guantanamo prisoners for American soldier Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, but raised "serious" concerns from the outset about the risks of such a trade, officials say. 

 

House Speaker John Boehner and others provided new details Tuesday about the prior deliberations, and voiced grave concern that the administration charged ahead with the prisoner swap over the weekend without Congress' approval.

 

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http://www.foxnews.c...rious-concerns/

[camay2327]

I really believe this apology,  NOT... I am glad to see Dianne Feinstein step up though.

 

White House apologizes to lawmakers over secret POW swap

 

The White House apologized for keeping lawmakers in the dark regarding the exchange of an American soldier for five Taliban fighters, senators said Tuesday, as controversy grew over the issue.

 

Administration officials plan a classified briefing for the full 100-member chamber Wednesday, with lawmakers from both parties fuming over the trade, which saw captured soldier Bowe Bergdahl released Saturday to US special forces in Afghanistan.

 

Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein, a senior member of President Barack Obama's Democratic Party, said the White House breached US law when it failed to alert Congress to the proposed trade.

 

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http://news.yahoo.co...-225752330.html

[The Average Joe]

Most incompetent administration ever. If anyone still supports this group of lying, lawbreaking, obfuscating, incompetent, unaccountable idiots in charge, I would like to know the reasoning behind such support.

[camay2327]

Most incompetent administration ever. If anyone still supports this group of lying, lawbreaking, obfuscating, incompetent, unaccountable idiots in charge, I would like to know the reasoning behind such support.

 

Joe, I think we are on the same PAGE....

[The Average Joe]

I also wonder a few other things. He enlisted in 2008 and was captured in June 2009.  I didn't serve, but a lot of my family did. Does it seem abnormal that he was a Sgt. in only (at most) 1.5 years?

 

Did some research...although he was AWOL (at a minimum, and traitor at a maximum) he still received promotions based on time served.

 

A pretty comprehensive overview that presents a pretty clear picture despite slight bias.

 

http://www.rollingst...0607?print=true

[Chris]

Most incompetent administration ever. If anyone still supports this group of lying, lawbreaking, obfuscating, incompetent, unaccountable idiots in charge, I would like to know the reasoning behind such support.

Ninety percent of the press corps are in agreement with these progressives in charge and thus we get only good news about this man and his administration.  Any bad news and they don't report it or maybe not all of it and then it goes away pretty quickly.   Look at us now, not a word about the VA or Shinseki for five days now....     Poof...!  Story gone, it worked....!   Look, the administration does love the military...!  They got a soldier back from those evil, on the run Taliban....!    

 

The press are starting to wake up a little bit but way too little and way, way, way too late....!    Chris

[bordercolliefan]

A pretty comprehensive overview that presents a pretty clear picture despite slight bias.
 
http://www.rollingst...0607?print=true

That is an absolutely fascinating article and superb reporting. Thanks for posting. The overall picture is of a very naïve, sheltered, and idealistic young man who was much less mature than his 19 years (not that 19 year olds are known for being mature!) He had very little experience of the real world and his unrealistic fantasies and misplaced idealism seemed to be encouraged by his father. I feel very sorry for him.

I wonder if his father has come to have any regrets over the free-spirited, follow-your-bliss ethic he instilled in his son.

[Chris]

Yep, RS always has good articles if you want your stories filtered with a left wing bias.  I love my music so I subscribe.  Their political bent is left of left field and then you go another 100 yards left and that is where they are.  They tend to only tell the progressive leftist story and leave out any facts that do not support their opinion news pieces.  I read them so I know how the crazy hard left thinks about things.   Mostly I just laugh and wonder why they left out the other half of the story....  You should see their articles on global warming, the Keystone pipeline, Wall Street, and the Koch brothers and how close to Satan they are.....    Laughable stuff.    Anyway, I think I read this article awhile back.  An odd family for sure.  Chris

[TruthSeeker]

"Apparently" Source please.

 

Pull your head out of the sand ostrich man and do your own research for once

 

Start by learning how to read a newspaper or a news website - reading really is fundamental

[camay2327]

I hope he gets what is coming to him. (Hope it is a court martial.

 

Freed soldier faces backlash in Idaho hometown over desertion claims

A hometown celebration of Bowe Bergdahl's release from five years of Taliban captivity in Afghanistan will go on this month as planned, despite a growing backlash against the U.S. Army sergeant over allegations he was a deserter, friends and supporters say.

 

Days after the small mountain community of Hailey, Idaho, erupted in elation over news that he had been freed in a prisoner exchange, the festive mood in town has been tempered by claims from former members of his combat unit that Bergdahl had deliberately abandoned his post.

 

Some of his one-time comrades assert that the massive search for Bergdahl after he went missing in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009, may have cost the lives of up to six fellow soldiers who searched for him.

 

 

// see below //

 

http://news.yahoo.co...-051725907.html

[bordercolliefan]

Yep, RS always has good articles if you want your stories filtered with a left wing bias.  I love my music so I subscribe.  Their political bent is left of left field and then you go another 100 yards left and that is where they are.  Chris

I thought this was just good, in-depth reporting. You rarely see that kind of deep investigative journalism--most journalists don't have time.

I also did not find a left-wing bias in this particular article. In fact, I thought the article was subtly critical of Bergdahl's idealism and fantasy life.

It is an interesting question what a soldier should do if he (or she) comes to have deep moral objections to one's mission. And before everyone says--follow your orders, no matter what, let's not forget where that got Nazi Germany. No one should park their conscience at the door. HOWEVER, it is clear the answer is NOT to walk off the base and let others die looking for you. Bowe thought there would be no consequences to just going off for a hike with his compass and canteen. He probably dreamed he could befriend any Afghans and Taliban he met. --Instead of Dad telling him "Follow your conscience," better advice would have been for him to seek psych help from his superiors.

[ducky]

I thought this was just good, in-depth reporting. You rarely see that kind of deep investigative journalism--most journalists don't have time.

I also did not find a left-wing bias in this particular article. In fact, I thought the article was subtly critical of Bergdahl's idealism and fantasy life.

It is an interesting question what a soldier should do if he (or she) comes to have deep moral objections to one's mission. And before everyone says--follow your orders, no matter what, let's not forget where that got Nazi Germany. No one should park their conscience at the door. HOWEVER, it is clear the answer is NOT to walk off the base and let others die looking for you. Bowe thought there would be no consequences to just going off for a hike with his compass and canteen. He probably dreamed he could befriend any Afghans and Taliban he met. --Instead of Dad telling him "Follow your conscience," better advice would have been for him to seek psych help from his superiors.

 

It's a little more than just following orders and I don't think the Nazi Germany reference is appropriate for what the U.S. is doing.

I've read books like "Lone Survivor,"  and a lot of these guys have strong loyalty to their fellow soldiers.  They would rather die than see someone else get hurt because they did something stupid.  

 

It seems to me this young man was turned down by the French Foreign Legion (good call on their part), and decided his plan B would be to join the U.S. Army so he could have some sort of Bear Grylls adventure.  He decided it was lame and just walked away with no thought for anyone besides himself.  This is what is wrong with the "Obey your conscience" "follow your bliss" kind of philosophy when there is no teaching of the value of commitment, loyalty, and honoring an oath.

[bordercolliefan]

It seems to me this young man was turned down by the French Foreign Legion (good call on their part), and decided his plan B would be to join the U.S. Army so he could have some sort of Bear Grylls adventure.  He decided it was lame and just walked away with no thought for anyone besides himself.  This is what is wrong with the "Obey your conscience" "follow your bliss" kind of philosophy when there is no teaching of the value of commitment, loyalty, and honoring an oath.

As noted, I agree. But what do you think a soldier should do if he comes to believe what he is asked to do is morally wrong? For example, suppose a junior soldier at Abu Graib was told, "You must waterboard this prisoner" or "You must smear feces on him and take degrading photos of him!" Must the soldier simply obey, or can he refuse and appeal to higher authorities that he believes this is wrong?

[ducky]

As noted, I agree. But what do you think a soldier should do if he comes to believe what he is asked to do is morally wrong? For example, suppose a junior soldier at Abu Graib was told, "You must waterboard this prisoner" or "You must smear feces on him and take degrading photos of him!" Must the soldier simply obey, or can he refuse and appeal to higher authorities that he believes this is wrong?

 

I think you already know the answer to this, and it wouldn't be walk away from your post into enemy hands and endanger fellow soldiers.

Is there some information that this soldier was asked to do such things?

[bordercolliefan]

I think you already know the answer to this, and it wouldn't be walk away from your post into enemy hands and endanger fellow soldiers.
Is there some information that this soldier was asked to do such things?

It sounds like he came to believe that American activities in Afghanistan were causing more deaths of innocent Afghans--like when the child was run over by the tank. Something along the lines of "Thou Shalt Not Kill" (at least unless there is a greater good) probably weighed heavily on his mind.

What this soldier did was wrong and irresponsible-- his disconnect from the real world made him not foresee that his choice would endanger others. (Not to mention himself--did he really believe it would be all flowers and chocolates when he ran into some Afghans and Taliban??)

However, I will defend a person's right--obligation, actually--to consult their own conscience even in the most difficult times. That's why we all read the dystopia books like 1984, Animal Farm, The Giver, etc. - to remind us that it's not okay to just "go along" with higher authorities! Remember the psych experiments (done at Stanford, I believe) where ordinary people were willing to administer extreme electric shocks to "patients" because a man in a white doctor coat was telling them to do so.

I think this kid was stupid, naïve, idealistic, living in a fantasy/adventure world, and his upbringing left something to be desired. I do not believe he is evil.