WE DID BIZ WTH THE TALIBAN

[HairOfTheDog]

I might have just told you I was coming, have you get all dolled up, in your sexiest hat, and then stood you up..that's how us "Arnolds" roll, ya know)

^ This, I believe.

You're an emotional terrorist and a traitor, but it's good to see you finally acknowledging your true nature, Kid.

I tend to agree with you (seriously!) when it comes to Bergdahl.

I don't think there's much more to Bergdahl's profile than we already know. I think he was just a self-righteous, narrowly idealistic, awkward, unfit-for-war, deeply religious and socially-naive kid who walked off from one disenchanting experience and wound up in another.

The consequences of that walk-off and the subsequent events are huge, though. IMO.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think his dad is wrapped to tight either. He's trying to get all the prisoners released from Gitmo. Sounds like they're on the wrong side of the fence....we'll see.

A 2-Star General has now been appointed to investigate the events leading up to Bowe Bergdahl's capture.

He is apparently speaking English well enough to describe his confinement and communicate with doctors.

Here's the tweet that the dad, Robert Bergdahl, sent out after his son had been released from the Taliban.


It raised some eyebrows, and I can see why.

I don't know if Robert Bergdahl is on the wrong side of the fence, but he strikes me as very odd. JMO. Whether that's mostly an understandable result of his son being held captive, or whether his seemingly odd advice ("follow your conscience" in response to his son's anti-American sentiments from the field) contributed to his son being captured, or whether it's completely irrelevant to his son's capture -- Robert Bergdahl is gonna face harsher scrutiny now that his son is home, IMO.

It's already started, actually. Here are a couple of things recently reported by the media in regards to Mr. Bergdahl.

1. HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS
A pair of twin sisters filed police complaints about him harassing them and peeping -- this was a couple of years after his son had been captured. Weird incidents, verified by police. Bergdahl admitted to the incidents but said he was just playing tricks on the sisters (who claimed only to know him as the UPS guy). He was warned by police to stop or be arrested; he stopped. The sisters were aware of his son's status; didn't press charges.
http://nypost.com/2014/06/13/bergdahls-d...n-sisters/

2. HISTORY OF FRUSTRATION WITH US GOVERNMENT?
Robert Bergdahl was set to compete as a cyclist in the 1980 Olympics. His Olympic dreams were shattered when Jimmy Carter boycotted the Moscow Olympics due to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. He reportedly questioned the decision, was disillusioned, and gave up cycling altogether as a result.


Robert Bergdahl (left) with champion cyclist Greg LeMond
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...reams.html

Does any of this matter or have a damned thing to do with Bowe Bergdahl, his service, his capture, his mindset? Beats the hell outta me -- but the media's on it and it may be something covered in the military investigation.

I know some people will pound the media for covering Robert Bergdahl and say it's all politically charged (which is certainly at least partially true). I'm not one of them. It's a story and I think it's important to understand the factors that led to this kid walking off of his post -- and putting other American military personnel in jeopardy -- so that maybe the chances of it happening again can be minimized.

Plus, Robert Bergdahl used the media as much as he could when his son was missing, against government request, and it always works both ways. I don't wanna see the man crucified, but fact-checked scrutiny is fair, to me.

[Maggot]

A surgical implanted tracking device should be in all the prisoners swapped then after a week drones should be sent in.

[HairOfTheDog]

BERGDAHL RELEASED FROM TREATMENT AND GIVEN ARMY ASSIGNMENT

Well, this has moved more quickly than I would have expected.

Six weeks after being released from five years in Taliban captivity, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is expected to return to life as a regular Army soldier as early as Monday (today), Defense Department officials said late Sunday.

Sergeant Bergdahl has finished undergoing therapy and counseling at an Army hospital in San Antonio, and will assume a job at the Army North headquarters at the same base, Fort Sam Houston, the officials said.

He is also expected to meet with Maj. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, the officer who is investigating the circumstances of Sergeant Bergdahl’s disappearance from his outpost in Afghanistan in 2009.

Sergeant Bergdahl’s transfer from the therapy phase to a regular soldier’s job is part of his reintegration into Army life, officials said. He will live in barracks and have two other soldiers help him readjust.

The sergeant has been an outpatient at the hospital for about three weeks, during which time he continued to participate in debriefings about his time as a Taliban prisoner. He was released six weeks ago in exchange for five senior Taliban detainees.

Last Thursday, Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who heads the Armed Services Committee, released letters from each of the Joint Chiefs of Staff supporting the repatriation of Sergeant Bergdahl, a rebuttal to critics who said the swap should not have been made.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/us/ber....html?_r=1

[HairOfTheDog]

HIGHEST RANKING US OFFICER TO BE KILLED IN COMBAT SINCE 1972

He was a technical officer and responsible for training Afghan forces in preparation for the final withdrawal of US troops in December.


Maj. Gen. Harold Greene -- RIP

8 American soldiers, 1 German soldier and an Afghan Commander were also injured in the "insider attack" (an Afghan soldier shot them from the window of a building). All but Greene survived, fortunately.

The shooter was killed.

There were 62 insider attacks by US-supported Afghan soldiers in 2012 (but reportedly very few assaults by Taliban members). Hoping there aren't more insider attacks as the US exit from Afghanistan grows nearer.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world.../13615651/

[Duchess]

It's maddening to read these type of stories. They take every precaution they can and this kind of shit still happens.

[HairOfTheDog]

IS has launched a recruitment campaign to attract Taliban members in Afghanistan to join the Islamic State.

The US is pulling out of Afghanistan at a pace that's slower than originally planned.

And, today, the U.S. military announced that it has completed its lengthy investigation and has filed charges against Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.


^ The sentiments of Bergdahl's detractors

Snip:
Bergdahl, who abandoned his post in Afghanistan and was held captive for five years by the Taliban, was charged Wednesday by the U.S. military with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

The misbehavior charge could land Bergdahl in prison for life, though some legal experts said a lengthy sentence was unlikely. He also could be dishonorably discharged and forfeit all his pay if convicted on either charge.

Next, an Article 32 hearing — similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding — will be held at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, where Bergdahl has been performing administrative duties. From there, it could be referred to a court-martial and go to trial.

The misbehavior charge is rarely seen in military cases, typically reserved for shameful or cowardly conduct, said Daniel Conway, a military defense lawyer and the author of a forthcoming book on military crimes.

Conway said he wouldn't expect the Army to seek much prison time for Bergdahl because of his time as a Taliban captive, but officials needed to prosecute the case because a conviction means Bergdahl cannot collect special compensation as a prisoner of war.

"He did spend X number of years as a prisoner of the Taliban — that certainly mitigates the need for him to be locked up," Conway said. "But as a political matter, I don't think we can stomach the possibility that he deserted his post and could receive $300,000 in back pay for it."

Some within the military have suggested that Bergdahl's long capture was punishment enough, but others, including members of his former unit, have called for serious punishment, saying that other service members risked their lives — and several died — searching for him.

One of those in Bergdahl's platoon, Cody Full, 26, of Houston, said Bergdahl should be stripped of all his pay and benefits and be dishonorably discharged.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-military-announ...itics.html
-----------------------------------------------------

This will be interesting, politically and legally.

Personally, I didn't like Bergdahl being give a base job after his release and hospital stay. I certainly couldn't stomach him getting $300k in back pay. That would be some serious bullshit and rewarding of cowardice.

I'm glad he was charged.

[HairOfTheDog]

The Defense of Bowe Bergdahl


Bergdahl, in partnership with his defense attorney ^Eugene Fiddel, has released his first public statement since he was released from Taliban captivity. The statement was floated to the press just hours after Bergdahl was charged with Desertion and Misbehaving In Front of the Enemy.

In the statement, Bergdahl doesn't address the fact that he had expressed anger and disillusionment with the United States before deserting his post, leaving his gun and possessions behind. He instead details what he endured when he was immediately thereafter captured by Taliban members and held for 5 years.

He says he was beaten, chained, kept in a cage, escaped a couple of times and was recaptured...

Here's the full statement: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documen...ords/1487/

He might be telling the whole truth, but I don't consider that a given. I think he is a coward and, whether truthful or not, this statement is an attempt to elicit sympathy and keep him from being imprisoned again, this time in the US.

If it's uncontested or proven that Bergdahl sympathized with the enemy and deserted, do you think what he endured at the hands of his captors should be considered "time served" against his potential sentencing?

[HairOfTheDog]

The Prosecution of Bowe Bergdahl

The more I know about Bergadhl and the deal to secure his release, the less I like about him and it.

Here's the current status of the case.


Snip:
RALEIGH, N.C. — Military prosecutors have reached into a section of military law seldom used since World War II in the politically fraught case against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the soldier held prisoner for years by the Taliban after leaving his post in Afghanistan.

Observers wondered for months if Bergdahl would be charged with desertion after the deal brokered by the U.S. to bring him home. He was — but he was also charged with misbehavior before the enemy, a much rarer offense that carries a stiffer potential penalty in this case.

"I've never seen it charged," Walter Huffman, a retired major general who served as the Army's top lawyer, said of the misbehavior charge. "It's not something you find in common everyday practice in the military."

Bergdahl could face a life sentence if convicted of the charge, which accuses him of endangering fellow soldiers when he "left without authority; and wrongfully caused search and recovery operations."

Full story: http://www.militarytimes.com/story/milit.../71837020/

[HairOfTheDog]

Secret Agent Man...


Bowe Bergdahl is a dipshit who's in deep shit, in my opinion.

He will be tried by general court martial for desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, more serious charges than the preliminary hearing officer recommended. He won't face execution as Donald Trump would like, but he will face life in prison if found guilty.

Unbelievably, he appeared on the 'Serial' podcast while his case was being investigated. Gotta think his attorney advised against it (one would hope).

Anyway, in the podcast, he moved away from his earlier claim that he left his base to go to another and tell a high official about the corruption within his unit and that's when he was caught by the Taliban and ultimately held prisoner for five years.

During the podcast, he instead told the interviewer that he left base for that reason, and that he immediately stopped and considered turning around. But, he decided to continue on because, Bergdahl admitted, he fathomed that he could escape reprisals by pulling off a solo reconnaissance mission.

“Doing what I did is me saying that I am like, I dunno, Jason Bourne,” Bergdahl said. “I was trying to prove to the world, to anybody who used to know me, that I was capable of being that person.”

As he set out, Bergdahl says, he thought he would spark some kind of crisis. The CIA, the whole US military, would snap to attention, and he could tell everyone about serious leadership problems in his unit, he claimed.

That obviously didn't happen and Bergdahl is no Bourne. A date for his trial has not yet been set.

Story: http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/.../77300686/

[HairOfTheDog]

Last week, Bowe Bergdahl pleaded guilty to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.



His fate now rests in the hands of a military sentencing judge. A military court is expected to hear dramatic testimony later this week from the soldiers and a Navy SEAL who were badly hurt in the search for the Army sergeant after he deserted his post.

The judge, Army Col. Jeffery R. Nance, will hear at a sentencing hearing at Fort Bragg from one soldier involved in the search for Bergdahl who must now use a wheelchair, unable to speak because of a head wound. Another is still unable to use his right hand. A third searcher sustained a leg wound from enemy fire that ended his career as a Navy SEAL.

At the hearing Monday, Bergdahl's defense showed a video from President Trump's comments from the Rose Garden on Oct. 16 and the campaign trail in Dec. 2015, questioning whether the judge could do his job in an unbiased manner.

Federal prosecutors, however, said Trump was only answering questions asked by reporters. Judge Nance said Trump saying “but” in his statement to reporters negated his previous statement where he said he wouldn’t comment on the case. Trump has also publicly labeled Bergdahl a 'traitor' many times.

Nance added that no one has asked him to recuse himself from the case, as Bergdahl's defense lawyer said they want to review the motion to dismiss the case. Nance then ordered the court into recess, adding that the hearing will continue Wednesday at 10 a.m. and may go into Monday of next week.

Bergdahl, who was held for five years by Taliban allies, could face life in prison on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

Ref: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/10/23/ber...rever.html

[HairOfTheDog]

Here are the stories and pictures of the wounded searchers who are part of the case against Bergdahl. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...rches.html

Army National Guard Master Sgt. Mark Allen uses a wheelchair now and is unable to speak because of a head wound.

Army Corporal Jonathan Morita still can't fully use his right hand after it was shattered by a grenade.

Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch's career as a Navy SEAL ended when he was shot in the leg.

[HairOfTheDog]

The prosecutor called the three servicemen who were wounded in the search for deserter Bergdahl to the stand. Sad stories, especially the case of National Guard Master Sgt. Mark Allen. Allen was an active outdoorsman and very outgoing before he was shot in the head during a search for Bergdahl.


^ Allen is unable to speak, uses a wheelchair and needs help with everyday tasks. He didn't testify, but his wife Shannon did.

Mrs. Allen told the military court that her husband's brain injury severely limits his interactions with their daughter, who was an infant when he was wounded in 2009 after being ambushed by insurgents. She is now 9 and Mark Allen is in his mid-30s. "He's never had the chance to really play with her or help coach her sports or ask about her day."

The judge had to consider whether actual or apparent unlawful command influence by Trump was interfering in the case. He ruled today that Trump's many public comments about Bergdahl being a traitor who should be shot and shit like that.....did not have an effect on him or Bergdahl's ability to get a fair sentencing hearing.

[HairOfTheDog]

Bergdahl spoke on his own behalf today. He apologized to the families of the servicemen who were wounded on his behalf and said he'd been beaten by his Taliban captors and tried to escape many times.

The defense is hoping for leniency due to mitigating factors like Bergdahl's mental health and what he went through while in captivity.

Bergdahl could get no time or he could get life in prison. I suspect he'll get a couple of years.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Fuck this guy, whatever happened to him after he was captured is of no bearing whatsoever on the proceedings as far as mitigating factors. All that shit happened After he committed his crimes: desertion, cowardice in the face of the enemy etc. Since the other guys got hurt while looking for his stupid ass he is responsible for that too

[Maggot]

He will be lucky to avoid the firing squad.

[HairOfTheDog]

He will be lucky to avoid the firing squad.

Judge Nance said today that he would consider Trump’s incendiary comments a mitigating factor. That could lighten Bergdahl’s sentence.

[Maggot]

He may get away without a firing squad because America is not officially at war with anyone.

[Jimbone]

He's a deserter, and soldiers died and were crippled trying to find/rescue/apprehend him. Who the fuck cares what Trump, Obama, or Zippy the Chimp said about this piece of garbage.

Hey Judge Nance, sentence him on the facts of his case, not what anyone has said about him. Your bias is showing sport.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hey Judge Nance, sentence him on the facts of his case, not what anyone has said about him. Your bias is showing sport.

Why do you say that Jimbone?

Nance is a colonel who seems to be doing all the right things, to me.

Remember when Obama said Trayvon Martin could have been his son before Zimmerman went to trial. People who supported Zimmerman went batshit because they feared that statement alone could affect Zimmerman's ability to get a fair trial and (if applicable) a fair sentence. I thought it was ill-advised of Obama to make such a statement during a criminal investigation too.

Trump's statements in this case are much more prejudicial and problematic than that. He's technically the judge's boss. Trump explicitly and repeatedly told the world that Bergdahl was a dirty rotten traitor who should be executed. I don't think there are many objective people, legal experts, or military judges who'd think that was appropriate or wise.

The judge was forced to rule on the fair trial impact of Trump's public statements in reply to the Defense's petition. Judge Nance said that while he acknowledged Trump's statements were inappropriate, he was not impacted by them and he denied the defense's petition.

I thought it was smart that the judge instead agreed to consider the impacts on Bergdahl personally as a mitigating factor (whether he really will or not, I don't know). Bergdahl did not ask for a deal when he pleaded guilty, so the judge has very wide discretion on the sentencing. Mitigating factors don't have to be related to the crimes and are often not.