Bowe Bergdahl: Hero or Coward?

[DrPhil]

There is discussion about whether the U.S. should have done what was done to get back Bowe Bergdahl. Did it violate policies and send the wrong message domestically and abroad?

There has also been discussion about whether Bowe Bergdahl is a hero or a deserter.

Based on the limited information available to the general public and our own biases, perspectives, and opinions: What say you, GC?

[TonyB06]

Not knowing the circumstances of his "disappearance," I will assume his government does know the circumstances, and assume he was kidnapped, and thus, was a prisoner of war. As such, he is deserving of his country's efforts to secure his release.

Negotiating with terrorists will not stop U.S. forces from trying to kill the same terrorists the first opportunity they get. This is not a "zero sum" game, people.

Miss me with the political posturing/whining, especially in the run up to midterms.

[Nanners52674]

We negotiate with anyone willing to negotiate, a lot of it is stuff the general public will probably never know about.

We also don't leave soldiers behind, so yes I'm okay with the swap. We've lost enough military members, if we could of done something to brjng this guy home I'm for doing it.

I've also heard that this negotiation was part of the larger overall negotiations going on in preparation of the Afghanistan draw down.

[DrPhil]

I completely understand the following:
1. Loved ones and the American public wanting him home
2. How scary it is to be held against your will (assuming that is what happened to him)
3. The "welcome back" celebrations
4. The Obama Administration popping their collar over this achievement

I'm skeptical about the following:
1. Why was he away from the station with (supposedly) only a bottled water and a compass? Urine break? Smoke break? Sight seeing? Sex break (solo or finding a partner)?

2. There's a lot of hypocrisy and inconsistency in domestic and international politics. That is one reason why some people are critical of exchanging America's detainees for Bowe.

[DubaiSis]

Having lived and traveled away from the US, there is a clear understanding among my friends and family that you don't pay a ransom. Period. But that's me.

If what little I've read is accurate it is a far more interesting discussion. If he really did walk away from camp (disgruntled is the word I read) and got caught and proceeded to have lots of time and money spent on said recovery, that's a big ole problem. Sometimes you really have to live or die with your stupid mistakes. This might be the ultimate flouncing off in a huff. On the other hand, there was likely some severe PTSD and other war-related mental illness going on which means he should have been getting care instead of being allowed to just walk out of the camp.

Frankly, the trade solves another big problem in the US military - what to do with these eternal detainees. Sending them to Qatar to continue to be incarcerated for any length of time sounds a lot like we are allowing Qatar to "take care of the problem." The peaceful countries in the Middle East don't want a bunch of terrorists walking around free any more (and maybe more so) than we do. But they aren't restrained by due process or pesky dignity laws. My guess is these 5 guys suddenly get ill in jail in Qatar and die. What's that flu going around Saudi Arabia? That sounds like as good a method as any.

I also bet the Republicans will try to spin this as the worst thing the president could POSSIBLY do and undoubtedly will cause the downfall of America, and the Democrats will spin it as the ultimate in protecting our soldiers. I don't think either is going to succeed since this onion is so large and unwieldy. And I will make sure to not have the news on for the next couple days since it's going to be all about mud slinging and no actual resolution. MAYBE PBS, but it sounds like a good day to catch up on The Disney Channel.

[DGTess]

As a military retiree, I want a full military investigation into the circumstances of his capture. If he left his post, he must take the punishment, and no, five years is not enough (as one military official has speculated).

[Kevin]

Forming any opinion on him at this point would be speculating on what is very incomplete information. We may never be presented all of the relevant facts because of the military's tendency to over-classify information.

I'm going to bet that the answer to why he left his post, if that's what happened, will not leave us with simple answers.

[DrPhil]

I knew Kevin would say that which is why the OP includes: "Based on the limited information available to the general public and our own biases, perspectives, and opinions...."

Spare us the reminder of inadequate and incomplete information for complex issues.

[Kevin]

Okay, let's jump to conclusions. He's clearly a terrorist and should be drone stricken (is that how it's said?) immediately.

Spare me the reminder of the reminder or whatever you are trying to do. It's obnoxious.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Kevin

It's obnoxious.

You would know.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014...s-not-telling/

[honorgal]

"With regard to the transfer of Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay, we have made -- the United States has not made the decision to do that, though we do expect the Taliban to raise this issue in our discussion, if and when those discussions happen.

As we have long said, however, we would not make any decisions about transfer of any detainees without consulting with Congress and without doing so in accordance with U.S. law."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...carney-6212013

[Nanners52674]

Originally Posted by DGTess

As a military retiree, I want a full military investigation into the circumstances of his capture. If he left his post, he must take the punishment, and no, five years is not enough (as one military official has speculated).

This. But as a military spouse, I'd want my husband home any way possible. Get him home then deal with any investigations and such. Because there is definitely more to this story.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

Get him home then deal with any investigations and such. Because there is definitely more to this story.

You said it perfectly.

[Nanners52674]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You said it perfectly.

The more I thought about, even if my husband was guilty of what they're accusing Bowe of I'd rather have him in a US prison for life than a POW.

We don't leave men behind, we just don't.

And honestly if the 5 guys we released are somehow able to put together a terrorist attack, then we as a country are not doing enough counterterrorism to begin with.

[DrPhil]

Family of Soldier Slain in Bowe Bergdahl Search Blasts Prisoner Swap