The determination to transform the release of American prisoner of war Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl into a major political bone of contention continues apace, with GOP hawks offering harsh condemnation for the prisoner exchange, and reports that the White House has “apologized” for not informing Congress 30 days before the trade.
As with yesterday, a lot of the focus continues to be on Bergdahl and his family, though Time Magazine finally seems to have come to terms with Sgt. Bergdahl’s father’s beard, which fueled rather preposterous speculation that the former Presbyterian pastor was secretly a “jihadist.”
Speculation surrounding Bergdahl himself and the circumstances of his capture continues to fly wildly around, with the Pentagon saying the 2009 investigation into his disappearance remains classified. That, typical of the secretive Pentagon, combined with claims soldiers in his platoon were ordered to sign a “non disclosure agreement,” fueled speculation about a cover-up.
Army Secretary John McHugh insisted there would be a “review” of the details of Bergdahl’s 2009 capture by the Taliban, and whether or not he was AWOL at the time, but said the first priority is to see to Bergdahl’s health and his recovery from his long time in captivity.
Army chief Gen. Martin Dempsey offered no specific details or evidence, but said he believes it is a possibility Bergdahl would be prosecuted for some sort of “misconduct” in the lead-up to his capture.
Sgt. Berhdahl’s status as the lone US soldier taken prisoner so far in the Afghan War seems to have added a lot to speculation that he must’ve done something wrong, though the Taliban intercepts surrounding his capture suggest he was captured while on the toilet.
That Bergdahl is free seems to be somehow irrelevant. Bergdahl's release is controversial? Bullsh*t! Obama does one right and the warmongers simply can't get over it.
Remember Irangate? – the sale of arms to Iran, which was under embargo at the time, to facilitate the release of 7 hostages. That was under Ronnie Raygun's watch.
I had no idea jihadists invented beards. Most of these chickenhawk stooges spouting this
nonsense have never stepped foot in Afghanistan, nor could point it out on a World Atlas.
If one were to wonder whether the Imperial Adventure has affected the conscience of America, look no further. I wonder if McCain's capture had happened during this war and he had acted as he did previously whether he would have been a viciously attacked by the Imperialists. He made a video for the VC and he also provided information to the enemy as a result of his torture. Oh wait, McCain was an Officer and the son of an Admiral, not the son of a bearded former Presbyterian pastor from Idaho.
This country has become so divided by ideology and hate that I fear for the future as a country.
History records that "Afghanistan is the graveyard of soldiers and of empires" – only a stupid arrogant America would believe that it could do in Afghanistan that NO invading army has ever done.
Based on preliminary reports, Bergdahl was unhappy with the treatment netted out to the Afghan people, did he become delusional base on the atrocities he witness? I think those who are quick to judge should be reminded that Bergdahl was exhibiting the first sign of PTSD when he walked off that base. It’s going to be a long road to recovery.
I wonder how many of the 5 prisoners traded were part of the 75 plus that had been already cleared for release…but were being retained indefinitely??
Ahem, all of them.