Missing/Captured: Bowe Bergdahl

[ThunderHorse]

He got in because Big Army was trying to fight two wars at once and was desperate to get warm bodies in the door.

Was going to post this as I just saw it. Reminds me of a post that was in thread earlier.

 

[Brill]

Article by a Robert Young Pelton on the first days of the disappearance. Had some good background I was not aware of.

http://m.vice.com/read/finding-bergdahl-081

Yep, totally legit. "Launch the ELINT aircraft!" is often uttered right before the call to jock up.

 

[Red Ryder]

Part 2 is up.

http://m.vice.com/read/finding-bergdahl-part-2-411

 

[pardus]

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl plans to get out of the Army and pursue a college education once the investigation into his disappearance is completed, his lawyer told CBS News.

 

[DA SWO]

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl plans to get out of the Army and pursue a college education once the investigation into his disappearance is completed, his lawyer told CBS News.

My guess is they work a plea deal.
He agrees to an AWOL Charge with minimum punishment, and leaves the Army a stripe or two short.
Then fades into obscurity (for his own sake).

 

[pardus]

My guess is they work a plea deal.
He agrees to an AWOL Charge with minimum punishment, and leaves the Army a stripe or two short.
Then fades into obscurity (for his own sake).

More likely that he will fade into book and movies deals along with the adulation of the liberal and brainless Military supporter crowd.

 

[Gunz]

He'll be a big star on campus, especially with the commie professors. I bet he'll get a big chunk of backpay too.

 

[LibraryLady]

... he'll get a big chunk of backpay too.

Which is why the plea bargain will include the loss of rank, since his rank will mean nothing to him.

LL

 

[compforce]

He agrees to an AWOL Charge with minimum punishment, and leaves the Army a stripe or two short.

Which puts him right back where he should have been in the first place unless they also take away his E-5 due to the AWOL. In which case he leaves as an E-1 or E-2 which is preferable to me (in the case of a plea deal). I really think he should get a BCD, no back pay and reduction to E-1. No POW honors as well.

 

[DA SWO]

Which is why the plea bargain will include the loss of rank, since his rank will mean nothing to him.

LL

But it helps quell the chorus, and can cost him a chunk of change.
He was a PFC(?) when he went AWOL?
Bump it down to PV2, and restart the process.
PFC 6 months after detention, SPC two years (?) later. Sgt two years after that. One year later recovery.
vs
SPC one year after capture.Sgt two years later, one year later recovery.

 

[DA SWO]

Which puts him right back where he should have been in the first place unless they also take away his E-5 due to the AWOL. In which case he leaves as an E-1 or E-2 which is preferable to me (in the case of a plea deal). I really think he should get a BCD, no back pay and reduction to E-1. No POW honors as well.

I agree, but the system will treat AWOL differently then desertion.

 

[compforce]

I agree, but the system will treat AWOL differently then desertion.

The political climate will not allow a true desertion punsihment. Plea to AWOL, can't be promoted while AWOL which nullifies E-5 and puts him back at E-3. Can't get pay while AWOL so no back pay. Court martial with reduction in rank to E-1 and BCD rounds it out.

 

[DA SWO]

The political climate will not allow a true desertion punsihment. Plea to AWOL, can't be promoted while AWOL which nullifies E-5 and puts him back at E-3. Can't get pay while AWOL so no back pay. Court martial with reduction in rank to E-1 and BCD rounds it out.

Your right, I forgot about that.

I can live with that. PFC Deserter leaves and heads to college.

 

[compforce]

leaves and heads to college.

Which, in my scenario, he has to pay for himself since the BCD eliminates the GI Bill

 

[AWP]

Which, in my scenario, he has to pay for himself since the BCD eliminates the GI Bill

All of which is good if the Army sticks to the book or doesn't bow to political/ PR pressure.

I think we should give Bergdahl a camera and send him to Iraq as a photojournalist.

 

[Gunz]

...since his rank will mean nothing to him.

LL

Just like his "service" to his country.

 

[AWP]

While I doubt this will come to anything, I thought it was an interesting turn that will add some fuel to the fire. The justification about funding though...that just sounds ridiculous.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/21/justice/bergdahl-prisoner-exchange/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

(CNN) -- The Pentagon broke federal law by exchanging five Taliban detainees for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl without giving Congress the appropriate notice, Congress' independent investigative arm announced Thursday.
Susan Poling, general counsel for the U.S. Government Accountability Office, wrote in a letter to nine Republican senators that the Pentagon should have notified "the relevant congressional committees at least 30 days in advance of the transfer."
Moreover, Poling noted that the GAO also concluded the Defense Department broke the law by using "appropriated funds to carry out the transfer when no money was available for that purpose."

 

[Brill]

While I doubt this will come to anything, I thought it was an interesting turn that will add some fuel to the fire. The justification about funding though...that just sounds ridiculous.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/21/justice/bergdahl-prisoner-exchange/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

And that's pretty fucking sad: DOD officials violate Federal law and nothing will happen. I guess they're following the AG's lead?

"DOD and DOJ sittin' a tree..."

 

[Marauder06]

While I doubt this will come to anything, I thought it was an interesting turn that will add some fuel to the fire. The justification about funding though...that just sounds ridiculous.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/21/justice/bergdahl-prisoner-exchange/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

The PENTAGON broke the law? Wasn't this on the President's orders?

 

[Gunz]

IIRC the Pentagon opposed the exchange.