So I just got into a heated discussion about this topic. I am going to rant, and then be done.
My position is this- Bowe Bergdahl is back. He is in America. We want to prosecute him? Fine. But we do it in American UCMJ proceedings, and not on Al Jezeera, and we don't do it by beheading for his parents to see. I know I feel a little differently about this because of my career field. Did he desert- no one knows. But what if he did? Fine. I am still going to wake up every single day of my life and I won't let a deserter's parents worry about their child. I would still be proud to go and get SGT Bergdahl and return him to friendly control, knowing that he was a deserter before my team left to go get him. My personal feelings of the administration aside- I. Don't. Give. A. Shit. WE DO NOT LEAVE OUR MEN BEHIND.
These talking heads talking a big game? His unit members talking about how he deserted? That's their privilege. But they should know I would expend the exact same amount of effort if they were isolated. All Americans get equal treatment with recovery forces.
We do what we must to get our service members back. Sometimes, that means someone's life. Sometimes the means we use are unpalatable. Everyone beating their chest about "we don't negotiate with terrorists" and this other nonsense? Fine. That's their prerogative. But the only reason you're granted that prerogative is because men stand ready to go get anyone, at any time, regardless of their transgressions or their personal feelings. I applaud this administration for doing what they had to do to get SGT Bergdahl back. I challenge anyone here to rationally discount the life of an American (regardless of after-the-fact character judgements).
I am truly sad for the men that may or may not have given their lives looking for him. Just like I am truly sad for the 10th Mtn Army Soldiers we lost in 2007. Just like I would be truly sad for SGT Bergdahl had he been killed in captivity.
I urge everyone to please, stop and realize what we have- a lost Brother, back in America. We aren't perfect. None of us.
The Pararescue Motto (the only DOD force specifically trained and equipped for Personnel Rescue) states "That Others May Live".
Notice that doesn't mention anything about the person's character, behavior, or actions. It simply says every single person wearing this uniform comes home.
/Rant
This is a tough one. I've gone back and forth but keep landing in the same spot... I agree with everything stated above (as well as subsequent posts) with the exception of one critical point:
My point of contention is with the action on the political/diplomatic side of the equation; ie the release/exchange of prisoners for Bergdahl as opposed to the military aspect of PR. These are two very distinct components.
The exchange portion of the decision was purely a political and carries great risk with potentially long standing consequences, which is why we've had a long standing policy against such actions (although it is interesting that other countries, such as Israel, don't necessarily adhere to similar policies but that's another topic). At the same time, Paul Wolfowitz, former Deputy Secretary of Defense, once made the following agreeable statement, "
The brave men and women who serve today ... can do so with the full confidence that if they are captured, become missing or fall in battle, this nation will spare no effort to bring them home. This our solemn pledge: however long it takes, whatever it takes, whatever the cost.”
Are the 5 guys we released still the big threat some are making them out to be? I don't know but at some level we still felt strongly enough about them to keep them in GTMO for many years, even over ~2oo previously released prisoners. Such decisions are always political ones and separate from, but potentially resulting in, military PRO. As amlove1 indicated above, when called upon, we can expect the military component of recovery to be carried out with the same high degree of professionalism, regardless of any peripheral noise that may be associated with it.
Am I glad Bergdahl was recovered and is being reintegrated? Yes. As part of this process, in time, I hope he will be asked to answer for his actions; right, wrong, or other. However, as a matter of forward looking policy, I ultimately find the political actions that led to his release to be problematic.
This is not a matter of discounting Bergdahl's life or forsaking him in any way. Nor is it chest beating or some nonsense. Quite the contrary, it's a reasoned approach; one that looks around the corner and asks is there a line with this new precedent? What is the greater impact of the decision? It's problematic...right or wrong, that's where I keep landing.
Just my $.02
