Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Here are the Taliban Terrorists Obama Released to Free POW Bowe Bergdahl
May 31, 2014

According to a 2008 Pentagon dossier on Guantanamo Bay inmates, all five men released were considered to be a high risk to launch attacks against the United States and its allies if they were liberated. The exchange shows that the Obama administration was willing to pay a steep price, indeed, for Bergdahl’s freedom. The administration says they will be transferred to Qatar, which played a key role in the negotiations.

In the initial statements released about the deal, the White House declined to name the detainees who would be leaving the Cuba based prison Obama has been trying to close since his first day in office.

A senior U.S. defense official confirmed Saturday that the prisoners to be released include Mullah Mohammad Fazl, Mullah Norullah Noori, Abdul Haq Wasiq, Khairullah Khairkhwa and Mohammed Nabi Omari.

While not as well known as Guantanamo inmates like 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the Taliban 5 were some of the worst outlaws in the U.S. war on terror. And their release will end up replenishing the diminished leadership ranks of the Afghan Taliban at a moment when the United States is winding down the war there.

“They are undoubtedly among the most dangerous Taliban commanders held at Guantanamo,” said Thomas Joscelyn, a senior editor at the Long War Journal who keeps a close watch on developments concerning the detainees left at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

<snipped>

At about 10:30 am eastern standard time, Bergdahl was released from his captors. The handover was peaceful and happened in eastern Afghanistan along the border, according to a senior U.S. Defense official. U.S. special operations forces conducted the rescue.

The official said that once he was on the helicopter, Bergdahl wrote on a paper plate (writing instead of talking because it was so loud) “SF?” The operators sitting with Bergdahl responded loudly, saying, yes, we’ve been looking for you for a long time. Bergdahl broke down crying, the official relayed.

In exchange for Bergdahl’s release, five detainees at Guantanamo Bay will be released to Qatar. The US has “appropriate assurances” that Qatar will be able to secure the detainees there, a U.S. official said. The detainees are under a travel ban for a year.

The transfer took place quickly without incident, peacefully and without violence. There were approximately 18 Taliban on site.

<snipped>

READ MORE:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/31/us-pays-high-price-for-last-pow-in-afghanistan.html

IN A NUTSHELL

TOP LEVEL TERRORISTS Obama released from Gitmo for one American soldier.

Mohammad Fazl - the Taliban's former Deputy Defense Minister

Mullah Norullah Noori - Former Taliban Governor of the Balkh Province

Mohammed Nabi - Former Senior Taliban leader, ties to al-Qaida & the Haqqani Network

Khairullah Khairkhwa - Former Taliban official and former Governor of Herat

Abdul Haq Wasiq  - Former Taliban Deputy Minister of Intelligence
 

Bowe Bergdahl, a Taliban captive since 2009, has been freed
May 31, 2014, 12:48 PM

WASHINGTON - The only American solider held prisoner in Afghanistan has been freed and is back in U.S. custody after nearly five years of captivity, U.S. officials said Saturday.

The officials said the Taliban agreed to turn over Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The transfers happened after a week of intense negotiations mediated by the government of Qatar, which will take custody of the Afghans.

A senior Defense Department official told CBS News Bergdahl was rescued by special operations forces in eastern Afghanistan, though he was believed to be held in Pakistan. The transfer took place quickly and without incident. There were approximately 18 Taliban on site.

According to a senior defense official traveling with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Singapore, once Bergdahl climbed onto the noisy helicopter he took a pen and wrote on a paper plate, the letters "SF?" - asking the troops if they were special operations forces.

They shouted back at him over the roar of the rotors: "Yes, we've been looking for you for a long time."

Then, according to the official, Bergdahl broke down and cried.

Officials said Bergdahl was transferred to Bagram Air Field, the main U.S. base in Afghanistan, for medical evaluations, before eventually heading on to the United States.

<snipped>

Questions had arisen about the nature of Bergdahl's imprisonment. Some had accused Bergdahl of willingly walking away from his unit, which was deployed in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan, adjacent to the border with Pakistan. ...

Rolling Stone magazine quoted emails Bergdahl is said to have sent to his parents that suggest he was disillusioned with America's mission in Afghanistan, had lost faith in the U.S. Army's mission there, and was considering desertion.

Bergdahl told his parents he was "ashamed to even be American." Bergdahl, who mailed home boxes containing his uniform and books, also wrote: "The future is too good to waste on lies. And life is way too short to care for the damnation of others, as well as to spend it helping fools with their ideas that are wrong."

<snipped>

READ MORE:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bowe-bergdahl-a-taliban-captive-since-2009-has-been-freed/

(http://cdn.thedailybeast.com/content/dailybeast/articles/2014/05/31/us-pays-high-price-for-last-pow-in-afghanistan/jcr:content/image.crop.800.500.jpg/1401568707032.cached.jpg)

US Soldier Freed From Captivity in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON May 31, 2014 (AP)

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to U.S. special operations forces by the Taliban Saturday evening, local time, in an area of eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. Officials said the exchange was not violent and the 28-year-old Bergdahl was in good condition and able to walk.

"While Bowe was gone, he was never forgotten," President Barack Obama said in a statement from the White House Rose Garden, where he was joined by Bergdahl's parents. "The United States of America does not ever leave our men and women in uniform behind." ....

<snipped>

READ MORE:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/us-solider-freed-captivity-afghanistan-23942201

There clearly was not negotiations. Obama complies with the 2012 demands of the terrorists.

Janet

+++++

US soldier held captive by Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly five years freed
Published May 31, 2014

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American soldier held captive in Afghanistan, was released Saturday by Taliban captors, an announcement that has Americans rejoicing but also raising questions on Capitol Hill and beyond about “negotiating with terrorists.”

Bergdahl was released from captivity after nearly five years, in exchange for five Taliban members being held in the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Bergdahl was taken prisoner after leaving his base in east Afghanistan on June 30, 2009. Why he left and whether he’ll face any consequences for his actions remains unclear.

U.S. officials said the deal was reached after a week of intense negotiations that were mediated by the Qatar government, which will take custody of the Taliban detainees.

They said efforts to negotiate Bergdahl’s release began in November 2010, that his return has been a top priority since May 2011 and that the opportunity to resume diplomatic efforts emerged several weeks ago.

<snipped>

The announcement was welcome news to Americans around the country but resulted in strong skepticism among congressional Republicans, particularly those involved in military and foreign affairs.

“Like all Americans, we celebrate the release of Sergeant Bergdahl,” California Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a joint statement.

“However, we must carefully examine the means by which we secured his freedom. America has maintained a prohibition on negotiating with terrorists for good reason. Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Bergdahl’s release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans.”

They also argued that Obama “clearly violated laws” that require him to notify Congress 30  days before any transfer of terrorists from Guantanamo Bay and to explain how the threat posed by such terrorists has been substantially mitigated.

The Defense Department promptly responded to the accusations, saying key members were notified about the transfer but that officials had to act swiftly to secure Bergdahl’s release.”

A department official also gave Fox News the names of the detainees: Mohammad Fazl, Mullah Norullah Noori, Mohammed Nabi, Khairullah Khairkhwa, and Abdul Haq Wasiq.

They are believed to be the top five Taliban leaders at the prison and were selected in 2012 by Taliban leaders as part of initial negotiations.

Officials said about 18 Taliban members released the 28-year-old Bergdahl on Saturday evening, local time, in Afghanistan.

He was picked up in eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border, by a Navy SEAL team, composed of a few dozen men and supported by multiple helicopters and overhead drones, another Defense official said.

<snipped>

The Hailey, Idaho, native is thought to have been captured by members of the Haqqani network, which operates in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region and has been one of the deadliest threats to U.S. troops in the war.

The network, which the State Department designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012, claims allegiance to the Afghan Taliban, yet operates with some degree of autonomy.

The announcement of Bergdahl’s release comes as the United States winds down its military operation in Afghanistan.

<snipped>

U.S. officials earlier emphasized the administration has repeatedly made clear that no Guantanamo detainees will be transferred unless the threat they pose the U.S.  can be mitigated and that their release is consistent with the country’s humane treatment policy.

The detainees from Guantanamo were still at the base as of Saturday and are being transferred into the custody of Qatar officials. Under the conditions of their release, the detainees will be banned from traveling outside of Qatar for at least one year.

READ MORE:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/31/wh-us-solider-held-in-afghanistan-bergdahl-is-released-after-five-years/

FLASHBACK - 2012

Reuters sources: US sweetens proposal for return of Taliban prisoner Bowe Bergdahl
Wednesday Aug 8, 2012 12:58 AM

<snipped>

The Taliban detainees are seen as among the most dangerous remaining at Guantanamo, and the transfer idea drew strong opposition on Capitol Hill even before it was formally proposed.

Many lawmakers fretted that transferred detainees would reappear on the battlefield, and objected to the possible release of prisoners blamed for bloody crimes in Afghanistan.

U.S. officials stress that the transfer, if it occurs, will be done in accordance with U.S. law, which requires Congress to be notified before any detainees are moved from Guantanamo.

<snipped>

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/08/13174814-reuters-sources-us-sweetens-proposal-for-return-of-taliban-prisoner-bowe-bergdahl

Gosh, are we in "News of the Day" or in the political forum?   ::MonkeyTongue::

This article pertaining aspects of today's breaking news regarding the release of Bowe Bergdahl is a good read in its entirety.  IMO

Janet

++++++

Exchange of Idaho soldier Bowe Bergdahl for Taliban detainees sets off debate
Posted on Saturday, 05.31.14

<snipped>

The deal resolves the question of whether the U.S. military would withdraw from Afghanistan without Bergdahl, who went missing from his base on June 30, 2009. But it also immediately sparked controversy.

For one, the Obama administration failed to notify Congress that it was transferring the five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo 30 days in advance, as U.S. law requires. U.S. officials explained the decision to notify Congress only as the detainees were turned over to Qatari diplomats by saying Obama was acting in his capacity as commander in chief.

“This is a case of the commander in chief exercising his prerogative to get one of his soldiers back,” one official said. He asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to address the issue publicly.

But some members of Congress were unimpressed. “Our joy at Sergeant Berghdal’s release is tempered by the fact that President Obama chose to ignore the law, not to mention sound policy, to achieve it,” said a joint statement by Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

There were also questions about the wisdom _ and precedent _ of freeing five high-ranking Taliban, all of whom were on the list of detainees not eligible for release, in exchange for one American service members.

“These particular individuals are hardened terrorists who have the blood of Americans and countless Afghans on their hands,” said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who himself was a POW in Vietnam. “I am eager to learn what precise steps are being taken to ensure that these vicious and violent Taliban extremists never return to the fight against the United States and our partners.”

And there were nagging questions about the circumstances of Bergdahl’s captivity. How Bergdahl came to leave his base in Afghanistan has never been clear, and some have suggested he should be treated as a deserter, not a captive.

<snipped>

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/31/4149730/bowe-bergdahl-idaho-soldier-held.html

Say Hello To the Five Identified Taliban Prisoners Released by Barack Obama from GITMO in Exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl … Meet the GITMO 5

Posted June 1, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/01/say-hello-to-the-five-identified-taliban-prisoners-released-by-barack-obama-from-gitmo-in-exchange-for-sgt-bowe-bergdahl-meet-the-gitmo-5/comment-page-1/#comment-4609272

Cruz Criticizes POW Trade: “Have We Just Put A Price On Other U.S. Soldiers?”
June 1, 2014

SEN. TED CRUZ: Well, look, all of us celebrate with Sergeant Bergdahl, with his family, I mean, looking at his parents there, I mean, that’s emotional and it’s powerful.

At the same time the terms of the deal are very troubling.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Why?

CRUZ: Well, for one thing, how many soldiers lost their lives to capture those five Taliban terrorists that we just released? You know, Ambassador Rice basically said to you, yes, U.S. policy has changed. Now we make deals with terrorists.

And the question going forward is, have we just put a price on other U.S. soldiers? What does this tell terrorists, that if you capture a U.S. soldier, you can trade that soldier for five terrorists we’ve gone after.

<snipped>

CRUZ: I think it is very disturbing that we are releasing five acknowledged terrorist Taliban leaders in a deal with terrorists. That precedent and — you know, unfortunately, George, it’s part and parcel with the pattern we’ve seen of the Obama administration across the board.

VIDEO:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/06/01/cruz_on_pow_trade_terms_of_bergdahl_deal_very_troubling.html

Allen West’s commentary is a must read in its entirety. IMO

Janet

++++

Amidst celebrations for Bergdahl’s release, some unsettling questions
Written by Allen West on June 1, 2014

Everyone is celebrating the release of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, and we’re glad he’ll be home with his family in Idaho soon.

However, there are questions that must be answered – like, why did the young Soldier walk off his Forward Operating Base (FOB) back in 2009? It’s not the modus operandi for Islamic terrorists to detain American troops when captured, as we reported previously. Our troops are brutally, ritually, and savagely murdered — to include American security contractors (remember the Fallujah bridge) — not held for five years.

And to have this “deal” brokered in Qatar (supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood) calls for even more questions.

What we do know are the identities of the five Afghan Taliban who were released.

According to a report in the Weekly Standard, they are five of the most dangerous Taliban commanders in U.S. custody. ....

<snipped>

READ MORE:
http://allenbwest.com/2014/06/amidst-celebrations-bergdahls-release-serious-questions/

Bergdahl release arrangement could threaten the safety of Americans, Republicans say
May 31, 2014

Top Republicans on the Senate and House armed services committees went so far as to accuse President Obama of having broken the law, which requires the administration to notify Congress before any transfers from Guantanamo are carried out.

“Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Bergdahl’s release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans. Our terrorist adversaries now have a strong incentive to capture Americans. That incentive will put our forces in Afghanistan and around the world at even greater risk,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. McKeon (R-Calif.) and the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, James M. Inhofe (Okla.), said in a joint statement.

Lawmakers were not notified of the Guantanamo detainees’ transfer until after it occurred.

The law requires the defense secretary to notify relevant congressional committees at least 30 days before making any transfers of prisoners, to explain the reason and to provide assurances that those released would not be in a position to reengage in activities that could threaten the United States or its interests.

<snipped>

READ MORE:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bergdahl-release-arrangement-could-threaten-the-safety-of-americans-republicans-say/2014/05/31/35e47a2a-e8ff-11e3-afc6-a1dd9407abcf_story.html

The more I read on this, the stranger it all becomes!

Thanks Barack Obama: Taliban & Taliban’s Supreme Leader Mullah Omar Celebrate Release of Gitmo Detainees for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

Posted June 2, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/02/thanks-barack-obama-taliban-talibans-supreme-leader-mullah-omar-celebrate-release-of-gitmo-detainees-for-sgt-bowe-bergdahl/

Daily Commentary – Monday, June 2, 2014 – Did the President Break the Law In Sgt. Bergdahls Prisoner Exchange?

Posted June 2, 2014 by Klaasend

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/02/daily-commentary-monday-june-2-2014-did-the-president-break-the-law-in-sgt-bergdahls-prisoner-exchange/comment-page-1/#comment-4609674

Sen. John McCain Questions Swap “Highest High-Risk” Terrorists as White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice Defends United States Negotiating with Terrorists over Exchange of GITMO 5 for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT THE US WILL RUE THE DAY …

Posted June 2, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/02/sen-john-mccain-questions-swap-highest-high-risk-terrorists-as-white-house-national-security-adviser-susan-rice-defends-united-states-negotiating-with-terrorists-over-exchange-of-gitmo-5-for-u-s/

'Taliban Dream Team': Who are the 5 prisoners traded for Bergdahl's freedom?
Published June 02, 2014

A top Republican senator called Monday for an “immediate hearing” to investigate the controversial release of five Taliban prisoners in exchange for American Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s freedom, as he and others raised alarm that the administration just freed the “Taliban Dream Team.”

New questions are surfacing about the terms of the deal, as details emerge about the Guantanamo Bay prisoners sent to Qatar in exchange for Bergdahl – who was a Taliban captive in Afghanistan for the past five years.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee calling for a hearing. He said the prisoners “have American blood on their hands and surely as night follows day they will return to the fight.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Sunday called the five former detainees “the hardest of the hard-core” and “the highest high-risk people,” who are “possibly responsible for the deaths of thousands.” In the interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” he noted others that have been released have “gone back into the fight.”

<snipped>

The Joint Task Force Guantanamo classified all five as “high” risk to the U.S. Two of the five men are “wanted” by the United Nations on war crimes for the deaths of thousands of Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan.

The Taliban has long pushed for the release of the men who have been called the “GITMO Five” – a group of experienced jihadists who helped run the terror organization’s operations in pre-9/11 Afghanistan.

Here’s a closer look at the five Taliban commanders released in exchange for Bergdahl:

Abdul Haq Wasiq

Thought to be in his early 40s, Wasiq served as the Taliban deputy minister of intelligence and “had direct access to Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin leadership,” according to an internal memo that assessed risk at Guantanamo. He reportedly used his office to support Al Qaeda “and to assist Taliban personnel elude capture.” He also reportedly arranged for Al Qaeda personnel to train Taliban intelligence staff. Wasiq belongs to the Khogyani Tribe and began his religious training under his father, Muhammad Saleem, who died in 1981.Three years later, he went to study Islam at Warah, a school located on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border near the Khyber Pass. When the Taliban assumed control in Afghanistan, a number of Islamic students, including Wasiq, went to Kabul. Wasiq has been accused by Human Rights Watch of mass killings and torture. According to a report by the Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Wasiq “arranged for Al Qaeda personnel to train Taliban intelligence staff in intelligence methods.”

Mullah Norullah Noori

As a senior Taliban military commander, Noori has been described in government reports as a military mastermind of sorts who engaged in hostilities “against U.S. and Coalition forces in Zabul Province.” Noori developed close ties to Taliban leader Mullah Omar and other senior Taliban officials, according to a JTF-GITMO report.

Mullah Mohammad Fazi

As the Taliban’s former deputy defense minister, Fazi was held at Guantanamo after being identified as an enemy combatant by the United States. Fazi is an admitted senior commander who served as chief of staff of the Taliban Army and as a commander of its 22nd Division. He’s also wanted by the United Nations on war crimes for the murder of thousands of Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan.  According to documents, Fazi “wielded considerable influence throughout the northern region of Afghanistan and his influence continued after his capture.” The Taliban has used Fazi’s capture as a recruiting tool. “If released, detainee would likely rejoin the Taliban and establish ties” with other terrorist groups, the Guantanamo report says.

Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa

Khairkhwa is the former governor of the Herat province and has close ties with Usama bin Laden and Mullah Omar.  According to the Joint Task Force Guantanamo file, Khairkhwa “represented the Taliban during meetings with Iranian officials seeking to support hostilities against US and coalition forces.” Khairkhwa and his deputies are suspected of being associated with an extremist military training camp run by the Al Qaeda commander Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who was killed in 2006. U.S. authorities have also accused Khairkhwa of becoming a powerful opium trafficker.

Mohammad Nabi Omari

As a senior Taliban leader, Nabi Omari held multiple leadership[ roles in various terror-related groups. Pre-9/11, Nabi worked border security for the Taliban – a position that gave him “access to senior Taliban commander and leader of the Haqqani Network, Jalaluddin Haqqani,” according to the report.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/02/look-at-five-taliban-commanders-set-free-in-prisoner-exchange/

(http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/fn2/video/786/442/REPORTER_HERRIDGE_060214.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)

Graham on Bergdahl Prisoner Swap: US Released the ‘Taliban Dream Team’
June 02 2014

Moments ago, Senator Lindsey Graham sent a letter to Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services, requesting an immediate hearing on the transfer of U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl.

The Obama administration has come under fire for negotiating with terrorists and in essence, putting a price on American soldiers’ heads.

Sen. Graham wrote:

I write today requesting an immediate hearing on the exchange of five high-ranking Taliban leaders for the release of Sergenat Bowe Bergdahl. While I appreciate an American was released from captivity, this decision by the Obama Administration has serious implications for our future national security.

The five terrorists released were the hardest of the hard-core. They held positions of great importance within the hard-core anti-American Taliban, including the Chief of Staff of the Taliban Army and the Taliban Deputy Minister of Intelligence. They have American blood on their hands and surely as night follows day they will return to the fight. In effect, we released the “Taliban Dream Team.” The United States is less safe because of these actions.

I fear President Obama’s decision will inevitably lead to more Americans being kidnapped and held hostage throughout the world.

There are also questions about why the Administration failed to comply with the law. We need a thorough review of this decision and I urge you to hold a hearing on this matter as it has profound implications for our national security.

With President Obama’s announcement of a total withdrawal from Afghanistan by 2016 – basically canceling an insurance policy to protect our homeland – and now releasing five Taliban leaders, it’s safe to say last week was a great week for the Taliban.

<snipped>

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/06/02/hegseth-bergdahl-prisoner-swap-obama-admin-put-price-american-soldiers

Graham on Bergdahl Prisoner Swap: US Released the ‘Taliban Dream Team’
June 02 2014

<snipped>

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) questioned the conditions under which the terrorists were released, warning that they could turn around and launch attacks aimed at killing Americans. Taliban leader Mullah Omar delivered a statement on Sunday calling the trade a “great victory.”

On Outnumbered, Army veteran Pete Hegseth was outraged over the prisoner swap.

“If there’s one thing we’ve never done, it’s negotiate with terrorists,” he said. “We decide now that the price of an American soldier is five Taliban. […] These are guys associated with Usama bin Laden and the 9/11 attacks.”

Harris Faulkner noted that as news broke about Bergdahl’s release, he went from being called a hero to a possible deserter. 

Hegseth said, “The Taliban said he was drunk and off base. He said in a statement that he had fallen behind on a patrol. Which if you fall behind on a patrol, you’re in a fire fight or somebody knows about it.”

Members of Bergdahl’s unit were told not to talk about the situation until he was returned home. Now, fellow soldiers are coming out and saying he walked off the base.

“They don’t want the story to be Bowe Bergdahl, American hero, if he isn’t. If he is, then great,” Hegseth said. “But if he deserted and didn’t believe in the mission, and then they spent months and months looking for him, and now he’s being lauded as such – that really complicates the situation.”

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/06/02/hegseth-bergdahl-prisoner-swap-obama-admin-put-price-american-soldiers

Some who served with Bowe Bergdahl say he was either a deserter or considering it
President Barack Obama called the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl after five years' captivity in Afghanistan "a reminder of America’s unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield," but some of his fellow soldiers are continuing to claim he deserted his post in 2009.

Javier Ortiz, for one. The Army combat medic told the Washington Post he believes Bergdahl should be tried for desertion. Former Sgt. Matt Vierkant, a member of Bergdahl's platoon when he went missing, told CNN, "Bowe Bergdahl deserted during a time of war and his fellow Americans lost their lives searching for him."

And Nathan Bradley Bethea, who served with Bergdahl, wrote that he "was a deserter, and soldiers from his own unit died trying to track him down" in a recent column for the Daily Beast.

Bergdahl was exchanged for five Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Saturday, after months of negotiation led by the government of Qatar. Republicans, among them specifically Sen. John McCain, questioned whether the U.S. got the best of that deal, referring to the former Gitmo detainees as the "hardest of the hard core." ::snipping3::

http://news.yahoo.com/some-fellow-soldiers-question-sgt--bergdahl-s-release-134759765.html ::MonkeyShocked::

I am waiting for an official release pertaining to the claims of the  "unidentified" Defense Department source that were made the FOX network.

Janet

+++++

Sources: Intelligence community investigated Bergdahl’s conduct
Published June 02, 2014

A senior official confirms to Fox News that the conduct of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl -- both in his final stretch of active duty in Afghanistan and then, too, during his time when he lived among the Taliban -- has been thoroughly investigated by the U.S. intelligence community and is the subject of "a major classified file."

In conveying as much, the Defense Department source confirmed to Fox News that many within the intelligence community harbor serious outstanding concerns not only that Bergdahl may have been a deserter but that he may have been an active collaborator with the enemy.

The Pentagon official added pointedly that no relevant congressional committee has sought access to the classified file, but that if such a request were made, key committee chairs would, under previous precedent, likely be granted access to it. Separately, the Pentagon confirmed Monday that it is looking into claims Americans died during the search for Bergdahl.

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/02/sources-intelligence-community-investigated-bergdahls-conduct/

We Lost Soldiers in the Hunt for Bergdahl, a Guy Who Walked Off in the Dead of Night
For five years, soldiers have been forced to stay silent about the disappearance and search for Bergdahl. Now we can talk about what really happened.
It was June 30, 2009, and I was in the city of Sharana, the capitol of Paktika province in Afghanistan. As I stepped out of a decrepit office building into a perfect sunny day, a member of my team started talking into his radio. “Say that again,” he said. “There’s an American soldier missing?”

There was. His name was Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, the only prisoner of war in the Afghan theater of operations. His release from Taliban custody on May 31 marks the end of a nearly five-year-old story for the soldiers of his unit, the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. I served in the same battalion in Afghanistan and participated in the attempts to retrieve him throughout the summer of 2009. After we redeployed, every member of my brigade combat team received an order that we were not allowed to discuss what happened to Bergdahl for fear of endangering him. He is safe, and now it is time to speak the truth.

And that the truth is: Bergdahl was a deserter, and soldiers from his own unit died trying to track him down. ::snipping3::


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/02/we-lost-soldiers-in-the-hunt-for-bergdahl-a-guy-who-walked-off-in-the-dead-of-night.html

CNN Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin States President Barack Obama “Clearly Broke the Law” in Releasing Taliban Detainees from GITMO without giving Congress 30 Days Notice … Jonathan Turley Too
 
Two Liberal Lawyers say Barack Obama clearly broke the law …

Posted June 3, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/03/cnn-legal-analyst-jeffrey-toobin-states-president-barack-obama-clearly-broke-the-law-in-releasing-taliban-detainees-from-gitmo-without-giving-congress-30-days-notice-jonathan-tur/

LIARS!!! Hmm, Remember When WH Mouthpiece Jay Carney Said in 2013 … No Bergdahl Decision Will Happen ‘Without Consulting Congress’
 
YET ANOTHER LIE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT PROMISED, IF YOU LIKE YOUR HEALTHCARE PLAN, YOU CAN KEEP IT, PERIOD!

Posted June 3, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/03/liars-hmm-remember-when-wh-mouthpiece-jay-carney-said-in-2013-no-bergdahl-decision-will-happen-without-consulting-congress/

BARACK OBAMA – 2008

White House defends prisoner swap with Taliban
Monday, June 2, 2014

<snipped>

When he ran for president in 2008, Mr. Obama criticized then-President George W. Bush for adding “signing statements” to laws, saying it was an abuse of executive authority that bypassed congressional intent.

“That’s not part of his power,” Mr. Obama said in May 2008. “But this is part of the whole theory of George Bush that he can make laws as he’s going along. I disagree with that. I taught the Constitution for ten years, I believe in the Constitution, and I will obey the Constitution of the United States. We’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end run around Congress.”

<snipped>

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/2/white-house-defends-prisoner-swap-taliban/

JAY CARNEY - JUNE 2013

Carney in 2013: No Bergdahl Decision Will Happen ‘Without Consulting Congress’
June 2, 2014

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said nearly a year ago that no decisions about bringing about the return of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl through detainee transfer would be done “without consulting Congress.”

“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,” Carney said. “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.”

<snipped>

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/flashback-carney-said-no-decision-about-transferring-detainees-for-bergdahl-would-happen-without-consulting-congress/


BARACK OBAMA - DECEMBER 2013

White House defends prisoner swap with Taliban
Monday, June 2, 2014

<snipped>

Republican lawmakers said the president broke the national defense authorization law that Mr. Obama signed on Dec. 26, 2013, which requires him to give Congress a month’s notice before releasing terrorism detainees from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But the president added a “signing statement” to the law, saying that he intended to reserve for himself the flexibility to negotiate over the release of terrorism detainees.

“The executive branch must have the flexibility, among other things, to act swiftly in conducting negotiations with foreign countries regarding the circumstances of detainee transfers,” Mr. Obama wrote at the time.

<snipped>

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/2/white-house-defends-prisoner-swap-taliban/

Flip Flop?

BARACK OBAMA - DECEMBER 2013

White House defends prisoner swap with Taliban
Monday, June 2, 2014

<snipped>

Republican lawmakers said the president broke the national defense authorization law that Mr. Obama signed on Dec. 26, 2013, which requires him to give Congress a month’s notice before releasing terrorism detainees from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But the president added a “signing statement” to the law, saying that he intended to reserve for himself the flexibility to negotiate over the release of terrorism detainees.

“The executive branch must have the flexibility, among other things, to act swiftly in conducting negotiations with foreign countries regarding the circumstances of detainee transfers,” Mr. Obama wrote at the time.

<snipped>

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/2/white-house-defends-prisoner-swap-taliban/

IN A NUTSHELL

The following article in its entirety is a good read.  IMO

Janet

+++++

Wartime messages to parents, fellow soldiers reveal troubled Bergdahl
Published June 03, 2014

Email exchanges between Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and his parents, statements from fellow GIs and a purported letter he left the night he disappeared into the rugged Afghan terrain are painting the picture of a troubled and disillusioned soldier who was "ashamed" to be an American.

While Bergdahl remained at a U.S. military hospital in Germany following a swap for five high-level Taliban members — dubbed a jihadist "Dream Team" — two of Bergdahl’s fellow soldiers told Fox News Channel that the 28-year-old Idaho native willingly walked away from his post in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009. Their claims that Bergdahl's departure from the base was premeditated jibes with emails published in 2012, in which he told his father of his growing disenchantment with the Army's mission in Afghanistan.

“The future is too good to waste on lies,” Bergdahl wrote his parents. “And life is way too short to care for the damnation of others, as well as to spend helping fools with their ideas that are wrong. I have seen their ideas and I am ashamed to even be American. The horror of the self-righteous arrogance that they thrive in. It is all revolting.” ....

<snipped>

READ MORE:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/03/wartime-messages-to-parents-fellow-soldiers-reveal-troubled-bergdahl/

Pentagon inquiry in 2010 found Bergdahl walked away from unit, report claims
Published June 03, 2014

A Pentagon investigation in 2010 concluded that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl walked away from his unit prior to his capture by the Taliban the year before, a finding that led the military to curb any high-risk rescue plans, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

A former Pentagon official told the AP that the evidence presented in the investigation was “incontrovertible” that Bergdahl had left the unit when he disappeared on June 30, 2009.

READ MORE:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/03/pentagon-inquiry-in-2010-found-bergdahl-walked-away-from-unit-report-claims/

INCONTROVERTIBLE: not able to be denied or disputed

Though the 2009 Afghan presidential election slowed the search for Bergdahl, it did not stop it. Our battalion suffered six fatalities in a three-week period. On August 18, an IED killed Private First Class Morris Walker and Staff Sergeant Clayton Bowen during a reconnaissance mission. On August 26, while conducting a search for a Taliban shadow sub-governor supposedly affiliated with Bergdahl’s captors, Staff Sergeant Kurt Curtiss was shot in the face and killed. On September 4, during a patrol to a village near the area in which Bergdahl vanished, an insurgent ambush killed Second Lieutenant Darryn Andrews and gravely wounded Private First Class Matthew Martinek, who died of his wounds a week later. On September 5, while conducting a foot movement toward a village also thought affiliated with Bergdahl’s captors, Staff Sergeant Michael Murphrey stepped on an improvised land mine. He died the next day.
It is important to name all these names. For the veterans of the units that lost these men, Bergdahl’s capture and the subsequent hunt for him will forever tie to their memories, and to a time in their lives that will define them as people. He has finally returned. Those men will never have the opportunity.

Bergdahl was not the first American soldier in modern history to walk away blindly. As I write this in Seoul, I'm about 40 miles from where an American sergeant defected to North Korea in 1965. Charles Robert Jenkins later admitted that he was terrified of being sent to Vietnam, so he got drunk and wandered off on a patrol. He was finally released in 2004, after almost 40 hellish years of brutal internment. The Army court-martialed him, sentencing him to 30 days' confinement and a dishonorable discharge. He now lives peacefully with his wife in Japan—they met in captivity in North Korea, where they were both forced to teach foreign languages to DPRK agents. His desertion barely warranted a comment, but he was not hailed as a hero. He was met with sympathy and humanity, and he was allowed to live his life, but he had to answer for what he did.



The war was already absurd and quixotic, but the hunt for Bergdahl was even more infuriating because it was the result of some kid doing something unnecessary by his own volition. ::snipping3::

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/02/we-lost-soldiers-in-the-hunt-for-bergdahl-a-guy-who-walked-off-in-the-dead-of-night.html

This is the first time in my adult life that I do not feel safe under this President...
He truly makes me wonder whose side he is on.....
He is going rogue on the American people.
This deserter who said that he was ashamed to be an American reminded me of when Michelle Obama made the comment, (not word for word) for the first time I am proud to b an American. I think it was when her husband was voted into office.
This guy is ruining America.
Makes me sad.

“We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.”  - Barack Obama, October 30, 2008

Hi Cookie

My youngest son's American in-laws emotions fluctuate.  Frustration.  Angry.  Sadness.  They believes that a revival is what it will take to halt the current "transformation of America".

Janet


2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Bergdahl's team leader: Intercepted radio chatter said he sought talks with the Taliban
June 3rd, 2014

(CNN) - Former Army Sgt. Evan Buetow was the team leader with Bowe Bergdahl the night Bergdahl disappeared.

"Bergdahl is a deserter, and he's not a hero," says Buetow. "He needs to answer for what he did."

Within days of his disappearance, says Buetow, teams monitoring radio chatter and cell phone communications intercepted an alarming message: The American is in Yahya Khel (a village two miles away). He's looking for someone who speaks English so he can talk to the Taliban.

"I heard it straight from the interpreter's lips as he heard it over the radio," said Buetow. "There's a lot more to this story than a soldier walking away."

The Army will review the case of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl "in a comprehensive, coordinated effort," Secretary of the Army John McHugh said Tuesday.

The review will include speaking with Bergdahl "to better learn from him the circumstances of his disappearance and captivity," he said.

The night Bergdahl disappeared, says Buetow, the platoon was at a small outpost, consisting of two bunkers and a perimeter of military trucks. Buetow was in one of the bunkers, and Bergdahl was supposed to be in a tent by one of the trucks.

Then a call came through on the radio.

"I'll never forget that line, 'Has anyone seen Bergdahl?'" says Buetow.

Firsthand accounts from soldiers in his platoon say Bergdahl disappeared while he was on guard duty.

Buetow says Bergdahl was about to go on guard duty, but when a fellow soldier went to wake him, he was not in his tent. He had left behind his weapons, his bullet-proof vest, and night vision gear.

"I immediately knew, I said, 'He walked away. He walked away,'" said Buetow.

Bergdahl walked off the observation post with nothing more than a compass, a knife, water, a digital camera and a diary, according to firsthand accounts from soldiers in his platoon.

Read: Fellow soldiers call Bowe Bergdahl a deserter, not a hero

Buetow was involved in the immediate search for Bergdahl, pushing a patrol into a nearby local village.

"Immediately as we left the base, two small boys walked up to us, and they told us that they saw an American crawling in the weeds by himself," said the former Army sergeant. The search followed that lead, and others, for months.

"For 60 days or more, I remember, just straight, all we did was search for Bergdahl," said Buetow, "essentially chasing a ghost because we never came up with anything."

At least six soldiers were killed in subsequent searches for him, according to soldiers involved in those operations.

<snipped>

READ MORE:
http://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2014/06/03/team-leader-bowe-bergdahl-wanted-to-talk-to-taliban/

Ted Cruz Interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly: Bergdahl Swap – 6/3/14
Posted on June 3, 2014

Video:
http://uneditedpolitics.com/ted-cruz-interview-with-fox-news-megyn-kelly-bergdahl-swap-6314/

Susan Rice: Bergdahl Served With 'Honor and Distinction'
June 2, 2014

President Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, said on ABC that Bowe Bergdahl "served the United States with honor and distinction" and that "Sergeant Bergdahl wasn't simply a hostage; he was an American prisoner of war captured on the battlefield."

Rice says, "Sergeant Bergdahl wasn't simply a hostage; he was an American prisoner of war captured on the battlefield." She adds, "We have a sacred obligation that we have upheld since the founding of our republic to do our utmost to bring back our men and women who are taken in battle, and we did that in this instance." 

<snipped>

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/susan-rice-bergdahl-served-honor-and-distinction_794066.html


White House backpedals after claiming Bergdahl 'served with honor and distinction'
June 03, 2014

Deputy national security advisor Tony Blinken struggled to cover for his boss Susan Rice on Tuesday, backtracking from her contention that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl “served with honor and distinction” in the face of tough questions from NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell.

Mitchell confronted Blinken over Rice’s Sunday claim that Bergdahl “served with honor and distinction” —  an assertion almost immediately disproven by scores of Bergdahl’s comrades and official Pentagon reports, which show the soldier abandoned his post and may have been seeking to join the Taliban.

“Why did Susan Rice say he served with honor and distinction?” she asked. “It was clear to the military as soon as he left what had happened, according to his former fellow soldiers?”

“Andrea, as Chairman Dempsey said this morning, we need to give Sgt. Bergdahl an opportunity to tell his story,” Blinken dodged, refusing to address Rice’s claim.

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/03/white-house-backpedals-after-claiming-bergdahl-served-with-honor-and/

Bergdahl wrote of being 'ashamed' to be an American in emails
Published June 03, 2014

While Bergdahl remained at a U.S. military hospital in Germany following a swap for five high-level Taliban members — dubbed a jihadist "Dream Team" — two of Bergdahl’s fellow soldiers told Fox News Channel that the 28-year-old Idaho native willingly walked away from his post in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009. Their claims that Bergdahl's departure from the base was premeditated jibes with emails published in 2012, in which he told his father of his growing disenchantment with the Army's mission in Afghanistan.

“The future is too good to waste on lies,” Bergdahl wrote his parents. “And life is way too short to care for the damnation of others, as well as to spend helping fools with their ideas that are wrong. I have seen their ideas and I am ashamed to even be American. The horror of the self-righteous arrogance that they thrive in. It is all revolting.”

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/03/wartime-messages-to-parents-fellow-soldiers-reveal-troubled-bergdahl/

VIDEO: Taliban Release Video of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Handover

Posted June 4, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/04/video-taliban-release-video-of-sgt-bowe-bergdahl-handover/#comments

Freed Taliban in Midst of Luxury in Qatar
June 4, 2014

VIDEO
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/freed-taliban-midst-luxury-qatar-23967652?tab=9482931&section=4765066

Administrative Damage Control?

State Department Spokeswoman on Bergdahl: There Are a ‘Ton of Conflicting Reports’
June 4, 2014 11:24 AM

“We’re still establishing a fact pattern about what happened,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said yesterday regarding the story behind Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl’s disappearance from his platoon five years ago.

“I think he’s probably the person who knows best what happened on that night,” she said. When Fox News reporter Lucas Tomlinson suggested that Bergdahl’s squad mates would actually have the best indication of what happened, Harf disagreed.

She warned the public to be “really careful about believing every second or third hand report out there.” At least nine sergeants who served with Bergdahl have spoken out against him since his return. 

Harf also said that there are conflicting reports about whether Bergdahl deserted. When Tomlinson questioned this, Harf instructed him to “google it on the web, and you’ll find a ton of conflicting reports.”

VIDEO
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/379523/state-department-spokeswoman-bergdahl-there-are-ton-conflicting-reports-molly-wharton

Obama State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf Suggests Fellow Soldiers Aren’t Reliable Sources on Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl
 
AN INSULT TOO FAR FROM THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION … BENGHAZI 2.0

Posted June 4, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/04/obama-state-department-spokeswoman-marie-harf-suggests-fellow-soldiers-arent-reliable-sources-on-sgt-bowe-bergdahl/

Dianne Feinstein: White House sorry for ‘oversight’ in Bergdahl deal
Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday that the White House told her that it was on “oversight” that Congress didn’t receive the required notification about the prisoner exchange deal that secured the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
Mrs. Feinstein, California Democrat, said the excuse came from Tony Blinken, President Obama’s deputy national security adviser.

“Tony Blinken called last night and said that it was an oversight or something to that effect. So I accept that,” she told reporters at the Capitol.

The president is required to give Congress 30 days notice before transferring prisoners from the detention center for terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. No notice was provided before the administration sent five high-ranking Taliban officials to Qatar in exchange for the release of Sgt. Bergdahl.

While she accepted the White House excuse, Mrs. Feinstein said that there are “legitimate concerns” about the way the deal was handled by the Obama administration.

“I just think these are important things,” she said of the notification issue. “I think it is important, if you can, to have a team — legislative [and] executive — that is supportive of something that is unusual, and this is unusual.”

<snipped>

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/3/dianne-feinstein-white-house-sorry-oversight-bergd/

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA-D) Disappointed Lawmakers Not Given 30-Day Notice by Law by Obama Administration on Sgt. Bergdahl – Taliban 5 Swap
 
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: OOPS, SORRY, WE FORGOT…

<snipped>

Although, this is a Democrats reaction of moral and legal outrage toward the Obama administration and their actions … Are Democrats finally figuring out that Obama does not trust them either or care to include them in his imperial government?

<snipped.

Posted June 4, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/04/sen-dianne-feinstein-ca-d-disappointed-lawmakers-not-given-30-day-notice-by-law-by-obama-administration-on-sgt-bergdahl-taliban-5-swap/

::MonkeyNoNo:: I have not felt safe in years we have been lied to and  back stabbed
 I'm fed up between this Benghazi and hillary clinton lies

Bergdahl's hometown cancels 'Welcome Home' ceremony amid questions, threats
Published June 04, 2014

HAILEY, Idaho –  This small, central Idaho city of about 8,000 is wilting in the international spotlight brought by what was supposed to be a joyous occasion, and a much-anticipated celebration welcoming back a long-lost son has been canceled.

For years, the town has rallied, hoped and prayed for the return of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the polite and sensitive boy who was home-schooled by his parents, attended Sovereign Redeemer Presbyterian Church, took ballet lessons in nearby Ketchum and worked as a barista at Zaney's coffee shop on River Street before enlisting in the Army in 2008. Captured by the Taliban a year into his tour, Bergdahl was held for five years until Saturday's dramatic announcement that he'd been swapped for five of Guantanamo Bay's most dangerous prisoners.

But the jubilation that followed his release has given way to confusion and fear, as questions about whether Bergdahl was a deserter have surfaced. City Hall has been inundated with angry letters and emails from around the country. The long-planned "Welcome Back, Bowe" celebration, planned for June 28 in Hop Porter Park, was canceled Wednesday amid growing claims by Bergdahl's fellow soldiers that he deserves no honor.

“This man deserves no welcome," reads one of the many emails City Administrator Heather Dawson has fielded at City Hall. "His reward is being alive, unlike the brave soldiers who actually followed their orders and continued to search for him knowing full well he had deserted his post.”

“You and anyone else involved in organizing this farce of a celebration should be ashamed of yourselves,” reads another.

Employees and the business that have supported Bowe’s release, like the Muleshore Tavern, Luke's Family Pharmacy and The Sun Valley Brewery,  have received angry messages and even death threats from people both around the country and even from within the once close-knit community.

Dawson calls the issue “polarizing,” and says the small town can feel the world eyes, through the convoy of television trucks and journalists that have descended into the picturesque Wood River Valley.

“All of America is watching your little town and hoping the right thing is done,” read one e-mail.

<snipped>

READ MORE:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/04/bergdahl-hometown-cancels-welcome-home-ceremony-amid-questions-threats/

Bergdahl’s Fmr Squad Leader: He Totally Deserted Us
June 4, 2014

Former Army Staff Sgt. Justin Gerleve told CNN’s Jake Tapper Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl “totally deserted” his compatriots Wednesday on The Lead.

Gerleve was Bergdahl’s squad leader at the time of their deployment in Afghanistan and said initially Bergdahl appeared to be a good soldier. However, based on the body of evidence following his disappearance Gerleve said it was clear the Idaho native deserted his post.

“I believe that he totally deserted not only his fellow soldiers but his leadership that wanted the best for him and for our country,” he said.

Gerleve added the aftermath of Bergdahl’s desertion was “very upsetting.”

“It’s one of the things I took my job, being in the military to the fullest and knowing that one of my soldiers walked off, it was more heartbreaking than anything. It made me really sit down and think ‘what’s going on here?’”

<snipped>

Tapper went on to ask Gerleve whether he thought a hero’s welcome would be appropriate for Bergdahl.

“I feel that the hero’s welcome is not right because he did dessert and us soldiers on the ground with him that morning, days prior, and soldiers that looked for him countless of hours, countless of days. The soldiers that lost their lives are the true heroes,” Gerleve said.

Gerleve also rejected National Security Advisor Susan Rice’s assertion that Bergdahl served with “honor and distinction.” “I don’t think so at all because [...] he deserted his fellow soldiers.”

The CNN host concluded by asking Gerleve what his motivation is for speaking out.

“He’s a deserter, America needs to know, he’s back and needs to be accountable for his actions,” Gerleve said.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/bergdahls-fmr-squad-leader-he-totally-deserted-us/

6/4/14    Bergdahl Could Receive $300K in Retroactive Pay 

"Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could be entitled to about $300,000 in back pay and special compensation following his release as a Taliban prisoner, experts say.

Service members designated by the Defense Department as "captive, missing or missing in action" are entitled to receive back pay and allowances, officials said. Any additional pay and allowances earned such as promotions or special entitlements are not issued until they are officially recovered or classified as deceased"

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/06/04/bergdahl-could-receive-300k-in-retroactive-pay.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm

please add to my post above

"Bergdahl could forfeit back pay, allowances, and military compensation and veterans benefits if found guilty on desertion or Absence Without Leave (AWOL) charges. The Army would not say if he has received any compensation since his release form the Taliban.

If he is found guilty of AWOL, he would forfeit all pay he received since he went missing on June 30, 2009, according to the UCMJ. If he is found guilty of desertion, he would forfeit all compensation and be held responsible for the cost of returning to the US.

He would also lose veterans benefits such as access to the GI Bill, worth over $65,000, health care, the VA home loan and any disability compensation."

Very interesting.  Thanks alagary.

Janet

Report: White House Aides Accusing Bergdahl’s Unit Comrades Of ‘Swift Boating’ Him
June 4, 2014 9:56 AM

WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — White House aides are accusing soldiers who served with Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl are “swift boating” him following his release over the weekend after five years in captivity.

NBC News’ Chuck Todd reported Monday that the White House did not expect this sort of vitriolic backlash exchanging five high-level Taliban members held at Guantanamo Bay for Bergdahl, who left his Army post in 2009 in Afghanistan and was subsequently taken captive.

“They did not expect this backlash on Bergdahl himself,” Todd reported on NBC’s “Today.” I’ve had a few aides describe it to me as we didn’t know that they were going to ‘swift boat’ Bergdahl. And that’s a reference to that political fight back in 2004 over John Kerry’s military service.”

Bergdahl disappeared on June 30, 2009. A Pentagon investigation concluded in 2010 that the evidence was “incontrovertible” that he walked away from his unit, said a former Pentagon official who has read it.

The military investigation was broader than a criminal inquiry, this official said, and it didn’t formally accuse Bergdahl of desertion. In interviews as part of the probe, members of his unit portrayed him as a naive, “delusional” person who thought he could help the Afghan people by leaving his Army post, said the official, who was present for the interviews.

Reports have surfaced that at least six U.S. soldiers were killed while searching for Bergdahl.

Matt Vierkant, 27, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was a team leader of another squad in Bergdahl’s platoon and said soldiers from his unit and other units were wounded or killed on missions to chase down leads related to Bergdahl.

Asked about the statement Sunday by National Security Adviser Susan Rice that Bergdahl served “with honor and distinction,” he said: “That statement couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t know if she was misinformed or doesn’t know about the investigations and everything else, or what.”

He said Bergdahl’s fellow soldiers knew within five or 10 minutes from the discovery of disappearance that he had walked away. In retrospect the signs were there, he said, but there was nothing so definitive that would have prompted action.

“He said some strange things, like, ‘I could get lost in those mountains,’ which, at the time, that doesn’t really strike you as someone who is going to leave their weapon and walk out.”

Vierkant said he believes it’s paramount that an investigation determine whether Bergdahl deserted or collaborated with the enemy.

“It shouldn’t even be a question of whether, it should question of when,” he said.

Republicans in Congress criticized the agreement and complained about not having been consulted, citing a law that requires Congress to be given 30 days’ notice before a prisoner is released from Guantanamo.

Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee said the Pentagon notified the panel by phone on Saturday that the exchange was occurring in the next five hours.

“A phone call does not meet the legal standard of congressional notification,” the Republican members said in a statement and added that official notice of the move came Monday, “more than 72 hours after the detainees were released.”

Republicans also argued that the swap could set a dangerous precedent.

“The five terrorists released were the hardest of the hard-core,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican. “I fear President Obama’s decision will inevitably lead to more Americans being kidnapped and held hostage throughout the world.”

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, told CBSDC that the administration tried to sell this “great story” of praising Bergdahl as a hero.

“It didn’t take long for this PR push to falter. His fellow soldiers describe Bergdahl as a deserter, and they are bitter that American lives were lost trying to find and rescue him,” Sabato explained to CBSDC. “And then there’s the prisoner swap. Those five senior terrorists caused a lot of people’s stomachs to turn and temperatures to rise. Quite a price to pay for a soldier who may be a deserter, if reports are true.”

<snipped>

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/06/04/report-white-house-aides-accusing-bergdahls-unit-comrades-of-swift-boating-him/

Matthews Slams White House For Saying Soldiers Are ‘Swift-Boating’ Bergdahl
06/04/2014

Liberal MSNBC host Chris Matthews continued his attacks on the Obama administration for the trade of five dangerous Taliban prisoners for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, slamming the White House’s claim that soldiers who served with Bergdahl are “swift-boating” him and asking “where is the dishonesty in the portrayal?” of Bergdahl as a deserter.

Matthews, who strongly questioned the trade even while facts continued to pour in on Monday, has been the only host on his network so far to even remotely challenge the Obama administration’s narrative on the prisoner trade and Bergdahl’s history of service.

<snipped>

“These are questions raised about a guy who left post, wrote letters, sent signals that he was leaving post as a matter of principle, he didn’t believe in the war effort,” he continued angrily. “And we don’t know what’s worse here, but the idea — where’s the dishonesty in the portrayal of Bergdahl so far? I haven’t seen it.”

“What’s been misconstrued about him so far?” Matthews asked. “I know there have been questions raised. I have those questions. Most Americans do.”

“Chris, I understand,” a nervous Todd responded. “This is not my portrayal. I’m simply reporting to you how the White House is viewing this.”

http://dailycaller.com/2014/06/04/matthews-slams-white-house-for-saying-soldiers-are-swift-boating-bergdahl/

Report: White House Aides Accusing Bergdahl’s Unit Comrades Of ‘Swift Boating’ Him
June 4, 2014 9:56 AM

<snipped>

During a news conference in Poland Tuesday, Obama defended his decision of swapping the Taliban prisoners for Bergdahl, saying they were worried about his health after spending the past five years in captivity.

“Regardless of the circumstances, whatever those circumstances may turn out to be, we still get an American soldier back if he’s held in captivity,” Obama said. “We don’t condition that.”

Despite what some lawmakers are saying that they were being kept in the dark, Obama stated that the White House had been consulting with Congress “for some time” about the proposed deal.

“We seized that opportunity,” Obama said.

Obama also noted that it is entirely possible that the released detainees, who are mandated to stay in Qatar under the agreement for the next year, could return to terrorism.

“We will be keeping eyes on them,” Obama said. “We have confidence that we will be in a position to go after them if in fact they are engaging in activities that threaten our defenses.”

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/06/04/report-white-house-aides-accusing-bergdahls-unit-comrades-of-swift-boating-him/

(https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/saving-private-bergdahl.jpg)

Bowe Bergdahl’s Former Roommates Paint Different Picture of Controversial Soldier
ABC News By LAUREN EFFRON
June 4, 2014 1:41 AM
ABC News Videos

Controversy has surrounded newly freed Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl since his release from Taliban captivity, with some in the military, including members of his own unit, claiming he is a deserter, not a war hero.



"He's a very interesting guy, he was very quiet, he was an *******," Horton said.

Horton, the artistic director of Sun Valley Ballet in Idaho, said she was Bergdahl's ballet teacher and later, she became his roommate in his hometown of Hailey, Idaho, when Bergdahl was about 18 or 19 years old. She describes Bergdahl as someone who was interested in mixed martial arts, culture, languages and learning new things.

"He was a wonderful [ballet] partner, all the girls enjoyed dancing with him because he was so strong and steady," she said.

Horton said Bergdahl didn't talk about Afghanistan much, and they more or less lost touch after he was deployed, but said he wanted to go.

View galleryBowe Bergdahl’s Former Roommates Paint Different Picture&nbsp;&hellip;
Bowe Bergdahl’s Former Roommates Paint Different Picture of Controversial Soldier (ABC News)
"One of the reasons he joined [the army] was to go and help and he believed in what we were doing to help Afghan people," she said. "He didn't seem disillusioned or anything... nothing comes to mind that stood out at the time to make me think he wasn't happy with what he was doing." ::snipping3::

http://news.yahoo.com/bowe-bergdahl-former-roommates-paint-different-picture-controversial-054142007--abc-news-topstories.html

Obama digs in on Taliban-for-Bergdahl trade, vows ‘no apologies’
Published June 05, 2014

President Obama, facing rising bipartisan criticism over his handling of the Taliban-for-Bergdahl prisoner swap, dug in his heels Thursday and declared he would make "absolutely no apologies" for bringing an American soldier home.

The president fielded a question on the Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl controversy during a press conference on Thursday in Brussels, Belgium, alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron. Amid signals that the administration plans to aggressively challenge critics of the deal, the president brushed off the pushback as business as usual in Washington.

"I'm never surprised by controversies that are whipped up in Washington. That's par for the course," Obama said.

He reiterated that he was adhering to a principle that America does not leave soldiers behind.

"We had a prisoner of war whose health had deteriorated and we were deeply concerned about -- and we saw an opportunity and we seized it," he said. "And I make no apologies for that."

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/05/obama-digs-in-on-taliban-prisoner-trade-vows-no-apologies/

Obama digs in on Taliban-for-Bergdahl trade, vows ‘no apologies’
Published June 05, 2014

<snipped>

Stateside, the administration is facing a storm of controversy from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with one going so far as to threaten impeachment if Obama uses this as an opening to shutter Guantanamo.

"If [President Obama] just tried to empty that jail, people would be calling for his impeachment," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said.

Officials from various agencies briefed members of the Senate late Wednesday in a bid to ease the mounting criticism surrounding the deal. But Graham and others emerged from the briefing frustrated, saying they had more questions than answers.

The trade has stirred up concerns on several fronts. Lawmakers are angry that the administration went ahead with the deal without giving Congress a 30-day notice, as required by law. Mostly, they're worried that the five Taliban leaders freed from Guantanamo Bay will return to the battlefield.

Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said when asked if the officials thought the five released Gitmo prisoners would attack Americans, they said they did not know.

"But there will be hell to pay if we find they go on to kill Americans," Kirk said.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/05/obama-digs-in-on-taliban-prisoner-trade-vows-no-apologies/

HUD official tweet: Was Bergdahl’s unit ‘long on psychopaths’?
June 5 at 9:31 am

A HUD official sent out a series of tweets Wednesday evening defending Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl against criticism that he is a traitor who abandoned his post before being taken captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan, suggesting in one the possibility Bergdahl's platoon may have been "long on psychopaths and short on leadership."

Brandon Friedman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, sent out five tweets on the topic Wednesday evening on his personal Twitter account. They are embedded below:

Brandon Friedman @BFriedmanDC
Follow
Here's the thing about Bergdahl and the Jump-to-Conclusions mats: What if his platoon was long on psychopaths and short on leadership? (1/5)
8:44 PM - 4 Jun 2014

Brandon Friedman @BFriedmanDC
Follow
What if he grew disillusioned with what he saw, didn't trust his leadership, and walked off? Legal? No. Worthy of sympathy? Maybe. (2/5)
8:45 PM - 4 Jun 2014

Brandon Friedman @BFriedmanDC
Follow
If that were the case, the soldiers in his platoon would have all the more reason to smear him publicly now. (3/5)
8:46 PM - 4 Jun 2014

Brandon Friedman @BFriedmanDC
Follow
Given other examples, it's not out of the realm of possibility--and more reason to withhold judgment until after an investigation. (4/5)
8:47 PM - 4 Jun 2014

Brandon Friedman @BFriedmanDC
Follow
I'm not a fan of such speculation, but this story could not be more unbalanced--with so many premature calls of "traitor." (5/5)
8:48 PM - 4 Jun 2014

Bergdahl was released from Taliban custody Saturday after nearly five years in captivity. In exchange, the U.S. government released five Afghan inmates from the Guantanamo detention center. They must remain in Qatar for at least a year.

Bergdahl disappeared from his platoon in 2009 in Afghanistan after apparently becoming disillusioned with the U.S. military effort there. He has faced criticism over his decision by veterans and soldiers who served with him.

<snipped>

Neither the White House nor HUD immediately responded to a request for comment on Friedman's tweets.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/05/hud-official-tweet-was-bergdahls-unit-long-on-psychopaths/

Daily Commentary – Thursday, June 5, 2014 – Former Members of Bergdahl’s Unit Angry When He Vanished

Angry at why he left and that they had to search for him, even before he was captured by the Taliban

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a306/klaasend/bergdahl_zpsa7c017d5.jpg)

Posted June 5, 2014 by Klaasend

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/05/daily-commentary-thursday-june-5-2014-former-members-of-bergdahls-unit-angry-when-he-vanished/

DAMAGE CONTROL?

Taliban threatened to kill Bergdahl? Hill sources skeptical of latest reason for keeping deal secret
Published June 05, 2014

The Obama administration apparently is telling lawmakers that the Taliban threatened to kill Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl if the pending deal to free him was made public -- but sources suggest that's no excuse for keeping Congress in the dark.

One Senate aide told Fox News that senators were told at a briefing on Wednesday that "the U.S. obtained credible information that, if anything about the swap became public, Bergdahl would be killed."

According to The Associated Press, several congressional officials say they were told the same thing.

<snipped>

But one senior source told Fox News that this claim is "ridiculous," since "notifying Congress does not make it public."

READ MORE:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/05/taliban-threatened-to-kill-bergdahl-hill-sources-skeptical-latest-reason-for/

'We would all die for him': 6 soldiers who served with Bergdahl seek answers
Published June 05, 2014

Six soldiers who served in the same platoon as Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in Afghanistan expressed anger, sadness and outrage over what they said unequivocally was Bergdahl’s willful desertion five years ago, with one telling Fox News’ Megyn Kelly, “we would all die for him and he left.”

<snipped>

INTERVIEW - VIDEO
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/05/would-have-died-for-him-6-soldiers-who-served-with-bergdahl-seek-answers/

s there a bigger story behind the Bergdahl exchange?
Jun. 09, 2014 - 3:39

Columnist Bill Robinson weighs in

http://video.foxnews.com/v/3613174623001/is-there-a-bigger-story-behind-the-bergdahl-exchange/#sp=show-clips

Bergdahl’s parents got rare access to insiders; data for sympathizer of Gitmo detainees
Sunday, June 8, 2014

The Obama administration gave the parents of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl extraordinary insider access to the military’s hunt for their son by having them take part in a series of secure video conferences with senior commanders as well as White House and State Department officials.

A former government official involved in American hostage issues said he had never heard of giving a family such access and questioned whether sensitive information could have been conveyed to Robert and Jani Bergdahl and somehow leaked out. A family spokesman said he knows of no such breach.

Soon after Sgt. Bergdahl went missing in Afghanistan in June 2009, the Obama administration approved an outreach program that involved the Bergdahls traveling from their home in Hailey, Idaho, to the state’s National Guard headquarters in Boise.

There they were hooked into secure video conferences that included representatives of U.S. Central Command, which runs the war in Afghanistan, as well as with White House, State Department and intelligence officials.

Robert Bergdahl has expressed concern for prisoners at the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. From that prison, the U.S. released five senior Taliban commanders May 31 in exchange for the 28-year-old Sgt. Bergdahl, who was held five years by the violent Haqqani Network, a Taliban ally.

Air Force Col. Timothy Marsano, Idaho’s National Guard spokesman, said the Bergdahls participated in video conferences quarterly — or perhaps as many as 20 — over the five years.

“Mr. and Mrs. Bergdahl were regularly informed about what was happening throughout the duration using video teleconferencing [with] various military and other government agencies,” Col. Marsano said.

“There was a great effort to keep Mr. and Mrs. Bergdahl updated on developments.”

There is no Army post in Idaho. The Guard offered to help the Bergdahls with media relations, and they accepted, said Col. Marsano, who has served as the family’s spokesman.

Asked about the video conferences, Navy Cmdr. Elissa Smith, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said: “While I don’t have specific details to provide, I can tell you that we actively communicated with the Bergdahl family on a regular basis through a variety of means to keep them informed on the efforts to recover Sgt. Bergdahl and to highlight the close coordination and teamwork between U.S. Central Command, the Department of Defense and other U.S. government agencies.”

Robert Bergdahl has expressed sympathy for the al Qaeda and Taliban captives at Guantanamo, as he has for other prisoners, both Christian and Muslim, around the world.

Shortly before his son’s release, he tweeted: “I am still working to free all Guantanamo prisoners. God will repay for the death of every Afghan child, ameen!” That message on Twitter was later deleted.

In 2011, he issued a personal video urging the Pakistani military to secure his son’s release.

“Strangely to some, we must also thank those who have cared for our son for almost two years,” Mr. Bergdahl said. Addressing the Haqqanis, he said, “We know our son is a prisoner and, at the same time, a guest in your home.”

He also said, “We have been quiet in public, but we haven’t been quiet behind the scenes,” and “no family understands the detainee issue like ours.”

<snipped>

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/8/bergdahls-parents-got-rare-access-to-insiders/?page=1

Bergdahl’s parents got rare access to insiders; data for sympathizer of Gitmo detainees (Part 2)
Sunday, June 8, 2014

<snipped>

Larry Johnson, who worked on the issue of the American hostages in Lebanon while at the State Department in the 1980s, said he had never heard of bringing families into top-level discussions about efforts to free their relatives.

“It’s wrong,” Mr. Johnson said. “The Bergdahls shouldn’t have been part of that for no other reason than on the off chance they may inadvertently divulge some tactic.

“I mean, it’s one thing for government officials to interview the family, get insights from the family about what’s going on,” he said. “But to put them in the middle of what is essentially a classified secure video conference is ridiculous.”

Asked whether the Bergdahls exposed any sensitive information, Col. Marsano said, “I certainly don’t know of anything like that happening.”

He declined to discuss whether classified matters arose or whether the couple had a security clearance.

“It was very clear to me that the agencies involved, to include the Department of Defense, had a strong interest in ensuring this family had up-to-date information and did not leave them in the dark,” Col. Marsano said.

Sgt. Bergdahl now is undergoing the military’s reintegration process, which at some point includes debriefings on his captivity.

Former Army colleagues accuse Sgt. Bergdahl of desertion, saying he walked off their forward operating base in Paktia province and into the hands of the enemy.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/8/bergdahls-parents-got-rare-access-to-insiders/?page=2

(http://media.washtimes.com/media/image/2014/06/08/6_8_2014_captured-soldier-bergdahl-38201_s160x205.jpg?6ed8ba5c46e1d770ca310f207265d022273bb5fd)

Robert and Jani Bergdahl were hooked into multiple secure video conferences

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/8/bergdahls-parents-got-rare-access-to-insiders/?page=1

Judge Jeanine Pirro Blasts Barack Obama for the Bowe Bergdahl Fiasco and Demands for Obama’s Impeachment … “Mr. President, You are Destroying This Country”
 
WOW, JUDGE JEANINE PIRRO SAYS WHAT MANY AMERICANS FEEL, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH … MUST WATCH VIDEO!

Posted June 9, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/09/judge-jeanine-pirro-blasts-barack-obama-for-the-bowe-bergdahl-fiasco-and-demands-for-obamas-impeachment-mr-president-you-are-destroying-this-country/

Damage Control?

JUNE 1, 2014

Bergdahl release raises questions over security, congressional authority
Sunday, June 1, 2014

Mr. Hagel acknowledged that the law now mandates that the defense secretary give at least 30 days’ notice for such prison transfers but that officials moved under the timeline they did in order to save Sgt. Bergdahl’s life.

“We had information that his health could be deteriorating rapidly,” he said. “There was a question about his safety. We found an opportunity. We took that opportunity. I’ll stand by that decision. I signed off on the decision. The president made the ultimate decision. We did spend time looking at this.”

<snipped>

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/1/bergdahl-release-raises-questions-over-security-co/?page=all


JUNE 9, 2014

Obama Administration: Bergdahl Was Chuck Hagel's Call
June 9, 2014

The last question asked at Monday night's closed-door briefing of members of the House of Representatives was a simple one: Who made the decision to transfer five top Taliban officials held at Guantanamo Bay to Qatar in exchange for the return of the Taliban's lone American POW, Army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl?

According to Buck McKeon, the chairman of the House Armed Services committee, the Obama administration's briefers told the gathered House members that the person responsible for the decision to make the deal was not President Obama but Chuck Hagel, the secretary of defense.

<snipped>

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-putting-unpopular-bergdahl-trade-hagel_794543.html#.U5ZkaxAVdnk.twitter

Polls Show Barack Obama Once Again on the Wrong Side of the American People with Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Swap for GITMO 5
 
THE AMERICA BACKLASH AGAINST OBAMA AND HIS DEAL TO GIVE UP 5 HIGH RANKING TALIBAN DETAINEES FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DESERTER …

Posted June 10, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/10/polls-show-barack-obama-once-again-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-american-people-with-army-sgt-bowe-bergdahl-swap-for-gitmo-5/comment-page-1/#comment-4615080

THE AMERICA BACKLASH AGAINST OBAMA AND HIS DEAL TO GIVE UP 5 HIGH RANKING TALIBAN DETAINEES FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DESERTER …

Posted June 10, 2014 by Scared Monkeys

+++++++

Administrative Damage Control?

Bergdahl’s Platoon Leader: WH Attacking Our Character, Not Our Story, Because Our Story is True
June 10, 2014

Hannity

EVAN BUETOW: We were there on the ground when it happened. We know the truth, I don’t see them attacking our story as much as attacking our characters, so I’m assuming that they understand what we are saying is true or I think they would be attacking out story.

VIDEO:
http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/06/09/bergdahls-platoon-leader-wh-attacking-our-character-not-our-story-because-our-story-true

 ::rhino::

JUNE 11, 2014

DEFENSE SECRETARY HAGEL TESTIFIES AT HOUSE HEARING ON TALIBAN PRISONER SWAP

+++++++

Hagel faces skepticism over claim freed Taliban members were only planners
Published June 11, 2014

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sought Wednesday to justify to skeptical lawmakers the controversial swap of five hardened Taliban leaders for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, claiming the former Guantanamo detainees were planners, and had not directly participated in attacks on Americans.

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., quickly pointed out that Usama bin Laden was also a planner. "Bin Laden didn't pull a trigger, but we went after him," McKeon said.

Hagel, in the first public hearing on the controversial prisoner swap, said he has no illusions about the five men traded for Bergdahl's freedom. He acknowledged the possibility that they could rejoin the fight, but said they would do so "at their own peril."

But in defending the trade, he said they had not been implicated in any attacks against the U.S. and there was no basis to prosecute them.

He said there was "no direct evidence of any direct involvement in their direct attacks on the United States or any of our troops," though they were combatants and "part of planning."

Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, asked him to clarify.   

"So your point was they didn't pull the trigger, but they were senior commanders of the Taliban military who directed operations against the United States?" he asked.

"That's right," Hagel said.

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/11/hagel-defends-bergdahl-swap-in-first-public-hearing-on-trade/


Romans 1:22:  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.

Bowe Bergdahl being flown from Germany to US
Published June 12, 2014

Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. Army sergeant who spent five years as a captive in Afghanistan before being traded for five high-profile Taliban leaders, is coming back to the United States sometime late tonight or early tomorrow morning, Fox News has learned.

Bergdahl, who has been undergoing unspecified treatment at a U.S. facility in Landstuhl, Germany, since he was turned over to the U.S. on May 31, will be flown to Brook Army Medical Center, at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio. It is not known how long he will remain there or if and when he will be questioned about the circumstances behind his apparently voluntary departure from an Army base in Afghanistan in 2009.

Word of his pending arrival came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel underwent tough questioning on Capital Hill from members of the House Armed Services Committee. Among other queries, lawmakers wanted to know why Bergdahl, whose Army peers have branded as a deserter whose capture put them in enhanced danger, was still in Germany.

"You're trying to tell me that he's being held at Landstuhl, Germany, because of his medical condition?" asked an incredulous Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla.

"Congressman, I hope you're not implying anything other than that," Hagel responded.

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/12/bergdahl-writings-reveal-frustration-mental-instability/

Daily Commentary – Thursday, June 12, 2014 – Megan Kelly of Fox News Interviews Sgt. Bergdahl’s Platoon Members
 
They aren’t happy with the Administration or the Military after the prisoner exchange for Sgt. Bergdah

Posted June 12, 2014 by Klaasend

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2014/06/12/daily-commentary-thursday-june-12-2014-megan-kelly-of-fox-news-interviews-sgt-bergdahls-platoon-members/

Soldiers who served with Bowe Bergdahl not yet contacted by military investigators
Published July 02, 2014

U.S. Army soldiers who were serving with Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl when he left his post and wound up in the hands of the Taliban say no one has contacted them, even though military brass are currently conducting a new investigation into the case.

Several soldiers who immediately came forward after Bergdahl was released on May 31, in a swap for five Guantanamo Bay detainees, have accused the 28-year-old Idaho native of deserting. But even though the Army is probing that very charge, investigators have not reached out to at least two former Army sergeants — including the platoon’s leader — who served alongside Bergdahl on June 30, 2009, when he disappeared from his post in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province.

“There’s only a handful of us who were actually there and we haven’t been contacted yet,” former Army Sgt. Evan Buetow told FoxNews.com. “I don’t really know how in-depth they’re trying to get here. I thought we’d be some of the people they’d call. I think they have their mind made up already on what they want people to know.”

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/02/bergdahl-fellow-soldiers-not-yet-contacted-in-new-probe/

Soldiers who served with Bowe Bergdahl not yet contacted by military investigators
Published July 05, 2014

U.S. Army soldiers who were serving with Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl when he left his post and wound up in the hands of the Taliban say no one has contacted them, even though military brass are currently conducting a new investigation into the case.

Several soldiers who immediately came forward after Bergdahl was released on May 31, in a swap for five Guantanamo Bay detainees, have accused the 28-year-old Idaho native of deserting. But even though the Army is probing that very charge, investigators have not reached out to at least two former Army sergeants — including the platoon’s leader — who served alongside Bergdahl on June 30, 2009, when he disappeared from his post in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province.

“There’s only a handful of us who were actually there and we haven’t been contacted yet,” former Army Sgt. Evan Buetow told FoxNews.com. “I don’t really know how in-depth they’re trying to get here. I thought we’d be some of the people they’d call. I think they have their mind made up already on what they want people to know.”

Army officials announced last week that a two-star general, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl, is conducting a new investigation to examine whether Bergdahl went AWOL or deserted his post. Legally, a deserter has no intention of returning to his or her post, while a soldier who goes AWOL intends to rejoin. The probe won’t begin until Bergdahl’s reintegration process is complete, and Dahl’s recommendations will ultimately be sent to the director of the Army staff, who could then approve or alter them before forwarding to Bergdahl’s commander.

For Buetow, who is now working in law enforcement after leaving the Army in 2012, the answer to the key question of the investigation remains unchanged.

“I think it’s very clear he deserted his post,” Buetow told FoxNews.com. “He thought about what he was doing, he mailed some things home, he walked away and we have witnesses who saw him walking away. And if you’re walking away in one of the worst, most dangerous areas of Afghanistan without your weapon and gear, I don’t believe you’re planning on coming back.”

Former Army Sgt. Matt Vierkant, a member of Bergdahl’s unit, told FoxNews.com he has also not been contacted by Army officials since the announcement of the new probe, but acknowledged that sworn statements of nearly every soldier in contact with Bergdahl in 2009 undoubtedly still exist.

“I have confidence that they’re going to do what’s right,” Vierkant said. “I just feel this should’ve happened a long time ago and it should’ve been public.”

Vierkant vehemently maintains that Bergdahl deserted his unit, taking little more than his notebook, a compass, some water and maybe his camera before walking away.

“The most important factor isn’t necessarily why he did it or what made him do it,” Vierkant said. “The most important factor is that he did do it — for whatever reason. That’s enough in my mind to do a court-martial, bring him up under several different charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”

Vierkant said he expects only more damaging evidence to surface regarding Bergdahl during this latest probe, including proof of his intent or even collaboration with insurgents while in captivity.

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/05/bergdahl-fellow-soldiers-not-yet-contacted-in-new-probe/

Former captive Bergdahl returning to regular duty
12:15 p.m. EDT July 14, 2014

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has completed the final phase of his reintegration at an Army hospital in Texas and will return to "regular duty," the Army confirmed Monday.

Bergdahl was released from Taliban captivity May 31 in a controversial trade for five Taliban commanders held at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They were released to the government of Qatar, where they must stay for a year.

Bergdahl was held captive by the Taliban for nearly five years after he went missing from his post in Afghanistan in 2009. As part of the reintegration process Bergdahl, 28, received therapy and counseling at an Army hospital in San Antonio, and will be assigned to the same base, Fort Sam Houston.

"He will now return to regular duty within the command where he can contribute to the mission," an Army statement said. "The Army investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the disappearance and capture of Bergdahl is still ongoing."

Bergdahl's new assignment will be "commensurate" with his rank, said Don Manuszewski, a spokesman for the Army in San Antonio. Bergdahl was promoted while in captivity.

He will be assigned administrative duties at the headquarters of U.S. Army North at Fort Sam Houston, the Army said.

A couple of soldiers will be assigned to help him transition to his new unit, as is customary for soldiers adjusting to a new unit, and will be assigned to a regular army barracks, the Army said.

"He'll have members of his unit working with him on a daily basis," said Col.Scott Bleichwehl, a spokesman for U.S. Army North. "This is what we do for every new soldier that comes to the unit."

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl has been assigned to investigate Bergdahl's disappearance from his outpost. The Army had said the investigation would have to wait until Bergdahl's health improved.

<snipped>

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/14/bergdahl-active-duty-army/12616549/

What is wrong with this picture?

Janet

+++++

Bergdahl’s Platoon Leader: WH Attacking Our Character, Not Our Story, Because Our Story is True
June 10, 2014
http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/06/09/bergdahls-platoon-leader-wh-attacking-our-character-not-our-story-because-our-story-true


Soldiers who served with Bowe Bergdahl not yet contacted by military investigators
Published July 02, 2014
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/02/bergdahl-fellow-soldiers-not-yet-contacted-in-new-probe/


Pentagon gives pink slips to thousands of soldiers, including active-duty officers
Published July 13, 2014
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/07/13/pentagon-gives-pink-slips-to-hundreds-soldiers-including-active-duty-officers/


Ex-Taliban prisoner Bergdahl to return to Army life, before report on his disappearance
Published July 14, 2014
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/07/14/ex-taliban-prisoner-bergdahl-to-return-to-army-life-before-report-on-his/


Bergdahl could get $350G tax-free, if cleared by Army
Published July 14, 2014
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/14/bergdahl-could-get-350g-tax-free-if-cleared-by-army/