Five for one

[Gob]

A US soldier who has been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly five years has been freed in deal that includes the release of five Afghan detainees, US officials say.



US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 28, was handed over to US forces in good health, the officials said.

The five Afghan detainees have been released from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

They were handed over to Qatar, which mediated the transfer.

Sgt Bergdahl was the only US soldier being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Officials said he was in good condition and undergoing medical tests at Bagram Air Field, the main US base in Afghanistan.

He would later be flown to a US military medical centre in Germany to "decompress" after his ordeal, American defence sources told the AFP news agency.

Mohammad Fazl served as the Taliban's deputy defence minister during America's military campaign in 2001. Accused of possible war crimes, including the murder of thousands of Shia Muslims.

Khirullah Khairkhwa was a senior Taliban official serving as interior minister and governor of Herat, Afghanistan's third largest city. Alleged to have had direct links to Osama bin Laden.

Abdul Haq Wasiq was the Taliban's deputy minister of intelligence. Said to have been central in forming alliances with other Islamic fundamentalist groups to fight against US and coalition forces.

Mullah Norullah Noori was a senior Taliban military commander and a governor. Also accused of being involved in the mass killings of Shia Muslims.

Mohammad Nabi Omari held multiple Taliban leadership roles, including chief of security. Alleged to have been involved in attacks against US and coalition forces.

[Lord Jim]

Welcome home sergeant.

[Lord Jim]

In thinking about this further, I really have mixed feelings about it...

On the one hand, I'm certainly happy for the sergeant and his family; five years is a long time to be left to the tender mercies of the Taliban. Reportedly the poor guy was kept in isolation for so long that he's having trouble speaking English...(And who knows what kind of torture, physical and psychological, he was subjected to.)

I watched the press conference his parents had earlier today; they really seem like wonderful folks; intelligent, supportive, and fully engaged and understanding of what their son faces ahead. He's a lucky guy to have that kind of family there for him.

On the other hand, there's no question, when one looks at the resumes of the characters who have been released, that the US paid a steep ransom here...

These are not low ranking Taliban fighters; they are high ranking, high value bad eggs...

And something that I find annoying is the way the Administration is trying to say with a straight face that it didn't "negociate with terrorists" to bring this about...

Hanging this claim on the fact that we used Qatar as an intermediary rather than negociating directly is laughably disingenuous, especially since even though we didn't negociate directly, we're the ones who paid the ransom...

It seems to me that a less intelligence insulting position they could have taken would have been to argue that they didn't "negociate with terrorists" (ie Al Qaeda) but instead negociated with "insurgents" (The Taliban)

That's still pretty thin given the fact that the people released were heavily involved in co-ordinating with Al Qaeda for the Taliban, but it's a more arguable point then the silly distinction they decided to try to make....

[BoSoxGal]

What do you think about the fact that he's being celebrated as a hero when he deserted his post (after telling his parents he was ashamed to be an American) and that at least a half dozen soldiers died in subsequent missions to locate him?

Should he be court martialed once he recovers, as some of his unit are insisting?

[Lord Jim]

You know BSG, I had completely forgotten about the back story to this , (and the media has apparently decided to embrace the hero narrative to the point that in the past couple of days I haven't seen one single story about the release on any of the cable networks that even mentions this. That's really lousy journalism. Maybe it was out of respect for the family, and now we'll start to see some coverage.)

I don't care what he emailed his parents, (it's not uncommon for front line soldiers to vent unhappiness and frustration to their families) but desertion (or going AWOL) particularly in a war zone, is serious business. Here's an article from 3 months ago that discusses this in detail; it's a complicated question:

Is Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl a hero or a deserter?

WASHINGTON - The case of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, held by the Taliban since 2009, has arisen again as the U.S. and other countries engage in diplomatic efforts to free him.

But if he is released, will America's only prisoner of the Afghan war be viewed as a hero or a deserter?

While tattered yellow ribbons still adorn utility poles in his native Hailey, Idaho, others are expressing conflicting thoughts about Bergdahl's plight as the war winds down, with President Barack Obama threatening to withdraw all U.S. troops by year's end unless the Afghan government signs a crucial security agreement.

They are convinced that on June 30, 2009, just a few months after he arrived in Afghanistan, Bergdahl willingly walked away from his unit, which was deployed in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan, adjacent to the border with Pakistan. While they do want Bergdahl home, they think he should have to answer allegations that he deserted his unit.


At this year's Grammys, celebrities were photographed wearing Bowe bracelets. In the past two years, billboards with Bergdahl's face have popped up in major cities. One shows a smiling Bergdahl, in an Army uniform, with the message: "He fought for us. ... Let's fight for him!"

A transcript of radio intercepts, publicly released through Wikileaks, indicates that Bergdahl, then 23, was captured while sitting in a makeshift latrine.

"We were attacking the post he was sitting," according to a radio intercept of a conversation among insurgents. "He had no gun with him. ... They have all (the) Americans, ANA (Afghan National Army), helicopters, the planes are looking for him. Can you guys make a video of him and announce it all over Afghanistan that we have one of the Americans?"

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."

The Associated Press could not independently authenticate the emails published by the magazine in 2012. Bergdahl's family has not commented on the allegations of desertion, according to Col. Tim Marsano, a spokesman for the Idaho National Guard. Marsano is in regular contact with Bergdahl's mother, Jani, and father, Bob, who has grown a long, thick beard and has worked to learn Pashto, the language spoken by his son's captors.

A senior Defense Department official said that if Bergdahl is released, it could be determined that he has more than paid for leaving his unit - if that's what really happened - "and there's every indicator that he did."

Still, it's a conundrum for commanders under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the equal application of the law, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the Bergdahl case.

Eugene R. Fidell, who teaches military justice at Yale Law School, said if there is evidence that Bergdahl left his unit without permission, he could be charged with being absent without leave (AWOL) or desertion.

Desertion during a time of war can carry the death penalty. But Congress never passed a declaration of war with respect to Afghanistan, and neither President George W. Bush nor President Barack Obama has determined that U.S. military operations in Afghanistan make this a "time of war" for the purposes of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Fidell said.

Were Bergdahl to be charged with desertion, the maximum penalty he would face is five years in prison and a dishonorable discharge, if it's proved that he deserted with the intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service. A case of AWOL, ended by the U.S. apprehending him, would not require proof that he intended to remain away permanently. The maximum punishment for that would be a dishonorable discharge and 18 months' confinement, he said.

"Someone is going to have to make a decision, based on a preliminary investigation, as to whether this is a desertion or AWOL rather than simply having the bad luck to have fallen into the wrong hands," Fidell said.

"The command can say 'This fellow has been living in terrible conditions. We don't approve of what he did but we're not going to prosecute him,'" he said. "Or, the military could prosecute him as a way of signaling to others that 'Look, you can't simply go over the hill.' ... It's quite an interesting set of issues that will have to be addressed as a matter of both policy and law."

Desertion can be difficult to prove, said Ret. Maj. Gen. John Altenburg Jr., a Washington attorney who served 28 years as a lawyer in the Army.

"There has to be some evidence that he intended never to come back - that he intended to remain away from his unit permanently," Altenburg said.

"I don't know if they'll charge him with anything. It will depend on the circumstances of his return and what he has to say."

Mary Schantag, chairman of the P.O.W. Network, an educational nonprofit group founded in 1989, said it's futile to speculate. "He is an American soldier in enemy hands. Period. Bring him home," she said.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and former Marine who served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, agreed.

"It's hard to imagine any circumstance where his captivity won't be viewed as time served," said Hunter, R-Calif. "The first order of business is securing his release and I don't think it does an ounce of good to begin contemplating that far ahead when the focus is on getting him home."

Chrissy Marsaglia and her husband, ex-Marines from outside Seattle who launched a bring Bowe home project in 2012, don't speculate about the details of his capture or efforts to release him. They just want him home. Through donations, the small group has worked to raise awareness of Bergdahl's captivity on more than 90 billboards in U.S. cities.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-sgt-bowe ... -deserter/

[Long Run]

The prisoner swap has to make you wonder if this is part of a strategy to come to terms with the Taliban since U.S. troops will be out of Afghanistan in the near future. It is hard to make sense of it unless there is some bigger deal involved.

[BoSoxGal]

Just as an FYI, I got my information on the deserter story off CNN online - so I guess some media is covering that angle at the present time.

NPR did a story today discussing the discomfort with the exchange that some folks have expressed - they noted that a Guantanamo detainee released a few years ago ended up back in Afghanistan in a leadership position. Allegedly Qatar has assured us that these 5 will be restricted, but I don't know what value those assurances have.

I think Long Run's theory makes sense.

*For the record, I think the detainees at Guantanamo continue to be a black eye on this nation, so it's not that I oppose in general figuring out ways to get them all off US soil - or, provided due process and trials.

[Lord Jim]

The press seems to be doing a better job of covering this piece of the story today; it's been getting some play on the cable stations this morning.

[Lord Jim]

What a difference 48 hours makes; Bergdahl's conduct and the consequences of his leaving his post has gone from being under reported to being the central media focus of the story. Even his hometown mayor is taking a second look:

Bowe Bergdahl’s hometown mayor releases statement on new accusations against the soldier

City of Hailey Statement re: Bowe Bergdahl Release

(Hailey, Idaho) –

The City of Hailey is very pleased with the release of Bowe Bergdahl from captivity. For these past nearly five years, the City of Hailey has stood by Bowe Bergdahl’s family in their quest to bring their son home. That day has arrived, and the City of Hailey can take comfort that Bowe Bergdahl has been returned.

Past Bowe Bergdahl celebrations in Hailey have focused on bringing this soldier home. For the men and women who choose to serve, the City of Hailey believes we do not leave our soldiers behind. Bowe Bergdahl’s family is a part of our community. We celebrate the return of their son to his hometown.

The City of Hailey has received many phone calls and e-mails on the extreme polar sides of Bowe Bergdahl’s release. There are those who have negative opinions about the release of Bowe Bergdahl and the City of Hailey’s planned celebration of the return of this young man to his hometown.

Some of these negative e-mails do raise some very important points. If objective facts and a careful investigation reveal that Bowe Bergdahl should face consequences in a United States Courtroom, then the United States should do what it believes is necessary. On the other hand, if the same investigation shows that there is no evidence to support any action, then the process has worked, and people should take comfort that due process has been served.

The City of Hailey respectfully requests that people do not pre-judge this young man. The City of Hailey believes in due process, and we are very happy to let the process unfold. In the meantime, our celebration will focus on Bowe Bergdahl’s release and the relief of his family and those who live here.

And the Army is planning an investigation:

Dempsey: Army will investigate Bergdahl desertion charges

The Army will investigate charges that rescued Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl deserted his post in Afghanistan, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey said Tuesday.

“When he is able to provide them, we’ll learn the facts. Like any American, he is innocent until proven guilty,” Dempsey said in a post to his Facebook page. “Our Army’s leaders will not look away from misconduct if it occurred.”

A Pentagon investigation concluded in 2010 that Bergdahl had walked away from his unit before being captured by the Taliban, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. And according to The New York Times, Bergdahl left a note in his tent saying he was disillusioned with the U.S. Army and did not support the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

Bergdahl has come under criticism from some service members and Republican lawmakers who have accused the soldier of costing American lives in efforts to rescue him in Afghanistan. They have also questioned the decision to free five Taliban militants being held at the Guantanamo Bay prison in exchange for Bergdahl’s release.

But Dempsey and other administration officials have looked to separate the rescue effort from questions over Bergdahl’s conduct.

“In response to those of you interested in my personal judgments about the recovery of SGT Bowe Bergdahl, the questions about this particular soldier’s conduct are separate from our effort to recover ANY U.S. service member in enemy captivity,” Dempsey said. “This was likely the last, best opportunity to free him.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/20801 ... z33arO3qdW

Whatever else can be said about this, it's certainly becoming obvious that the Administration made a major PR blunder in touting this guy as a hero ; yesterday Obama had a full blown Rose Garden ceremony about it, and Sunday they had Susan Rice, (Sheesh, won't they ever give this poor woman a decent briefing before they send her out to the TV cameras?) on ABC This Week saying:

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."

“Certainly anybody who's been held in those conditions, in captivity for five years, has paid an extraordinary price. But that is really not the point. The point is that he's back,” Rice told ABC host George Stephanopoulos when asked whether Bergdahl was a deserter and whether he'd face punishment.

“He is going to be safely reunited with his family. He served the United States with honor and distinction. And we’ll have the opportunity eventually to learn what has transpired in the past years, but what's most important now is his health and well being, that he have the opportunity to recover in peace and security and be reunited with his family. Which is why this is such a joyous day.”

Elsewhere in the interview, 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."

If you check the statements that have come from Obama and other officials today, they've really changed their tune...

I believe they expected some blow back from the GOP on The Hill, but I think so many of his platoon members and those involved in the search for him going public, (folks who really did serve "with honor and distinction" ) caught them flatfooted...there's really no way to push back against those soldiers and former soldiers as being motivated by partisanship.

[Big RR]

These kind of SNAFUs seem to be a hallmark of the Obama administration; I really thought they had better people working in the administration to check these things, and I guess Obama did as well because he's put his foot in his mouth more than once. Pretty sad.

[RayThom]

This swap is a done deal. Get Bergdahl healthy, get him home, and then get the complete story out there. Bringing him home was the right thing to do regardless of the inequity of the prisoner exchange.

Judging by the reports I've seen from the now honorably discharged soldiers in Bergdahl’s unit, he willfully deserted his post and, sadly, soldiers died trying to get the misguided Sergeant back. Some indications imply that he was sympathetic to the Taliban cause and didn't want to fight any more. That's surely desertion and, once he was captured, to think treason would not be a stretch.

His behavior was not symptoms of PTSD. It was a rationally thought out act. One thing for sure, I'm totally against any pomp and circumstance, awarding of medals, or White House honors... or appearances on the David Letterman Show. Bergdahl's extended tour of duty was obviously a contentious one and, in the end, maybe the best way to have it play out is to see him in jail and/or living in relative obscurity.

The truth will out... but there should be no hero nor happy ending found within. If Obama tries to make "political hay" out of this then, rest assured, he'll never get my vote again. And that's a promise.

[BoSoxGal]

I can't imagine he'll be running for anything again - that hasn't happened since John Quincy Adams.

*oops, I forgot Andrew Jackson.

[MajGenl.Meade]

oops - Johnson and surely Tyler gets some credit even if he chose the wrong side?

[Long Run]

If Obama tries to make "political hay" out of this then, rest assured, he'll never get my vote again. And that's a promise.

[rubato]

The only snafu is the we didn't have enough evidence to try these 'desperate criminals' after a decade of imprisonment?

WTF?

How stupid is that.


yrs,
rubato

[Lord Jim]

If Obama tries to make "political hay" out of this

Yeah, that ship sailed and got sunk just about as soon as it moved out of port...

They were doing an end zone dance over the weekend, and then suddenly they saw multiple flags thrown back down field on the play...

The Administration has gone from seeing this as some sort of great PR coup to going into full damage control mode...


It's not only not turned out to be the "we brought a hero back" story they thought they had, it's rained all over Obama's Europe trip....

From the moment Obama arrived arrived in Warsaw, (Where he was hoping to make a show of NATO solidarity standing up to Putin) he's been dealing with questions about Bergdahl...

[Long Run]

The Administration has gone from seeing this as some sort of great PR coup to going into full damage control mode...

Has nothing to do without the latest PR disaster at the VA.

[Gob]

A welcoming party in the home town of a US soldier freed from Afghan captivity has been cancelled, amid suspicions that he deserted his post.

Organisers said the event in Hailey, Idaho, was cancelled for safety reasons, because of a large increase in the number of expected attendees.

Bowe Bergdahl was released on Saturday after five years in Taliban captivity.

Several commentators and soldiers have branded him a deserter and called for him to be punished.

The circumstances of Sgt Bergdahl's capture in 2009 remain unclear, although the Pentagon has concluded he left his post in Paktika Province without authorisation.

The town's annual "Bring Bowe Back" rally, calling for Sgt Bergdahl's release, was already scheduled for 28 June, but was changed to a homecoming party after he was freed on Saturday.

But in a statement on Wednesday, the town authorities said organisers expected a dramatic increase in attendance because of national media attention.

"In the interest of public safety, the event will be cancelled", the statement said.

Authorities in the small town of 8,000 people said they had been inundated with messages of protest and complaint.

[Lord Jim]

The Administration has gone from seeing this as some sort of great PR coup to going into full damage control mode...

Has nothing to do without the latest PR disaster at the VA.

Yeah, maybe this is all a cunning plan designed to deflect attention from the VA scandal...

"If the press starts paying attention to how badly we fucked this up, maybe they'll forget how badly we fucked that up... "

Could be, but I just don't see that as a winner...

[Big RR]

The only snafu is the we didn't have enough evidence to try these 'desperate criminals' after a decade of imprisonment?

WTF?

How stupid is that.


yrs,
rubato

That's not stupid, that's horrendous. And in America it should also be illegal. But we trade our rights one by one for the "security" big brother offers, and we will all eventually get what we deserve.