He’s accused of folding up his uniform, and of abandoning his post and his platoon. His capture caused controversy when the Obama administration gave up five terrorist leaders for his return.
He’s even become the star of a popular podcast.
Now, finally, U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, is scheduled to appear Tuesday before a military judge on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.
The arraignment will be held at Fort Bragg, in North Carolina. If convicted at a general court-martial, Bergdahl could get life in prison on the misbehavior charge and up to five years for desertion.
Bergdahl, 29, of Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province on June 30, 2009. He was released in late May 2014 as part of a prisoner swap, in exchange for five detainees in Guantanamo Bay. The move touched off a firestorm of criticism, with some in Congress accusing President Barack Obama of illegal actions and of jeopardizing the safety of a nation with the exchange.
Bergdahl’s disappearance and the possibility that he might face light punishment had angered many in the military, who say his fellow soldiers took considerable risks to search for him.
Bergdahl attorney Eugene Fidell has said the Army did not follow the advice of a preliminary hearing officer in choosing to pursue a general court-martial. Instead, Lt. Col. Mark Visger had recommended that Bergdahl’s case be referred to a special court-martial, which is a misdemeanor-level forum.
The charges against Bergdahl had been announced by the Army in March, before Visger reviewed the evidence as part of an Article 32 proceeding, which is similar to a grand jury.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
This man is most likely being railroaded to coverup corruption in from those higher up in .our government
Railroaded?? There wasn’t a railroad within miles!! People just makes me well Bahahahahaha
For the first time in your life, take your head out of your ass!!!!!!!!!!!
Desertion & aiding the enemy In war time use to
Be delt with by a firing squad.
He deserted sooooo!!!!!!
If i would have done what Bergdahl did. Desert in face of enemy in war time, my Captain would have had me shot. No, he would have shot me himself. Cowards need only one thing –A Body Bag. “GAYBAMA’ insulted & embarrassed every U.S. Veteran that has ever served Honorably. He truly proved he is a POS just like Bergdahl and his family.
Why would They our Government railroad anyone that already deserted and left his troop still in the war zone. He need to get the most server punishment the Army can give him. He was’nt conserned with His men. Remember he was a Sgt.
He was promoted to sergeant simply based on time in grade, not on his qualifications. Otherwise he would still be E2 or E3.
Sergeant? Not true! He was a much lower grade and was only promoted while in captivity as is the process. Not only should this traitor be sent to prison for life, he should be made to reimburse the Government for all back pay and allowances he was given upon his “release” from his alleged “captivity. Additionally, he should be housed in solitary confinement for thirty days for every proven instance of the death or injury of every American or Ally citizen (Includes military and civilian) that is the result of actions, taken or initiated, by the “Messiah’s” “Gang of Five” he illegally released.
Add this information as an addendum to my previous response. (:=0(
Dave—The person in question admitted on his own that he LEFT ON HIS OWN. There is or was NO COVER up of any kind. If this country was in a ” DECLARED ” war, he could of been executed. Desertion in the military is a very serious crime . Hopefully he will get life in prison.
No possibility of parole should be added to his sentence. I would like to see his court martial be
authorized to impose the death penalty. In Vietnam
you could be executed, in the field, for dereliction of
duty if you fell asleep while on sentry duty. Abandoning
your unit should carry the same penalty, particularly in
a war zone, whether that war has or has not been formally declared by the president or congress. If you’re following direct orders from a superior empowered to give said orders, the UCMJ should apply to all actions or, willful inaction in the face of
said orders, by any and all members of the U.S. military. That’s the only way a nation’s military can
operate effectively. Leaving your unit vulnerable to
the enemy is the ultimate betrayal, and more
than justifies the ultimate penalty!!
just change the name from bergdahl to mccain and see what HONOR is giving to a hero % year in a hanoin hotel?
McCain was shot down. He didn’t go on a hike looking for the enemy.
No mention of the men who died looking for him.
If there was corruption in his unit or higher up he should
have gone through proper channels, not just dessert.
I want to know when the Fort Hood Muslim Terrorist is
going to be charged ???
He’s not. Obumba will deal with him at his next family reunion.
He has been charged with terrorism and murder. We just don’t know when yet.
I believe he is on death row in Leavenworth.
LOL, not a chance. I would send him back to them in exchange for nothing, just take him…
Yeah you are right about the higher ups being corrupt but bergdahl being railroaded,not on your life.He is a deserter
and should get the harshest sentence the Army can meet out to him.
Too bad you couldn’t
talk to my grandson who at the time was an Army Ranger who went looking for this traitor when he walked off his post. Not sure that he won’t skate on a sentence because of our corrupt WH. and the undue influence from bho
If that happens He may want to change his citizenship and leave America and take his taliban father with him
You liberal moron.
He should be shot along with his mentor for trading 5 terrorists to get him back.
His squad appeared on tv many times. They all called him a deserter.
Dave you need to be educated of the facts!!! If you will watch the Taliban video on Bowe’s release you will see a female standing to his right holding his hand. You see the hands part as they step forward. You see her eyes and shaped eye-brows, dainty hand with clear nail polish. Her attire should be enough to see that this is a female. Check out the veil. Men and women do dot dress the same. Can you not see the difference in the video?
I think it was released before Bowe was released that He had converted to Islam. That makes sense, He converted and then took a Islamic Wife. Look at the video very carefully, she has a five to six month baby bump. That child is now born. We will probably hear about the two of them arriving in the USA.
All of this has been keep quite. I don’t understand why people have not demanded to know the truth?
This arse’s hole is responsible for getting 3 of my friends, and 2 more of theirs–a total of 5 soldiers that were killed for his worthless body. Four of them didn’t want to go, but did so out of love of their squad members, even though he’s a traitor they put their personal feelings behind them and
What ! Dave That is absolutely the most asinine statement that I have read lately. This man has even written a book to try to make himself seem like what he planned on showing the world that he wanted to be. A hero.( SIc) He isn’t crazy. He is a coward and a sorry person that deserted during war in a war zone. He isn’t being “used” .
He is being ( finally) tried in Federal Military court under a general court martial . In my opinion from all I have learned since this incident – I hope if he is found to be guilty that he has to serve life behind bars where he belongs. He literally cost the lives of good , honorable soldiers .
Desertion in a time of war is a capitol offense and he knowingly left his FOB and fellow soldiers. He caused the death of 6 good men sent out to search for him. Let this traitor swing from a rope on national television.
“This man is most likely being railroaded to coverup corruption” Don’t be so stupid. This man is a criminal traitor just like the thing in the Oval Office acting like the Commander and Chef, traitor, traitor, traitor, traitor…
What does desertion in the face of the enemy carry? What does desertion of your post in the time of war? He is a coward and should be tried as such. 5 years is a joke. It makes light of all the heroes that gave their life for this country.
While I was in Vietnam this would not have happened. Several of jerks thought they could make a connect for drugs while in-country. Nothing wrong about smoking some pot or doing a shot when you are in base camp. Going out on any patrol, S&D or Zippo Raid we were always straight and sober. However, after a firefight when others were enjoying a Camel or a Lucky, others looked forward to their (our) kind of smoke break. 4:20 was whenever it could be. BUT, one would never even think about trying to ‘contact the other side by going over-the-wire’. That was NOT tolerated. You may be shot at when leaving, but you WILL BE SHOT when returning! No Quarter, Given or received! As was known and said centuries ago, “War is Hell.” It takes a man to wage war, and be a victor of it. I am a man and a victor. I can die but once. A coward will die many times for it’s ‘stoopid’ ways.
The bastard is a deserter in the face of the enemy and that should still be a capital crime. If he is sentenced to jail it should be in Getmo.
He w ill not go to Gitmo Obama will see to that
Richard—He will more than likely go to the Federal Prison in Levenworth, Kansas.
He should be shot by a firing squad, he would have been if it was Vietnam or WW2
I believe he is the “fall guy” in all of this. Good gracious, He was just a kid, thrust into this unbelievable situation that wandered off and got lost. Can you tell me what we can accomplish by punishing this man?
Give me strength, he’s a DESERTER, and the law is very clear on punishment!
Just wandered off?? YEA RIGHT Bahahahahahaha
This guy is not just a kid. 29 years old asnd an Army Sgt is not just a kid. When I was in the US Air Force the charge of deserting was punished by death. A 5 year prison sentence is a joke. Our Muslim President just wanted to release the bad muslims in Gitmo so he used this 29 year old bum to get the job done.
Amen and Amen, bro.
Mercy me, Steve! At 25 years of age, he is just a “kid”? He’d gone through basic training, he was deployed with an outfit which tried to save him and at least six men gave their lives in that regard. He couldn’t figure out what the conflict was about? Well, there is no draft yet meaning he did not have to choose the military at all. What do you supposed he expected to do, when he joined the army? Sing songs?
Islam is the only political-religious system of any international stature in world history which is founded strictly upon murder, rape and robbery. This is nothing more than the modus operandi of the Arabian tribes for the past 4,500 years. Their panoply of gods came down from the Babylonian Empire and Muhammad, supposedly an illiterate by most contemporary accounts, couldn’t understand this and so declared Allah, the Arabian moon god, the only god and that he, Muhammad, was Allah’s principal prophet. End of story.
Please remove you head from the darkest corner you have placed it.KID???? No he was in the Army not the Boy Scouts.No wonder we are in the fix we are in with statement like yous.
Joanne: I’m behind you 1000% percent……..we’ve got a muslim lover/sympathizer whatever u want to call him sitting in the WH and because he’s BLACK everyone in the Congress is scared to death of being called a RACIST when this clown pulls his crap….its one thing to sign executive orders but why the hell doesnt our Congress over ride them? Are they all without a spine? Or are they all in the tank or intimidated to do anything? I remember JFK saying he wanted to “tear up the CIA in a thousand pieces ” and look what happened to him…..So I dont doubt that there’s a lot of people in Congress that have been intimidated….that’w why we need TRUMP in 2016……He’ll clean out all this BS
I assume you were never in the service, the way you talk you should be shot by a Firing Squad also
Oh Bullshit Steve.
You sir are a complete and utter ass! I served in Vietnam in the Army Rangers when Iwas 18 years old. We were all kids.. Did we agree with the officers higher up? NO! Did any of us desert because of it? No! I don’t believe that you served in the armed forces or you would not be making such moranic statements. Basics of serving in a war zone, especially in an infantryman. 1. Your team mates are your brothers. The politics and morality of war are not a luxury a combat infantryman can afford. Your first concern should always be the welfare of yourself and your teammates. 2. NOBODY wanders off, siteseeing, in a war zone. He purposely and with prior planning abandoned his post and his comrades. Why did he leave his weapon? No one who had any concern for their own safety would leave their weapon. He may have been young but he was not stupid. It has been proved that he went to the nearby village looking to contact the Taliban. 3. What good will his prosecution serve? If nothing else it will show other worthless scum like him the consequences of their actions. What he did sir was inexcusable.
Railroaded!!! Are you serious??? This coward deserted his post and five or six other young men died looking for him!! He deserves more than just life imprisonment!! Get your head out of that dark place!!
Railroaded??? Are you kidding me! The asswipe SHOULD be put in front of a firing squad, PERIOD!
And the POS potus should be jailed for treason, aiding and abetting the ENEMY! Not to mention that dingus potus BROKE THE LAW WITH THE TRADE DEAL! The real risk is that the REGIME will figure out a way for bergdahl to walk away clean!
Even if the deserter is convicted, our Muslim president will pardon him. Obama should be impeached, he could not veto that.
I firmly believe this was a setup by the pos muzzie potus to release the 5 fellow terrorists.
But he was a great tool for Osatan to use to release FIVE of the worst Taliban terrorists.
Osatan sould be going to court martial too, eh?
I wonder how much INFO he gave the enemy to save his own red ass!!
He should be facing a firing squad for his treason, he also got at least 7 fellow soldiers killed looking for his worthless A**.
The pOTUS should be in the brig or stockade along with this piece of whale S***, for trading 5 high value targets. (Whom are back in the Middle East plotting against the U.S.)
At the very least he should be sent to Guantanamo Bay, along with the pOTUS, for the illegal trade for a deserter.
This man packed his property up and mailed it back home 2 weeks before he deserted, and had written anti-American letters to his parents.
I personally volunteer to be on the firing squad or the hangman for this piece of dirt!
He should be shot.
It was Mr. Trump that has been talking about this and then out of the blue they decide to charge him. mmm
Historically A firing squad is called for desertion in time of war which it is,
A kid—–29 is not a child.
Everybody in the military knows
what happens when you desert your post.
You put your follow soldier in great
danger.
I am pretty sure everybody knows
what the punishment is Death.
Lord help us all if a soldier can just
leave his post when he feels like it.
We were all trained ,for this.
For anybody that was not in the military,you might get a chance
to find out before long why we have these rules.
Because if things don’t change,I think every body might know what war is like be for very long.
He is a damn mentally ill, cowardly, deserter; and as such he ought to be shot to death by his own men, which he betrayed on the field of battle! My vote is to give this worthless bastard a choice, let him choose to either to be shot to death or hung by his rotten neck until he is dead, because death is the form of payment, which he can offer our society for his cowardly misbehavior before our enemies to atone for his sins. 🙂
Now if we could just get the bozo in the White House before a court martial.
He deserted his post in time of war and 5 hero soldiers were killed looking for him. For his desertion he needs to answer to the full extent of Military Code Of Conduct and justice needs to be served for the good of the Army and for the men that were killed. If he walks the decision will have a large negative impact on the Military for years to come and it will cause very negative moral for the Amy and the Military as a whole. The POTUS needs to butt out and let proper justice be served.
He will be treated with kid gloves, until ovomit gives him a full pardon. After all,, the supreme leader of ISIL can’t let a fellow ISIL member sit in an American Infidel jail cell, now can he??
More a traitor than a coward. He should be charged with desertion.
He deserves the same as Eddie Slovik! Death by firing squad!
I served in Nam for a year, You don’t just wander off into enemy territory. The clown is a trader and a deserter and should be dealt with quickly and before obummo get’s back from vacation so he can’t get involved with it
Disgusting Obama has him and parents at whitehouse. When will this criminal administration answer for all. The craziness they cause?
As an Idaho Marine Veteran I say “Firing Squad” but with a simple twist. His actions tell me he opted to become a Muslim, so dip the ends of the bullets in pigs blood then afterward dump the remaining pig entrails in on top of him in his grave. The firing squad will remove him from Earth, and the pigs blood and entrails will prevent him from entering Muslim “Heaven”; case closed, justice done.
He had a chance as a soldier. He deserted his post, now, EXECUTE HIM. Just feel bad that OBAMA gave up 5, count them 5 terrorist for the freedom, that the law requires to be EXTINGUISHED. GET AMERICA BACK TO “PRINCIPLE MANAGEMENT”. Correct the loop holes in our CONSTITUTION, to accommodate the modern age, and the population through out the world.
he should be lined up with obozo, earnest his lying, mouthpiece, killiary,reid,pelosi any one else valerie jarret use 50 cal so they realy get splattered what major POS S
A set-up? Are you kidding me?!?! This man deserted, and confessed to leaving of his own free will. Before it’s all over, he’ll probably be pardoned…
This “trial” should be set aside until after the Muslim terrorist that is masquerading as our president is finally out of office. Otherwise IT will pardon the yellow bellied Bergdahl for certain.
It amazes me how miss guided people can be for a traitor. Understand this if he is released this will set a precedant for all military soldiers that desert their posts or refuse direct orders. This traitor mailed all of his belongings back home and walked away from his comrades. Shoot the BASTARD and then try his parents for prior knowledge aiding and abetting a traitor. Dan and Dave is it something with the letter “D” in your name that makes you Dizzy with common sense. YOU IDIOTS
Seems I remember hearing the Name Eddie Slovik who was killed for the same thing ! This deal for 5 high ranking terrorists should have got Obama Impeached BUT Some elected official in BOTH Parties are screwing US. each party take a turn, Donald Trump will stop this IF they Don’t kill him,Because he won’t be controlled by special interest groups or Lobbyists Those in Government ARE SCARED to death about Donald being elected that they’re willing to cross party lines to stop Him Please remember this & please vote accordingly . ONCE Donald gets elected government will comply or your FIRED & keep in mind The russian putin wants to make NICE with donald That’s good Donald is VERY Capable
If this soldier had decided he did not want to serve the country he should have requested an emergency discharge or at least asked to be reassigned. Whatever he gets at this point is better than he deserves.
This POS should be taken out and SHOT….Good men were lost –killed –searching for him !! This candy-assed SOB was then swapped for a bunch of muslim killers when OUR muslim in the WH arranged the swap and went around Congress to do it !!!
What a ball less bunch of WUSSIES we have in the Congress and the Senate….I hope all true patriots remember who their Representatives and Senators are, and when their re-election comes up, vote everyone of them out of their jobs….
TRUMP 2016i
Is it possible he was planted by the president to give off info on what the USA. was going to do or planning to do against the Muslims so they could move to safe territory before it happened? Somehow I believe our president is working with the enemy probably for large amounts of money in a private bank account. And he needed a sucker to help him.