It's not the first time a deserter got off without prison time.
Robert Garwood comes to mind. His behavior was even worse than Bergdahl's.
It wasn't right then. It's not right now.
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Bergdahl freed. Disgusting.
- Thread starter carpro
- Start date
It's not the first time a deserter got off without prison time.
Robert Garwood comes to mind. His behavior was even worse than Bergdahl's.
It wasn't right then. It's not right now.
Think the Judge stated that the comments would have made it impossible for him to have gotten a far trial before a board of his peers.
Wasn't Eddy Slovak executed for that during WW II?
Moot point. He wasn't tried before a board of his peers. He plead guilty.
The judge is a pogue. Should have been an officer that had led men in combat.
Not the point. Had he influenced the sentence Bergdahl would be in prison.
The point is that it is inappropriate for person's in authority to comment regarding ongoing investigations/trials.
And neither did Bergdahl's. They found him guilty, sentenced him to be reduced in rank to Private, given a Dishonorable Discharge, and time served in prison.
So being a lawyer who understands the law is not superior to being a grunt who understands enfilading fields of fire? How does that help him apply the law?
Not according to the judge, who's opinion counts more than yours or mine.
The judge's obiter comments. That enough for you?
The Judge did not say his sentence was influenced by the President. Only that the President's remarks lessened the probability he could get a fair trial (compromise of the jury pool). It is all moot anyway as he pled guilty.
It's precisely the point. Even though I agree he should have been quiet about it, there is no evidence the sentence had anything to do with what he said.
I don't care if he understands "enfilading fields of fire", he needs to be a man who has led men who put their life on the line. There is nothing anywhere that says such a person would not also know how to "apply the law". I'd be willing to bet the U.S. Army has many such men.
I have never seen a JAG in combat.
Sapper Woody
Well-Known Member
I will admit that I am upset that he is a free man. While I originally called for the death penalty, that was before I learned of his mental illness.
Now, I believe he should have been placed into the custody of a mental institution, not allowed to walk.
Normally, being knocked down to E1 and getting a dishonorable would be a huge punishment. But in his position, he already had that dishonor, and so it was a maintainence of status quo, and not really a punishment.
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Now, I believe he should have been placed into the custody of a mental institution, not allowed to walk.
Normally, being knocked down to E1 and getting a dishonorable would be a huge punishment. But in his position, he already had that dishonor, and so it was a maintainence of status quo, and not really a punishment.
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This case is not over. If the recruitment blunders are presented in an appellate court, the sentence could be changed to a medical discharge which could allow for VA benefits. Our government system still has to deal with the problem of Bergdahl's past and present mental condition regardless of which department pays the bill.
Maybe a presidential pardon will show up on Twitter.
Did we have this sort of problem before we went to all volunteer mercenaries?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Bro. James
Maybe a presidential pardon will show up on Twitter.
Did we have this sort of problem before we went to all volunteer mercenaries?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Bro. James
Thank you.
Sapper Woody
Well-Known Member
I apologize--you are right, mercenary is not the right word. I did eleven years in uniform before the all volunteer force was implemented. Something is different in the discipline and esprit de corp from my point of view-IMHO for sure. Sorry again.
Bro. James
The military, like any group of people (including churches), will always have problem members. I doubt the incidence of folks like Bergdahl is any greater than in the past and it may be lower.
My contact with the Army began in 1985, as it was beginning to recover from Vietnam. If you want to see the bad old days, take a look at the Army back then. In 1980 and 1982, soldiers from the local base drove 155mm howitzers off post for joyrides. Back in the early and mid '80s, it was not uncommon for artillery rounds to be fired off post or to the wrong coordinates on post.
My experience with today's military is that they are, by and large, very motivated and dedicated and professional.
My contact with the Army began in 1985, as it was beginning to recover from Vietnam. If you want to see the bad old days, take a look at the Army back then. In 1980 and 1982, soldiers from the local base drove 155mm howitzers off post for joyrides. Back in the early and mid '80s, it was not uncommon for artillery rounds to be fired off post or to the wrong coordinates on post.
My experience with today's military is that they are, by and large, very motivated and dedicated and professional.