Bowe Bergdahl, the former hostage who pleaded guilty to desertion, avoids prison
Source: The Washington Post
By Alex Horton November 3 at 11:41 AM
FORT BRAGG, N.C. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who in 2009 walked off a U.S. military outpost in eastern Afghanistan and spent the next five years in enemy captivity, was sentenced Friday to a dishonorable discharge from the Army but will avoid prison time.
Bergdahl, 31, pleaded guilty in October to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy and had faced a maximum life sentence.
The case sparked ferocious debate over his actions and the controversial prisoner exchange that led to his release in 2014, challenging the militarys bedrock principle of never leaving a soldier behind. It was also overshadowed by President Trumps accusation that Bergdahl is a traitor.
Bergdahl will also lose all benefits, including medical care, afforded to military veterans. Hell also pay a fine of $1,000 a month for the next 10 months.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/bowe-bergdahl-the-former-hostage-who-pleaded-guilty-to-desertion-avoids-prison/2017/11/03/4bde4e56-b8e4-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html
Judge rules no jail time for Bergdahl
BY REBECCA KHEEL - 11/03/17 11:44 AM EDT
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will not serve any jail time for walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009, a military judge ruled Friday.
-snip-
Bergdahls defense lawyers twice tried to have the case dismissed over campaign trail comments from President Trump. Trump repeatedly called Bergdahl a traitor who should be executed.
"We're tired of Sgt. Bergdahl, who's a traitor, a no-good traitor, who should have been executed, Trump said at an October 2015 rally, for example.
Thirty years ago, he would have been shot, he added.
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/358631-judge-rules-no-jail-time-for-bergdahl
coolsandy
(479 posts)They all have suffered enough. The judge made an honorable and fair decision. Peace!
Lochloosa
(16,084 posts)Perseus
(4,341 posts)"Maybe the idiot will learn to keep his mouth and twitter thumbs quiet now."
But I hate to tell you that, although I am also an optimist, the reality does not much the optimism. Like Michael Moore told him on a tweet, tweeting is the only thing the idiot knows how to do.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Decades after they were all found completely innocent.
Just remembering... He'll never stop insisting Bergdahl should be executed.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,522 posts)underpants
(183,043 posts)But hey, get on with your life now.
bucolic_frolic
(43,511 posts)Despite the 5 years in captivity, I thought he would get a token confinement
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)bluestarone
(17,128 posts)now he and we can move on enough said in my opinion
jmowreader
(50,601 posts)You KNOW General Secretary Trump is pissed over this, especially since he wanted Bergdahl marched in front of a firing squad.
bucolic_frolic
(43,511 posts)Interesting. Let's keep that thought in mind.
Ligyron
(7,645 posts)What an idiot.
The RW are going to have an collective embolism over this.
LeeM
(31 posts)What is he talking about? The military hasn't executed anyone since 1961. (There are eight on death row in Leavenworth last I heard). A dishonorable discharge and time served seems reasonable.
benld74
(9,912 posts)still able to obtain VA benefits?
Just wondering
Tactical Peek
(1,213 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)which predicated his capture, confinement and torture - this is about as good as it could get.
In the end, Bowe Bergdahl took responsibility for his choices, expressed his deep remorse and has honorably paid the price.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)And asking how he can overrule the decision.
Nitram
(22,971 posts)It seemed to me that Bergdahl clearly suffered from some sort of emotional and mental issues, and that he paid the price during 5 years in a cage with beatings and the constant threat of death.
Tactical Peek
(1,213 posts)A DD Form 214
keithbvadu2
(37,051 posts)thesquanderer
(12,001 posts)This is the kind of stuff I'd worry about setting off some Trump-loving whacko. If I were Bergdahl, I'd be looking for some equivalent to a witness protection program, he needs to find a way to essentially disappear or otherwise protect himself from the nuts.