# Dear Bowe Bergdahl **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681 "2017-01-21T01:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/61 "2017-11-03T18:02:58Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Either way, a “gold mine” of intelligence is worth spending some resources to get. Some resources [include](http://www.telegraphherald.com/ap/national/article_7e09cf55-6ca0-5b97-bb81-468ccaeec6c2.html): SEAL team member, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch who was shot in the leg, a career ending injury, in a hastily organized mission with the sole purpose of locating Bergdahl. And several other service members who were injured under circumstances that the officer sitting as judge in the Bergdahl trial ruled would not have occurred but for Bergdahl’s desertion. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/62 "2017-11-03T18:12:44Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Some resources [include](http://www.telegraphherald.com/ap/national/article_7e09cf55-6ca0-5b97-bb81-468ccaeec6c2.html): > > SEAL team member, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch who was shot in the leg, a career ending injury, in a hastily organized mission with the sole purpose of locating Bergdahl. > > And several other service members who were injured under circumstances that the officer sitting as judge in the Bergdahl trial ruled would not have occurred but for Bergdahl’s desertion. Those casualties were tragic, but had nothing to do with the trade that ultimately got him back. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/63 "2017-11-03T19:03:57Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Fuck you Bergdahl, > Shodan First time I’ve ever seen this! (No, “Regards”) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/64 "2017-11-03T19:09:16Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > First time I’ve ever seen this! (No, “Regards”) Shodan should end every post with “Fuck you, Bergdahl”. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/65 "2017-11-03T19:14:12Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The trial doesn’t establish anything we didn’t already know. > > My son wore the uniform with honor. Bergdahl brought shame on it. As proud as I am of my son, that’s how hard I spit on the deserter. > > Fuck you Bergdahl, > Shodan So you think that spitting on soldiers who’ve done disgraceful things is an appropriate action, eh? Duly noted. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/66 "2017-11-03T21:11:34Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > So you think that spitting on soldiers who’ve done disgraceful things is an appropriate action, eh? Duly noted. Bergdahl is no longer a soldier and getting spit on is the absolute least of his worries. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/67 "2017-11-03T21:47:05Z")
Will Bergdahl get a book or movie deal? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/68 "2017-11-03T22:44:39Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Bergdahl is no longer a soldier and getting spit on is the absolute least of his worries. He isn’t discharged yet. So he actually is still a soldier. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/69 "2017-11-03T22:49:18Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > He isn’t discharged yet. So he actually is still a soldier. [For quite a while](http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/03/politics/bowe-bergdahl-sentenced/index.html), it appears. > [@](#): > > Bowe Bergdahl received a dishonorable discharge from the US Army but will avoid prison time for desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after abandoning his outpost in Afghanistan in 2009, a military judge ruled Friday. > The judge also ruled that Bergdahl’s rank be reduced from sergeant to private. **Additionally, he will be required to pay a $1,000 fine from his salary for the next 10 months**. I always thought that a DH was out the door quick. I had no idea it took so long. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/70 "2017-11-03T22:58:51Z")
Seems like letting someone continue as a soldier despite knowledge they’ll get a DH is a bad idea. They have months of time with which to commit all kinds of revenge sabotage against the Army, maybe even deliberate fratricide or fragging. Kind of like the idea of, “Once a company fires the employee, the employee packs up and leaves that day - you don’t let him continue working so he can sabotage you.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/71 "2017-11-03T23:41:00Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Seems like letting someone continue as a soldier despite knowledge they’ll get a DH is a bad idea. They have months of time with which to commit all kinds of revenge sabotage against the Army, maybe even deliberate fratricide or fragging. > > Kind of like the idea of, “Once a company fires the employee, the employee packs up and leaves that day - you don’t let him continue working so he can sabotage you.” He won’t be given any duty that would allow this, and he’ll be watched like a hawk. I’d expect he’ll be assigned a “job” mopping floors or even digging ditches, or comparable. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/72 "2017-11-04T00:30:43Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > He won’t be given any duty that would allow this, and he’ll be watched like a hawk. I’d expect he’ll be assigned a “job” mopping floors or even digging ditches, or comparable. So, in effect, he’ll be under “house arrest” all that time. Anyone here want to place your bets on his life expectancy there? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/73 "2017-11-04T00:40:46Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > So, in effect, he’ll be under “house arrest” all that time. > > Anyone here want to place your bets on his life expectancy there? I’ll bet $100 that he lives to be discharged. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/74 "2017-11-04T05:10:48Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I don’t know that he was captured by the enemy so much as he willingly joined them. According [to Fox](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/11/03/bergdahl-awaits-sentence-after-days-emotional-testimony.html), no. > [@](#): > > … Bergdahl walked off his base in Afghanistan – and unwittingly into the clutches of the Taliban … For those who think that his sentence should have been harsher than “time served” as imprisoned by the Taliban and since and a dishonorable discharge with a financial fine … please note that Trump’s mouth may have gotten in the way of that, mitigating the sentence. From [The Hill](http://thehill.com/policy/defense/358631-judge-rules-no-jail-time-for-bergdahl): > [@](#): > > … Bergdahl’s defense lawyers twice tried to have the case dismissed over comments from the campaign trail, when 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. > > Nance ruled Bergdahl can get a fair trial despite Trump’s comments, but said he would consider them as a mitigating factor in the sentencing. … He was a deserter and was aware that his action might put others at risk. (And clearly did.) I’m not sure what I think is appropriate for that. Apparently [the _general_ who investigated him](http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/18/politics/bowe-bergdahl-decision/index.html) did thought that jail time was inappropriate in this case: > [@](#): > > The Army general who led the investigation into Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s actions in Afghanistan testified Friday that jail time would be “inappropriate” for the soldier captured and held five years by the Taliban. > > Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl said he interviewed Bowe for a day and a half and “did not find any evidence to corroborate the reporting that Bergdahl was … sympathetic to the Taliban.” > > Instead, Dahl said, Bergdahl wanted to call attention to what he considered poor leadership of his unit. Bergdal believed that by leaving his observation post and running 23 kilometers (about 14 miles) to a nearby base he could cause a stir and gain access to a high-ranking officer to complain, Dahl said. I am no more a military man than Trump is, so I would not deign to think I know better than that general does about such things. Some here have military background and maybe they have more right to say that what they think means more than what the general who investigated the situation thinks. Certainly they have more right than do I. Meanwhile I must admit that I am biased to like anything that pisses off Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/75 "2017-11-04T05:27:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > He won’t be given any duty that would allow this, and he’ll be watched like a hawk. I’d expect he’ll be assigned a “job” mopping floors or even digging ditches, or comparable. We used to assign people to guard the front lobby. On the midnight shift. If we were in a good mood, we’d let them have a chair. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/76 "2017-11-04T12:06:00Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl said he interviewed Bowe for a day and a half and “did not find any evidence to corroborate the reporting that Bergdahl was … sympathetic to the Taliban.” A Norwegian conspiracy if ever I’ve seen one. ---
**Author:** ![mattm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@mattm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/77 "2017-11-06T05:29:52Z")
I served in the USAF from 1972 to 1976. I was a bad troop. I disrespected most of my officers and many of my NCO’s. When I enlisted I signed up for 6 years and when Jimmy Carter asked me if I wanted to leave a couple of years later I raised my hand. I loved playing with their toys, but I couldn’t deal with the “Eat your young” attitude that prevailed in the military after the Vietnam. I was privileged to serve as Honor Guard to returning troops, alive and dead, mostly dead, at Travis AFB, in 74 and 75. Seeing those men and those flag covered coffins sobered me like nothing else. So, yes, death to the traitor, the moron who left his position and endangered his comrades. Signd a Queer in the Rear. Never had to hump it; Sad Sack SumBitch; But to hell with Bergdahl. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681/78 "2017-11-06T06:19:31Z")
I’ve watched a grown man with 15 years in the service cry like a baby as he handed my mother the flag from my brothers casket. I’ve seen two of my friends go into the ground while I was in the Army. I’ve been to five military funerals for older family members. I fail to understand what purpose would killing Bergdahl serve. He will forever be remembered as a traitor, a deserter and be ostracized by the very community that would have cherished him and care for his needs otherwise, and by much of the general public as well. There is enough death and ugliness in the world as it is, do we really need to add to it by even this one little iota? I like this place because I find it to be a haven of enlightenment, factuality and lively discussion. I find some of the posters I most respect here calling for the death of someone over something that quite honestly should have little impact on them. Are those of you calling for his death really that small? Are you truly willing to trade that bit of your humanity for a brief spasm of emotional satisfaction that changes nothing of import? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bowe-bergdahl/777681.md?page=3)