# Is Bergdahl being swiftboated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 2, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840 "2014-06-02T15:34:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [June 3, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/101 "2014-06-03T18:31:50Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > As reported in the [NY Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/us/us-soldier-srgt-bowe-bergdahl-of-idaho-pow-vanished-angered-his-unit.html), he left a note behind: I’m sure that note would be an excellent piece of evidence in a trial. As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has noted, if there was misconduct, he will be held accountable. But his words: “the questions about this particular soldier’s conduct are separate from our effort to recover ANY U.S. service member in enemy captivity”. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/102 "2014-06-03T18:32:50Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > If it turns out that Bergdahi is guilty he would have to be tried in a military court … > > The five terrorist traded for Bergdahi were they ever tried in a military tribunal? > > Yet everyone says that they are guilty … It could very well be that soon to be Staff Sgt Bergdahi will be held in a correctional facility waiting trial while the men that were traded live it up in luxury in town homes in Qutar, with full family visits allowed. > > I can’t find any reference to a trial for these five men named here: What’s your point here? None of this disputes anything I or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs has said. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/103 "2014-06-03T18:33:52Z")
I found this a bit odd:[http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?235698-Obama-considering-hostage-trade-for-Pvt-Bergdahl&](http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?235698-Obama-considering-hostage-trade-for-Pvt-Bergdahl&) **Obama considering hostage trade for Pvt Bergdahl** found on another fourm dated 2-18-2014 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/104 "2014-06-03T18:35:53Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What’s your point here? None of this disputes anything I or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs has said. Point? The point is one is tried in a court room and the other side goes free. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/105 "2014-06-03T18:36:43Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > What about the six soldiers that died searching for Bergdahi? You are not the only person asking such rhetorical questions. In today’s NY Times there’s [an article](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/us/us-soldier-srgt-bowe-bergdahl-of-idaho-pow-vanished-angered-his-unit.html?hp) which addresses this (and related) allegations. Two quotations from the article seem to capture the essence of the accusations: > [@The New York Times](#): > > A review of the database of casualties in the Afghan war suggests that Sergeant Bergdahl’s critics appear to be blaming him for every American soldier killed in Paktika Province in the four-month period that followed his disappearance. > [@The New York Times](#): > > A second former senior military officer, who also was briefed on the Bergdahl investigation, said there was no direct evidence that diversion of surveillance aircraft or troops to search for Sergeant Bergdahl encouraged the Taliban attacks, or left other American troops vulnerable. “This was a dangerous region in Afghanistan in the middle of the ‘fighting season’ . . . In other words, allegations, smearing, maybe even ‘Swiftboating’. ETA: This is the same NYT article that **Xema** linked to. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/106 "2014-06-03T18:42:41Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Point? The point is one is tried in a court room and the other side goes free. This has nothing to do with any point of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Oliveritaly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oliveritaly/32/15233_2.png) [@Oliveritaly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oliveritaly)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/107 "2014-06-03T18:43:08Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Why - was there a government inquiry that found that you had abandoned your post? > > Regards, > > Shodan That’s pretty uncalled for. Why would you insinuate iiadyiii’s military service record is in anyway blemished? Edit: removed the “have you stopped beating you wife” …didn’t see to fit the discussion ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/108 "2014-06-03T18:55:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This has nothing to do with any point of mine. post #92 > [@](#): > > If it turns out he is guilty of a crime, then he should be punished Lets start another thread when that point in time comes … point 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 3, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/109 "2014-06-03T18:58:38Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > post #92 > > Lets start another thread when that point in time comes … point 🙂 Sure. I think we’ll agree, though – I have no problem with him being tried if the evidence supports, and if he committed a crime, then he should be held accountable. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/110 "2014-06-03T19:07:34Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yes. Because that’s what happens when you elect a President. He, and his designees, are the ones who see sensitive information and analysis. Call it a bug or call it a feature: it’s reality either way. Yes and we also elect members of Congress and the law which the President signed states he must alert them. > [@Bricker](#): > > No, on the contrary – it’s key to the argument. The President is the only branch of government who is a single person. That design exists for a reason. We sometimes scoff at the notion that the President is “above the law.” Nixon’s comment on Frost about how “…if the President does it, it isn’t a crime…” was derided. > > But in many cases, it’s exactly accurate. The President gets to do things that, if done by others, would be a crime, because he’s the President and the Constitution vests him with powers that Congress cannot derogate. Yes but he gets to do things within the subscribed boundaries of the laws passed. “I was in a hurry” doesn’t really ring true considering it had to be coordinated with Qatar along with negotiating with terrorist’s. Was there a Memorial Day special on hostages that expired? His staff couldn’t pick up the phone because…? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/111 "2014-06-03T19:08:05Z")
Getting him home is one thing. Lying on national TV that he “served with honor and distinction” is another. ---
**Author:** ![Oliveritaly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oliveritaly/32/15233_2.png) [@Oliveritaly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oliveritaly)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/112 "2014-06-03T19:11:18Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Point? The point is one is tried in a court room and the other side goes free. So war isn’t black and white? It’s not fair? Justice isn’t always handed down at the end of the day? War often times leads us into uncomfortable conclusions? Color me shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/113 "2014-06-03T19:12:14Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I found this a bit odd:[http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?235698-Obama-considering-hostage-trade-for-Pvt-Bergdahl&](http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?235698-Obama-considering-hostage-trade-for-Pvt-Bergdahl&) > > **Obama considering hostage trade for Pvt Bergdahl** found on another fourm dated 2-18-2014 This kinda makes the administration’s reason for breaking the law (“no time to inform Congress”) a lie, doesn’t it? Plenty of time from Feb. 18 until now. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/114 "2014-06-03T19:13:34Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Getting him home is one thing. Lying on national TV that he “served with honor and distinction” is another. At the very least, there was time when he _did_. Beyond that, you don’t know the relevant facts, and don’t pretend you do. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/115 "2014-06-03T19:15:11Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Lying on national TV that he “served with honor and distinction” is another. I agree that Susan Rice shouldn’t have said this. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/116 "2014-06-03T19:17:45Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I agree that Susan Rice shouldn’t have said this. Yes, but the main reason she shouldn’t have said it is that it gives the hyenas some fresh meat to gnaw on. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/117 "2014-06-03T19:28:09Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Yes, but the main reason she shouldn’t have said it is that it gives the hyenas some fresh meat to gnaw on. Yep. I look forward to Sunday shows and Congressional hearings coming soon. Why, Graham and McCain probably had to ‘retire’ to the men’s room as soon as they heard Rice say it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/118 "2014-06-03T19:31:04Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > No, but if I were taken prisoner, and there were accusations of some sort against me, then I would hope the government would not take those accusations alone (which is all there is right now – accusations… there has been no trial) as reason to treat me as less valuable than any other service-person who was captured. > > So I’m glad Obama did not take those accusations into account for Bergdahl. That would have been a violation of his duty. well the accusations are supposed to be based on a written document left behind by Bergdahl. Maybe he forgot to get it notarized. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/119 "2014-06-03T19:51:18Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > well the accusations are supposed to be based on a written document left behind by Bergdahl. Maybe he forgot to get it notarized. If so, that will be a good piece of evidence for a trial if the overall evidence warrants. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840/120 "2014-06-03T20:05:03Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Yes, but the main reason she shouldn’t have said it is that it gives the hyenas some fresh meat to gnaw on. It happened 5 years ago. They knew 5 years ago he left a note and walked away. The main reason she should NOT have said it is that it’s not a characterization of what’s transpired. [According to the Taliban in 2010](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1305184/Bowe-Bergdahl-Taliban-claim-captured-U-S-solider-teaching-fighters-bomb-making-skills.html) Bergdahl was busy teaching them how to dismantle a mobile phone and turn it into a remote control for a roadside bomb. That’s called aiding and abetting the enemy. Again, this isn’t new information unless they don’t get the internet at the WH. Maybe it’s part of the phone problem they’re having with Congress. Note the picture of him dressed like Castro sent by the Taliban isn’t the one shown on TV. That’s a media marker. When the less-than-flattering pictures show up then you’ll know the wind has shifted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bergdahl-being-swiftboated/689840.md?page=7)