A pardon for Bowe Bergdahl?

[OldJourno]

Should the president let this worthless piece of shit walk?

 

[water505]

He probably won't pass up the opportunity to take another dump on the country. It's the only thing he does well.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Can he be pardoned even before his trial? He spent 5 years as a Taliban prisoner. He could do 10 in wherever the Yank military prison is standing on his head.

Stupid head in the clouds fool should never have enlisted in the first place. If you really really want out is there a mechanism in the US Army to seek a discharge?

Three idiots went AWOL in basic. They swam a mile of open water to get out of CFB Cornwallis. Spent 60 days in CFB Edmonton for that and dishonourably discharged. Two others just plain refused to follow orders and spent 14 in close detention until discharged. All they had to do was approach their Lieutenant and beg and plead a bit about how they had made a mistake in enlisting and they would have been honourably discharged and on a bus home as soon as the paperwork went through. It was only basic.

Why some hippy Buddhist bicycle rider would sign up for the US armed forces is beyond reason. The Coast Guard had found him unreliable. Why did the Army take him? Doesn't say much about the level of US soldiers. Basic should have winnowed him out. My understanding is that basic is not what it used to be.

 

[water505]

Dude, shut the fuck up. Take your Canuck bullshit and shove it up your ass where it came from.

Moron.

 

[OldJourno]

Well, as you can see I'm obviously on the fence on this issue.

 

[phrodeau]

Should the president let this worthless piece of shit walk?

Should public opinion have any bearing on it at all?

 

[Liar]

Should the president let this worthless piece of shit walk?

Is there any information saying he's considering it?

He probably won't pass up the opportunity to take another dump on the country. It's the only thing he does well.

...aside from inane blathering like this, that is?

 

[OldJourno]

Is there any information saying he's considering it?

It's on Yahoo News.

 

[mdbigdee]

Pray just how can the President pardon someone who hasn't been convinced of a crime?Under the UCMJs "presumption of innocence" he is innocent of all charges until a court declares him guilty.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Should public opinion have any bearing on it at all?

Hell yeah! Or else you get politician pardoning cronies for corruption and things. Oh wait...

It's on Yahoo News.

Wiki mentions it too.

He deserted. Went AWOL during combat operations. Lucky not to be shot. Stupid cunt should have stayed in the Buddhist monastery. He enlisted well after 9/11 he knew what he was signing up for. Do the crime, do the time. Men died looking for him. 10 years I say.

 

[OldJourno]

Pray just how can the President pardon someone who hasn't been convinced of a crime?Under the UCMJs "presumption of innocence" he is innocent of all charges until a court declares him guilty.

Bill Clinton pardoned a fugitive, Marc Rich, who hadn't even gone to trial and was hiding out in Europe. His wife had made big donations to the Democrats prior to, so it was a final presidential act of sleaziness by the Arkansas Slimeball.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Long history of US presidents pardoning some shady characters. Some justified. But I have issues with pardoning convicted politicians or henchmen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...lemency_by_the_President_of_the_United_States

 

[phrodeau]

Hell yeah! Or else you get politician pardoning cronies for corruption and things. Oh wait...



Wiki mentions it too.

He deserted. Went AWOL during combat operations. Lucky not to be shot. Stupid cunt should have stayed in the Buddhist monastery. He enlisted well after 9/11 he knew what he was signing up for. Do the crime, do the time. Men died looking for him. 10 years I say.

Nobody specifically died looking for Bergdahl. Some soldiers died because they were on missions that had a secondary goal of perhaps finding Bergdahl.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Nobody specifically died looking for Bergdahl. Some soldiers died because they were on missions that had a secondary goal of perhaps finding Bergdahl.

Debateable! 14 deaths 'may' have been attributed to the search and delay in camp closure. But if even 1 man died. The he is responsible for that death.

He knew or should have known what he was signing up for. There is a different scale to judge soldiers on. Sometimes that is real shitty and to offset they should be given every support we can. But he just up and walked away, IMO, right in the heart of Taliban country!

He was unfit to be a soldier. He should have realized it and the army should have caught on. That is what basic is for to winnow out those who can't take massive amounts of stress.

I spent 3.5 safe years driving a forklift around. So I cannot truly comment on what it is like to be in combat. Nor can I say how I would have reacted. Basic was bad enough with NCOs screaming at you for the slightest thing and a general lack of sleep. I barely made it through! By the skin of my teeth and an outstanding testing score. But the bullshit of folding your underwear into a six inch square with no seams showing and ironed wafer flat and thin only to find some Master Corporal has scattered your locker contents across the barracks and tipped your not tight enough made bed on top of your not shiny enough boots was enough for me.

 

[Wrong Element]

Based on what I know now, I wouldn't pardon him prior to his trial.


I will say there's a greater chance of a pardon happening than there is of the dumbass caucus coming back and saying "I admit I was wrong" when it doesn't happen.

 

[OldJourno]

Nobody specifically died looking for Bergdahl. Some soldiers died because they were on missions that had a secondary goal of perhaps finding Bergdahl.

I remember the AP story on the reaction of U.S. soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan when some government official told them of the deal to free Bergdahl. He was puzzled by the lack of enthusiasm, the AP noted.
The whole deal reeks. Anyone who knew anything about the case knew Bergdahl deserted. The video before he was released showed him weeping because he was going to miss his buddies, the guys who were trying to kill Americans.
And Obama was proud to stand on the White House lawn with the deserter's parents, because if Obama was in the military (likely story, right?), he'd probably desert too.
This was just an excuse to let five more blood-thirsty terrorists free to lower the occupancy rate at Gitmo.
It was a shameful act by Obama, and the final chapter would be freeing this walking shitbag.

 

[phrodeau]

I remember the AP story on the reaction of U.S. soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan when some government official told them of the deal to free Bergdahl. He was puzzled by the lack of enthusiasm, the AP noted.
The whole deal reeks. Anyone who knew anything about the case knew Bergdahl deserted. The video before he was released showed him weeping because he was going to miss his buddies, the guys who were trying to kill Americans.
And Obama was proud to stand on the White House lawn with the deserter's parents, because if Obama was in the military (likely story, right?), he'd probably desert too.
This was just an excuse to let five more blood-thirsty terrorists free to lower the occupancy rate at Gitmo.
It was a shameful act by Obama, and the final chapter would be freeing this walking shitbag.

You have a problem with his parents, too? How about his sister or his dog?

 

[mdbigdee]

Samual Clemmings (Mark Twain) deserted twice during the Civil War,once from the Confederate Army and once from the Union Army.
President Lincoln pardoned deserters on occasion,calling them his "leg cases"...stating "is it a man's fault that he was born with cowardly legs?".

 

[OldJourno]

You have a problem with his parents, too? How about his sister or his dog?

I like the Bergdahl bird dog.
The post you replied to mentioned the parents standing on the White House lawn. That's it. Not one opinion about them. If you don't believe me, go back and reread it. I'll wait.
I recall Mr. Bergdahl trying to learn the language of his son's captors in an effort to win his son's release. I would do the same, even if my son was a traitor. A father's love runs deep. I can't imagine the anguish he was suffering while his son was in captivity.
But my son's not a traitor.

 

[Hard_Rom]

The Obama administration had been in negotiation with the Taliban to release the men anyways. They were hoping to get some sort of dialogue going between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Sticking points of ensuring the men did not show back up as military leaders was holding things up.

While it was generally felt he had deserted there was some doubt. And the US has a policy of leaving none behind. Although this has fallen on it's face a few times.

Innocent until proven guilty, right?

Bergdahl had escaped Taliban custody 3X. He was tortured, beaten and punished for it. I hardly think they were his buddies.

Is this thread about if he is deserving of a pardon? Or is this a thread to take shots at Obama? Please choose.

 

[OldJourno]

Is this thread about if he is deserving of a pardon? Or is this a thread to take shots at Obama? Please choose.

Yeah, I've noticed this is the only thread on the GB that's gone off on a tangent.
Sorry.
I'll let you decide if this thread is a breath mint or a candy mint.

 

[Hard_Rom]

If it is yet another shot at Obama more like a urinal mint. Makes things smell nice but you sure wouldn't want to lick one.

 

[OldJourno]

If it is yet another shot at Obama more like a urinal mint. Makes things smell nice but you sure wouldn't want to lick one.

Your point about the topic is valid, but we wouldn't be talking about his possible pardon except that it would be granted by the same person who approved his negotiated release.
And who released five blood-thirsty terrorists in exchange for his freedom.
It's a political issue, and Obama is the biggest one in it.
But we've flogged this issue to death. You win.
And sorry if I was less than cordial at times today.

Go Clemson.

 

[Hard_Rom]

I think his possible pardon would spring up regardless of who reigned in America. Under the incoming regime he would have very little chance though. But I'm sure it would get a mention. Even if supportive of a refusal to pardon him.

And while I am sure he was unsuitable to be a soldier from day one, the issue of PTSD amongst veterans is a common topic. The Fort Lauderdale shooter should bring it to the forefront in the media and courts.

Back to basic training. All that stupid shit they made us do. Instill discipline or winnow out those who after X number of days in a foxhole under fire don't come out charging but lay in a puddle of pee and vomit in the bottom of the hole.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Any ex-military from much earlier than 1980 that can tell us the bullshit routines of kit and quarters in basic?

The drill sergeant from Full Metal Jacket, aside from striking a recruit, would have fit in well at CFB Cornwallis. Had a Sergeant who had a speech impediment and spoke like Elmer Fudd. 6'3" and one scary individual.

Battle sights are set at 200yds on an FN C1 so you get the hippy who tosses a tomato at you between the eyes and not shoot over his head. Humans are designed to fire guns. It's why we have that hollow spot in front of the shoulder. There are no nuclear weapons in Canada (chuckle).