Published June 9 2009
In 2009 the Pentagon has announced the capture of an American soldier by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The young man supposedly walked off base with three Afghani soldiers, although there were also reports that Bowe Bergdahl had lagged behind a patrol. A video was released by the Taliban on which the soldier admitted, “I’m scared I won’t be able to go home.”
He added later in the twenty-eight minute interview, “Yo my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it’s like to miss them, you have the power to make our government bring them home. Please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives and our precious life that we could be using back in our own country. Please bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power.”
The Pentagon was quick to comment that exploiting a soldier in this video was a violation of international law. Somehow that same international law was never applied to enemy combatants during the GW Bush years.
Next we’ll be hearing that the USA does not deal with terrorists.
Political flaks know what to say when they don’t know what to do.
Talk talk talk.
Only words I want to hear from Obama are ‘Bringing the troops home’.
Bowe Bergdahl remained a prisoner of the Taliban for five years and the United States does not negotiate with terrorists.
A Pentagon spokeswoman said upon his release, “He will now return to regular duty within the command where he can contribute to the mission.”
Once more condemned to the Endless War the soldier served as a clerk.
According to Wikipedia on June 25, 2014, the U.S. Army stated that there is “no evidence” that Bergdahl “engaged in any misconduct” during his years in captivity. A 2010 Pentagon investigation referred to above dealt with events leading up to his capture. In July 2014, Bergdahl was returned to active duty, having previously ruled that he had not betrayed the United States during his captivity.
The Army still sought justice and referred the case to the military court in 2015.
According to Wikipedia Oon November 3, 2017, Nance accepted Bergdahl’s guilty plea and sentenced him to be dishonorably discharged, reduced in rank, and fined $1,000 per month from his pay for ten months, with no prison time. The fine and reduction in rank were to take effect immediately, while the discharge was stayed pending automatic appeal.
That judgment was vacated on July 25, 2023, Judge Walton vacated the conviction.
In 2021 President Biden ordered a complete withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan after nearly twenty years of occupation. There are still 175 military advisers there.
They did not get home for Christmas.
Bowie Bergdahl is not known to be anywhere.