Bergdahl Backlash GOP Plot To “Swiftboat” Freed Soldier
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So what do we know about the soldiers who have come forward to criticize freed Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl? We know that their interviews were arranged by Republican strategists in an effort to torpedo Barack Obama’s highly successful prisoner release.
(AP Photo/U.S. Army, File)
There are many who are comparing the negative publicity to the GOP dog-and-pony-show reminiscent of the Swift Boat campaign that was mounted against John Kerry in 2004. Gawker’s Adam Weinstein points to the New York Times which spoke to several of these soldiers and confirmed that they were in fact arranged by Right Wing strategists.
In addition, and according to the Pentagon, claims of deaths linked to the search for Bergdahl simply aren’t backed up by hard data. Curiously, both soldiers who spoke to the Times say they don’t want to get political, but when you’re supporting a “data-denying political missile” by calling it “a neutral account … you’re ‘speaking on the political’ before you even you open your mouth,” Weinstein writes.
At Salon, Elias Isquith notices a similar problem: When soldiers don’t conform to flag-waving GOP “fantasies,” they’re turned from heroes to “charlatans—or maybe even traitors.”
Click for his full piece; Weinstein’s is here.
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Whether he deserted or not he’s a human being and he’s now safe. That’s what counts.
If there is any truth in any of his comrades dying whilst searching for him then clearly that is a tragic thing that may haunt him but, he did what he did – or, possibly, didn’t at all – and now he’s safe.
Well done Obama and co. You did the right thing and brought a son home.
Nuff said.
It’s slime time!
CNN a little while ago, had some “expert” explaining that because Bergdahl was seen to be blinking frequently in the Taliban Video, we must assume he’s guilty of desertion. And we thought Fox was the only game in town when it came to irresponsible conjecture.
Yes, it surely reminds me of the Swift Boat fiasco and all the other times “heroes” are given the slime treatment when they’re not Republicans or when a Democrat is in any way involved in their rescue. Fall on a hand grenade? You’re a traitor! and some of the same voices that were bashing Obama for not rescuing him are now sliming him for doing it.
The next time I hear some Republican bastard talk about supporting the troops I’m going to puke — and yet so many veterans and active military vote for these anti- American traitors every time.
Literally millions and millions of people vote against their own self-interest.
This is nothing more than politics as usual. It is a fact that we do not leave our people behind, period, end of statement.
We initially went to Afghanistan to deal with Al Queada for the 9/11/01 attacks on the World Trade Center. It is believed that is where they trained. The Taliban was in control of most of Afghanistan at the time. After Al Queada had been chased into the mountains the Taliban had been determined to come back into Afghanistan and reclaim power which was not in our best interest. Our presence for these last 6 or 7 years has been a war against the Taliban while trying to get the Afghanistan troops up to strength to defend themselves against the Taliban. Since the Taliban have never launched any attack against America they are not, by definition, a terrorist, though they are an enemy, just as the insurgents were in Iraq. We are winding down our war in Afghanistan so the POTUS took advantage of an opportunity to get our only P.O.W. out of captivity with a prisoner trade. The Taliban fights that were traded for him are to remain in Qatar for one year before return to their homes.
If the soldier did anything wrong I am sure the military will take appropriate action. Until then the weaselly civilians should keep there damned mouths shut.They did not have the guts or patriotism to join the military and go over and put their butts on the line so just shut the hell up and let the military do their job. Let them investigate and, if necessary hold a hearing, and if warranted hand out a punishment as if 5 years of captivity by the Taliban was not enough.
The important part of this is the USA has not left a soldier to rot in foreign hands.
It is possible that Bergdahl has acted incorrectly. That would be a matter for the military to investigate and exonerate or convict him in a manner unaffected by politics.
It does occur to me that, if he thought he was in any way guilty, he might not have returned.