"... veterans and soldiers who call him a deserter whose 'selfish act' ended up costing the lives of better men."
A reporter asked Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Sunday whether Bergdahl had left his post without permission or deserted -- and, if so, whether he would be punished. Hagel didn't answer directly. "Our first priority is assuring his well-being and his health and getting him reunited with his family," he said. "Other circumstances that may develop and questions, those will be dealt with later."
How conspicuously evasive can you get? Other circumstances and questions
have developed. That's why the question was asked.
Another senior Defense official said Bergdahl will not likely face any punishment. "Five years is enough," he told CNN on condition of anonymity.
One translation of that is:
We have determined never to air the facts of this case.
Posts
92 comments:
Is there anything that this administration can't fuck up?
Bergdahl is an A$$hole, but he's our A$$hole. Getting him back is the right thing for the country and the Army.
Ignoring what he did is bad for the country and the Army, but good for the WH.
The stench of the cover-up will hurt morale...
"Our first priority is assuring his well-being and his health and getting him reunited with his family,"
Bull,
The first priority of the WH as always is silencing its critics. Hence the pressure on the soldiers in Bergdahl's unit to remain silent, just as the squeezed the other survivors at Benghazi to do so as well.
The media, I don't think, will be able to use this as a prop for Obama - because it was, after all, a political stunt. It will be a wash, politically, but with the release of active enemies to strike back against us.
As far as the release; they can't say anything nice, so they aren't saying anything at all.
There is precedent for just moving on, from Korea and from our actions in former Yugoslavia. I do agree with Drill SGT in that he is a Jerk, but he is OUR Jerk.
Bigger than spending money on an investigation into Sgt Bergdahl, which will accomplish little in the long run, is the question of why the Administration didn't reach out to Congressional Leadership before announcing the exchange. The law was plain. This operation didn't happen over night. The Administration deserted in the face of possible controversy.
Regards — Cliff
I doubt there are going to be White House photo ops on this one. Too much risk that the troops might not comply with the gag order.
It's unclear why getting this guy released became a priority after 5 years. Considering what they gave up in the swap, it must have been a pretty big priority. They say they determined that his life was in danger. How the hell do they know? Any more than in the past? Did they really think Obama was going to be able to bask in glory on this one? I suppose it could simply be out of personal concern for Bergdahl but why now?
More strange conduct from a very strange administration.
That's a pretty tough article, especially coming from CNN.
You know they are lying because they sent Susan Rice, liar-in-chief, out to the Sunday shows that would have her. Of route Fox News, which would eat her alive, was not chosen.
I wonder if she will be the CEO of the Obama Foundation. I doubt she has many other career choices.
No Drill Sgt., he is NOT our asshole. He turned. Went over to the other side. And men from his unit were lost trying to find his sorry ass. To try to get this guy back, we lost good, loyal men. To get this guy back, we let bad guys walk.
Saw the father's press conference. Conspiracy aside, he and his son are poster children for the left's view of Bush's Afghan war. So if the son really deserted after a certain disillusionment, he would be welcomed like a hero by the left. He would be welcomed like a hero for emptying Gitmo of 5 inmates so the closing will be expedited by that much. For Obama, this is yet another chance to slap the military and the right and provide a certain satisfaction to his base.
Some soldiers in his unit were required to sign non- disclosure agreements? Heard this morning on Morning Joe.
So now we are not going to be able to hear how he walked off the base at 4:00am versus Susan Rice again spouting BS that he was "taken off the battlefield".
A bit off topic, but just askin'...
Watched the CNN clips linked to from comments at earlier Althouse post
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/05/31/nr-obama-sergeant-bergdahl-release.cnn.html
The Prez several times mentions Qatar, pronouncing as rhymes with 'guitar'. Proper pronunciation seems more as rhymes with 'gutter.'
The AP reports Hagel's announcement to the troops at Bagram that Bergdahl had been freed were met with silence. Military brass helpfully surmised they were "intimidated" by a visit from SecDef.
Funny. Sad.
Everything they touch turns to shit, doesn't it?
"One translation of that is: We have determined never to air the facts of this case."
At least the Obama administration is consistent regarding their definition of transparency.
The media is also quite consistent in their relentless pursuit of the Whitehouse talking points.
"Five years is enough,"
Is Obama going to resign??
Now that we are openly dealing with terrorists, who will be the next Taliban kidnapping victim placed on the table for bargaining?
How many soldeirs died trying to find Bergdahl after he deserted?
so Bergdahl is basically the only kind of soldier Obama could give a damn about.
Wonder why they had the troops sentbto rescue him sign nondisclosure agreements, like the Benghazi survivors?
How dare you Althouse question this American Hero!?! This makes you look bad and racist.
If the Pentagon does not 'wash' Bergdahl clean and give him an honorable discharge and maybe some medals a lot of heads with stars on them will roll.
Right now there are dozens of generals praying they are not assigned to do anything with this POS.
Yet another Obama own-goal. They give up 5 terrorists to get this guy back and he turns out to be (allegedly) a deserter.
And just when I thought the incompetence and dishonesty of this administration could not be topped...
Can't anybody here play this game?
Because the facts of this case are that the Obama Admin needed something to move the VA Scandals off the front page of papers and lead story on TV.
The Carney thing was pretty creative as a one day distraction but didn't have the required sustained "pop"
So this deal was made.
Once again the Obama Administration will be shown not to have thought something fully through in all it's ramifications.
Can't wait to see what Obama does at the D-Day Commemorations as he struggles to talk about troops. Sacrifice, justice, patriotism in a way that doesn't reignite a VA brushfire. It will have to be pretty "audacious" to his hydra-headed scandals under control.
"...Many of Bergdahl's fellow troops -- from the seven or so who knew him best in his squad, to the larger group that comprised the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division -- told CNN that they signed nondisclosure agreements agreeing to never share any information about Bergdahl's disappearance and the efforts to recapture him. ..."
Details.. details Obama is great, can't you see? He cares about concussions, power plant emissions, he has a phone and a pen.
On the other hand,
If we are doing a prisoner exchange in this manner (as we certainly don't negotiate with terrorists, but nothing is wrong with exchanging legal enemy combatants), then it follows that the Islamic chaps are in fact legitimate prisoners of war and as such, their detainment in Cuba was perfectly legal this entire time. Furthermore, they can be detained without even so much as a token trial, for as long as a state of war exists between the USA and Al Qaeda.
I look forward to the apologies from lefties of all stripes!
Prisoner exchanges usually occur after cessation of hostilities.
This Administration is always selling us shit, while claiming it's shinola.
Not being there, I can't know what actually happened -- no one can.
I'm glad for his parents that he has been retrieved. I can say that without conditions.
I hope the tracer chips embedded within the 5 Guantanamo Detainees give US Intelligence a bounty of good information.
A Buddhist tarot card reader.
I agree - we could've left him.
The president can't, but it's a thought,...
I don't see Obama posing at the podium with the families of the soldiers who were killed trying to find this narcissistic POS.
Let's take Bergdahl at his own words:
"The future is too good to waste on lies," Bowe wrote to his parents. "And life is way too short...to spend it helping fools with their ideas that are wrong."
You don't understand. Bergdahl came to be anti-American. That makes him one of the good guys and a natural ally to the administration.
I don't see how the administration keeps missing things like this. I don't know if the accusations against the guy are true or not -- but you'd think the administration would've at least been aware of them before selecting a course of action.
Obama heard on FOX News that Berghdahl was not a HERO to his band of Brothers!
"Damn, why didn't you guys tell me!"
I wonder if this was done to take attention off the VA mess. But the details of Bergdahl's behavior draw us back. What is a vet to think? First, he loses buddies in the search for a missing Bergdahl who turns out to be something less than a hero. Then he finds his surviving buddies under a tag order. And for those who need medical attention: a four-month waiting list at a system tainted with fraud. Meanwhile? The guys who killed his buddies have been turned loose. In violation of the law.
That's a real crowd-pleaser.
I wonder if this was done to take attention off the VA mess. But the details of Bergdahl's behavior draw us back. What is a vet to think? First, he loses buddies in the search for a missing Bergdahl who turns out to be something less than a hero. Then he finds his surviving buddies under a tag order. And for those who need medical attention: a four-month waiting list at a system tainted with fraud. Meanwhile? The guys who killed his buddies have been turned loose. In violation of the law.
That's a real crowd-pleaser.
@The DrillSergeant: You are right that "Bergdahl is . . . our A$$hole. Getting him back is the right thing for the country and the Army." Yes, "getting him back" is a legitimate objective, but releasing 5 senior Taliban leaders was not a reasonable means to achieve that objective, in my opinion.
Unless we've got a plan to drone all 5 of them before they leave Qatar.
"Bergdahl is an A$$hole, but he's our A$$hole. Getting him back is the right thing for the country and the Army."
Well, for the first time we'll get to hear his side. Whether it will be convincing remains to be seen, but it's only right that we listen. POWs should never be abandoned, whatever their reputation may be,
This seems likely to be a major longrunning screwup. Guy deserts to Taliban, gets other Taliban released... that cannot look good once it starts coming out.
Via CNN: They're going to promote the son of a bitch to SSgt next month as well. Sounds like he's already part of the administration.
How about some answers and payback for the souls lost trying to find this worthless pos when he 'wandered off'? Their families, to paraphrase Bergdahl's father's words about other GITMO detainees, would "like their sons back", too.
Five years of imprisonment doesn't seem like it was punishment for this guy ... it seems like he pretty much liked it ...
The interesting question is, "Why?"
David
Calling Bergdahl "Sergeant" is becoming annoying - he left his firebase (voluntarily, without weapon or armor) as a PFC, but was promoted while on missing/captured status.
The only way this makes sense is that he was NOT a deserter, that the reason he was spending so much time with the Afgans prior to leaving is that he was a spy who was trying to become a mole, and this was all cover.
The alternative, that he truly was a deserter and we just traded 5 senior Taliban for him, is so horrific a thought, that the Obama administration could truly be that blind, that i simply cannot accept that, even given my utter lack of confidence in them.
Just as Ambassador Steven's death was about a CIA op gone bad (hence why it cannot be spoken of truthfully), there just has to be more to this story.
I hope.
Trading five known terrorists for one deserter will have many consequences, but the most immediate one is that all American soldiers on deployment are now at significantly greater risk of attempted capture. We've announced that there is a market for that sort of thing.
"They" may have decided never to air the facts, but Bowe Bergdahl's fellow soldiers have decided otherwise.
The Constitution NEVER expected a President and Media to so actively ignore the laws. It also didn't think that the opposition would totally lack a backbone.
Obama has painted a target on the back of every American overseas. Once you deal with kidnappers they will never stop.
This persons life was not worth the cost. So many more people will suffer and die because Obama traded 5 for 1.
So we traded a guy who volunteered to be a hostage and may have provided actionable intelligence to the Taliban for 5 very violent murderers?
One thing the administration, with their lack of military experience, may not have understood is if the guy did desert then the people in his platoon are not going to be jumping for joy. People in combat don't fight for their country or freedom or democracy. When you are actually in combat your fighting for your fellow soldiers and they are supposed to have your back. Bergdahl betrayed them and put their lifes in danger and probably killed some of them.
I agree with the first of the Drill Sgt's comments. Even though he was a flake or a fool, he was one of us and we should have done what it takes to get him released. There's an argument to be made that his obvious defects make his ransom all the more virtuous. We look out for everyone, not just for the heroes......Also he was in a forward position. Chronic mortal risk can fuck with your head. Perhaps his erratic behavior was caused by stress. It's possible. I'd like to hear his side of the story before making a judgement......I can't help but think that Reagan drove a better bargain with Iran-Contra. Those five prisoners will kill some more people before they themselves die. Best case scenario is that their victims will be be moderate Afghan officials or maybe just some little girl who wants to learn how to read........But anyway our guy is free, and that's a fact on the ground.
As I said previously, Obama will be out of the WH and on the links before any negative facts or consequences broach the surface..
We have determined never etc.
I guess these guys never heard of this new internet thingie.
Mission accomplished.
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/207856-bergdahl-bumps-va-from-spotlight
Obama's illegal act is the 2014 version of Reagan's illegal act in Iran-Contra. The Boland Amendment was a stupid grasp of executive power by Congress, and the 30-day-notice requirement involved in Bergdahl's release is the same.
Emptying Guantanamo Bay prison for Muslim Terrorists is Obama's only regret, or so he recently said.
Obama must understand that his absolutist king's reign will end the day the Harry Reid's Dem majority in the Senate can no longer block effective Congressional governance.
So he only has the rest of this year to freely decree destructive acts to on enemies.
He now has to quickly finish destroying:
The US dollar, the US Military, the Jewish State, the current border between US and Mexico, the coal industry, Guantanamo Bay, the Second Amendment, and any middle eastern allies that dare to remain pro American.
My concerns about this (in order from least to greatest):
1) Trading prisoners with non-state actors before hostilities have ended creates a market for future hostage-taking and greater danger for US servicemen and women as well as any civilians.
2) Five for one seems like we got the short end of the trade. I’m unclear why it was important that this deal be made since it seems like we gave more than we got.
3) I haven’t read the statute but if what’s being reported is correct, the administration was required by law to consult with Congress (not get their approval – just to let them know) and does not appear to have done so. Even if you think that the statute is an unconstitutional restriction on the power of the President to command the armed forces (as some have argued about the War Powers Act), unless and until it is repealed or struck down by the courts, the President is obligated to try to follow it. That being said if time was of the essence and they had to complete the exchange in say fourteen days, they should have notified Congress as soon as possible (even if not 30 days in advance) to make a good faith effort to comply with the statute.
At this point, I have no opinion about the character of the man who we got back. I would suggest continuing to ask questions and demand answers but hold off on speculation until more concrete facts have been made public. There is probably going to be a lot of misinformation that comes out initially and it would not surprise me if some of the rumors were planted to get the President’s critics to overreach and potentially accuse an innocent solider of being a deserter.
"Five years is enough." But five died looking for him, and five terrorists were freed for him. Seems like a poor trade to me.
If he deserted his post then he deserves to be in jail and is no hero. If he has to face jail time though his time in jail in Afghanistan should count against his sentencing.
Going home to his f*cking flake parents in punishment enough.
Pm317 wrote:
Saw the father's press conference. Conspiracy aside, he and his son are poster children for the left's view of Bush's Afghan war
don't you mean the left and Obamas war? The REAL war on terror that Iraq was the diversion of. And which Obama escalated?
If the administration believes it did not have to notify Congress in this case, why would it believe it has to notify Congress on any case?
There are so many things wrong with how this was handled. No consulting congress, negotiations with terrorists who very likely will be back to fighting us. And the guy we get released turns out to be a deserting scum bag.
Imagine if this was a movie called saving private Bergdahl but instead of staying with his brothers when he was told he could go home he was actually AWOL. And people are dying trying to rescue this turd.
2) Five for one seems like we got the short end of the trade. I’m unclear why it was important that this deal be made since it seems like we gave more than we got.
CNN reported that their sources in the Pentagon claimed the deal was done now because of Bergdahl's deteriorating health situation.
This deal was apparently under discussion for the last two years. I would think Congress probably knew about the terms of the deal, but not necessarily when it would be executed.
Bergdahl won't face a court-martial, useful idiot Chuck Hagel won't permit it. However, hearings in the House Armed Services Committee will do everything needed, which is expose Bergdahl and Obama for the traitors they are.
Bob Ellison: "The Boland Amendment was a stupid grasp of executive power by Congress,...."
Which Boland Amendment?
And for what time period?
And specifically which funds were used to directly fund the contras?
Read the background on the various Boland amendments to see just how far the lefties in congress were willing to go to protect their latest and greatest communist hero.
Ralph Hyatt: "One thing the administration, with their lack of military experience, may not have understood is if the guy did desert then the people in his platoon are not going to be jumping for joy."
Oh, the obamaites understand that very clearly.
It was in all likelihood a major animating factor along with moving the story line off other storylines.
Which is strange since the major media simply parrot whatever their earth-bound messiah wants them to parrot.
Did he actively seek out the Taliban as some suggested? Maybe he was trying to give up details in exchange for safe passage out of afghanistan and instead they captured him.
Obama just wants a Photo Op and to be able to lie, yet again, about another "success" in the debacle that is his Presidency.
Obama is such a douche.
Obama just wants a Photo Op and to be able to lie, yet again, about another "success" in the debacle that is his Presidency.
Obama is such a douche.
When it was the case of the football star/special forces hero who was killed in the crossfire, the left demanded the whole story,not just the sanitized version. When it was Jessica Lynch, the left demanded the full version and not the sanitized version.
So lets have the full version here. The guy is a deserter. And what should have been a 4 day operation turned into a month long affair searching for him. And people died because of it. According to some taliban they spoke to he went off in search oft the taliban, ostensibly to join them.
Lets have the unsanitized version please. No whitewashing.
There is probably going to be a lot of misinformation that comes out initially and it would not surprise me if some of the rumors were planted to get the President’s critics to overreach and potentially accuse an innocent solider of being a deserter.
There was ample speculation when this guy was first missing then captured that he deserted his post, for whatever reason.
But I am sure that Obama will use this poor sap as a shield to try and deflect criticism of his trading 5 very dangerous terrorists for one quitter; ie, more of the "How dare you question our Pure Motives in trying to Bring an American Soldier Back Home To Safety." faux moral outrage propaganda bullshit the Democrats like to practice.
Obama and crew = Douche Bags and liars.
I am guessing the emergency was to get the 5 Taliban released rather than getting private Dahlgren back.
Does this calling him a POW also reflect back on the Taliban then? POW for POW's? How about the Democrats' arguments about the legal status of Guantanamo, waterboarding, etc.? Are they building a case for revising history to suit them again?
It's unclear why getting this guy released became a priority after 5 years.
I will venture a guess as to why. The Democrat party is perceived as soft on military matters. This reputation began when the Left decided to spit on returning soldiers during the Vietnam era. It was cemented in place as the few Democrat politicians who were favorable to the military died off and faded away. Senator Scoop Jackson comes to mind.
And that rep, already lousy, has been reinforced by our incompetent POTUS, the leader of the Democrat Party, who didn't even know how to pronounce "Corps." He has given Iraq, a relatively stable ally due to a war won by Bush, back to the enemy. Ditto, Afghanistan. Now the VA scandal and Obama's clumsy management of the scandal is making a bad reputation worse.
To Obama, it probably seemed like a win/win situation. Our only known "POW" would be returned, showing Obama to be a man who cares for soldiers and that pesky Gitmo would be relieved of five of its tenants. It was the decision of a man whose staff and advisors are filled with Lefty ideologues whose only real expertise is in spouting third-generation watered down Marxism and trying to impose the same to the rest of us.
POWs should never be abandoned, whatever their reputation may be …
But was he really a POW? The videos I've seen show a healthy adult male who, except for a minor contusion on one eyebrow, seems none the worse for wear.
It seems more likely to me that he was a deserter. Deserters are NOT POW's, even if they find out what they deserted to is no bed of roses.
"I am ashamed to even be American," he told his parents in his last email before disappearing, quoted in Rolling Stone. "These people need help, yet what they get is the most conceited country in the world telling them that they are nothing and that they are stupid, that they have no idea how to live.
http://tinyurl.com/qgh8vfy
This may have briefly bumped the VA scandal off the radar, but this lawlessness is not exactly a good thing for Barry either. Talk about imcompetance.
Kind of like how Fitzgerald determined never to air the facts of the Blago case on account of it might have been a fly in the ointment of the "anointed one."
Just wait until it gets out that the reason Bergdahl deserted because he couldn't deal with serving under Obama.
Dont take your eyes off the ball, they are trying to get everyones attention off the VA scandal.
Why is it an either/ or situation on his release? We can be proud that he returned, honoring our commitment to not abandon our forces that are held by the enemy, just as we can question if the deal that brought him back was fair or sensible. We can also ask him to explain how he managed to be captured and then make the decision on whether to prosecute or just brand him a loser or a hero. Men died trying to retrieve this man, so those questions need to be answered.
Sec Hagel's comment on "5 years is enough" is baloney though - he is trying to cover up what appears to be a bad deal.
This is what he wrote prior to abandoning his post:
“I am sorry for everything here,” “These people need help, yet what they get is the most conceited country in the world telling them that they are nothing and that they are stupid.”
“I am ashamed to be an American. And the title of US soldier is just the lie of fools,” “I am sorry for everything. The horror that is America is disgusting.”
Boiler plate leftism. Why am i not the least bit surprised.
Is Bergdahl a deserter or a defector? The distinction might have significance in predicting his future.
Question for the lawyers: do the families of the soldiers who died looking for this character have standing to sue? File FOIA requests? Anything?
Sounds like this Bergdahl guy was a modern day John Kerry. Which is why Obama and his folks liked him so much.
Sounds like this Bergdahl guy was a modern day John Kerry. Which is why Obama and his folks liked him so much.
One question. How does a PFC desert and then get promoted to sergeant?
Bowe Berghdahl is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.
It's looking more and more like Obama actually thought he would gain a favorable opinion from this – that the military, vets, retirees and the public at large would actually give him points for this move. Perhaps he also thought that anyone who objected would be stepping into a brilliant trap brilliantly conceived by him.
The Trap: Those objecting, such as GOP politicians, would diminish their own standing in the court of public opinion and cause Obama's standing to rise. Why? Because they would be picking on an heroic POW rightfully and righteously returned home.
Only those woefully unaware of the military culture, those who cannot pronounce "Marine Corps" correctly, those who cannot disguise their contempt for all matters military, those who probably did not even take the time and trouble to research the facts already known about Bowe Bergdahl would ever think such a thing.
Furthermore, I don't believe this controversy will go away soon. Unless I miss my guess Bergdahl's parents, who could be straight out of the cast of Portlandia, a funny series I catch when I can, are not the type of folks who compliantly recede into the background once their usefulness is over. They are anti-war and their son is anti-war and I believe we will be hearing from them for some time. Face time on cable, book deals, speaking engagements in safely liberal venues – all are in the offing for the Bergdahl family. That bitch, Fame, is truly seductive.
This controversy will indeed pull attention away from the VA scandal but not in the way it was intended. What Obama has done is pile one scandal on top of another. What we are witnessing is simple incompetence acted out on a grand scale.
.
… is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.
Manchurian Candidate. One of Sinatra's best.
Whitty: "Bowe Berghdahl is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life."
Oh, well then, it's okay if it turns out he's a deserter or defector, that several of our troops were killed or wounded trying to rescue him, that Susan Rice lied about him and that the President broke the law by releasing several terrorists without notifying Congress to get him back.
He's a wonderful guy. All is well.
Michael Whitty nailed it!
PB Reader said...
One question. How does a PFC desert and then get promoted to sergeant?
If, during the administration of Teh Obama, you happen to desert and actively collaborate with Muslim extremists and then can be "traded" for Al Qaeda leaders.
That's gonna get you some real positive face-time before any promotion boards under the guidance of obama admin lawyers.
Wasn't a hero promoted in a movie, Wag the Dog, that turned out to be a reprobate? I don't remember the story line that well, but seems like the Pres was trying to stop some public resentment so they created a hero, Willie Nelson wrote a song -- Old Shoe.
Is this life imitating art?
Blogger Michael Whitty said...
Bowe Berghdahl is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.
6/2/14, 4:25 PM
__________________________
That will make him Chelsea Manning's perfect roommate.
Obama's Rose Garden appearance with Bergdahl's parents, another dissembling Susan Rice Sunday talk show interview, and an unnamed White House official telling a reporter in 2012 'Frankly, we don't give a sh—why he [Bergdahl] left..." make me wonder: What the hell is wrong with these people?!?
UCMJ ARTICLE 85. DESERTION
(a) Any member of the armed forces who–
(1) without authority goes or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to remain away therefrom permanently;
(2) quits his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service; or
(3) without being regularly separated from one of the armed forces enlists or accepts an appointment in the same or another on of the armed forces without fully disclosing the fact that he has not been regularly separated, or enters any foreign armed service except when authorized by the United States; is guilty of desertion.
(b) Any commissioned officer of the armed forces who, after tender of his resignation and before notice of its acceptance, quits his post or proper duties without leave and with intent to remain away therefrom permanently is guilty of desertion.
(c) Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the desertion or attempt to desert occurs at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.
To the left, deserters are heroes. I believe that the Obama administration is sincerely surprised at the backlash.
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