GOP lawmakers long urged rescue of Bergdahl

[JeffreyS]

This young man volunteered during a time of war to serve his country.  Could you imagine  being a young man right now thinking of volunteering and seeing how much anger could be generated at the prospect of a soldier being returned from captivity.

His parents being threatened , his hometown having to cancel celebrations for security threats and officials at the highest level telling everyone who will listen how bringing the soldier home is a bad deal.

They support the troops as long as it doesn't mean approving funds for their care or if they can be expended to politically attack the President but otherwise supported.

[NotNow]

Interesting spin.  But still...spin.  I don't think anyone here has been "against" bringing Bergdahl back.  The questions have been about the price paid for his return and his legal status in the military. 

The simple fact is that this is NOT the "happy homecoming" that either the President or Bergdahl's hometown expected.  Bergdahl's behavior will not allow that.  Whether or not this was a "bad deal" has yet to be decided, and depends greatly on the actions of the released terrorist.  There are now also questions about whether there were additional terms to this "deal" that were not disclosed i.e. ransom money.

These arguments have nothing to do with "supporting the troops".   

[JeffreyS]

So NN death threats equals just less than a happy homecoming?  If the reality is people don't think one of our GIs is worth 5 Taliban IMO they aren't adequately supporting the troops. Not so much talking about here but some of the rhetoric coming from elected officials.

[NotNow]

Obviously, no one is advocating for death threats.  Quoting from the fringe will get us nowhere.  "Reality" is that Bergdahl's behavior is what stopped any organized celebration of his homecoming.  Again, your opinion is your opinion.  I think other Americans are allowed to have their opinions as well.  In my own case, I don't think that we have all of the facts yet, and we certainly don't know what the future will bring.  So I hesitate to say whether the deal is a "good" one or not.  I do believe that the President has the authority to make such deals, but that the existing law should not have been signed/should be changed.

[JeffreyS]

NN I don't put any of the radical positions on you.

[NotNow]

Obviously, no one is advocating for death threats.

except of course for the people making death threats......you know.... because they don't think that these Americans deserved to have an American soldier son rescued by his country.

" Quoting from the fringe will get us nowhere."

Sigh...SOS.

[finehoe]

"Most of what been written and said about Bowe Bergdahl isn't really about Bowe Bergdahl. Instead much of it is a projection of national angst about long wars that haven't delivered on their promises upon a young man who endured a five year ordeal in Taliban captivity."

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/Backchannels/2014/0609/In-Bergdahl-a-projection-of-our-views-on-America-s-long-and-inconclusive-wars-video

[finehoe]

From prayers to fury: The journey of Bowe Bergdahl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/from-prayers-to-fury-the-journey-of-bowe-bergdahl/2014/06/07/de3952a0-ee5d-11e3-8a8a-e17c08f80871_story.html

[BridgeTroll]

From prayers to fury: The journey of Bowe Bergdahl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/from-prayers-to-fury-the-journey-of-bowe-bergdahl/2014/06/07/de3952a0-ee5d-11e3-8a8a-e17c08f80871_story.html

Good article... last paragragh...

Gerald Sutton served with Bergdahl and considered him a friend. Now, he wants a court martial.

"Personally, I'd like to be able to talk to the guy and ask him why he did this," he said, "because that's the ultimate question."