Traitor or Deserter?

This one seems to have similarities to the “swift boat” claims a couple elections ago but there are some realistic concerns that must be investigated. If the young man walked away from his post and made no attempt to return he is indeed a deserter, but a traitor? I think those claims are going to demand considerable conformation. From all accounts the SSG. Was a prisoner the entire time and gave up so substantial information that would “lend aid and comfort to the enemy”.

As usual, this is all being played out in the press with a good number of veterans already taking sides, pointing fingers, and apparently having forgotten exactly what it is to be a POW, even if just for a day. We send very young men and women to war, often without a clear understanding of the “why & what for”, then expect them to put aside doubt, fear, anguish, and many other emotions that come from seeing the brutality and horror’s of war and warfare. If you doubt this just drop by any VA (one that is actually treating our latest batch of vets) and attend one of their decompressing sessions. Fact is, all you need to do is sit in the waiting room and look around. It can be positively scary to think we are letting some of these poor souls wander the street, without any treatment and no direction.

At this point the only one that knows the facts about SSG Bergdahl’s conduct is the soldier himself. Yes , we know that desertion, for any reason, simply cannot be tolerated but if the service is functioning properly, field commanders know there are some that simply cannot handle and have no business being on the front line. Doesn’t matter if they are cowards or not, putting someone on the line that has no business being there endangers the entire outfit and any commander that fails to realize that is simply unfit to command. Worse yet, any senior commander that pushes that sort of thing down through the ranks not only endangers his outfit, he undermines the entire command structure.

Time will tell us the facts but one thing is sure but one thing is known. Bowe Bergdahle endured for nearly five long years in some of the toughest conditions one might imagine. He stayed alive and kept the faith and in the end his country choose to rescue him rather than abandon him. “Leave no one behind” is more than a cute saying, it is the understanding that every soldier, sailor, airman & marine has and it is the glue that keeps them on the line, fighting for everything they are worth. Dare we breach that promise to our sons and daughters? And if we do, just how many do you expect will show up for the next war?

As they say, a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link and when a country gets the reputation for abandoning it’s citizens that can and will certainly change the entire dynamics of how the citizens think about their country. POTAS might not have made the best decision for this particular soldier but over all he did make a good decision for the nation and it’s military structure. Let the services and the UCMJ deal with the merits of this soldiers guilt or innocence but for the time being, the country and it’s leaders are keeping their promise to everyone in uniform and that, my friends, makes all the difference!