Normally we would praise the government for getting one of our soldiers home. But a deserter that hates America? And we release five Taliban terrorists in exchange? There's something seriously wrong with this Administration, if you didn't already know.

Hagel, Rice praise Bergdahl recovery mission, soldier's parents speak out

'I am ashamed to be an American': Emails from freed PoW before he was captured and held by Taliban for five years show he had become disillusioned and planned to leave

In the messages, quoted by Rolling Stone magazine, he tells his parents: 'The future is too good to waste on lies.

'And life is way too short to care for the damnation of others as well as to spend it helping fools with their ideas that are wrong.'

Three days before he went missing, he tells them: '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.'

Bergdahl, who mailed home boxes containing his uniform and books, later added: 'I am ashamed to be an American. And the title of U.S. soldier is just the lie of fools.

'I am sorry for everything. The horror that is America is disgusting.'

In one reply, his father, Bob Bergdahl, writes: 'OBEY YOUR CONSCIENCE!'

The Associated Press could not independently authenticate the emails published by the magazine in 2012.

Bergdahl's release, brokered with the Taliban in exchange for five Guantanamo detainees, has ignited fury in some corners of the U.S. military community and re-opened old wounds, with some accusing him of desertion.

'Bowe Bergdahl deserted during a time of war and his fellow Americans lost their lives searching for him,' former Sergeant Matt Vierkant told CNN.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Before I read this, what does it have to do with the topic at hand?

(06-02-2014 10:04 AM)LSU04_08 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Before I read this, what does it have to do with the topic at hand?

Im not going to force you learn anything...read it or don't...your call.

Let the facts play out but I will say this - "Leave no man behind" doesn't come with a "unless he's a ****** person and a possible deserter" clause.

Stanley is right. Glad he's on the way home, not sure if it was the right way to go about it. Going in and taking him back by force would have been a much stronger move.

In the end this exchange will cause more harm than good.

(06-02-2014 10:14 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Let the facts play out but I will say this - "Leave no man behind" doesn't come with a "unless he's a ****** person and a possible deserter" clause.

As far as the deserter part goes, I think that's implied.

If you desert, get caught, and then get friendly w/ the enemy, I'm not sure you're a priority to get back. Certainly not top priority.

(06-02-2014 12:10 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:14 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Let the facts play out but I will say this - "Leave no man behind" doesn't come with a "unless he's a ****** person and a possible deserter" clause.

As far as the deserter part goes, I think that's implied.

If you desert, get caught, and then get friendly w/ the enemy, I'm not sure you're a priority to get back. Certainly not top priority.

Well, it did take 'em like 5 years didn't it?

That's an interesting twist.

I'd think being a deserter would absolve your comrades from any and all reponsibility to you, especially if you can still be shot for it.

Anyways, paying 5 camel- er I mean- Talibans for him seems steep though if all of this is true.

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

(06-02-2014 12:39 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

I'm sure you do. When these 5 are back in circulation and we wind up losing more people because of them will you still feel that way?

(06-02-2014 12:47 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:39 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

I'm sure you do. When these 5 are back in circulation and we wind up losing more people because of them will you still feel that way?

I'm not concerned with what hasn't happened...

(06-02-2014 12:47 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:39 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

I'm sure you do. When these 5 are back in circulation and we wind up losing more people because of them will you still feel that way?

Does your Crystal Ball also tell you who's going to win the Super Bowl in 2015?

(06-02-2014 12:54 PM)mathenis89 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:47 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:39 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

I'm sure you do. When these 5 are back in circulation and we wind up losing more people because of them will you still feel that way?

Does your Crystal Ball also tell you who's going to win the Super Bowl in 2015?

You two are quite the optimists. Common sense is not quite the same thing as foretelling the future.

(06-02-2014 12:52 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:47 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:39 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

I'm sure you do. When these 5 are back in circulation and we wind up losing more people because of them will you still feel that way?

I'm not concerned with what hasn't happened...

Good for you. Bad for the guys who wear the uniform who do have to be concerned about it.

(06-02-2014 12:39 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

You have a right to your opinion and I have a right to think you're an a$$hole for that opinion.

(06-02-2014 01:01 PM)QuestionSocratic Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:39 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

You have a right to your opinion and I have a right to think you're an a$$hole for that opinion.

(06-02-2014 12:52 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:47 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:39 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 12:26 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Didn't see where we gave up captured terrorists.

Yeah, trading arms is worse to me...

I'm sure you do. When these 5 are back in circulation and we wind up losing more people because of them will you still feel that way?

I'm not concerned with what hasn't happened...

Have you ever had an original thought?

(06-02-2014 10:08 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:04 AM)LSU04_08 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 10:01 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair

Before I read this, what does it have to do with the topic at hand?

Im not going to force you learn anything...read it or don't...your call.

Again, what does this have to do with trading five terrorists for one American that stated his hate for this country? I don't need to read about something from 30 years ago just because it deals with a Republican and you think it justifies the current rubbish by this administration.