Bergdahl’s Defense Says He Left Unit But Intended To Come Back
Click here for reuse options!Bergdahl told military investigators that he left his base in June 2009 to report on misconduct in his unit and always intended to come right back. That will also be his defense if and when he faces a court martial for desertion, according to his lawyer.
“He had concerns about certain conditions in the unit and things that happened in the unit and he figured that the only way to get any attention to them would be to get that information to a general officer,” Bergdahl’s lawyer, Eugene Fidell, told me Thursday. Fidell plans to argue that Bergdahl was thus technically “absent without official leave” (AWOL), rather than a deserter. The distinction could mean the difference between one month of confinement or life in prison for his client.
Bergdahl himself put forward this account of events in an interview with General Kenneth Dahl, whose report formed the basis for the Army’s decision to charge Bergdahl this week with desertion, an offense that holds a maximum penalty of five years, and misbehavior before the enemy, a charge that could earn him life in prison if convicted. Bergdahl claims that he didn’t feel he could raise his concerns about his unit with his direct supervisors and needed to speak with a higher-ranking officer. Bergdahl always intended to return to his base, says Fidell.
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8 responses to Bergdahl’s Defense Says He Left Unit But Intended To Come Back
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William March 27th, 2015 at 11:04
I think the fact that he was bounced out of the Coast Guard after 26 days for a mental disorder, and waivered into the Army might come into play.
The important thing to me is that he’s facing a US Courts Martial instead of languishing is some third world sh!t-hole.
Ricky C. March 27th, 2015 at 12:04
So he went to the enemy to voice his concerns? What a total waste of a human being.
arc99 March 27th, 2015 at 12:18
Where does the story say he went to the enemy to voice his concerns?
The story says that he was attempting to voice his concerns to higher ranking officers.
The linked story also says
“”””“No, he was not planning to walk to China or India,” Fidell writes in the memo, contrary to claims by some soldiers who served with Bergdahl. “Nor is there any credible evidence that SGT Bergdahl left in order to get in touch with the Taliban.””””
But thanks for the contribution. I will add it to my archive of documents demonstrating that 99% of the time, critics of the President have no clue what they are talking about. Incidentally, if it were on paper, that archive would require a half dozen semi trailers to transport.
allison1050 March 27th, 2015 at 20:55
Where did you read that Ricky? Certainly not here or in the link this was taken from so WHERE?
granpa.usthai March 28th, 2015 at 01:06
it’s just another lead balloon the anti Obama republicans at the Aryan brotherhood compound are trying to float. Now I’m starting to wonder if a General Dahl may have some sort of political agenda via a conspiracy with 47 or more US Senators/Congresspeople?
granpa.usthai March 28th, 2015 at 00:34
not all REAL AMERICANS consider US Army Officers the ‘enemy’
but I can understand why a Nazi would.
Darlene Dyer March 27th, 2015 at 18:45
Don’t even think you can have a sensible conversation with anyone that watches Fox New Cable. After they have been Brained Washed its nothing else that someone can tell these Foxetts anything different.
granpa.usthai March 28th, 2015 at 01:03
maybe someone in the Army should do a double check on General Dahl. Just to make sure he understood what Bergdahl was saying?