Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl (left) arrived at the Fort Bragg courtroom Thursday.
Army prosecutors recommended Thursday that Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who has pleaded guilty to deserting his Army post in Afghanistan, spend 14 years in prison and be stripped of most benefits afforded to military veterans, including health care.
Bergdahl’s lawyers, citing medical experts’ determination that prison time could exacerbate his fragile mental health, have suggested he receive a dishonorable discharge only, which in addition to the loss of health care could greatly complicate his future employment options.
The judge, Army Colonel Jeffery Nance, closed the court before noon Thursday to deliberate. In addition to the desertion charges, Bergdahl, 31, also has pleaded guilty to misbehavior before the enemy, which carries a maximum life sentence. Nance is expected to make his decision as early as Friday.
Major Justin Oshana, the government’s lead prosecutor, condemned Bergdahl’s decision to leave his base in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on June 30, 2009. Bergdahl was taken prisoner by the Taliban, who regularly tortured him during five years of captivity. His disappearance triggered a series of ‘‘dangerous, hasty missions’’ to recover him, Oshana said.
Several troops sustained serious wounds during the search effort. Among them was Master Sergeant Mark Allen, who was shot in the head during a mission to collect intelligence on Bergdahl’s whereabouts. His wife, Shannon, told the court Tuesday that her husband no longer can speak, walk, or care for himself as a result.
‘‘Sergeant Bergdahl,’’ Oshana said, ‘‘does not have a monopoly on suffering as a result of his choices.’’
Nance informed Bergdahl that a dishonorable discharge from the Army would be socially stigmatizing and block him from economic opportunities, including generous home loans offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the GI Bill, which provides a free college education to all military personnel who serve honorably. Bergdahl told the judge he understood, and that the recommendation from his defense team reflects how desperately he hopes to avoid further confinement.
Captain Nina Banks, who gave the defense’s remarks, said the punishment for Bergdahl’s ‘‘horrible decision’’ to leave his base was mostly paid out by his years in captivity, during which he was severely beaten and suffered lasting physical and mental injuries. The prosecution, Banks argued, aims to discipline Bergdahl at the level of retribution.
Bergdahl’s punishment, she added, should not be ‘‘an eye for an eye.’’
Nance also should weigh Bergdahl’s diagnosis of a schizophrenia-like illness, which an expert said distorted Bergdahl’s ability to think through the consequences of his actions, Banks said.
She called a dishonorable discharge the appropriate punishment.
Banks also cited President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric during his bid for the White House, when he called Bergdahl a ‘‘dirty, rotten traitor,’’ prompting cheers from his supporters. That has worsened Bergdahl’s hyper-vigilance and prompts him to be on guard to fend off potential attacks, she said.
Trump’s comments, Banks added, satisfy another factor Nance should consider: As commander in chief, he sent a message ‘‘loud and clear’’ to all troops that Bergdahl’s offenses were severe, making deterrence redundant.
On the witness stand Tuesday, Bergdahl said he repeatedly tried to escape his captors because he did not want the Taliban to declare victory through the propaganda value of his confinement, which Banks encouraged the judge to weigh.
‘‘They didn’t win, your honor,’’ Banks said to Nance. ‘‘Sergeant Bergdahl didn’t win either.’’
#1: Hank Rearden To: cranky (#0)
Fvck the hollowed-out Odumbass military.
Hank Rearden posted on 2017-11-03 12:06:05 Reply Private Reply
#2: Liberator To: cranky (#0)
14 years is a joke. IF he even serves that out.
Liberator posted on 2017-11-03 12:48:07 Reply Private Reply
#3: Liberator To: cranky (#0)
Progressive-anti-America feminist's subversive defense of the indefensible should be roundly disregarded as HER rank and AA appointment should be investigated.
Liberator posted on 2017-11-03 12:50:13 Reply Private Reply
#4: cranky To: Liberator (#3)
I'll go along with that.
cranky posted on 2017-11-03 13:03:54 Reply Private Reply
#5: cranky To: Liberator (#2)
I figured that had to be the max the prosecution could ask for.
cranky posted on 2017-11-03 13:05:43 Reply Private Reply
#6: cranky To: Hank Rearden (#1)
Oh, you have to be kidding, right?
cranky posted on 2017-11-03 13:07:41 Reply Private Reply
#7: sneakypete To: Hank Rearden (#1)
Oh,it is MUCH worse than that. The next thing you will hear about him is that he has hired an agent,and is shopping around a book and movie deal about his experiences.
Then it will be a speaking tour to rant and rave about the injustice the US Army and America is inflicting on "the innocent Muslims and other 3rd world citizens in their quest for world domination."
He's going to end up being a multi-millionaire media figure that dates Hollywood starlets.
He is also going to be an example of what can happen FOR you instead of TO you if you betray your oath and your fellow soldiers and desert your duty in a combat zone.
sneakypete posted on 2017-11-04 10:28:48 Reply Private Reply
#8: sneakypete To: Liberator (#3)
Wrong. She was just doing her duty,which was to provide her client with the best defense possible.
You might not like it,I might not like it,and she may not even like it,but we can't slam Bergdahl for failure to do his duty,and then slam her for DOING her duty.
sneakypete posted on 2017-11-04 10:32:29 Reply Private Reply
#9: A K A Stone To: sneakypete (#7)
A K A Stone posted on 2017-11-04 10:34:59 Reply Private Reply
#10: Liberator To: sneakypete (#8)
SS Guards and Stormtroopers were also just doing their "duty."
Since when is the subversion and mockery of justice of The Guilty a "duty"? To WHOM?? WHAT principle? This is an endorsement and Exhibit "A" of Moral Relativism on parade.
You might not like it,I might not like it,and she may not even like it...
Te problem is...SHE LOVED IT.
You mentioned "social engineering" in another post. This is merely an extension and example of that very same Progressive Principle.
Liberator posted on 2017-11-04 13:28:25 Reply Private Reply
#11: Liberator To: cranky (#5)
With all the evidence stacked against this guy, I presumed they could have arranged for a triple firing squad.
ZERO time??
The Fix was in. AGAIN.
Trump has GOT to jettison all of 0bammy's holdover subversive America-Haters.
Liberator posted on 2017-11-04 14:19:05 Reply Private Reply
#12: sneakypete To: Liberator (#10)
You should be ashamed of yourself for even trying to float THAT turd.
Since when is the subversion and mockery of justice of The Guilty a "duty"?
Since a little thing called "The Bill of Rights" was written and voted into law. A little clause about no man should be brought up for trial without a legal representative. In FACT,a defense attorney that shuns his or her duty to provide a defendant with a vigorous defense can be disbarred and even sent to jail of they fail to do their duty.
To WHOM?? WHAT principle?
Are you REALLY that freaking stupid? Or is it you think what this nation needs is "Stalinist Era Courts",where the defense works with the prosecutor and judge,and the case is settled,almost always with a conviction,by the time the defendant enters the courtroom?
You might not know this,but in the Lubyanka Prison in Moscow,there were two lines in the hallway outside the courtroom. One was a line of people waiting to be convicted,and the other was a line for those already convicted and waiting to be sent to the basement to have a bullet put into the back of their heads.
Maybe you think THAT is a better legal system for America than the one we have?
sneakypete posted on 2017-11-04 16:34:12 Reply Private Reply