Hi, Stowe,
I'm very much appreciating your perspective on this. I fear, it is going to turn out to be a pretty complex matter, when all is said and done.
It appears, from what his comrades have attested, that Sergeant Bergdahl was not a hero, and that actions he took may have jeopardized the lives of his fellow-soldiers. That being said, I am not without sympathy for him (even if these reports prove to be true): for I honestly could not say what I would have done, faced with those sorts of pressures. (I am not equipped to be a soldier, and God help me, should I ever have to spend time in a theatre of war - even as a civilian.)
All of that being said, I am fully in agreement with the many commentators who suggest that Sergeant Bergdahl must be given an opportunity to rest, and recuperate, and then state his case, before the world at large, condemns him. The truth is seldom simple, and there may be more to this than we know. It is my understanding that the U.S. Army is investigating the allegations, in question: and I think we ought not leap to judgement before that investigation has concluded, and its evidence has been presented. . . and before Sergeant Bergdahl has had the opportunity to defend himself.
In answer to Jon's comment - I, personally, have no qualm about the lengthy hospitality extended to a number of individuals, at Guantanamo Bay. At least, that's what I said to Dick Cheney, at lunch on Tuesday ;-)))*
"A" XOXOXOXOXOXO
*P.S. A little more seriously, Jon - I would break down the Guantanamo Bay detention issue into three parts - and you (and others) are absolutely welcome to disagree with me on any of these three points:
1.) I think that, in time of war, the U.S. was fully within its rights to detain these individuals, and question them, at length.
2.) I fear, however, that many of the individuals detained were not accorded their full rights under the Geneva Conventions - particularly the right to have their case and status judged by a competent tribunal.
3.) I fear that some of the individuals detained MAY ACTUALLY have been either innocent, or, if not innocent, guilty of far lesser crimes than those of which they were accused. . . and, in the event, never had the opportunity either to profess their innocence, or to clarify the circumstances under which they cooperated with hostile forces.
This is, of course, a bad thing. And then there is the question of realpolitik; id est, how much practical GOOD, did these dententions do, the U.S. (and allied) cause?
Cheney believes (I think honestly, though he isn't my favourite luncheon-companion, notwithstanding the above) that MUCH valuable intelligence was garnered from the detainees. Critics suggest that almost NO valuable intelligence was obtained. I suspect, the truth is somewhere in the MIDDLE.
However, it is certain that the operation of Guantanamo has exacted certain costs, upon the U.S. cause, in terms both of propaganda, and the further radicalization of hostile populations.
