Army: Bergdahl reports are untrue, no decision made

2015-01-28T09:32:02-05:00

From: Army Times

The Army says there is no truth to media reports claiming a decision has been made to charge Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion.

The Army continues to review the case against Bergdahl, said Paul Boyce, a spokesman for Forces Command, on Tuesday morning.

"Sgt. Bergdahl has not been charged with any crime," said Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby during a press briefing Tuesday afternoon.

"No decision has been made with respect to the case of Sgt. Bergdahl," Kirby said. "None. There is no timeline to make that decision, and Gen. [Mark] Milley is being put under no pressure to make a decision."

In a report Monday citing two anonymous military sources, retired Lt. Col. Tony Schaffer told Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" that the Army plans to charge Bergdahl with desertion. Schaffer also told the outlet his sources confirmed to him that Bergdahl's lawyer has been given a charge sheet.

No charge sheets were available Tuesday, and Boyce said he is unaware of any charge sheets being issued against Bergdahl, adding that the Fox News story "seems to be speculative in nature." Bergdahl's attorney Eugene Fidell declined to comment. NBC News, citing an anonymous senior defense official, is also reporting a desertion charge is coming, possibly within the week.

Milley, commanding general of Forces Command, "is reviewing now the Army's facts and findings to determine, impartially, any appropriate next steps and possible actions," Boyce said.

Milley is "actively reviewing the case," he said. "No decision's been made."

There is no timeline for when Milley must make a decision.

Milley received the Army's investigationBergdahl, 28, disappeared from Combat Outpost Mest-Lalak in Paktika province, Afghanistan, on June 30, 2009.

He spent five years as a captive under the Taliban before he was freed in a May 31 prisoner swap that also freed five Taliban leaders from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

He is now assigned to a desk job at U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, while he awaits the outcome of the Army's review.

The Army has declined to release any details of the six-month investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Then-Spc. Bergdahl was accused of leaving his patrol base alone and intentionally before he was captured by Taliban insurgents in 2009.

A prior investigation of Bergdahl's disappearance — conducted in 2009 long before his return — found that some members of his unit believed Bergdahl left his patrol base alone at night at least once before and returned safely.

As the general court-martial convening authority, Milley has several courses of action, from no further action against Bergdahl to court-martial.

The case presents a challenge for the Army's leadership, which has to decide whether to punish a soldier who spent five years as a prisoner of war or essentially overlook the allegations of misconduct that surrounded his disappearance. Dec. 22, Boyce said.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/crime/2015/01/27/bergdahl-army-update-false-reports/22396367/

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Jan 28 at 2015 9:56 AM

2015-01-28T09:56:30-05:00

just shows you cant believe everything you hear/read/see...

I mean, if one outlet is going to report it, wont they all pick it up???
Or is this kind of like snow storms in the North East?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jan 28 at 2015 10:03 AM

2015-01-28T10:03:32-05:00

I hate to say it, but I called that one! To me, it was obvious that LTC (ret) Schaffer was making statements that weren't 100% true. The "tell" for me is when he said Bergdahl was already a civilian. People are just wanting an end for this story; I'm one of them. However, we know that politics will play a huge role in the speed and decision made behind what to do with Bergdahl. While I feel that Bergdahl deserves to face desertion charges, I was not there so like most of you, I sit and wait to be told what the DoD and DA decide to do with this kid.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2015 11:06 AM

2015-01-28T11:06:01-05:00

It sounds like what is floating around in the ether is a leak that is being plugged by pro-obama supporters at the DoD. The optics of a deserter being traded for 5 terrorists would not bode well for the CinC. Maybe he should have waited for a DoD decision before aiding and abetting a terrorist organization who has declared holy jihad against the US.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 28 at 2015 11:33 AM

2015-01-28T11:33:34-05:00

The conspiracy theorist in me says someone got a phone call from high up the food chain. The realist in me says the media got burned for once trying to sensationalize the news. Wait and see.....

Response by PO1 Autumn Sandeen made Jan 28 at 2015 12:41 PM

2015-01-28T12:41:42-05:00

It had the feel, to me, of a trial balloon. Trial balloons in that context are where government officials intentionality release unfinalized info to see what public reaction will be.

Response by SGT Monika Sloan made Jan 28 at 2015 6:01 PM

2015-01-28T18:01:16-05:00

This whole situation is disgraceful. We should never negotiate with terrorists. Especially for a piece of crap deserter like Bergdahl. He needs to face a court martial.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2015 6:03 PM

2015-01-28T18:03:33-05:00

Does anybody else think there's some serious pressure from above to knock this story down? I'll bet the White House wants this to just go away, but it won't, and I don't think they can possibly drag it out until January 2017. Or can they?

Response by 1SG Eric Rice made Jan 29 at 2015 2:02 AM

2015-01-29T02:02:12-05:00

This is interesting....not sure what to believe at this point with the case. Anyone who defects to the enemy should be held accountable. Although admitting Berdahl's defection/desertion would not look good for the administration.

Politiciztion of the information is to be expected and may be a calculated intelligence plan. Who knows? But it is already getting out of control with the GITMO detainees that have been released who are now back in the game and wreaking havoc in the Middle East.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/01/22/capture-the-flag-in-afghanistan/

Capture the Flag in Afghanistan

ISIS is trying to make inroads into Afghanistan but how likely are Afghan’s to replace their white Taliban flags with the black ISIS flag?

Response by SSgt Jacob Lenfestey made Jan 31 at 2015 2:33 AM

2015-01-31T02:33:37-05:00

This whole situation is so, so wrong. The media just keeps covering him up with other things to keep people from wanting action or from second guessing the administration. hen when they feel like most people are cooled off from it they feed the public false information? Just take action and charge this guy, he's not worth our time to see because he is a deserter. We should be focusing on more important things like the terrorists that got released or the people who released them.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jan 31 at 2015 7:49 AM

2015-01-31T07:49:53-05:00

My gut is telling me that the initial reports (that the Army had reached its decision) were accurate, but that they were leaked prematurely. Perhaps the Army wants to prep everything more prior to making an announcement, which is reasonable. I have no concrete factual basis for that statement, but it is just my hunch on this.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2015 12:00 PM

2015-02-01T12:00:07-05:00

I'm really hoping this delay for prosecution is just to make sure the cards are lined up. I'd be pretty annoyed if he got off on a technicality.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2015 2:15 PM

2015-02-01T14:15:56-05:00

I am so glad that members of this site are so well informed as to know the nature of a man's guilt before he comes to trial.

I am certain that FOX, NBC and MSNBC all have better sources and a better understanding of the facts and the laws than the general officer who is assigned the investigation and given all the access the military can grant him. But the press who relies on prior service members who get paid for their appearance got the facts right.

I am wondering why he was left alone in a combat zone. I mean I thought the battle buddy system was the army standard. They used to try and bust us for walking to the PX alone.

Response by MSgt Michael Ivey made Jun 20 at 2022 2:50 PM

2022-06-20T14:50:53-04:00

I would be absolutely shocked if this piece of garbage is charged with desertion or aiding and abetting the enemy. It’s been what, 10 yrs since Obammy traded for him? Court martial? Not gonna happen as much as I would love to see it happen!