The Release of Bowe Bergdahl (versus, county, Utah, medical)

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by pollyrobin

If everyone knew Bergdahl was a deserter at his post, I am calling him a deserter for these questions:

Is Bergdahl the first deserter that we've ever done a prisoner swap for?
I simply can't find the answer for that in my internet search.

And does anyone know, has the military in the past tried to save known deserters (get them back) in other wars once held captive.

Apparently the Army had not and has not yet officially classified him as a deserter.

[Hyperthetic]

Originally Posted by ChicagoMeO

But what does the Rose Garden mean to people? why is it special? I'm sorry I'm not being sarcastic, i just want to realize what everyone else realizes.

Respect, got damnit!

Respect!


Actually, I think many join the military to acquire a respect that they otherwise couldn't find.

Some people have no self-respect and depend on others (or other opportunities) for garnering some.

In the land of opportunity, these people are desperate.

"Dignity" is a very slippery thing.

"Johnny Yuma was a rebel; he wandered through the west."

[pollyrobin]

Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk

Apparently the Army had not and has not yet officially classified him as a deserter.

I know that.

Once again, I am asking the question as if the soldier (not necessarily Bergdahl) is a deserter
of fact.

Has the military ever swapped prisoners for ANY known deserter in past wars?

And, has our military gone to save ANY known deserters in past wars?

I am just very curious about this scenario but can't find any info about it online.

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by pollyrobin

I know that.

Once again, I am asking the question as if the soldier (not necessarily Bergdahl) is a deserter
of fact.

Has the military ever swapped prisoners for ANY known deserter in past wars?

And, has our military gone to save ANY known deserters in past wars?

I am just very curious about this scenario but can't find any info about it online.

The classification makes all the difference.

Technically, "prisoner" and "deserter" are mutually exclusive terms. Someone officially classifed as a "deserter" is not classified as a "prisoner."

[pollyrobin]

Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk

The classification makes all the difference.

Technically, "prisoner" and "deserter" are mutually exclusive terms. Someone officially classifed as a "deserter" is not classified as a "prisoner."

So then, annoying aren't I, has the United States ever swapped prisoners for
a classified deserter in past wars....

Or is it like the chicken and the egg; one can not ever be classified a deserter
till after trial by military? So everyone is considered just a prisoner

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by pollyrobin

So then, annoying aren't I, has the United States ever swapped prisoners for
a classified deserter in past wars....

Or is it like the chicken and the egg; one can not ever be classified a deserter
till after trial by military? So everyone is considered just a prisoner

Mutual prisoner releases have usually been part of negotiated peace or cease-fire agreements. Unilateral withdrawal situations are a new bird (even the withdrawal from Vietnam was done by a negotiated cease-fire agreement that included a prisoner exchange). This has more in common with the kinds of exchanges the Israelies have made in the past.

There have been hundreds to thousands of deserters in previous wars--over 50,000 from the Army alone during WWII. I doubt it has been possible in previous wars to verify whether every person returned as part of a negotiated prisoner return hadn't actually been a deserter.

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk

Mutual prisoner releases have usually been part of negotiated peace or cease-fire agreements. Unilateral withdrawal situations are a new bird (even the withdrawal from Vietnam was done by a negotiated cease-fire agreement that included a prisoner exchange). This has more in common with the kinds of exchanges the Israelies have made in the past.

There have been hundreds to thousands of deserters in previous wars--over 50,000 from the Army alone during WWII. I doubt it has been possible in previous wars to verify whether every person returned as part of a negotiated prisoner return hadn't actually been a deserter.

So in WWII, were all those 50,000 tried and formally convicted of desertion? I hadn't heard of anything like that number of trials. If they were not all tried, how was desertion determined? Given the serious consequences of being a deserter, it seems to me the military might actually avoid calling someone a deserter unless there was hard evidence. Also, it seems to me that there is a difference between a soldier who freaks out and leaves and a soldier who leaves in order to help the enemy.

[Hyperthetic]

Originally Posted by jacqueg

So in WWII, were all those 50,000 tried and formally convicted of desertion? I hadn't heard of anything like that number of trials. If they were not all tried, how was desertion determined? Given the serious consequences of being a deserter, it seems to me the military might actually avoid calling someone a deserter unless there was hard evidence. Also, it seems to me that there is a difference between a soldier who freaks out and leaves and a soldier who leaves in order to help the enemy.

George W. Bush was a deserter.

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by Hyperthetic

George W. Bush was a deserter.

In the legal sense, no he wasn't. He did have a loose definition of attendance though...

[Hyperthetic]

Originally Posted by Hyperthetic

George W. Bush was a deserter.

Maybe Bergdahl will be president someday.