FIRST STEP IN COURT-MARTIAL PROCESS FOR U.S. SOLDIER RECOVERED FOR SWAP OF “TALIBAN 5”
by Sharon Rondeau
(Dec. 17, 2015) — A press release received moments ago from U.S. Army Forces Command through the Ft. Bragg Public Affairs Office states that “Army Sgt. Robert Bowdrie ‘Bowe’ Bergdahl” will be arraigned on December 22 at Ft. Bragg on charges of “Desertion with Intent to Shirk Important or Hazardous Duty” and “Misbehavior Before The Enemy by Endangering the Safety of a Command, Unit or Place.”
Bergdahl faces a general court-martial to be held on an as-yet-undetermined date.
The first charge emanates from Article 85 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the second is from Article 99.
Bergdahl was reportedly rescued by a U.S. military team after spending five years in captivity following his June 30, 2009 disappearance from his unit in Combat Outpost Mest-Malak in Paktika Province, Afghanistan.
On May 31, 2014, Bergdahl’s recovery and the swap of five “most influential” Taliban commanders kept in captivity at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba was announced, with Obama giving a press conference in the Rose Garden flanked by Bergdahl’s father and mother on each side.
The following day, some of those who served with Bergdahl expressed anger at Bergdahl’s actions despite his five years in captivity. He has been called a traitor by some, who said that other soldiers died while carrying out a search-and-recovery mission for him.
An online support group expressed joy after his release was officially announced.
Last week, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) released the results of an 18-month congressional investigation which found that the prisoner swap the Obama regime effected to gain Bergdahl’s release violated the 2014 NDAA, which Obama signed.
The arraignment hearing begins at 9:00 a.m.