Sgt Bowe Bergdahl was born and raised in my state of Idaho. For five long years, his community has agonized, along with his family, about his detention in Afghanistan. The young man was 23 years old when he stepped into the arms of his captors. Legitimate questions surround his departure from his post and subsequent role as an international pawn. Whatever the circumstances of his disappearance, he was definitely a prisoner of the Taliban during those five years.
I find it astounding that so many Americans are stoning the man, his family, and President Obama’s negotiations to obtain his release. Make no mistake, I always thought there was something a little odd about his parents and possibly his disappearance. But I’m a little odd too, and odd is not a crime in America. The Bergdahls live in Sun Valley, Idaho. For those of you who may not know, this little village has transitioned from an old ranching/mining community to a wealthy celebrity la la land—a part of the state most natives dismiss as fantasy, much as Wyomingites dismiss Jackson Hole as a playground for out-of-touch, stinking rich, urbanites. In addition, Bergdahl’s parents, Robert and Jani, are of my generation, that 60s-ish generation of wild children and flower power. Come on folks, they named their kids Bowe and Sky. These are not your average by-the-book Idaho rednecks. Given his background, I am not surprised that idealistic young Bowe marched off with the Army to change the world. It is also easy to anticipate that such a background would instill a questioning mind and Bergdahl was obviously questioning America’s military presence in the middle east and his own participation in that mission.
Bergdahl was a prisoner of an American enemy. For five long years, this American boy lived by the calculated “generosity” of his captors, the Taliban. Other American heads have rolled into the desert. He and we never knew if Bowe’s head might be the next. He joined the military to serve his country. Perhaps he regretted that. Perhaps he acted improperly on that regret. He may have deserted. He may have simply gone off his rocker. (It wouldn’t be the first time an American soldier has lost it and endangered fellow soldiers.) We, the people, have no right to prejudge Bowe’s guilt or innocence. That is for a military tribunal to decide. In America, every man, woman, and child is innocent until proven guilty. That is the most basic tenant of our court system.
Begdahl is home. He is not a hero. He is a fallen soldier. His future is unclear. Americans do not (or should not) leave American citizens (including soldiers) in the hands of captors. Did The President act illegally? Again, I do not know. That is another question for the courts. But if Bowe were your son, daughter, mother, or father, you would be thankful to have him back on American soil. The questions won’t end, but let’s refrain from casting stones. That is what tribes do. We are better than that, aren’t we?
Rangewriter 
I was not there. Have no true knowledge of events. Thus cast no stones. I do wonder. And hope he does speak.
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Nor was I there. And even those who were there can only serve as witnesses, not judges. It will be interesting, for sure. I wonder how long this will ignite media fury.
Till the next media explosion, I guess.
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I’ve read about Bowe in passing and it surprises me how he managed to survive all those 5 years in Taliban hands.
And even if we often deny it – survival is a core instinct. He may have done what he needed to do. But you’re right, unnecessary judgement should not be passed.
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I suspect the Taliban wanted him to survive. He was a token of power for them. There will be all sorts of stories coming from this event, from what he endured, to what motivated him to walk right into their hands and to possible mismanagement within American forces. All of it will be sad. His life is forever changed, and at such a young age. But it is true, all active duty soldier’s lives are irreparably changed.
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Very well written Linda. And I agree with what you’ve said and also with slpsharon’s comments. Yes we need answers from him and let not throw stones at anyone! We weren’t there!
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Thanks, Glenda. Yes. We weren’t there. And he was painfully young. All that said, I fully expect a deluge from the survivors of those who have not come home from the desert. Theirs is no less a tragedy.
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“We are better than that, aren’t we?”
Yes, let’s hope so. Very good post, Linda, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
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Thanks Auntyuta. I knew you’d get this one.
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I’m guilty. Sorry. Though I do appreciate your take on this as someone who has knowledge of him and his family. What I strongly object to is ignoring congress, negotiating with terrorists and putting us all at higher risk of becoming pawns. This was such a gift to the terrorists they filmed the exchange and are already publicizing it as a huge victory.
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I understand your concern Renee. Time will tell if this was the coup that the Taliban is trying to make of it. I also wonder how we can expect quality people to sign up for the military if there is no hope of their rescue should they fall into enemy lines. I remember the Vietnam POWs. That is a horrible mark on our humanity.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly. There are too many in the top echelons of the US government, who took every measure they could to avoid serving their country in Vietnam, who now condemn others so readily.
Many very young men joined the forces in the belief that the wars in Iraq and Afganistan were just wars, and that they would be short. For that its what they were told.
It has become very clear neither was true and they have been let down. Of course, soldiers are commited to defend their comrades, but not every yong man can go on and on fighting after seeing his comrades die before his eyes, knowing the longer he stays the greater the chance he will get killed or maimed.
Whatever the truth is with Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, the fact he achieved the rank of sergeant demonstrates his superiors regarded him as a good and trustworthy soldier. Something must have changed.
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Bryan, you articulate my sentiments very well, thanks for the support. I suspect that in addition to the death of comrades, observing how war impacts the women and children of a war-torn country is also a factor that may tip some soldiers over the edge.
Once Sgt Bergdahl regains his health, I suspect he will have many questions to answer, but we should never question bringing him home to answer those questions rather than to rot in a Taliban prison.
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Linda, this is the best write up I have seen. You have done an excellent job of trying to divorce the politics, which on any issue these days, if the other does it, I have to be against it. So, right now, most of the debate is him being a pawn in an ugly, routine we/they game. My thesis is bring him home. Irrespective of the circumstances, that is the critical step. He is also innocent until proven guilty and being tried in the press is not the best way for justice. He may, in fact, be proven guilty of some of the accusations, but that is for the military court to decide, not the press and not the politicians. I do want to say I have a great admiration the purpose of the press, but there are some who are more inclined to sound byte reporting and less investigative journalism, so sources matter. Many thanks and well done, BTG
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Thank you! As much as you read, I take your compliment to heart. You raise a good point, btg, in that as much as Sgt Bergdahl had a right, as an American citizen, to question the morality or actions of his government, so does the press have the the right and duty to ask questions of both the government and American citizens. But let’s keep it to asking question and stop hurling invectives. Non of us have the information needed to pass judgement.
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Judging. But a great perspective, non the less.
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Thanks, judging Geritheatrics. We are a big country and each of us is entitled to our opinions.
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I appreciate your point of view. I agree that this young man is being used as a pawn by both sides but as a person who faithfullly (and honorably) served our country I cannot condone what he has done. People who have not served do not understand the hardships and the daily tauntings. It is not easy but duty to country and the small band you serve is essential. You can not go running off at a whim it can mean someone’s life (and in Afghanistan it often does).
This man should be dishonored for dissertion it is the core value of a soldier to stay at his post to fulfill his duty for the safety of others. .He put others in harms way and I understand lives were sacrificed for his heedless action.
I could not live with myself if I knew my faithlessness resulted in one person’s death.
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Thanks so much for speaking up with your own inside perspective. I do agree that he will need to answer questions. I would assume that once his health is stabilized, he will be brought forth to stand at court-marshall. My point is that in this country, he is innocent till proven guilty. It is not for me or the press or his peers to assume his guilt. That is for the military tribunal to decide. Would you want your military leaders to assume that you are guilty of some offense like treason or desertion and based upon those superior’s judgement of you, be left to rot in the hands of the enemy? I believe it is our first duty to bring everyone home, if at all possible. Then there will be the time and the means to judge fairly.
I understand and fully agree with your assertion that a soldier can not run from his post. Even if he questions his mission and his leaders. (Of course, this brings up all the nastiness of Viet Nam and the My Lai case, but even that required a court room, not a battlefield judgement on either side.)
May I further say that I would be honored to polish your boots and your bathroom for each year you have served in the military. I do recognize the huge sacrifice our troops make, often getting into something they really didn’t anticipate, and even more often, lacking the support from our government that they are entitled to. The sacrifice of the men and women in the service fingers out to their families as well: the lost moments of childhood, the missed birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, births, deaths, and family crisis support. And the sacrifice never ends because a part of each soldier stays back there in the horror of the battlefield. Even if their bodies come home intact, their hearts are forever altered. For all your sacrifices, pain, and misery, I thank you, Moondustwriter.
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We need to stop mindlessly sending young people off to foreign countries to get shot at. But we won’t, because we continue to believe that war is somehow noble and glorious. It isn’t.
Excellent post, Linda.
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Ya, Charles, and those who wage war aren’t the ones getting shot at. We can’t even envision a world without war, unfortunately.
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You and Steven Colbert give me hope. 😉
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Thanks, Sybil. I’m sure we’re in the minority, Steven and I. And, btw, I’ve never watched him. Weird, eh?
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I so agree with you, Linda. Who is that person high above everybody else to cast the first stone? Unfortunately I don’t believe that our part of the world is more «civilized» than the rest – tribal or not. And I have lost much faith in the jurisdictional system, I have just seen to many case of guilty until otherwise proven. But I am glad you raise this important ethical issue.
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You also make a good point about my flippant remark about tribalism. Actually tribes are civilized, just organized a bit differently than we are…in some cases that is much better.
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I couldn’t have said it any better. Thank you. And we need to say what you have said over and over again! We are not a tribe. We are a nation who honors its commitments to our own.
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Thanks, Bob. I agree that we must honor our commitment to those who stepped up to serve. We owe it to everyone who has stepped up to the plate, to grant them their day in court. Many feel that lives were lost due to the irresponsibility of Bowe, and that lives may yel be lost in the future, due to negotiations on his behalf, so we should have simply left him there to rot. But that contradicts what our nation is supposed to be about: Innocent til proven guilty. And lets face it, when someone dies in the line of duty, the circumstances that lead to the death don’t bring that person back. Every life lost is a tragedy and things will fall apart in a heartbeat if we really play the blame game regarding the circumstances of those deaths. Blame will filter back in ways we may not be prepared to acknowledge.
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