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Banquo
climber
Morgan Hill, CA (Mo' Hill)
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 8, 2011 - 09:37pm PT
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Bowe Bergdahl of Sun Valley Idaho was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2009. He is still held by them. I believe he is the only unaccounted for US military serviceman in Afghanistan.
There is evidence that he has joined the Taliban and some have condemned him for this.
I'd like to hear what people think about this guy.
It has always been my position to not second guess the man on the spot. Sometimes I take this position when I look back at times when I have backed off a climb on some peak somewhere - I was there and did what I did based on the situation. Looking at it from the comfort of my home it looks much different. Can we condemn this guy before we even talk to him?
I'd like to hear from anybody but particularly from vets or those close to vets.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowe_R._Bergdahl
There is a lot on the internet including YouTube videos.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
bouldering
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Sounds like he's sol, otherwise Rambo and the black helos would have already rescued him.
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Banquo
climber
Morgan Hill, CA (Mo' Hill)
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 8, 2011 - 11:00pm PT
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So much for no man left behind eh?
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Braunini
Big Wall climber
cupertino
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Philo? Ron?
Nothing? Really?
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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We should hold off and see how the story develops.
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John Duffield
Mountain climber
New York
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I'm shocked at the heat our President is taking over this. I don't see how he could've done anything else. Those 5 "high value" targets, are neutralized. Got fingerprints, that eye identification etc. They leave the Islamic world and they disappear.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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I'm not shocked at the heat....racist repubs (being redundant there) will jump at any opportunity to discreit Obama.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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He's going through some serious debriefing right now.......
I'm sure Ron would hang him for being a traitor.
But wait, he's a war theater vet, and Ron loves combat vets! What to do?
Ron hates it when the world isn't all black and whitey. But he's already made up his mind, so it's cool.
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lostinshanghai
Social climber
someplace
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I agree with Donini on this one. Have heard both sides: SF forces and the Taliban respected each others movements. No tricks up anyone's sleeves.
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crankster
Trad climber
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If he was killed by the Taliban the Fox wingNuts would be calling for Obama's head. It's the same dreary, tired playbook: try to weaken the president by taking the opposite side on every single frickin' issue. All masterminded by Karl Rove and the $$ interests who want the keys to the kingdom back.
Screw all the right-wing, armchair quarterback's constantly crying and belly-aching like spoiled babies.
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lostinshanghai
Social climber
someplace
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Just would wonder what would have happened if one or both were/are snatched. How they would respond? I am sure they would say no negotiation by any means.
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John Duffield
Mountain climber
New York
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If he was killed by the Taliban the Fox wingNuts would be calling for Obama's head. It's the same dreary, tired playbook: try to weaken the president by taking the opposite side on every single frickin' issue. All masterminded by Karl Rove and the $$ interests who want the keys to the kingdom back.
I suspect the ideological left likes to demonize Karl more than he is worth, but otherwise, I can't dispute any of this.
Can you imagine our President says no? WHAT! One of our troops isn't worth 5 towel heads? No, Obama was 100% correct. There's a punch list of things to do to get out of this money sucking war and this is among them. He was right to strike while the iron was hot.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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According to firsthand accounts from soldiers in his platoon, Bergdahl, while on guard duty, shed his weapons and walked off the observation post with nothing more than a compass, a knife, water, a digital camera and a diary.
At least six soldiers were killed in subsequent searches for Bergdahl, and many soldiers in his platoon said attacks seemed to increase against the United States in Paktika province in the days and weeks following his disappearance.
"Any of us would have died for him while he was with us, and then for him to just leave us like that, it was a very big betrayal," said former U.S. Army Sgt. Josh Korder, who has the name of three soldiers who died while searching for Bergdahl tatooed on his back.
Many of Bergdahl's fellow troops -- from the seven or so who knew him best in his squad to the larger group that made up the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division -- told CNN that they signed nondisclosure agreements agreeing to never share any information about Bergdahl's disappearance and the efforts to recapture him. Some were willing to dismiss that document in hopes that the truth would come out about a soldier who they now fear is being hailed as a hero, while the men who lost their lives looking for him are ignored.
"I don't think I could have continued to go on without being able to share with you and the people the true things that happened in this situation," Korder said Monday. "Because if you guys aren't made aware of it, it will just go on, and he'll be a hero, and nobody will be able to know the truth."
http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/01/us/bergdahl-deserter-or-hero/
Apparently Obama is getting so desperate he'll do anything for a 1 or 2 point bump in his approvals. Seriously, seriously pathetic...and disgusting.
Worst President in living memory---and that's saying a lot.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Yes bring him back,give him lousy VA health care,cut his veteran benefits,then make him face the Obamacare death panels.
You all,are always RIGHT.
EDIT:Do not think for one minute that,that might be your kid or relative,only think of yourself.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Yes The Chief, I'm serious. But serious about what exactly? I didn't even commit to anything in particular for chrissake!
I'd say the company has a decent plan for keeping an eye on these individuals, up to and including their departure toward all those virgins in the sky. They're probably micro-chipped or some such thing.
So you would have left Bergdahl there to rot I suppose?
Edit for Ward: Worst president in living memory my ass.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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^^^^^^exactly
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Glad the man is out.....war sucks
....racist repubs
Donni... I am surprised at your comment, always figgured you were more thoughtfull.
I'm sure Ron would hang him for being a traitor.
But wait, he's a war theater vet, and Ron loves combat vets! What to do?
Ron hates it when the world isn't all black and whitey. But he's already made up his mind, so it's cool.
Survival... you speak for others? Like you know what they will say???
Pretty lame.... IMHO
And The President had better hope and pray that NONE of those guys gets involved in any more mischief
EDIT... to make more clear.
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John Duffield
Mountain climber
New York
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"Leave no man behind" doesn't compromise. You want some nice fine print to go with that?
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Guyman, no not speaking for Ron, just riffing on his general vibe.
Yes, I'm sure the prez is hoping these guys don't get all nasty on us.
There's only 50,000 Taliban or so. These dudes are on the worry list to be sure.
But for anyone here to say that the Bergdahl kid is not worth swapping a few is the height of arrogance in my mind.
See it however you like. Sorry the president forgot to ask you.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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And The President had better hope and pray that NONE of those guys gets involved in any more mischief
I disagree, that thought process/calculation is what politicians do. Saving an American citizen is more important than a political calculation. Obama is done with politics so what might happen in the future is not going to skew his judgment.
In the big picture these 5 jihadists do not make the world any more dangerous by being free, it is not like they have the secret formula for destroying America.
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