Bergdahl Classification Isn't What Matters - Don't Miss the Larger Picture

All over the media there is horror and consternation in regards to the Bergdahl return.  He is being called a traitor and I have seen many calls for the death penalty floating about.  You are missing the bigger picture here.  First and foremost, the military never classified Bergdahl as a deserter.  That makes a huge difference in how the military should behave in trying to find and free him.  The military had an obligation to do so.  Secondly, the bigger picture seems to be getting missed here.  President Obama broke the law in order to get his return.  It doesn't matter what the standing of the soldier is.  The law would be broken even if there were not serious questions about Bergdahl's actions.

Now from the media reports I have read the sequence of events in this "trade" is that a video was made in December of 2013.  The White House was made aware of the video the following month.  In this very short video (I believe it is under three minutes) it reportedly shows Bergdahl in bad health.  In the statements made by the administration, as well as the president himself, the narrative that they are using is that they saw that his health was deteriorating and knew something had to be done.  Does that make sense to you?

If his health was so dire why did they wait close to five months to do something about it?  If his health was the reason for the "prisoner swap" wouldn't they have done it in late January or early February?  This is one among many questions that must be answered.

Another one of the narratives that the White House is laying out there is the need for absolute secrecy.  Everyone knows that there are leaks coming out of Capitol Hill.  That can't be denied.  But this is also the same institution that knew about the bin Laden raid months in advance.  Nothing of that leaked.  One would like to think that members of congress take national security seriously.  There are many who look at Bergdahl as a traitor, some of those people are members of Capitol Hill.  But that doesn't mean that they would voluntarily risk the life of that man by leaking the information.  This is just a ginned up excuse that the administration is floating to direct attention away from the fact that he has clearly broken the law.  A law, I might add, that he signed.  It isn't like he wasn't aware that the law existed.  It seems like the touted Constitutional law professor has left those ideals behind.

This administration has emboldened the Taliban to take additional Americans hostages.  Not to mention many other rogue nations across the world such as North Korea, Iran, and a whole host of others.  We are now known for negotiating with terrorists.  We have crossed that line and there will be no going back.

Conservatives need to do themselves a favor and let the military justice system do what needs to be done and let them handle Bergdahl, we have much bigger fish to fry.

Impeachment must be discussed in this context.  I have never called for that before during the Obama administration because I don't think incompetence is grounds for impeachment.  But this is a situation where multiple laws were broken, our national security has been endangered, and our troops all over the world have had a target put on their backs forever more.  That should not be allowed to stand.  This is the fight we should be waging.  Bergdahl is only a small cog in the wheel.  Let the Department of Defense handle him.

We Can Absord It? - Obama's Wars

"We can absorb a terrorist attack.  We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever....we absorbed it and we are stronger."

President Obama quoted in Bob Woodward's new book Obama's Wars.  This is a direct quote that White House is only not denying, but seems to be happy with the book and it's contents. 

This is truly scary.  While I fully understand that a large part of the presidency and governing in general is to look at things in a macro setting as opposed to looking at every issue on a micro level.  This is the reason that a country can't make deals with terrorists.  It only promotes more terrorism and the job of the government is to protect the country as a whole. 

With being said, WTF?  As I said, I am glad that he is looking at these issues on a macro level and I am very relieved that he says he is trying to prevent them, but this is one of the most insensitive statements a president can say.  Almost 3,000 families were shattered by the deaths of their loved ones.  A nation went into a tailspin when the realization of the dangers in the world came crashing down on that Tuesday morning.  The president would be much better served to keep these opinions to himself. 

McChrystal Out - Petraeus In

As expected, General McChrystal gave his letter of resignation today to President Obama.  The President has since announced that General Petraeus will be taking overseeing the theatre in Afghanistan. 

Petraeus has more than proven himself to be an excellent general and will give good guidance to the military men and women who are in harms way.  While I am still not convinced that McChrystal leaving is the best of ideas in the middle of a war, at least we have a very fine replacement. 

Go Big or Go Home

According to the London Times our troops are discouraged and depressed about the situtation going on in Afghanistan.  All of this in the shadow of our President having the request of more troops and dragging his heals. 

Mr. President, make a decision.  Give our troops what they need or bring them home.  Today, Robert Gibbs said during his press briefing that we had to consider the costs.  While I agree that cost of course is an issue, but it can't be the only issue. 

We need to decide if as a matter of national security we need to continue to stay in Afghanistan.  If it is decided that it is not a matter of natural securtiy than bring them home.  Why are we endangering the lives of our troops without a clear mission? 

People that are willing to put themselves in harms way to protect my freedoms deserve to be given what they need to get the job done.  Mr. President, if you are not willing to give it to them, then bring them home.