The controversy over the Obama administration’s swap of five prominent Taliban detainees to secure the release of one American soldier has deepened with some fellow soldiers branding Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl a deserter, not a hero. “Bowe Bergdahl deserted during a time of war and his fellow Americans lost their lives searching for him,” says former Sgt. Matt Vierkant, telling CNN that Bergdahl should in fact be facing military trial for desertion.
At least six US soldiers serving in Afghanistan are reported to have died while searching for Bergdahl, who went missing from his platoon on June 30, 2009.
Bergdahl himself, following his release on Saturday under the swap deal, has been flown off to an American military hospital in Germany for treatment before his return to the US. “I was pissed off then and I am even more so now with everything going on,” Vierkant said, adding: “I don’t understand why we’re trading prisoners at Gitmo for somebody who deserted during a time of war, which is an act of treason.”
Some other veterans and soldiers echoing the view that Bergdahl’s “selfish act” ended up costing the lives of
colleagues. Former Pfc. Jose Baggett told the news channel that Bergdahl just walked off from his guard post, commenting: “Nobody knows if he defected or he’s a traitor or he was kidnapped.”
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, when asked on Sunday if Bergdahl had left his post without permission or deserted, said: “Our first priority is assuring his well-being and his health and getting him reunited with his family. Other circumstances that may develop and questions, those will be dealt with later.”
The latest twist in the Bergdahl saga comes amid a scathing Republican attack on Obama. Top Republicans say the US action of negotiating with the Taliban and yielding so much to secure the release of one soldier has set a dangerous precedent, putting at risk other American soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
Senator John McCain said the five Taliban detainees freed in exchange represent “the hardest of the hardcore”. He voiced fears that the five men, who are supposed to stay put in Qatar for one year in terms of the deal, could rejoin the terrorist network. “It is disturbing that these individuals would have the ability to re-enter the fight,” he said. “The methodology in what we used is very troublesome,” said Mike Rogers, chairman of the US House Intelligence Committee. “We have a changing footprint in Afghanistan, which would put our soldiers at risk for this notion that if I can get one, I can get five Taliban released.”
President Obama’s National Security Advisor Susan Rice, however, defended the steps taken by the administration to secure Bergdahl’s release. “Because it was the Taliban that had him did not mean that we had any less of an obligation to bring him back,” she said. “Sergeant Bergdahl wasn’t simply a hostage; he was an American prisoner of war captured on the battlefield,” Rice said, stressing: “We have a sacred obligation that we have upheld since the founding of our republic to do our utmost to bring back our men and women who are taken in battle, and we did that in this instance.”
Greg leatherman, leader of Bergdahl’s former squad, also expressed happiness over his safe return. “From experience I hope that he receives adequate reintegration counselling,” he said, but noted that an investigation should take place as soon as healthcare professionals deem him fit to endure one.