When it comes to military matters, Wounded Warrior J.R. Salzman is an invaluable voice. This afternoon, he shared his perspective on the abominable Bowe Bergdahl decision:
The Army values are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Bergdahl failed on all counts.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
There are soldiers who received far stiffer sentences for far lesser crimes. This is a travesty. It's a failure to hold Bergdahl accountable
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
My prediction: he'll try and write a book or make a movie or some bullshit. And it will fail miserably and he'll die a penniless nobody.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
The dishonorable discharge is a bigger deal than people think. In a lot of states it's the equivalent of having a felony on your record.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
With Bergdahl and Manning the younger generation of soldiers are being taught that accountability is no longer a mainstay of the military.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
As Twitchy told you, Donald Trump called the decision “a complete and total disgrace to our Country and to our Military.” Salzman agrees:
He's not wrong. Six soldiers are dead because of him. Where's their justice? https://t.co/KryYCrAfb6
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
If you loathe Trump so much that you side with a slap on the wrist for Bergdahl, you forfeit the right to lecture anyone on morality.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
Col. Jeffrey R. Nance, the judge who handed down the decision, cited Trump’s past remarks on Bergdahl as “mitigation evidence.” But Trump’s remarks didn’t make Bowe Bergdahl a deserter. Trump’s remarks didn’t kill or maim the brave soldiers who went looking for Bergdahl.
How many years would need to be tortured by the Taliban before you'd think he'd paid for his crime?
— Simon (@st822) November 3, 2017
Let's ask the families of the six soldiers who died looking for him. And the troops who were wounded looking for him. https://t.co/qoaNwXyYo5
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
The responsibility lies squarely with Bergdahl, and for Nance to give him a slap on the wrist is a slap in the face to all those who have fought and died with honor.
This is a dark day for our military.
What the hell is happening to the United States military?
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017
Not an unfair question. Nor is this one:
Is anyone in the media keeping track of the terrorists who were traded for Bergdahl? I'm guessing no.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 3, 2017