The U.S. Army is set to decide whether Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl is entitled to as much as $300,000 in back pay and other benefits he amassed during his captivity with the Taliban.
Military personnel who have risked their lives to serve their country should be loudly protesting, except that they may face punishment; after all, the Army has been protecting the traitor Bergdahl for some time, forcing soldiers who knew the truth about Bergdahl’s betrayal to “sign nondisclosure agreements.”
It is American citizens who would be forking over Bergdahl’s back pay (albeit it is less than the $10,500,000 Canadians had for pay to the murderous jihadi Omar Khadr because his lawyers cried so loudly that he was mistreated at Guantanamo Bay in 2003), thus rewarding Bergdahl for his deeds instead of punishing him.
To recap the circumstances around the disgraced Bergdahl: there have been efforts all along to conceal the truth about Bergdahl being a deserter. Instead, the Army allowed the lie to circulate that Bergdahl fell behind on patrol before being captured by the Taliban, then was held hostage for five years. In the meantime, soldiers from his own unit lost their lives trying to track him down.
Despite Bergdahl’s confession as a deserter – and that of witnesses — Barack Obama still “traded five seasoned, battle-hardened jihadis back to the Taliban in exchange for Bergdahl,” who did not just desert: secret documents revealed that Bergdahl had converted to Islam and “declared jihad” while in captivity.
By now it should be evident that Bergdahl should have been charged with treason, but instead, he was recently given a dishonorable discharge without prison time, after absurdly declaring that the US had treated him worse than the Taliban did. Now he could be given back pay of $300,000.
The Army needs an overhaul, beginning with mandatory training in loyalty to America, followed by knowledge about its jihadist enemies and how to defeat them. That would beat giving free lunches to jihadists, appeasing them and prancing about wearing high heels.
“Army to decide if Bergdahl is entitled to $300G back pay”, by Lukas Mikelionis, Fox News, November 9, 2017:
The U.S. Army is set to decide whether Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl is entitled to as much as $300,000 in back pay and other benefits he amassed during his captivity with the Taliban.
Bergdahl, 31, was captured by the Taliban in 2009 after he walked off base while in Afghanistan. He was given a dishonorable discharge and he was demoted from sergeant to private in a court decision earlier this month but spared prison. President Trump called the ruling a “complete and total disgrace.”
Captive soldiers normally receive special compensation worth around $150,000 in addition to hostile-fire pay and their basic pay they accumulated during the captivity. But determining whether Bergdahl should receive the back pay is not as clear-cut.
The State Department marked Bergdahl in as “Missing-Captured” several days after he was captured and the terror group released a video featuring him alive, Military.com reported in 2014.
But Bergdahl pleaded guilty to desertion in court, complicating whether the army will consider him as a prisoner of war and thus entitled to back pay and compensation.
“My understanding is there has to be an administrative determination of his duty status at each point, from the time he was captured until now,” an army official told the Army Times. “In order to figure out what he’s owed, you’re basically going to have to start from that point of captivity.”
The official told the Times that it is possible Bergdahl will be given only his accumulated basic pay during his five-year captivity.
Bergdahl, however, might not be eligible for the basic back pay and could even owe money to the military. The Army could determine that he should not be paid for the time in captivity or that he was overpaid since his return to the U.S, according to the official who spoke with the Times……
mortimer says
It hardly seems fair to pay someone who literally ‘walked off the job’. If I left my civilian job by walking out the door and staying away for years, only to return, I would be scoffed at if I asked to be paid for my absenteeism.
This is the theater of the absurd surely.
gravenimage says
It is *much worse* than that, Mortimer–he didn’t just “walk off the job”, he *defected to the enemy*.
old white guy says
there is no shortage of stupid in America these days.
Jan III Sobieski says
He chose Islam, give him a one way ticket back to Afghanistan to murder with his murdering, terrorist Taliban ideological soul mates.
David Cameron says
Why is it that the people end up with governments of politically correct politicians and unelected bureaucrat lunatics? Obama was bad enough but at least you have one last chance with Trump. In Canada we have JustinTrudeau f. or a Prime Minister who is like something out of a Saturday Night Live skit. This moron actually made a Somalian muslim refugee our Minister of Immigration Minister. Guess who he is going to fsavour. His cabinet is a perfect representation of colour, sex, ethnic, disability and religious groups without a thought to experience or ability and hence it is now, thanks to a woman muslim cabinet minister, not long out of high school, a crimtrudeaue to say even the slightest suggestion of anything that could be interpreted as anti-islamic. Our Minister of Defense is a Sikh immigrant who although has served in the Canadian forces has lied about leading a successful attack against muslim extremists in Afghanistan. Mental |midget Justin has actually stated 1) that the worst people in Canada are evangelical Christians. 2) If you defeat your enemies, they win. 3) |The deficit will take care of itself. I could go on and on and on. This twit has actually never had a single full time job in his life. He believes he’s qualified to be the leader of a G7 country because his work experience consists of being a bouncer, a snowboard instructor and a fill in drama teacher. Believe it or not there is an excellent chance that his real father is actually Fidel Castro rather than his bi-sexual communist father, past PM Pierre Trudeau. I could go on and on and on. God help Canada.
John says
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS CANADA.
StacyGirl says
Maybe it will take Trudeau for Canada to elect a patriot. It happened in the US.
gravenimage says
Canada had a good man with Stephen Harper–not an expert on Islam, but generally level-headed and definitely anti-Jihad. So disturbing he was voted out in favor of this dangerous unpatriotic twit.
Mark A says
This is absolutely appalling.
Bergdahl is a deserter.He didn’t just go AWOL; he deserted his post in a war zone and went over to the enemy People died while searching for him. He should be punished, not rewarded.
Custos Custodum says
The families of those whose deaths Bergdahl caused should sue him preemptively and ask for any money to be held in trust.
Bodega says
NO! NO!. He is a traitor, a deserter. To think he deserves compensation is insanity. He should be shot, frankly. He does not deserve to live especially since others died for him! Did they or their families get similar compensation? What a disgusting situation.
Frankly, if I was still in the service and watched this verdict come down as it as and with this as a possible sequelae,I would encourage every last USA enlisted man and woman to desert….somewhere safe like Canada and then stay a couple of years at the Canadian gov’s expense and then beg to some home…by then compensation to return might me $500,000.
What insanity is this>
Stan Lee says
The man went AWOL, and it backfired for him into 5 years of being a “guest” of the Taliban.
OK, he’s free now, dishonorably discharged I suppose. Statements from the Dept. of Army are confusing, as was the Courts Martial sentencing.
I served from ’48-’54, and in that Army there would not have been a pay settlement to the individual after desertion and retrieval 5 years later. the soldier would have had “bad time” counted against him for each day officially absent from duty, resulting from his desertion., In that case there never would have been a promotion to an NCO rank from paygrade of “private.” while AWOL. The “Bad Time” would have been calculated for each day AWOL, and there definitely would not have been a $300,000 back pay considered after deserting his post. (which enabled him to become a guest (prisoner) of the Taliban. His capture by them was not “in the line of duty.”
clap says
If he does get the money, can the families of the soldiers who were killed looking for him sue him for wrongful death?
Bill says
This guy got off very easy and the Army thought that, with that, the guy would quietly go away. The Army is not very astute or alert. Makes me worry what next big thing they will miss.
Bergdahl hated the Army and will use everything he has got to drag the Army through the mud. He wants a POW medal, He is appealing his dishonorable discharge and he wants his back pay. This guy is going to cost taxpayers millions in legal fees just dealing with him over the next decade.
He will find Obama appointed leftist stooge judges in the Federal courts (they are many to choose from) and probably get everything he wants. The lefty media loves this guy and will whitewash all his bad conduct.
This farce is just beginning.
Shmoovie says
The way Bergdahl’s been treated from the start has been another example of the ‘upside-downness’ of this world. There should never have been a question about what really happened (though official investigation was necessary); not with the amount of evidence against his claims. BHO lied again, used it as an excuse to free more cells at Gitmo then feted with the creepy parents in the Rose Garden. Now he has a back-payday coming?! Danger pay included, no doubt– and surely he’ll share with the fuzzy-face friends he was forced to leave.
More insanity each day!
Kilfincelt says
The U.S. government seems to have been infiltrated by a bunch of useful idiots or escapees from the local nut house. Enough is enough. This guy is a traitor. Way back when he would have been hung and certainly not given a get out of jail free card and back pay. Even thinking that he deserves back pay is sheer lunacy.
gravenimage says
Now the US Army is going to pay him for defecting to the Taliban and teaching them how to make bombs?
Utter, suicidal madness–and at the American taxpayer’s expense.
Donald R Laster Jr says
I hope what is in this article is not accurate and some one is misunderstanding something. Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl should be sitting in jail for life or be executed for desertion. His actions are inexcusable – especially since we have a volunteer military service. The people in the military during Mr Obama illicit and unconstitutional occupation of the Presidency who created the current problems need to be removed.
gravenimage says
Donald, not only was this story covered by many reputable news sources–including Fox News, above–but here it is from the Army Times itself:
“Army to determine if Bergdahl is owed back pay for his time in captivity”
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2017/11/08/army-to-determine-if-bergdahl-is-owed-back-pay-for-his-time-in-captivity/
Sad to say, this is true.
Donald R Laster Jr says
I know. At the time I wrote the comment it was not clear.
jude says
The whole world’s gone mad. He deserted, men were killed searching for him and they want to give him back pay! Goodness gracious, is there no common sense left anywhere?
Split it up between the families who lost their husbands, fathers, sons.
Jack Holan says
This whole affair is spitting in the face of every Soldier who fought overseas and every Goldstar Family! This entire BS is unprecedented. So, Bergdahl moves from confessed traitor to no criminal penalty and his attorney vowing to expunge his negative record. He’s honored at the White House by the Fool who looked like the joker in a deck of cards. His father made contact with Al Queda to promise them more from the White House Islamist.
Bergadahl you will never be free! How many Men and Women served and see you as a leper unworthy of sharing the air we share. Look over your shoulder every day until you meet your next Master Satan
Custos Custodum says
Barry is enjoying every second of this sordid spectacle, and his minions in the administration and in the courts will help stretch out the process.
The only real option now is for the administration to go on the offensive against high-level Barry backers.
StacyGirl says
The Barry backers are at every level of every dept in this government including the military. Don’t forget Bradley Manning, the other treasonous reprobate who should be facing a firing squad next to Bergdahl. If the position of shooter/executioner were put on an eBay auction, we could pay off the national debt.
Troybeam says
Time to clear out the military swamp: Liberal personal should not be making the needed decisions when it comes to defectors that walk away from their post into enemy hands by their own choice. Bergdahl should be in prison solitary confinement for life and or firing squad and his back pay should go to the families that lost loved ones trying to find this scumbag.
UNCLE VLADDI says
What’s wrong with Trump, that his commanders allow and encourage this treason to snowball?!