Bowe Bergdahl Video Call for Troop Withdrawal: Propaganda or Genuine Sentiment?
The United States Department of Defense identified as Bowe Bergdahl the soldier captured in Afghanistan July 1 and featured in a video release on a Taliban website. The BBC posted portions of the Bowe Bergdahl video, noting that the U.S. military spokesman Col. Greg Julian has condemned the video release by the Taliban as a violation of international law prohibiting the humiliation of prisoners. Another U.S. military spokesperson in Kabul, Captain Jon Stock told Reuters that the U.S. government views the use of prisoners for propaganda, as it contends is the case with Bowe Bergdahl, to be a violation of international law.
Bowe Bergdahl, 23, from Ketchum, Idaho, is attached to the 1st battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division from Fort Richardson, Alaska. His status was changed to "missing-captured" on July 3. On the video, Bowe Bergdahl said he was captured when he lagged behind the rest of his unit.
One of the major issues the Bowe Bergdahl video raises is whether his statements express his genuine sentiments or whether he is being used for propaganda purposes by his Taliban captors.
Bowe Bergdahl was asked at one point during the video where he has a message for his people. Bowe Bergdahl replied:
"To my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it's like to miss them, you have the power to make our government bring them home. Please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives and our precious life that we could be using back in our own country.
Please bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power."
Bowe Bergdahl, 23, from Ketchum, Idaho, is attached to the 1st battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division from Fort Richardson, Alaska. His status was changed to "missing-captured" on July 3. On the video, Bowe Bergdahl said he was captured when he lagged behind the rest of his unit.
One of the major issues the Bowe Bergdahl video raises is whether his statements express his genuine sentiments or whether he is being used for propaganda purposes by his Taliban captors.
Bowe Bergdahl was asked at one point during the video where he has a message for his people. Bowe Bergdahl replied:
"To my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it's like to miss them, you have the power to make our government bring them home. Please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives and our precious life that we could be using back in our own country.
Please bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power."
Comments
Pat Riot
(Guest)
(Guest)
12/28/2009
leadership, and overall way of life. I have no doubt that the Taliban militants are praising Allah - or whoever they claim to worship - every day that they have found their "Golden Goose," whom they will continue to use as long as he is willing.
What I also find despicable is that young Americans, mostly former Marines (supposedly), are also seen in the video with petitions to Pres. Obama to not send more troops. I hope they're happy that their pitiful, pathetic pleas were used by the Taliban to only reinforce the point they are trying to make in their video. I'm sure their parents are most proud.
As for Bergdahl's parents, I honestly do feel sorry for them. I cannot begin to imagine what must be going through their minds as they see the videos and listen to the messages he sends. It must be hard for them to accept that in spite of what I'm sure were their best efforts to raise him into an adult, he became a quintessential traitor, and a prototypical coward. What he has said an
Pat Riot
(Guest)
(Guest)
12/28/2009
insult to those who have persevered under adverse circumstances to return home with honor. Supposing he is ever recovered, or returns to the United States, what does he expect to come home to? A parade? A proud family, or a warm welcome from the very people he slandered? He may not realize or even want to admit that his actions, as showcased for the world to see, are nothing less than acts of treason, which is punishable by life imprisonment, even death.
Who is to say he was even captured against his will? All accounts point to him simply walking off his Forward Operating Base without his armor or weapon. He wasn't gone long until a video emerged showing him being treated as a "guest" and eating like he's at Golden Corral. I guess it didn't take long for them to get him to sing, if he put up any resistance at all, which is highly doubtful. He says the American people are arrogant and delusional, yet he is the one laughing in a condescending manner while besmirching the military, its
Pat Riot
(Guest)
(Guest)
12/28/2009
I have seen the video in its entirety, as difficult as that was. I will try my best to keep my opinions of Bergdahl free of profanity, although no words exist to my knowledge that can adequately describe this spineless fraction of a human being without offending someone within hearing distance.
He claims he has not been mistreated, yet he admits he is chained up at night, and that he's been treated like a guest. I have entertained guests before, and not once did I chain them up. A naive person looking from the outside in would say that he has been coerced, or that he is doing what he can to survive. I ask, at what cost? Many brave Americans have been held captive during times of war and peace, and also used for propaganda purposes. I must admit, however, that I have never seen such a blatant retreat from values, such as the Code of Conduct, displayed among captives as I had in his video. His complete disregard to his country and his fellow Soldiers, to whom he swore an oath, is an
Jeff, I agree that we need to ensure our country does not violate G.C. any more and to make amends for having done so in the past in order to have any international credibility.
What this defintely does is serve as a reminder that we need to be as aware of our own violations of rules and laws (such as the Geneva Conventions) as we are of others.
;-);-)
The Taliban shows no mercy and have no regard for human life - the soldier had no choice but to follow their orders and broadcast that message.
Well done.
My thoughts are with this young man and his family....I cannot even imagine his fear, or theirs.
Of course it's propaganda. I just hope we don't have another public beheading!
Comments 1 - 10 (of 19)
Next >>
|
|