In his mad rush to condemn Berghdal, Peters disregards those pesky laws about jury by trial and gets down to the nitty gritty of the situation. Instead of the current rescue operations to bring Berghdal back alive, he cooly suggests the Taliban could save us "a lot of legal hassle and a lot of legal bills." A cursory search of his work will yield a lot about killing. Killing prisoners, killing journalists. His Wikipedia entry reveals the softer side of his military career. He enlisted in 1976, a year after the Vietnam War ended. What the hell was he up to before that? Must have been a writing a sequel to Dave Grossman's book - On Killing (Except In War, and Except By Me).
The story of Berghdal's disappearance and subsequent capture has been shrouded in mystery since the story broke. Berghdal himself says he was captured after lagging behind on a patrol, but some have suggested he simply deserted, citing unverifiable sources. Berghdal's story of his capture sounds ridiculously fishy. But it's not up to anyone, certainly not a coward like Peters, to condemn this soldier. The true story doesn't matter right now, Berghdal's safe recovery does. If he deserted his unit in the middle of the night, especially in the midst of the huge offensive in Afghanistan, he belongs in the brig until the walls crumble into dust. In the end though, no one gets left behind, especially in the hands of fanatics. Peters would have learned that if he didn't spend his career licking boots in Germany. He has handed the Taliban a golden goose eggs of propaganda. Such division and apathy are exactly what the Taliban and al-Qaeda hope to achieve in the US. It's like that old joke about an American soldier messing up so bad he was awarded an Iron Cross. Peters is meeting the Taliban retention quota with gusto.
We don't know if Berghdal is guilty of desertion and defection, but I have seen with my own eyes a citizen calling for an American soldier to be killed by militants. Peters qualifies for an involuntary inversion from a lightpole a tad bit more than a soldier captured under nebulous circumstances.
Get the man back safely. The hows and whys come later.
The story of Berghdal's disappearance and subsequent capture has been shrouded in mystery since the story broke. Berghdal himself says he was captured after lagging behind on a patrol, but some have suggested he simply deserted, citing unverifiable sources. Berghdal's story of his capture sounds ridiculously fishy. But it's not up to anyone, certainly not a coward like Peters, to condemn this soldier. The true story doesn't matter right now, Berghdal's safe recovery does. If he deserted his unit in the middle of the night, especially in the midst of the huge offensive in Afghanistan, he belongs in the brig until the walls crumble into dust. In the end though, no one gets left behind, especially in the hands of fanatics. Peters would have learned that if he didn't spend his career licking boots in Germany. He has handed the Taliban a golden goose eggs of propaganda. Such division and apathy are exactly what the Taliban and al-Qaeda hope to achieve in the US. It's like that old joke about an American soldier messing up so bad he was awarded an Iron Cross. Peters is meeting the Taliban retention quota with gusto.
We don't know if Berghdal is guilty of desertion and defection, but I have seen with my own eyes a citizen calling for an American soldier to be killed by militants. Peters qualifies for an involuntary inversion from a lightpole a tad bit more than a soldier captured under nebulous circumstances.
Get the man back safely. The hows and whys come later.
13 comments:
REMF? Can you translate for us civilians?
Amen! Bowe Berghdal needs to come home. Ralph Peters needs to STFU.
I had not yet heard this story and am horrifically appalled!! Not only does my heart and prayers go out to the soldier, but also to his family. They don't need to hear such things....Peters should be ashamed as should Fox as I'm sure his selection as "analyst" is mostly for the shock and awe value!
As always thank you for the enlightenment..
REMF is "Rear Echelon Mother Fu---er"... The full meaning depends on your point of view. Some folks in Iraq had the MOS for cooks for example, but since civilains did most of the cooking, we used then on the guns for our security...etc.
Alex, from reading up on the LTC, he seems to have not gone to war. You are right, he's a big mouthed REMF, POGE, POS,
The news folks will hire any former LTC or above to be the "expert" on whatever they need at that moment.
Due to OPSEC, the public will not know all of what happened in this case--but somebody screwed up...but that doesn't give this retired REMF POS a right to say what he did. What about the PFC's family? How does his comments make them feel.
Leave No Man Behind...even if you don't like them.
I heard the desertion rumor for the first time yesterday. Thanks for backing up my theory that it doesn't matter at this point. Get him back, then straighten it out. Maybe we can trade him for Peters...
I call on a simple phrase I came upone affter my first tour in Afghanistan, it states "If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them." A friend of mine even made a bumper sticker out of it. Now bumper stickers are not as popular around here in Canada as they are in the US but most any army type would be proud to see how many vehicles up here are sporting them these days.
"Think about his buddies" ?!! His buddies??? What about his family, all of whom are probably going thru hell right now, hoping the Taliban aren't as fond of decapitation as the insurgents in Iraq were/are.
What an idiot! Where did Fox find this guy? Am I just projecting my feelings or did the Fox lady seem surprised by his remarks?
~P~
Thanks, Dude guy...as always, you clear things up for us and tell it like it is. I'm three times your age...wish I had your smarts. Thanks for your thoughtful and measured thoughts...we readers are always richer for the experience of having visited your website. As I've said to you before, keep writing, because we'll keep reading as long as you keep writing. And, yes, I too thought the Fox lady seemed surprised--and even embarrassed--by the LTC's remarks. And, yes, let's think of Berghdal's family and the nightmare they are currently living. First and foremost, let's get our soldier back; we can ask questions later.
Yeah, she definitely goes straight to damage control after he drops that bomb.
My son is currently stationed at the same post as Berghdal. None of the soldiers there are at liberty to discuss details. But I can tell you that there is a lot of propaganda and sensationalism being spread by the media right now. And a lot of speculation about what happened that has little basis in fact. It is gut wrenching that the outcome is so harsh on a soldier in serious trouble, and his family. Now is the time to support, not to foolishly listen to speculation and pass irrational judgement.
Apparently that little episode caused quite the stir. I just saw it get slammed on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Fox gave Peters the chance to "clarify" his remarks last night, but he pretty much just said the same things again. Not a whole lot of actual clarification going on there.
Judging by the anchor's reaction at the end of the original clip, it seemed like he might have been a little too controversial even for Fox's craziness. How much do you want to bet that he won't be showing up on Fox News again anytime soon?
We can only hope...
On my 2nd tour I was in Afghanistan and 2 Marines were shot dead another wounded after leaving in a softtop with no radio to go back to their patrol route from the night before. I really forget or choose to forget the specifics but it was 2004. As we were told, the night before on patrol a junior Marine apparently left behind NVG's, dunno why they were not Ranger/dummy corded but this is the story.
Fearing of course the reprisal and paperwork, they somehow left the wire and when they got to wherever they were or must have been ambushed. 1 was shot dead immediatly the Marine who had left the NVG's was shot next wounded and passed out. The 3rd was shot next, both the 1st and 3rd must have gotten extra rds for 'good measure?' and all were stripped of weapons and clothing.
We found out initally about the incident in a very large awards ceremony like a day later. When the PH's were issued along with other medals and citations (for others that were present from other actions). And were told the dish after formation.
The LTC is preemptive to call the man a deserter. However that was 2004, this is 2009 I find it tough to fathom how 3 got out of the wire in 1 truck without commo without as your post said 3-4 other gun trucks (your Hurt Locker post). And I don't know how someone would get out and away solo. Many things are the issue here. But its faulty to point the finger and commet that legal bills will be saved over this.
Shockingly despicable
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