Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bergdahl's Hometown Caught In Crossfire Of National Backlash (The heat is on)
Boise State Public Radio ^ | June 3, 2014 | Jessica Robinson

Posted on 06/03/2014 3:50:09 PM PDT by tellw

People in Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's hometown of Hailey, Idaho, say they're “shocked” by how quickly the captive soldier's homecoming has turned into a national controversy.

Bergdahl was released Saturday after nearly five years in Taliban captivity. Since then, some fellow soldiers have accused him of being a deserter.

Angry phone calls and emails have poured into Hailey's city hall, police department and the chamber of commerce since the weekend. Many online commentators have accused the 28-year-old soldier of being a traitor and a Taliban sympathizer.

The backlash stems from reports that Bergdahl intentionally walked off his base in southeast Afghanistan in 2009. A former member of his battalion has said six soldiers died in the search efforts that followed.

But longtime supporters of the Bergdahl family say at this point, it’s all speculation. Hailey Police Chief Jeff Gunter said a welcome celebration later this month will move ahead as planned.

“It's about them getting their son back," Gunter said. "It's about their son being captive. And all this other stuff -- I understand there's other things in play. But I'm just happy he's going to be reunited with his family. And we're not judging one way or the other. There's a process for that.”

The secretary of the Army issued a statement saying they are investigating the circumstances that led to Bergdahl’s capture. Members of Congress, meanwhile, are pushing for hearings on the deal that led to Bergdahl's release.

The Obama administration agreed to exchange five Taliban detainees for the soldier.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Idaho
KEYWORDS: awol; bergdahl; deserter; taliban
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last
To: 4yearlurker

“What is it going to take for people to realize there is a enemy Muslim in the Oval Office??!!”

An act of Congress...more or less.


21 posted on 06/03/2014 4:03:09 PM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Haley is in the same area as Sun Valley. This is one of two bastions of liberalism in the whole state of Idaho. The other is up by Moscow, Id. as I recall the university.


22 posted on 06/03/2014 4:03:10 PM PDT by Sequoyah101
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tellw

even the MSM cannot pretend this went on without some big hitches, although they will try to explain things away as quickly as possible and “move on”


23 posted on 06/03/2014 4:04:06 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Col. David Hunt: US Lost 14 SOLDIERS Searching for Deserter Bowe Bergdahl (Video)

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/06/col-david-hunt-we-lost-14-soldiers-searching-for-deserter-bergdahl-video/


24 posted on 06/03/2014 4:04:13 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman
First of all, obozo thinks it will make him look good in an election year. Also, he supports and cavorts with muzzies..he's paying homage to the bum father he had who was also a muzzie. obozo’s a sick sociopath...he needs to be put away.
25 posted on 06/03/2014 4:04:45 PM PDT by itssme
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: tellw
It seems that Obamadullah chose to outdo his p*ssing on veterans at the VA by cr*pping on veterans with the 5 Taliban commander giveaway.

What will Obamadullah do next? This is the first President in my lifetime that I can honesty say is directly and voluntarily placing America in immediate danger by aiding and abetting terrorists.. THESE ARE COMMANDERS, not two-bit street fighters!!!!

"The Taliban is in the building" (WH)

26 posted on 06/03/2014 4:06:07 PM PDT by CivilWarBrewing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tellw
But longtime supporters of the Bergdahl family say at this point, it’s all speculation.

Worded like the NPR Obama toady the writer is.

27 posted on 06/03/2014 4:07:26 PM PDT by Misterioso (Every major horror of history was committed in the name of an altruistic motive. - Ayn Rand)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tellw

What do you people in Hailey have in your water??? Do you live in a bubble — maybe under a dome or something???

Whether he taught dance to his Taliban friends or not is a matter of speculation but that he deserted his post is a matter of fact.

That atleast 6 soldiers died in an operation to find him is a matter of fact.

And you want to welcome this guy back as a hero???

What does your local VFW hall think about this???


28 posted on 06/03/2014 4:10:21 PM PDT by Uncle Chip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SZonian

BINGO!! ANd Jeffey Hunter will be on TV...>NATIONAL TV!!!!


29 posted on 06/03/2014 4:10:41 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

Usually agree with you, but Obie and his MSM minions have lost the battle to get out front of this....


30 posted on 06/03/2014 4:11:55 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: rdcbn
Bowe needs to go directly to Leavenworth or Gitmo until an investigation determines if he needs to stand for any violations of Desertion or Treason under the Uniform Code Of Military Justice at a Courts Martial.

He went on the lam once. I wonder if he is considering it again, when the celebration is over?

31 posted on 06/03/2014 4:11:58 PM PDT by Mark17 (Chicago Blackhawks: Stanley Cup champions 2010, 2013. Vietnam Vet 70-71 Msgt US Air Force, retired)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: CivilWarBrewing
Can't wait until the muzzies deal with obozo being a homosexual..they'll get around to him after obozo has finished being a useful idiot to them. I wonder how obozo will enjoy being a eunuch..chop, chop!
32 posted on 06/03/2014 4:12:01 PM PDT by itssme
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: tellw

Note to chief of Police, Haily, Idaho.

It is NOT just about this family ‘getting their son back’.

It is about the circumstances in which he left his post in the first place. It is about just how much he was aiding the enemy in those 5 years,

It is about his father who has been posting some might strange ‘Tweets’ for a grieving father.

It is about the 6 military members who died in attempts to find & retrieve Bergdahl the Younger.

It is about handing back 5 (FIVE) high threat terrorists who won’t turn into choir boys in Qatar. We have helped the enemy again, with the shenanigans of the Oval Office occupant. That is treason.

I am not stupid-—neither are many citizens of this country who have had their sons & daughters join the military in the past 15 years to fight people who want to take the whole world back to the 7th Century.

Obama & the press are selling us all short-—AGAIN.

This time, he cannot control military people who know the truth of the soldier who left his rifle, his body armor, his helmet and his web equipment and walked off his post in the middle of the night.

He wasn’t ‘caught’ in a firefight & truly a POW. He IS a deserter. Obama cannot control this information.

He was NOT at the end of his deployment, as many media outlets are stating. He was there only 2 months.

Apparently, the family Bergdahl has sympathies with the Afghan people. Trouble is-—WHICH Afghan people? The Taliban or those who fear the Taliban? Is this giving Aid & Comfort to the Enemy?

I also suggest that the e-mails & other communications of Bergdahl Senior be carefully examined.

Nothing Bergdahl Senior is saying or e-mailing makes much sense for an American citizen who remembers 9-11.


33 posted on 06/03/2014 4:12:33 PM PDT by ridesthemiles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tellw

I say relocate the parade to Wash DC.
He’ll get a much better reception from the crowd there.


34 posted on 06/03/2014 4:13:00 PM PDT by nascarnation (Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gov_bean_ counter

Looks like they really messed this one up


35 posted on 06/03/2014 4:13:26 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy

I remember it well. It was Carter’s first official act. I wrote him a really nasty letter, having returned from Vietnam just 6 years before.


36 posted on 06/03/2014 4:13:28 PM PDT by clintonh8r (Soon, "the grateful dead" will be more than just the name of a crap band...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: tellw

” And we’re not judging one way or the other. “

This clown is a Sheriff?


37 posted on 06/03/2014 4:14:15 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

Yep.


38 posted on 06/03/2014 4:14:24 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy
My first thoughts also. This whole mess takes me back to that stinking Jimmy Carter giving all the draft dodgers a free pass while the rest of us went to war.

I never forgave Carter for that. I remain bitter about it even today. I went, while these other slime bags ran off to Canada. I would not be surprised if some of these nerds are working in the government now.

39 posted on 06/03/2014 4:15:44 PM PDT by Mark17 (Chicago Blackhawks: Stanley Cup champions 2010, 2013. Vietnam Vet 70-71 Msgt US Air Force, retired)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
Question of the day. Who taught who?


40 posted on 06/03/2014 4:21:31 PM PDT by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson