Why the Left Does Not Want Bowe Bergdahl Punished
By: Bill O'ReillyMarch 30, 2015
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On Friday, The New York Times editorialized against the Army prosecuting Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

The Times saying: "Trying him for desertion and misbehaving before the enemy -- for allegedly engaging in misconduct that endangered his unit -- stands to accomplish little at this point.  A conviction would most likely deprive a traumatized veteran of benefits, including medical care, which he will probably need for years.  A dishonorable discharge would make it harder to rebuild his life as a civilian.

"A trial would publicly raise important questions about how Sergeant Bergdahl was allowed into the Army and whether there were missed opportunities to avert the crisis his capture created. ..."

So according to The New York Times, Sgt. Bergdahl should be given a pass, an honorable discharge, and a check for more than $300,000, which is the back pay he has accrued.

Also, the liberal newspaper seems to be placing the blame for Bergdahl's conduct on the Army itself, saying they should have known he was an unstable individual.

Right now there are nearly 500,000 people active in the U.S. Army, but I guess the military should be aware of all their troubles.

The truth is Sgt. Bergdahl's conduct was so dangerous it has to be prosecuted.

Members of Bergdahl's platoon in Afghanistan remain outraged.

CODY FULL, SERVED WITH BERGDAHL IN AFGHANISTAN: "They parade his parents out in a Rose Garden ceremony and you have cabinet members come out and say he served with honor and distinction, basically calling him a hero when they knew that wasn't true and the facts have been the same for five years.  But yet you have soldiers that are missing limbs or paid the ultimate price over there and they don't get a Rose Garden ceremony.  They served honorably." 

The reason that some on the left -- not all but some -- want the Bergdahl situation to disappear is that it is harmful to President Obama.

Is there any clear-thinking person who now believes that trading the sergeant for five top Taliban commanders was a good deal?

Ideological zombies aside, the whole thing makes America look very bad.

And then there is the bigger question the liberal media well knows, that President Obama's foreign policy is a catastrophe.

Every day we see another out of control situation.

LT. GEN. MICHAEL FLYNN (RET.), FORMER DIRECTOR, DEFENSE INTELIGENCE AGENCY:  "It's almost a policy of willful ignorance.  And to me, we have some major problems that we are dealing with and here we are talking to Iran about a nuclear deal with this almost complete breakdown of order in the Middle East.  ((EDIT)) We have to make sure that we step back and understand the full breadth and scale and scope of what's happening in the Middle East before we cut a deal with Iran.  I think it's dangerous." 

General Flynn worked for President Obama and his opinion is echoed by others who did the same thing.

If Bowe Bergdahl is put on trial, it will be an acute embarrassment for President Obama personally.

Mr. Obama has a lot invested in this story.  As mentioned, he brought the sergeant's parents to the White House for a major photo op.

So for those who still believe in Barack Obama, the Bergdahl situation must go.

But of course it will not.  The trial will be held unless the sergeant agrees to a plea deal.

One final thing.  If Sergeant Bergdahl is convicted, I would not send him to prison.

I think we have to have some mercy here because the guy has suffered.  He did cause his own demise, but he has suffered greatly.

No honorable anything, no back pay.

But no vengeance, either.

And that's the memo.