O’s Bergdahl Decision: Don’t Pardon a Coward
Ralph Peters is right to condemn a possible pardon for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl (“Obama’s Last Betrayal?” Dec. 6).
President Obama should do no such thing prior to leaving the White House in January. Bergdahl abandoned his post in a combat zone and endangered his comrades before moseying up to terrorists.
Desertion isn’t the equivalent of skipping class — it’s the second-gravest military crime. The only thing worse is actively joining the other side.
To make matters worse, Obama traded five terrorist leaders and a ransom to get Bergdahl back. This soldier needs to face justice. Pardoning him would be a major blunder and a total disgrace. Sal Giarratani Boston, Mass.
Pardoning Bergdahl would undermine our entire military.
What’s next, pardoning Assata Shakur, a cop-killer living in Cuba, or the Fort Hood terrorist, Nidal Hasan?
Perhaps the president should give the family of Eddie Slovik, the only soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War, some solace and pardon him as well. Lee Heydolph Staten Island
Bergdahl abandoned his comrades in a combat zone and our president traded five hardened terrorists and a ransom to get him back. Then the president paraded his family and their son around the White House just before the military promotes him.
This proud Vietnam veteran would like to know if a pardon occurs.
I’d surely love the opportunity to spit in his face to express my feelings for all my fellow vets who followed orders whether we liked them or not and died doing so because of the oath we took. Charlie Kaczorowski West Heampstead