The Army has to fully investigate how Bergdahl became a POW and how he served under captivity so that if he served honorably, he can be awarded the POW medal and receive benefits from the government for being a POW for five years. Also, soldiers from his unit, former and still serving, are coming and speaking out against Bowe Bergdahl. Why they would do that is particularly interesting because why would a group of soldiers come forward and willingly lie like that? Bergdahl isn't a high ranking member of the military now nor when he disappeared, and he isn't a politician running for office.
What turned the situation into a debacle was this:
1.) The Army had reports since 2010 that Bergdahl willingly left his post in Afghanistan. So early on in Bergdahl's disappearance and captivity, the Army was aware that they may have been dealing with a deserter.
2.) Six soldiers in Bergdahl's unit died in a search and rescue mission for Bergdahl after the Army knew of the information that Bergdahl may have willingly left his post.
3.) President Obama did not discuss the trade agreement with the Taliban to members of the Intelligence committee in congress before the trade took place, raising ire among both Democrats and Republicans.
4.) The whole "We don't negotiate with terrorists" ideal that Americans pride themselves with was blatantly violated and trampled on. (Although, it should be noted that the U.S. has actually negotiated with terrorists before to release innocent civilians, POWs, and even spies in the past by both Republican and Democrat administrations.)
5.) We traded Bergdahl for five deeply entrenched Taliban party members who have now reported to local media in Qatar expressing intent to rejoin the fight for the Taliban against the West. This poses not just a new threat to the U.S., but to the rest of the Western world.
6.) We have also not only given the Taliban a sense of legitimacy for listening and negotiating with them, but we have also gave them incentive to kidnap other soldiers in hope for more trades for prisoners in Guantanamo.
I hope this clears up why there is so much Bergdahl hate floating around. I will agree though that giving death threats to Bergdahl's hometown for setting up a "welcome home" celebration is uncalled for. Like everyone else, we just need the facts to determine what actually happened throughout this entire ordeal.
