Despite the mission of the US military to leave no man or woman behind, it is apparent that Fox News is not happy about the release of Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl who, on Fox, is being labeled as a deserter even though that has not been determined. Since his release, a number of soldiers and parents of fallen soldiers have taken the opportunity to blame subsequent American casualties in Afghanistan on the search for Bergdahl - assertions with which the Dept. of Defense disagrees. So not surprisingly, these folks have been welcome on Fox News which makes truth the first causality in promoting propaganda. Despite some advancement of the Fox Bergdahl as deserter meme, Megyn Kelly's and Greta's treatment was fairly even handed. But Fox & Friends, not surprisingly offered full blown, visceral propaganda which went beyond the now patented Fox meme of Bergdahl as deserter into right wing conspiracy land.
This morning, Fox & Friends featured an "outraged" soldier, Samuel Masamitsu who, according to Steve Doocy, was "on a 2009 mission to retrieve then, what we thought, POW Bowe Bergdahl." Kilmeade described the "tragic outcome" of the mission when a soldier, Kurt Curtiss, was killed. While Masamitsu, who only "knew of" Bergdahl, spoke about the reaction of his unit, to Bergdahl's disappearance, the chyron set the message, as Fox Fact, that six soldiers died while searching for Bergdahl. Doocy asked, "given what we now know, Bowe Bergdahl, deserter?" As Masamitsu agreed, the chyron reinforced his statement: "He's a Deserter, SPC Served With Bergdahl, Outraged at his Release."
Doocy prompted Masamitsu to speak about what really "bothers" him about the Bergdahl case. Masamitsu responded that it was the use of the term "hero" to describe Bergdahl and "the lack of awareness of the general public of what actually happened and the people who passed looking for him." He recommended that Bergdahl be court martialed as a deserter and remain in prison for life. Kilmeade interjected some juicy conspiracy for the pitchfork crowd: "Can you imagine if it turns out that he was actually collaborating, all that time? That would even make it worse. Let's see what happens, I just know that many are baffled his family appeared with the president at the Rose Garden knowing all these controversial circumstances to his disappearance."
Meanwhile, in the world of reality, a former military official who states that "there was no direct evidence that diversion of surveillance aircraft or troops to search for Sergeant Bergdahl encouraged the Taliban attacks, or left other American troops vulnerable" and that" although the search could have created some opportunities for the enemy,” a "direct cause and effect" is not easily made. We don't know what caused Bergdahl to walk away from his unit. But we do know that Fox & Friends, in their zeal to attack him (and by extension, the President, for securing his release) is doing their patriotic best to smear him in any way possible. Team America, f**k yeah!
I do wonder if Obama and his people were under the delusion that the GOP would be thrilled to have him rescued.
BTW, Rick Perry on Hannity tonight said flat out he’d been rescued — wait for it — only in order to distract the public from the VA “scandal.”
It’s dated January 21, 2014.
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2014/01/21/supporters-of-pow-urging-white-house-to-use-force-if-necessary-to-rescue-sergeant/
“Supporters of an Idaho soldier taken prisoner of war in Afghanistan back in 2009 have launched a petition to get the White House to make an effort to rescue Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
…..
“It needs 100,000 signatures by Feb. 16 to prompt a White House response. As of this writing, more than 2,800 have signed the petition.
“Add your name to the petition here.”
And, here’s everybody’s favorite Quitter, quoted in 2009:
Governor Sarah Palin offered her support and encouragement to the family of a Ft. Richardson soldier captured in Afghanistan.
“Todd and I are praying for Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, his family, and all of his fellow soldiers who are putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom and protect democracy abroad,” Governor Palin said. “The capture of Private Bergdahl and the bombings in Jakarta prove that we have not defeated terrorism, and that radical extremists will stop at nothing to attack Westerners and our ideals.”
More than 7,000 soldiers and airmen stationed in Alaska are currently deployed overseas.
“Our men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform have the best training and experience of any military in the world,” said Lt. Gen. (AK) Craig E. Campbell, Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard. “We know that when we deploy that anything can happen, and we pray that PFC Bergdahl’s fellow soldiers can find him quickly and reunite him with his family.”
Yep. If we can count on anything, it’s right-wing hypocrisy after Obama does something they wanted him to do. Sheesh. Maybe Obama should go on TV and say, “Today, I’m ordering all Republicans to breathe.” If history’s any guide, our emergency responsders would be overwhelmed with the millions of GOP corpses from sea to shining sea.
I have a post About Grenell’s involvement drafted for the AM.
I was wondering how these people were all showing up at once, and now we know.
Visitor 55, it’s been known or suspected Bergdahl was a deserter pretty much from the get-go. So that’s one thing we can’t blame Fox for. From the very first time I heard his name five years ago after he disappeared, it was reported he’d “walked away” from his post, and the implication was made very clear.
It does appear that the guy was very emotionally disturbed, and apparently decided to go try to “help the Afghan people” as compensation for what he felt the U.S. was doing to them. The mystery for me is why the hell he enlisted in the first place, given his apparently very strong peaceful and humanitarian values.
