The Patriot Post® · No One Died Looking for Bergdahl?

Bowe Bergdahl, the soldier who abandoned his post in Afghanistan only to be held captive by the Taliban until Barack Obama traded five jihadis for his release last year, was charged with both desertion and now also a rarer crime — misbehavior before the enemy. CBS News explains the significance: “Bergdahl could face a life sentence if convicted of the charge, which accuses him of endangering fellow soldiers when he ‘left without authority; and wrongfully caused search and recovery operations.’ Observers say the misbehavior charge allows authorities to allege that Bergdahl not only left his unit with one less soldier, but that his deliberate action put soldiers who searched for him in harm’s way.” That is indisputable as far as we’re concerned. But the next sentence in the CBS report is astounding: “The Pentagon has said there is no evidence anyone died searching for Bergdahl.” That’s preposterous. Beyond the soldiers who died fighting and capturing the Taliban Five, at least six Americans lost their lives in operations to recover Bergdahl. Their names are PFC Matthew Michael Martinek, Staff Sgt. Kurt Robert Curtiss, SSG Clayton Bowen, PFC Morris Walker, SSG Michael Chance Murphrey and 2LT Darryn Andrews. Perhaps these men weren’t killed directly by the jihadis holding Bergdahl, but they were on missions related to the search. Operations were put on hold and resources diverted to find Bergdahl. Lives were lost. And for someone at the Pentagon to be giving political cover to Obama in such a way is despicable.