Ralph Peters Needs to Go

Ralph Peters has stepped way over the line. In discussing the captured American soldier PFC Bowe Bergdahl, Ralph Peters is all set in his mind that Bergdahl defected and that he deserves to be executed by the Taliban. 

I urge you to contact Armed Forces Journal and Armchair General magazine and tell them that they need to drop Ralph as a regular contributor. I'd include Faux News Channel and the NY Post, but really, what would the point be? 

This guy needs to leave the Army. Bergdahl, on the other hand, needs the Army now before the Taliban start sharpening their knives.

Comments

[Ray]

I only hope no Brit is captured and has a commander like Lt.Col.Ralph Peters to guide or negotiate a possible return.

The Taliban would have scripted the captive; and in any case, if PF Bergdahl did wander-off before being captured he could have done so for any number of reasons: curiousity about his surroundings; needed time to himself; was depressed- any number of reasons. It's easy to sit in your own country and invoke unwarranted antagonism toward a guy who signed up to do his duty, notwithstanding that he may have problems later on in service. We ex military and serving members all know of people who from time to time felt, or feel low, in a combat zone, or do something forgetful, like wander further afield.
Some of you have done similar things in your military time, I'm sure.
I did it once, in the Jordan desert, on the borders of Arabia, and I needed time alone to think, when I was suddenly surprised as a wild giant camel burst from a mountain defile and chased me back towards the place of rendevous. I fortunately was back in time, due mainly to my high speed, and my brief sojourn had gone unnoticed by my "group". Thinking about it, in those particular circumstances, I could have been captured. We're all human, and discipline sometimes takes a holiday. It shouldn't but it does.
Point is, we don't know how PFC Bergdahl was captured. Desertion? Where to? Out of the question, and a savagely unnecessary indictment on someone who, from the viewpoint of watching the video, is no actor, and under genuinely enormous phsychological pressure.

Better to get this man out before the Taliban tire of their trophy.

[Belphagor1527]

First, clearly Peters is losing it. Saying the Taliban could do us a favor by killing this guy, even if he was a deserter is beyond the pale. It is Fox though, so really, what do you expect?

I will say, however, that this story is very fishy and I am concerned that the media might be recreating the Jessica Lynch fiasco. I don't know how Bergdahl's base is set up but I find it very unlikely that you could just wander off base accidentally or without some prior planning. Either you've got to go over some Hesco barriers (and concertina wire) or past some gate guards, both of which provide a psychological as well as physical barrier.

I don't know the guy and could be totally wrong but the young, 20 something soldiers I've known that have gotten into trouble while deployed do so primarily for three reasons: girls, drugs and booze, and machismo/bragging rights.

Regardless of how he has gotten into his current situation though, he still wears the uniform and deserves the full efforts of the U.S. govt to free him. Throwing around terms like 'desertion' seems pretty irresponsible.

[Tammy Swofford]

I agree that Pfc Bergdahl still wears the uniform and he is one of us.

I believe Pfc Bergdahl is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, as opposed to collaborating with the enemy.

For Lieutenant Colonel Peters to shoot off his mouth and suggest that a summary execution by the Taliban would serve the needs of the military is highly repugnant to this military officer.

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

[Starbuck]

I won't even go so far as to say he has Stockholm syndrome--he could quite easily be forced to make anti-American statements.

We shouldn't criticize him for "cracking". Even John McCain signed a statement claiming he was a war criminal after being tortured, and I don't think anyone holds it against him.

[Marcia]

To say execution by the captors woudl save money and time is deplorable. If anyone should have the right to trial as a combatant it's this man.

[Carl O.]

Peters makes most of his money these days writing novels, but it seems to me that he lost the distinction between fact and fiction a long time ago.