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America's Top Military Official Gave The Best Possible Response To Critics Of The Bowe Bergdahl Swap
By Brett LoGiurato
1 hour ago
REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, the highest-ranking American military officer.
The U.S.' top military official on Tuesday defended the controversial
prisoner swap that freed Army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, even as he said
the military would look into the circumstances surrounding Bergdahl's
capture.
"Like any American,
he is innocent until proven guilty," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff Martin Dempsey said in a statement Tuesday morning.
" Our Army’s leaders
will not look away from misconduct if it occurred," the statement
continued. But Dempsey defended the Obama administration's decision
amid a burgeoning controversy over its decision to free five prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Bergdahl's release.
After the weekend prisoner exchange, s everal soldiers who served with Bergdahl said he willingly deserted his unit
. And Republican lawmakers have leveled claims that the swap was
illegal because it proceeded without a timely notification of Congress.
Dempsey said the deal presented
the "last, best opportunity" to recover Bergdahl. He said freeing U.S.
soldiers from enemy captivity is a priority regardless of the
speculation about Bergdahl's conduct. And he thanked those who tried,
and ultimately succeeded, in securing Bergdahl's release.
Here's Dempsey's full statement:
"In response to those
of you interested in my personal judgments about the recovery of SGT
Bowe Bergdahl, the questions about this particular soldier’s conduct are
separate from our effort to recover ANY U.S. service member in enemy
captivity. This was likely the last, best opportunity to free him. As
for the circumstances of his capture, when he is able to provide them,
we’ll learn the facts. Like any American, he is innocent until proven
guilty. Our Army’s leaders will not look away from misconduct if it
occurred. In the meantime, we will continue to care for him and his
family. Finally, I want to thank those who for almost five years worked
to find him, prepared to rescue him, and ultimately put themselves at
risk to recover him."
end quote from:
Business Insider
end quote from:
America's Top Military Official Gave The Best Possible Response To Critics Of The Bowe Bergdahl Swap
The U.S.' top military official on Tuesday...
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