TRADING TERRORISTS FOR A TRAITOR IS THE VA SCANDAL ON STEROIDS

When Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, 23, walked away from his guard post at OP-Mest in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan June 30, 2009, he left behind his rifle, helmet, flak jacket — and a note saying he’d become disillusioned with the Army.

"I am ashamed to be an American," he wrote in an email. "The horror that is America is disgusting."

Afghans in Yahya Khel, a village two miles away, said PFC Bergdahl asked for their help in getting in touch with the Taliban.

Attacks on U.S. forces in Paktika province "seemed to increase in frequency and effectiveness," after PFC Bergdahl disappeared, reported Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard.

"The ambushes we use, the certain tactics we use, the Taliban was picking up on those things," said Josh Fuller, who served in Bergdahl’s platoon. "You could tell it was from somebody on the inside that had that info."

A Taliban deputy district commander in Paktika province told the London Sunday Times PFC Bergdahl taught him how to turn a mobile phone into a remote control for a roadside bomb.

Many in the Intelligence Community think PFC Bergdahl was an "active collaborator," reported James Rosen of Fox News.

The swap of Sgt. Bergdahl (he was promoted while with the Taliban) for five senior Taliban commanders looked bad enough back when National Security Adviser Susan Rice claimed he’d served with distinction; been captured on the battlefield.

Mad Magazine’s parody poster for a movie about "Trading Private Bergdahl" summarizes how most Americans feel about the deal now: "They got five Taliban leaders, we got one deserting weasel."

The White House had expected "near euphoria" to break out when the deal was announced, said Chuck Todd of NBC News.

It did – among the Taliban, not Americans. This was a "great victory," said Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

The Taliban thinks release of just one of the terrorists "is worth 12,000 fighters," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, said he was told by a source in Pakistan.

The swap produced rage among soldiers who served with Sgt. Bergdahl in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.

"His disappearance translated into daily search missions across the entire Afghanistan theater of operations, particularly ours," said Nathan Bethea, then a lieutenant in the 1st of the 501st. Multiple platoons "would be out for at least 24 hours. I know of some who were on mission for 10 days at a stretch."

Lt. Darryn Andrews, 34, and PFC Michael Martinek, 20, were among at least six soldiers killed during those missions. For saving the lives of three of his troops during the ambush on Sep. 4, 2009, Lt. Andrews was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

Their son was hunting a top Taliban commander, the Pentagon told his parents. They were really searching for Sgt. Bergdahl, Andy and Sondra Andrews said they were told by his soldiers.

Sgt. Bergdahl should be tried for desertion, says a petition circulated by a former squad leader.

"What military people fear is a whitewash that will let him walk with an honorable discharge and full benefits," said retired Army LtCol. Ralph Peters. "That would be an insult to every person who’s ever served honorably in uniform."

Though a Pentagon investigation in 2010 found "incontrovertible proof" Sgt. Bergdahl had left his post voluntarily, senior Defense Department officials covered it up.  Soldiers said they were told not to tell the truth;  were threatened if they questioned the official line on  Sgt. Bergdahl.

Soldiers who served with his son were ordered to sign non-disclosure agreements, said Andy Andrews. So were many others.

"(The government) lied to us," Mr. Andrews told the London Daily Mail. "It’s a big cover-up like Benghazi."

Either Team Obama didn’t know the truth about Sgt. Bergdahl, which would make them grossly negligent, or they did, which would be worse. It’s the VA scandal on steroids.

The swap was timed to knock the VA off the front page, some suspect. The strong disapproval expressed in a Washington Post poll Tuesday (6/03) for how the president has handled the VA scandal indicates why the White House would be desperate to do this. But diverting attention by embroiling the administration in potentially a bigger scandal wasn’t smart.

The rage expressed by soldiers and their relatives torpedoed Team Obama’s plans to dismiss criticism as partisan sniping by ankle-biting Republicans.

"Meet my husband, injuries directly brought to you by the actions of this traitor," said Shannon Allen, wife of MSG Mark Allen, on her Facebook page. "He can’t give an account of what went down, because he can no longer speak."

This scandal, like the VA scandal, will grow. Thousands more will sign the petition asking for a court martial for Sgt. Bergdahl. 

The House Armed Services Committee plans hearings. Doubtless Chairman Buck McKeon, R-CA, will ask to see the "major classified file" James Rosen says the Intelligence Community has on Sgt. Bergdahl.  If it contains proof he was a collaborator,  then – as Ricky used to tell Lucy – Team Obama will have some serious "splainin" to do.

The fit really will hit the shan, says John Hayward, when "when the slimeballs Obama released claim their next victims."

Does the president realize how badly he’s screwed the pooch?

We won’t know for sure unless and until Mr. Obama claims he learned about the prisoner swap from reading the newspaper.

Jack Kelly is a former Marine and Green Beret and a former deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force in the Reagan administration. He is national security writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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