Peters Continues Attack On Captured U.S. Soldier: He’s A Liar And ‘A Deserter’ Who ‘Shamed His Unit’
Ralph Peters is now walking back from his previous wish that the Taliban should kill the captured US soldier, Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl. Now he and Bill O'Reilly have come to the conclusion that Bergdahl is simply insane.
O’REILLY: He leaves his weapon and he goes out someplace. Number one that tells me that he is crazy, Colonel, that he is a nut. Nobody does that.You've got to love the way these right wingers stand up for the troops. Oh, and for the record, senior Pentagon and military officials say that there is "no evidence" that Bergdahl is a deserter, despite Peters' repeated claims.
PETERS: He may be mentally disturbed. [...]
O’REILLY: It’s got to be I’m totally out of my mind. And that’s what I think this guy is. I think he is crazy.
Ralph Peters is an utter disgrace. He is continuing to attack a captured US soldier. Blaming the soldier for lies he was forced to tell by his Taliban captors.
UPDATE:
I can see why Peters is starting to back-pedal on this as he's caused outrage amongst Congressional Veterans who have written to Roger Ailes to express their "incredulity and disgust" at Peters disgraceful statement:
I don't believe for a minute that Fox will repudiate what Peters said. The nearest thing we will get to that is what he says here to O'Reilly.As members of Congress and veterans of the United States Armed Forces, it was with incredulity and disgust that we watched Fox News Strategic Analyst Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters (Ret.) suggest on your airwaves that Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, "abandoned his buddies, abandoned his post, and just walked off," and stated that, if this is true, "the Taliban can save us a lot of legal hassles and legal bills."
Mr. Peters' comments are so far beyond the pale that they don't even approach the decorum and respect deserved by a member of the United States Armed Forces. Mr. Peters' indefensible comments call into question, without any supporting evidence whatsoever, PFC Bergdahl's patriotism and commitment to his country, and suggest in a non-subtle way that he deserved to be captured. The events surrounding the capture of PFC Bergdahl are irrelevant at this point. The only priority should be his safe and immediate release to U.S. forces.
Mr. Peters further complained that PFC Bergdahl was openly questioning U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and cooperating with the Taliban, showing that Mr. Peters' has conveniently forgotten that soldiers in captivity are often forced to make statements contrary to their beliefs simply to stay alive. Senator John McCain has often discussed his decision to do so while a captive of the Vietcong. Perhaps Mr. Peters would choose to question his patriotism as well. Regardless, we have every reason to believe that the comments made by PFC Bergdahl do not reflect his true feelings and are being forced by his captors. The truth is that Mr. Peters' words give more aid and comfort to the enemy than any forced statement by a captured soldier, and put PFC Bergdahl at additional risk of harm.
Finally, his implied suggestion that the Taliban should simply kill PFC Bergdahl to, "save us a lot of legal hassles and legal bills," was repulsive and deserves to be repudiated by your news organization.
UPDATE II:
Rachel Maddow on Ralph Peters and the reaction it has produced.
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