UPDATED 2X ~ Hagel: I'm 'Offended And Disappointed' By Treatment Of Bergdahl Family [View all]

[DonViejo]

Last edited Wed Jun 11, 2014, 01:10 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: TPM

TOM KLUDT – JUNE 11, 2014, 10:47 AM EDT

In his opening statement before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday morning, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel hit back at the critics of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and the POW's family.

Hagel assured the House panel that the Army will conduct a "comprehensive and coordinated" investigation of Bergdahl's capture, which has been the subject of intense scrutiny ever since his release. Many of Bergdahl's former platoon mates have accused him of desertion. Some have argued that the manhunt that followed Bergdahl's 2009 disappearance led to the deaths of fellow soldiers.

Moreover, Bergdahl's father, Bob, has drawn criticism from conservatives who are suspicious of his unruly beard (grown in solidarity during his son's five years in captivity), his ability to speak Pashto and an email wherein he encouraged his son to follow his conscience before the soldier disappeared from his base in Afghanistan.

Hagel admonished those critics on Capitol Hill.

"And I think I need not remind anyone on this committee: like any American, Sgt. Bergdahl has rights," Hagel said.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chuck-hagel-offended-bergdahl-family-criticism

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Hagel Lashes Out At GOPer For Raising Suspicions About Bergdahl's Health

TOM KLUDT – JUNE 11, 2014, 12:07 PM EDT

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel rebuked Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) on Wednesday after the congressman appeared suspicious of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's medical status.

Miller posed a series of pointed questions about Bergdahl during Hagel's testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. A senior defense official said last week that Bergdahl, who is being held at a U.S. military medical facility in Germany, is too fragile to answer questions about his alleged desertion. That didn't smell quite right to Miller.

"Mr. Secretary, you keep saying we can't get the facts from Sgt. Bergdahl until he gets home," the congressman said. "Have you ever thought about going to Landstuhl and talking to him there?"

"Well, I don't know how much medical training you had, congressman. I haven't had much. And what we're doing is we are allowing the doctors —" Hagel said before Miller cut him off.

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chuck-hagel-jeff-miller-bergdahl-hearing

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Hagel: 'We Could Have Done Better' On Prisoner Exchange

TOM KLUDT – JUNE 11, 2014, 11:12 AM EDT
Although he mounted a spirited defense of the prisoner exchange that secured Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's release, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told members of the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that the administration "could have done better" in its execution of the deal.

In his opening remarks, Hagel told the panel that President Obama made the "final decision" on the prisoner swap, further pushing back on House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon's (R-CA) contention that the White House was making the defense secretary the "fall guy."

"I would never sign any document or make any agreement, agree to any decision that I did not feel was in the best interest of this country," Hagel said. "Nor would the President of the United States, who made the final decision with the full support of his national security team."

Hagel then addressed the swiftness of the decision to go ahead with the swap, telling the committee he recognized the "speed with which we moved has caused great frustration, legitimate questions and concern."

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chuck-hagel-could-have-done-better-bergdahl