Irreverent Freelancer

John Kirby, and the Defense Secretary is not expected to have any input in the proceedings. The secretary is not going to do arm twisting Kirby noted. Theres no role for him in the process to modify the investigation. Pentagon brass to review report on Bowe Bergdahl investigation http://t.co/jg15QfZsUA #news pic.twitter.com/Hg5mmkORFS The_News_DIVA (@The_News_DIVA) December 19, 2014 According to NBC News , the Armys first investigation into Bergdahls disappearance, conducted in 2009, concluded that he deliberately left his base. Such a finding could lead to the filing of criminal charges against Bergdahl, and a conviction could possibly lead to imprisonment or reduction in rank and loss of back pay and benefits. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also briefed on the results of the investigation earlier this week. Maj. Gen. Kenneth R.

BALDOR 22 minutes ago Content preferences Done WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. officials have finished an investigation into how and why Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl (boh BURG'-dahl) disappeared from his base in Afghanistan. Bergdahl was held captive for five years by the Taliban. The Pentagon says Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is expected to be briefed on the report as early as today. Details about the probe's conclusion are closely held. But Bergdahl could face charges of desertion or being absent without leave. The final disposition will determine whether he is charged or gets up to $300,000 in back pay and other benefits. Bergdahl disappeared in June 2009, and was recovered in May as part of an exchange for five Taliban members.

GM and that faulty ignition switch. Andrew Cuomo and that anti-corruption commission. The Secret Service and that White House intruder. Rachel Noerdlinger and her disabled son. Rolling Stone and gang rape. 2014 was the year when truth was optional. 2014 was the year when convenient fabrication was the weapon of choice for celebrities, activists, big business and politicians. 2014 was the Year of the Lie.

Hollande on Tuesday urged French citizens and companies to take continued precautions against kidnappings. At one point, at least 14 French nationals were held hostage by Islamic militants in West Africa. Pierre Martinet, a former official with Frances DGSE spy service, said French citizens will continue to be targeted by extremist kidnappers because they know its among the governments that directly negotiate for their liberation. Its part of geopolitics, Martinet told BFM television. I know very well that we have given money; I know people myself who have given money. It happens. We have to stop lying to ourselves. The alternative, he said, is to have hostages killed by their kidnappers like the British and Americans held by Islamic extremists. One American soldier held by Taliban fighters, Sgt.

Hollandes government insists it pays no ransoms and does not exchange prisoners, although in September he acknowledged for the first time that other countries have done so to help us. President Barack Obama last month ordered a review of the U.S. response to citizens being taken hostage abroad after the deaths of several Americans held by Islamic extremists. But the Obama administration said the review will not include changing the policy against ransoms. You have a choice between the policy of Mr. Obama, which appears to be not to negotiate and to see hostages killed, and a position of negotiating without admitting it, Alain Marsaud, a conservative French lawmaker, told the BFM television network. Its true that we negotiate, we pay, and we try to get results .... There isnt a single Frenchman who believes Mr. Lazarevic was freed because Mr.

It happens. We have to stop lying to ourselves. The alternative, he said, is to have hostages killed by their kidnappers like the British and Americans held by Islamic extremists. One American soldier held by Taliban fighters, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, was freed in exchange for the release of five Taliban prisoners from the prison in Guantanamo Bay. In the failed rescue Saturday in Yemen, U.S. officials said special forces were trying to free American hostage Luke Somers because al-Qaida had threatened to kill him. They did not realize that he was being held with a South African hostage, Pierre Korkie, who was on the verge of being freed after ransom negotiations with the kidnappers.

There isnt a single Frenchman who believes Mr. Lazarevic was freed because Mr. Hollande has nice eyes. Another Frenchman kidnapped in Mali in November 2011 along with Lazarevic, Philippe Verdon, was found dead in July 2013. A security official in Mali, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety, said Lazarevics release came after negotiations to free two al-Qaida fighters arrested in his abduction. The two al-Qaida detainees were transferred to mediators in Niger on Saturday and turned over to al-Qaida, the Malian official said. It was not clear if they remained in Niger. A French official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue is sensitive said Lazarevic was freed Tuesday but declined to give any details on the release of the al-Qaida prisoners beyond saying the negotiations over Lazarevics release were led by Mali and Niger.

American officials have quietly accused France and other European countries of paying ransoms for their kidnapped citizens. Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb took numerous Western hostages until France intervened in Mali in January 2013 to rout out extremists. Hollande on Tuesday urged French citizens and companies to take continued precautions against kidnappings. At one point, at least 14 French nationals were held hostage by Islamic militants in West Africa. Pierre Martinet, a former official with Frances DGSE spy service, said French citizens will continue to be targeted by extremist kidnappers because they know its among the governments that directly negotiate for their liberation. Its part of geopolitics, Martinet told BFM television. I know very well that we have given money; I know people myself who have given money. It happens. We have to stop lying to ourselves. The alternative, he said, is to have hostages killed by their kidnappers like the British and Americans held by Islamic extremists. One American soldier held by Taliban fighters, Sgt.

One American soldier held by Taliban fighters, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, was freed in exchange for the release of five Taliban prisoners from the prison in Guantanamo Bay. In the failed rescue Saturday in Yemen, U.S. officials said special forces were trying to free American hostage Luke Somers because al-Qaida had threatened to kill him. They did not realize that he was being held with a South African hostage, Pierre Korkie, who was on the verge of being freed after ransom negotiations with the kidnappers. Yolande Korkie, his wife, was abducted along with her husband and freed earlier. She said Tuesday in Johannesburg, South Africa, that she forgives those responsible for his death. What will it help to accuse? What will it help to find out what happened? she said, flanked by her two children.

(Reuters) The Pentagon is preparing to transfer more detainees from Guantanamo Bay in coming weeks despite continued Republican opposition, according to defense and congressional officials. The Wall Street Journal reports that, after five detainees were transferred last week, there will be another round in December, but defense officials refused to disclose further information on their numbers or nationalities. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Rep. Howard McKeon, R-Calif, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, complained at a recent hearing of an increase in notifications by the administration to lawmakers on coming transfers from the detainment facility. President Obama promised since before he took office that he would close the controversial detention center, a move that has been opposed by many Republicans. The transfers come shortly after the announcement of the resignation of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who was criticized by administration officials who spoke to The Wall Street Journal for moving too slowly to certify detainees for release. Senior officials at the White House are impatient as the presidents term in office draws nearer to its end with the promise of the closure of Guantanamo unfulfilled, according to the Wall Street Journal. House and Senate negotiators are debating whether to revise the rules governing transfers as a part of this years defense authorization bill, which sets Pentagon policy.