Talk Host Speaks In Defense of Bowe Bergdahl [Commentary]

Bowe Bergdahl – hero or traitor? That’s what the media is talking about from the Drudgereport here in the US to the The Telegraph in the United Kingdom. The media seems to be decidedly landing on the the side of traitor due to some damning emails allegedly written by Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. The reason for the word ‘allegedly’ is we really don’t know if they’re the words of Sgt. Bergdahl.  We do know the source of all this ‘new’ material is actually two years old.

The alleged emails first appeared in a damning article by deceased writer Micheal Hastings for Rolling Stone Magazine.  Hastings was one of the few writers who got Robert Bergdahl, Bowe’s Dad, on the record. You can read Hastings’ article and decide on its merit for yourself.

Personally, I was drawn to this story because I couldn’t imagine what it was like to have a son taken prisoner while our government was seemingly helpless. I admit I was also intrigued by the Bergdahls because they did something that is rare in today’s media saturated, instant gratification world – they rarely spoke to the media about their plight. The Bergdahls just stoically believed their son would be returned.

When Bowe’s release was announced, it didn’t take long for the media to condemn Bowe Bergdahl.  They would have gladly given the Bergdahls all the platforms to ‘share’ their story, but Bob Bergdahl still doesn’t want to speak to them. Silence seems to be unacceptable for today’s media so why not highlight an old story as opposed to letting Sgt. Bergdahl recover at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and let him have the due process that is his right?

I, unlike most in the media, got to know Mr. Bergdahl. I was proud to walk 150 miles to raise awareness for his son three years ago. I have the advantage of living in Idaho and hosting a daily talk show on 580 KIDO that has covered the topic since Bowe was taken in Afghanistan in 2009. Because of my experiences, I am hesitant to pass judgement on Bowe and his family.

I worked a story once involving the Duke Lacrosse Team that taught me, and hopefully the country, it’s better to wait for all the facts to come out before we pass judgement.   Robert Bergdahl is a unique individual and what he or Bowe did or did not do will eventually come out.  Why not enjoy the moment that we didn’t leave an American behind?

Kevin Miller hosts a daily talk show on Townsquare Media's KIDO/Boise (used by permission)