Editor:

How many times has the president violated the oath he took in accepting the office? Dozens? Did the then-candidate lie when he said in his first campaign that he would not act as he accused his predecessor of, skirting the law(s) direct intent that he swore to faithfully discharge? Yes. Did the president lie to Congress and we the people when he agreed (the law) to not release detainees from Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (Gitmo) without consulting Congress first? Yes. In releasing five Afghan detainees in exchange for our soldier-deserter (in the words of his then-Army comrades) give aid and comfort to our enemy in the global war in terrorism, in this case in Afghanistan? Yes. In view of the president’s disregard for the law, does that give all of us the same right to disregard the laws of our nation, too? No…..no more than it gives him that right under the law.

Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said [Army Sgt. Bowe] Bergdahl “may” face violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Duh! Darn tootin’, the proceedings should have already started. Every person serving and who has served knows what desertion is under the UCMJ. Both Gen. Dempsey and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Ordinero need to lay their stars on the line and let it be known in no uncertain terms that no command influence will be tolerated in this case…and that means from the commander in chief, who really exhibits no traits indicative of a person with a handle on what the title really means. Pseudo-commander in chief is the more likely correct term for this one.

Two trials need to commence posthaste to my way of thinking. One for the alleged deserter, Bowe Bergdahl, who wittingly abandoned his unit in a combat zone. The second needs to commence also under the UMCJ for the commander in chief, who has given aid and comfort to the enemy by directing the release of the five terrorists/Afghan Taliban leaders/jihadists sworn to kill American troops in the combat theater of operations. The JCS can be the members of the General Courts martial in this case, I submit, convened by Gen. Dempsey.

Whoops, this will not work because the military is subservient to the civilian authority in our democratic republic. #$@*! Guess that leaves it up to impeachment thru the Congress? But does that lead to a criminal conviction for treason in this instance? Lots of luck, huh? Failure by Congress to fulfill its obligation in view of this latest among many egregious violations of his constitutional powers is grounds for congressional reps recall by us citizens, too.

A stalwart patriot once said that when good men remain silent, despots will rule.

It is time for every American citizen to exercise their constitutional right under the 1st Amendment and let this “outlaw-in-chief,” and our senators and reps know we will not stand for allowing the president to go unpunished for his lawless and treasonous acts.

He could be compared to some of our southern neighbor’s petty two-bit dictators. But, this is terribly serious. What he has done is detrimental to the good order and discipline in our military services, as well as to our nation at-large. Jefferson was right, “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom”…..especially in our USA.

Herb De Groft
Marine Corps (retired)
Smithfield, Virginia