Executing Bowe Bergdahl

“

Channels Death Penalty Month at anncoulter.com has already been interrupted by the psycho in Santa Barbara, and now it's being interrupted by the Buddhist in Bagram. Keeping to the spirit of Death Penalty Month, let's review the execution of Pvt. Eddie Slovik. Slovik's offense: desertion in wartime. (See the tie-in?) Unlike Bowe Bergdahl, who deserted his unit, according to the accounts of his comrades, Slovik never actually deserted. He also didn't call America a "disgusting" country or say he was "ashamed to be an American." Slovik was just a chicken. In October 1944, as Allied forces were sweeping through France, Slovik left his position on the front lines, walked to the rear of his unit and handed a note to the cook, confessing his desertion. The letter explained that he was "so scared" that he had already abandoned his unit once, and concluded: "AND I'LL RUN AWAY AGAIN IF I HAVE TO GO OUT THERE." Slovik was like Bradley Manning minus the lipstick and eyeliner. A lieutenant, a company commander and a judge advocate all tried to persuade Slovik to shred the letter and return to his unit, warning him that he'd be tried for desertion otherwise. Slovik refused. In the middle of World War II, the military court-martialed Slovik, tried him and sentenced him to death. Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower denied Slovik's pardon request, saying it would encourage more desertions, just as the fighting was getting especially hot. Slovik was executed by firing squad and buried among the numbered graves of court-martialed rapists and murderers in an American military cemetery in France. Contrast Slovik's story with the beloved troop whose return just cost us the release of five of the most dangerous terrorists in the world. Three days before he walked off his base, Bergdahl emailed his parents: -- "I am ashamed to be an american." -- "The US army is the biggest joke ... It is the army of liars, backstabbers, fools and bullies." -- "These people need help, yet what they get is the most conceited country in the world telling them that they are nothing and that they are stupid." -- "The horror that is america is disgusting." These emails were given to the author of a 2012 Rolling Stone article on the case by Bergdahl's own parents.  [Continued] With one glaring exception, Ann Coulter channels me in all things, including the use of Eddie Slovic here (yes, I thought of it first).

”