Disliking deserters or freeing Taliban prisoners really isn't a partisan issue. Where I take issue was the immediate media firestorm created not 24 hours after

Disliking deserters or freeing Taliban prisoners really isn't a partisan issue. Where I take issue was the immediate media firestorm created not 24 hours after his release was announced. We were bombarded with stories describing soldier deaths (that are now thought to be incorrect) attributed to his desertion and reminders that we "used to shoot" them. We're talking about a man that, either through mental illness or a legitimate desire to try and improve the operations of the army, walked away from the (relative) safety of his comrades and was held for FIVE years by the enemy. Yes he endangered his fellow soldiers lives, yes he may have deserted his post, and yes he may have been disillusioned with the army at the time. Is that worth throwing his life away and spitting on his grave? If I'm a prospective soldier, I'd like to think the military has my back in these situations. Why do you think the rush to destroy this soldiers reputation before the facts were known happened? Why do you think nearly two years after his release today is the first time we've ever heard his voice? It's certainly interesting to consider.