Dishonorable discharge only.

Like it or not, people are watching, and expectations are being set. I have no doubt this will have a negative effect on future actions that disillusioned soldiers take. 'If he can get away with it with a slap on the wrist , why can't I.'

Sick. I just DO NOT understand this on any level.

Highly recommend listening to the podcast. Interview him, his platoon mates, family friends, and even a guy who witnessed his breakdown in Coast Guard Boot Camp.

They also talk about the Rose Garden ceremony and Susan Rice. Basically an incompetent and clueless White House staff.

No one died looking for him directly...

Which podcast is this?

It is astonishing. In order to avoid setting a no-jail-time precedent for such a serious offense, I'd have thought the judge would have at least given him a five-year sentence, then suspended it in light of his five years of captivity and other factors. This wasn't justice, nor was it smart.

TThom said:

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Which podcast is this?

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Serial Season 2

74OA said:

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It is astonishing. In order to avoid setting a no-jail-time precedent for such a serious offense, I'd have thought the judge would have at least given him a five-year sentence, then suspended it in light of his five years of captivity and other factors. This wasn't justice, nor was it smart.

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I don't think military judges have the authority to suspend sentences. That's usually a provision of the pretrial agreement, and there wasn't one in this case. That may have been part of the defense strategy.