Retired Navy Commander Stands up for Prisoner of War and Condemns Fox News

Congressman Eric Massa demands that Fox News immediately fire Bill O'Reilly and Lt. Col Ralph Peters and apologize to the family of PFC Bowe Bergdahl

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Congressman Eric Massa has condemned the deeply offensive and unpatriotic statements of Lt. Col Ralph Peters (ret.) and Fox News Host Bill O'Reilly about prisoner of war PFC Bowe Bergdahl.

On Fox News on Monday, Mr. Peters, a "strategic analyst" for Fox News, suggested that the Taliban should execute PFC Bergdahl and "save us a lot of legal hassles and legal bills." Rep. Massa, a 24 year retired Navy Commander was shocked and deeply appalled that any American would ever wish for the death of one of our soldiers.

On Tuesday night, Mr. Peters made another appearance on Fox's O'Reilly Factor. During this appearance, Mr. Peters refused to apologize and Bill O'Reilly speculated that PFC Bergdahl must be "crazy."

Earlier that evening, Rep. Massa joined with 22 other Congressional veterans in sending a letter to Fox News Chief Executive Roger Ailes demanding he issue an apology to the family of PFC Bergdahl. Read the letter by clicking here.

"Words cannot express how furious I am at Fox News, Lt. Col Ralph Peters and Bill O'Reilly for suggesting that we should leave a prisoner of war behind and allow him to be executed by the Taliban to save us the trouble of trying to intervene" said Congressman Eric Massa.

"Last night I joined with a bipartisan group of 22 other Congressional veterans in demanding an immediate apology to the family of PFC Bergdahl from Fox News, but I don't think that goes far enough. I want to see Mr. Peters and Mr. O'Reilly fired immediately for their inexcusable attacks on a prisoner of war. Their comments aid and abet our enemies during a time of war and the burden is on Fox News to prove that they reject this by taking the tangible action of issuing an apology and firing both of them."

"As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know that our military is doing all they can to rescue PFC Bergdahl. My thoughts and prayers are with PFC Bergdahl and his family during this challenging time and I'll do anything I can to help them," added Rep. Massa.

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EB June 11, 2010 2:49 pm (Pacific time)

I think Fox news should take Bill O'Rielly out to there where one of my relatives is and turn loss by himself with no guards. Lets see how well he does? he should be strung out to dry.

Joe Miller August 2, 2009 11:59 am (Pacific time)

Until all the facts are in and analyzed, no one should make a blanket statement about what a P.O.W. says or does while in confinement. Unless you have walked a mile in his shoes and experienced what he has gone through, keep your mouth shut. If he has been brain-washed, water-boarded or placed in a situation where threat of immediate execution is a result of his words or actions, do not judge him.7hr7g

Kelly July 28, 2009 10:55 am (Pacific time)

I'm sorry but do any of you have husbands/wives over in Afganistan? Well I do and it may be my husband or soldier's in his unit that have to help with a rescue. They may have to risk their lives on a soldier that left the base for suspicious reasons. I also served eight years in the Marine Corps so don't jump on me for not understanding. I applaud Fox! Thank you for having the guts to say what a lot of people are thinking.

Editor: I was a Marine, you don't know anything of the circumstances and the rumor mill in Afghanistan is not necessarily accurate. This makes me sick to see how you guys roll over on your own. Fox is a disease and a home for cowards. I am revolted that Americans have so little real dedication and are actually willing to write about it. I wonder if you would like to share these thoughts of yours with the soldier's family?

Daniel Johnson July 26, 2009 9:00 pm (Pacific time)

More pressure needs to be exerted on Fox from every possible angle. If a petition were organized, even if it only had a few hundred names, it would be a newsworthy event, even if Fox didn't report it.

Bob July 26, 2009 7:37 pm (Pacific time)

Talk about "over the top." O'Reilly and Peters basically tried and convicted PFC Bowe Bergdahl of desertion in the face of the enemy without the benefit of a trial. O’Reilly, who never served on active duty in the military, doesn’t have a clue as to what happened while Peters who a retired Army officer should know better than to accuse Bergdahl of desertion while he’s a POW. My prayers are with the Berghahl family. Let’s hope that this youngster is freed. It’s impossible to imagine that any US soldier in his right mind would desert the Army in Afghanistan.

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