The Pentagon has appointed a major general — an officer with two stars on his epaulets — to probe the case involving Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

The general, who hasn’t been identified, is going to examine all the facts surrounding allegations that Bergdahl walked off his post before he was captured five years ago by Taliban militants in Afghanistan.

http://news.msn.com/us/us-military-appoints-general-to-probe-bergdahl-disappearance

Those allegations — along with what the United States gave up in return for Bergdahl’s release from captivity — have sullied what should be an unqualified joyous occasion.

The desertion charge might be the most problematic for everyone involved.

Critics of the prisoner exchange have tried and convicted Bergdahl of desertion. The young sergeant, who’s just 28 years of age, hasn’t talked publicly about anything. We don’t know his side of the story. Heck, we don’t even know with any certainty what others have alleged happened.

I believe we need to trust that a two-star general grade officer — I hope he’s a combat veteran who understands the pressure that young men and women face when they’re in harm’s way — will be able to find the whole truth and present it cleanly and without bias.

If the former POW is guilty of desertion, then he should be court-martialed. If he’s convicted, he needs to be punished.

Let’s remember, though, that he is a U.S. citizens and he deserves the presumption of innocence until it is proven otherwise.