Taliban trade U.S. Soldier for 5 in Gitmo

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

They got taken!!!!!!!!!!
Any one of our military is worth at least a thousand of those scums and that is me being very conservative!!-Tyr

[Jeff]

Careful. If he wasn't tortured or mistreated (He was handed over in good condition), that would make the Taliban morally better than you making you less than the pond scum they are.

Slow down a bit here, it seems he may not of been treated so well, according to this article they had to hurry to get him out ( heck they couldn't even wait on Congress ) his safety and his health were both in jeopardy.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sunday the military operation to free Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detainees was not relayed to Congress because officials believed the soldier's life was in danger.
In his first extensive public comments about Saturday's operation, Hagel said intelligence the U.S. had gathered suggested that Bergdahl's "safety and health were both in jeopardy, and in particular his health was deteriorating."

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Bow.../01/id/574443/

[jimnyc]

First the positives. Bringing him home is fricking awesome!!! I hope this guy gets a heroes welcome and parades galore, not to mention a few medals for what he had to endure for so long.

But I don't think people realize that this administration broke the law in doing so. They released 5 terrorists, one of which was at the very least responsible for hundreds and hundreds of deaths. Any type of release from Guantanomo is supposed to be brought to Congress within 30 days of any release. They outright avoided this and admitted they did so purposely. Now 5 guys who have killed hundreds/thousands of Shiite Muslims are on the loose. These aren't soldiers being given back as far as a "prisoner transfer" - these people are TERRORISTS.

LAW BROKEN: CONGRESS NOT NOTIFIED OF GITMO SWAP

Amid jubilation Saturday over the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from captivity by the Taliban, senior Republicans on Capitol Hill said they were troubled by the means by which it was accomplished, which was a deal to release five Afghan detainees from the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Top Republicans on the Senate and House armed services committees went so far as to accuse President Obama of having broken the law, which requires the administration to notify Congress before any transfers from Guantanamo are carried out.

“Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Bergdahl’s release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans. Our terrorist adversaries now have a strong incentive to capture Americans. That incentive will put our forces in Afghanistan and around the world at even greater risk,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. McKeon (R-Calif.) and the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, James M. Inhofe (Okla.), said in a joint statement.

Lawmakers were not notified of the Guantanamo detainees’ transfer until after it occurred.

The law requires the defense secretary to notify relevant congressional committees at least 30 days before making any transfers of prisoners, to explain the reason and to provide assurances that those released would not be in a position to reengage in activities that could threaten the United States or its interests.

Before the current law was enacted at the end of last year, the conditions were even more stringent. However, the administration and some Democrats had pressed for them to be loosened, in part to give them more flexibility to negotiate for Bergdahl’s release.

A senior administration official, agreeing to speak on the condition of anonymity to explain the timing of the congressional notification, acknowledged that the law was not followed. When he signed the law last year, Obama issued a signing statement contending that the notification requirement was an unconstitutional infringement on his powers as commander in chief and that he therefore could override it.

“Due to a near-term opportunity to save Sergeant Bergdahl’s life, we moved as quickly as possible,” the official said. “The administration determined that given these unique and exigent circumstances, such a transfer should go forward notwithstanding the notice requirement.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said that the detainees transferred from Guantanamo to Qatar, where they are to stay for at least a year, “are hardened terrorists who have the blood of Americans and countless Afghans on their hands. I am eager to learn what precise steps are being taken to ensure that these vicious and violent Taliban extremists never return to the fight against the United States and our partners or engage in any activities that can threaten the prospects for peace and security in Afghanistan.”

Beyond this individual instance, some raised the larger question of whether it is sound policy for the United States to have, in the words of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), “negotiated with terrorists.”

Rogers said the action marked a “fundamental shift in U.S. policy.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...bcf_print.html

[jimnyc]

Exchange of Idaho soldier Bowe Bergdahl for Taliban detainees sets off debate

WASHINGTON — An American soldier who spent nearly five years in Taliban captivity was freed Saturday in exchange for five members of the Taliban who’d been imprisoned for years at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay in an unprecedented prisoner exchange that sparked both jubilation and controversy.

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, the only U.S. soldier taken captive by the enemy in 12 years of Afghanistan conflict, was turned over to a U.S. military task force in eastern Afghanistan at about 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, U.S. officials said. Less than four hours later, the five Taliban detainees took off from Guantanamo headed for the Persian Gulf state of Qatar, which had brokered the deal. Under the terms of their transfer, the five are to remain in Qatar for at least a year.

President Barack Obama, flanked by Bergdahl’s parents, made brief televised remarks Saturday evening thanking the foreign governments, American diplomats and U.S. military personnel who were behind the release effort.

“Sergeant Bergdahl has missed birthdays, and holidays and simple moments with family and friends which all of us take for granted,” Obama said. “But while Bowe was gone, he was never forgotten.”

Bergdahl’s parents, Jani and Bob Bergdahl, echoed the president in short, emotional remarks of their own in which they suggested that their son faced a long recovery after his years under Taliban control. Bob Bergdahl said his son was having trouble speaking English. Then, he addressed him directly in Dari, one of the languages spoken in Afghanistan. “I am your father,” he said, translating his remarks.

The deal resolves the question of whether the U.S. military would withdraw from Afghanistan without Bergdahl, who went missing from his base on June 30, 2009. But it also immediately sparked controversy.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/05/3...#storylink=cpy

[jimnyc]

Lawmakers Question Deal Behind Soldier's Release

Some on Capitol Hill Say Deal to Bring Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Home Could Raise Risks for Armed Forces

WASHINGTON—The release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl after nearly five years in Taliban captivity prompted cheers among U.S. officials Saturday, but amid the applause some on Capitol Hill are questioning the risks and legality of how his freedom was brokered.

Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R., Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a joint statement that they, too, celebrated Sgt. Bergdahl's freedom. But the exchange of five top Taliban detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, raises risks for all Americans, they said.

"Our joy at Sergeant Bergdahl's release is tempered by the fact that President Obama chose to ignore the law, not to mention sound policy, to achieve it," they said Saturday in a written statement.

"Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Bergdahl's release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans" by giving terrorists "a strong incentive to capture Americans."

They also said that President Barack Obama "clearly violated laws which require him to notify Congress thirty days before any transfer of terrorists from Guantanamo Bay."

Similarly, Rep. Mike Rogers (R., Mich.), chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, called the move a "fundamental shift in U.S. policy" that "will threaten the lives of American soldiers for years to come."

He also said he had "little confidence" in security assurances given by Qatar, which is accepting the five Taliban officials—and "even less confidence in this Administration's willingness to ensure they are enforced."

http://online.wsj.com/articles/amid-...LEFTTopStories

[Noir]

He kind of already did, this was in the article...No that isn't him taken total credit but he is setting himself up !

Presumably you think if he shouldn't credit over the trade, he shouldn't take the blame of it either, yeah?

[jimnyc]

Presumably you think if he shouldn't credit over the trade, he shouldn't take the blame of it either, yeah?

He should get credit for a sitting president breaking the law.

[Jeff]

Five of the Most Dangerous Taliban Commanders in U.S. Custody Exchanged for American Captive

OK so we now know that things where done a bit crooked ( as most things this administration has done ) but now we here that the 5 Taliban soldiers were 5 of the most dangerous commanders we had in custody. Makes ya wonder what is really going on, I mean they couldn't get this soldier out for 5 years but as long as we give them 5 of the most dangerous commanders all of a sudden they will give him back, I guess we will have to wait and see what is really going on.

The Obama administration announced today that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who has been held by the Taliban for several years, has been freed from his captors. Reading the stories of his newfound freedom it is impossible not to feel joy for Bergdahl and his family. NBC News reports that Bergdahl held up a sign once he was on board an American helicopter that read, “SF?” The operators quickly confirmed that they were in fact U.S. Special Forces: “Yes, we’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

Here is where it gets good.

THE WEEKLY STANDARD has profiled these jihadists previously on multiple occasions, and what follows below is culled from these accounts.
There are good reasons why the Taliban has long wanted the five freed from Gitmo. All five are among the Taliban’s top commanders in U.S. custody and are still revered in jihadist circles.
Two of the five have been wanted by the UN for war crimes. And because of their prowess, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) deemed all five of them “high” risks to the U.S. and its allies.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...ge_794017.html

[jimnyc]

Who are they?

Khair Ulla Said Wali Khairkhwa
Khairkhwa was an early member of the Taliban in 1994 and was interior minister during the Taliban's rule. He hails from the same tribe as Afghan President Hamid Karzai and was captured in January 2002. Khairkhwa's most prominent position was as governor of Herat province from 1999 to 2001, and he was alleged to have been "directly associated" with Osama bin Laden. According to a detainee assessment, Khairkhwa also was probably associated with al Qaeda's now-deceased leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al Zarqawi. He is described as one of the "major opium drug lords in western Afghanistan" and a "friend" of Karzai. He was arrested in Pakistan and was transferred to Guantanamo in May 2002. During questioning, Khairkhwa denied all knowledge of extremist activities.


Mullah Mohammad Fazl
Fazl commanded the main force fighting the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance in 2001, and served as chief of army staff under the Taliban regime. He has been accused of war crimes during Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s. Fazl was detained after surrendering to Abdul Rashid Dostam, the leader of Afghanistan's Uzbek community, in November 2001. He was wanted by the United Nations in connection with the massacre of thousands of Afghan Shiites during the Taliban's rule. "When asked about the murders, he did not express any regret," according to the detainee assessment. He was alleged to have been associated with several militant Islamist groups, including al Qaeda. He was transferred into U.S. custody in December 2001 and was one of the first arrivals at Guantanamo, where he was assessed as having high intelligence value.


Mullah Norullah Noori
Noori served as governor of Balkh province in the Taliban regime and played some role in coordinating the fight against the Northern Alliance. Like Fazl, Noori was detained after surrendering to Dostam, the Uzbek leader, in 2001.Noori claimed during interrogation that "he never received any weapons or military training." According to 2008 detainee assessment, Noori "continues to deny his role, importance and level of access to Taliban officials." That same assessment characterized him as high risk and of high intelligence value.


Abdul Haq Wasiq
Wasiq was the deputy chief of the Taliban regime's intelligence service. His cousin was head of the service. An administrative review in 2007 cited a source as saying that Wasiq was also "an al Qaeda intelligence member" and had links with members of another militant Islamist group, Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin. Wasiq claimed, according to the review, that he was arrested while trying to help the United States locate senior Taliban figures. He denied any links to militant groups.


Mohammad Nabi Omari
Omari was a minor Taliban official in Khost Province. According to the first administrative review in 2004, he was a member of the Taliban and associated with both al Qaeda and another militant group Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin. He was the Taliban's chief of communications and helped al Qaeda members escape from Afghanistan to Pakistan. Omari acknowledged during hearings that he had worked for the Taliban but denied connections with militant groups. He also said that he had worked with a U.S. operative named Mark to try to track down Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/31/us/ber...ees/index.html

[Jeff]

Presumably you think if he shouldn't credit over the trade, he shouldn't take the blame of it either, yeah?

When has he taken the blame for anything ? Hell it will go down in history that GW was to blame for Obama's term as president, the only time this guy will take blame or credit ( hell the only time I have seen him on TV not saying it was GW's fault ) was when our Seals went in and got Bin Laden and of course our president tried to take all the credit for that. You may also want to read how the 5 we got back in return are the 5 most dangerous commanders we had in custody, seems Obama forgot to announce that.

[Jeff]

Five of the Most Dangerous Taliban Commanders in U.S. Custody Exchanged for American Captive

Yes he broke the law getting this soldier out and he gave them back the 5 most dangerous commanders we had in custody.

The Obama administration announced today that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who has been held by the Taliban for several years, has been freed from his captors. Reading the stories of his newfound freedom it is impossible not to feel joy for Bergdahl and his family. NBC News reports that Bergdahl held up a sign once he was on board an American helicopter that read, “SF?” The operators quickly confirmed that they were in fact U.S. Special Forces: “Yes, we’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

This is where it gets interesting

THE WEEKLY STANDARD has profiled these jihadists previously on multiple occasions, and what follows below is culled from these accounts.
There are good reasons why the Taliban has long wanted the five freed from Gitmo. All five are among the Taliban’s top commanders in U.S. custody and are still revered in jihadist circles.
Two of the five have been wanted by the UN for war crimes. And because of their prowess, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) deemed all five of them “high” risks to the U.S. and its allies.

I have to wonder if any of these 5 turn and kill Americans again if Obama will take credit ?


http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...ge_794017.html

[Jeff]

Taliban Leader Mullah Omar: Prisoner Swap 'Big Victory'

I bet he does feel that way.

Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar Sunday hailed the release of five senior insurgents in exchange for US soldier Bowe Bergdahl as a "big victory".
"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire Afghan Muslim nation, all the mujahideen and to the families and relatives of the prisoners for this big victory regarding the release of five Taliban leaders from Guantanamo prison," he said in a rare statement.
"I thank the government of Qatar, especially its emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad (Al Thani), who made sincere efforts for release of these leaders and for their mediation and for hosting them," he added.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Afg.../01/id/574449/

[Jeff]

This is great to see, with all the controversy over the deal made it is nice to see his home town planning a Hero's welcome.

The news Saturday of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's release from captivity spread quickly in Hailey, his hometown in southern Idaho, and residents immediately began making plans for a welcome-home celebration.
An annual event called "Bring Bowe Back" scheduled for June 28 was quickly renamed "Bowe is Back."
"It is going to be Bowe's official welcome-home party even if he's not quite home yet," organizer Stefanie O'Neill said Saturday.

http://www.newsmax.com/US/US-Capture.../31/id/574435/

[Drummond]

Careful. If he wasn't tortured or mistreated (He was handed over in good condition), that would make the Taliban morally better than you making you less than the pond scum they are.

I think, Jafar, that what we have here is proof that your 'anti-terrorist' stance is at best variable. Seems you're ready to think well of the scum when you can contrive an opportunity to do so.

Consider what the Taliban fight for - IN THE NAME OF ISLAM, BY THE WAY. Consider how they fight. What they do. Their very long list of atrocities, and their LACK of morality about all of that.

But in the face of this ... you can't wait to find a way of seeing that scum in a good light, can you, Jafar ??

EXPLAIN.

[Drummond]

Obviously the Taliban have come out of this as 'winners'.

What's done is done. But what of the future ?

Who believes that this won't mean more captured US servicemen, again bartered for other terrorist releases ? Stating the painfully obvious ... this all sets a terrible precedent. One which I hope, in the time left for Obama and his stay in the White House, comes back to bite him so hard that the Democrats render themselves unelectable.