Obama broke law in Bergdahl swap

[BillB]

I was as glad as anyone when I initially learned of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's release.
It now seems there was a rat in the woodpile. I should have learned by now that everything Obama does is tainted by something.

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.
...

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.”

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


http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ ... print.html

[Sangersteve]

In exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Berghdahl, the U.S. has released five senior Taliban commanders from the Guantanamo Bay prison. They are considered some of the worst of the worst.

The five Guantanamo detainees released by the Obama administration in exchange for America’s last prisoner of war in Afghanistan, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, are bad guys. They are top Taliban commanders the group has tried to free for more than a decade.

According to a 2008 Pentagon dossier on Guantanamo Bay inmates, all five men released were considered to be a high risk to launch attacks against the United States and its allies if they were liberated. The exchange shows that the Obama administration was willing to pay a steep price, indeed, for Bergdahl’s freedom. The administration says they will be transferred to Qatar, which played a key role in the negotiations.


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... istan.html

[planosteve]

I'm for anything that pisses off John McCain. And why is the Taliban a threat to the US? When have they ever attacked anyone outside Afghanistan?

[Grassman]

http://www.ijreview.com/2014/06/143442- ... ing-tweet/

[BillB]

http://www.ijreview.com/2014/06/143442-freed-american-hostages-father-deletes-a-very-disturbing-tweet/

I didn't want to say anything about it, but i thought that father acted weird during the announcement.
I've also read some things about how the Taliban wound up with Bergdahl in the first place.
I'll hold off on that until I can find a source to quote.

[BigTex]

I think we just wanted to return the five Gitmo detainees to the Taliban so they can report on the swell treatment they got. (They probably lived and ate better there than they will when they get home)

[scarlett~nc]

Obama is a dingbat that breaks laws all the time

[GFB]

I'm for anything that pisses off John McCain. And why is the Taliban a threat to the US? When have they ever attacked anyone outside Afghanistan?

They have no WAY of attacking anyone outside Afghanistan..living in the 10th Century will do that to you.

But have you forgotten they welcomed AL Qaeda to train for years in the country when they ruled?

..so they could pull off that false flag flight routine while George Bush blew up the buildings?

[scarlett~nc]

they can and will capture future Americans and sell them to the highest bidder ..thanks obummer

[Chlorine Tinsley]

Maybe I've been watching too many episodes of "Marvel's - Agents of Shield", but I'd like to think the Talibaners released have been implanted with GPS devises. I hear those drones can be pretty precise in their targets.

[planosteve]

I'm for anything that pisses off John McCain. And why is the Taliban a threat to the US? When have they ever attacked anyone outside Afghanistan?

They have no WAY of attacking anyone outside Afghanistan..living in the 10th Century will do that to you.

But have you forgotten they welcomed AL Qaeda to train for years in the country when they ruled?

..so they could pull off that false flag flight routine while George Bush blew up the buildings?

So, the alleged hijackers were not Saudi's? Al-quida were Afgans. We created it. Remember?

[GFB]

I'm for anything that pisses off John McCain. And why is the Taliban a threat to the US? When have they ever attacked anyone outside Afghanistan?

They have no WAY of attacking anyone outside Afghanistan..living in the 10th Century will do that to you.

But have you forgotten they welcomed AL Qaeda to train for years in the country when they ruled?

..so they could pull off that false flag flight routine while George Bush blew up the buildings?

So, the alleged hijackers were not Saudi's? Al-quida were Afgans. We created it. Remember?

Their citizenship or country of origin was/is irrelevant.

[Cowman52]

Don't know why any ones upset about the trade, Obama would have traded for 3 mullgans and a new sand wedge if it was offered.

[planosteve]

Now, Afghanistan is saying that the US has also broken international law because you cannot transfer POW's to a 3rd country.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Maybe I've been watching too many episodes of "Marvel's - Agents of Shield", but I'd like to think the Talibaners released have been implanted with GPS devises. I hear those drones can be pretty precise in their targets.

Oooh, I like it.

[GRANDPA]

One good reason not to tell Congress about this (or anything else) in advance is that none of those people can keep a secret.

[crackertoes]

One good reason not to tell Congress about this (or anything else) in advance is that none of those people can keep a secret.

Or because you intend to break a law, release terrorists, and nothing can be done about it after the fact.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Bottom line though... What if the POW was your son or daughter?

[John in Plano]

I'd want him/her home.

no matter the cost

[crackertoes]

Interesting reading:

http://nypost.com/2014/05/31/the-bizarr ... known-pow/