An Inside Look At The White House's Decision To Free Bergdahl

President Barack Obama stands with Bob Bergdahl (R) and Jami Bergdahl (L) as he delivers a statement about the release of their son, prisoner of war U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington May 31, 2014. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Inside The White House's Decision To Free Bergdahl -- Reuters

(Reuters) - For President Barack Obama, it seemed like the right thing to do, according to officials in his administration: Release five Taliban detainees at Guantanamo Bay prison in return for Bowe Bergdahl, the only known American prisoner of war in Afghanistan.

As a political firestorm engulfs the White House over that deal, Reuters interviews with current and former Obama administration officials involved in the negotiations, along with U.S. lawmakers, reveal how a close-knit circle in the Obama administration pursued the plan despite intense discord in the past over similar proposals.

The White House was ultimately persuaded to go ahead, in part, after Qatar agreed to take the Taliban detainees and said it would allow the United States to track the five men in the Gulf emirate. Under that arrangement, the United States installed extensive surveillance equipment to monitor their movements and communications, the officials said.

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My Comment: This is a very revealing analysis (from Reuters) on how the Obama administration works. There is President Obama and a few trusted close aides and associates who all think alike .... and everyone else is an outsider who must tag along with the decisions that they make. No room for dissent or opposing opinions .... no respect of the law (i.e. informing Congress) .... and no thought on the consequences of one's decisions .... especially (if the Bergdahl release is any indication) on national security issues.