The defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, speaks during a flight on a US military aircraft. Photograph: Pool/Reuters
Hagel: Congress Not Told Of Bergdahl Release Because His Life Was In Danger -- The Guardian
• White House moved fast 'essentially to save his life'
• Sergeant released by Taliban now in Germany
The defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, said on Sunday the military operation to free Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Guantánamo Bay detainees was not relayed to Congress because officials believed the soldier's life was in danger.
Bergdahl, who was freed around 6pm local time on Saturday, was subsequently flown from Afghanistan to a military hospital in Germany. The Landstuhl regional medical centre said in a statement that Bergdahl arrived at the facility in south-western Germany on Sunday morning.
Read more ....
Update #1: Hagel: Congress Kept in Dark on Swap Because Bergdahl's Life in Danger -- NBC
Update #2: Bergdahl release arrangement could threaten the safety of Americans, Republicans say -- Washington Post
Update #3: Lawmakers Question Deal Behind Soldier's Release -- WSJ
Update #4: Bowe Bergdahl prisoner swap: Was it illegal? -- Mark Sappenfield, CSM
My Comment: U.S. law is very clear .... the administration must notify Congress before any transfers from Guantanamo are carried out. The fact that this was not done is .... to put it bluntly .... disturbing in every way.
7 comments:
Add it to the list of US Laws that this administration violates with impunity.
What do you call it when the government violates laws without consequences, but holds the citizens to a massive number of contradictory laws? Especially when those laws are only enforced at the whim of the government? So that those who have the right contacts aren't held to account, but those who lack them are?
Hmm...I'm sure there's a word for it. I just can't think of it right now.
Orion
The right wing reflex to what ever the President does is so predictable--and shamefully un-American. They criticized the taking out of OBL and now even complain when the administration secures the release of our only POW after nearly five years of captivity. The freedom of one American soldier is worth far more than five ignorant Talibs. And, what a great idea it would have been to have the obstructionist Congress debate the issue. Put your racist-fueled partisan BS aside and support our troops.
The five ignorant Talib:
Abdul Haq Wasiq … intelligence official… “was central to the Taliban’s efforts to form alliances with other Islamic fundamentalist groups to fight alongside the Taliban against US and Coalition forces after the 11 September 2001 attacks.”
Mullah Norullah Noori … “wanted by the United Nations (UN) for possible war crimes including the murder of thousands of Shiite Muslims” … “associated with…senior al Qaeda members and other extremist organizations.”
Mullah Mohammad Fazl … [also] … “wanted by the UN for possible war crimes including the murder of thousands of Shiites.” Fazl “was associated with terrorist groups currently opposing U.S. and Coalition forces including al Qaeda, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG), and an Anti-Coalition Militia group known as Harakat-i-Inqilab-i-Islami.”
Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa … former governor of Herat province … “represented the Taliban during meetings with Iranian officials seeking to support hostilities against US and Coalition Forces” … oversaw one of Osama bin Laden’s training facilities in Herat, too. One US government memo noted that only Khairkhwa or bin Laden himself “could authorize entrance” to the facility, which was one of bin Laden’s “most important bases”.
Mohammad Nabi Omari … “was a senior Taliban official who served in multiple leadership roles” … “involved in attacks against US and Coalition forces” … brother-in-law [of] … the “Butcher of Khowst” … “to have all personnel identified and vetted to prepare for future al Qaeda control of the area under Jalaluddin Haqqani” … smuggle “an unknown number of missiles along the highway between Jalalabad and Peshawar,” Pakistan … with the intent of … attacks near the Jalalabad airport …”two Americans were killed during attacks against the Khowst, Gardez, and Jalalabad airports.”
Yes, there is ignorance here,but not Talib.
5 for 1 is a damn good deal...
You want to know pain and heartache, try 1027 for 1..
My own view, no swaps, no negotiations with terrorists, it only emboldens them or others to do it again.
Then future Governments think this is the only answer to get captives back, a trend we are already seeing.
I bet we will see this rolled out in Nigeria very soon.
I really don't see how this exchange was a good idea...the five released from Guantanamo will more than likely end up planning more attacks against America, same as the majority of the others who have been released in the past.
And it looks like this Bergdahl guy is nothing more than a deserter and possible Al Qaeda sympathizer.
Here's a great article on the topic from Rolling Stone by Michael Hastings:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/americas-last-prisoner-of-war-20120607
Very interesting read William - thank you
Michael Hastings .... now that is a reporter who knew how to get under the skin of many people in Afghanistan. Sadly .... in case no one knows .... he was killed in a car crash last year.
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