US swaps 5 Gitmo prisoners for US soldiers release, but many questions remain

[Standing_Ultraviolet]

We might hope that is true, but after a year or long before these guys can vanish back into the depths from which they came.

If the only restriction on them is a one year travel ban, then yes, they can. It doesn't seem likely that they would have been released were that the only restriction, though. If it were, it wouldn't have even made sense to send them to Qatar, really. As much as I despise the fact that we're allied with Qatar because of their repressive government, we did send them to one of our more capable allies in the region because we felt that we could receive real security guarantees there.

It may very well be the point.

It's the point if you assume that Obama is a sociopath, and an incompetent sociopath at that. This decision is catching a lot of flack even with them enclosed in Qatar. Regardless, Obama isn't going to stand for reelection to any office this year. If this was a unilateral decision, why would he have made the decision to avoid the election cycle in 2014? It's a congressional election.

Sure, by someone. But his status has been known long before this story broke. Other than from his father there hasn't been much interest in the story until he was traded for five high risk high-profile Taliban operators.

The interest has been intermittent. This is a long-term story, and people just don't have that sort of attention span (I know I don't). It would have definitely picked up in interest if he had died, though.

 

[Panzerkamfwagen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3VJc89eYcQ

 

[theophilus777]

I sincerely doubt that his fellow soldiers are all lying about him, though if they were doing some of the things he accused them of it might make sense for them to turn on him. I just wonder when and if we will know exactly what went on here.

I know people who came back who saw the same things he is quoted here as saying, so that much is credible.

 

[SaphireOwl]

Someone should send that video to Obama.

 

[Sistrin]

Intent is critical to desertion.

U.S. concluded in 2010 that Bergdahl walked away

A Pentagon investigation concluded in 2010 that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl walked away from his unit, and after an initial flurry of searching the military decided not to exert extraordinary efforts to rescue him, according to a former senior defense official who was involved in the matter.

...

But the former Pentagon official said it was "incontrovertible" that he walked away from his unit.

The military investigation was broader than a criminal inquiry, this official said, and it didn't formally accuse Bergdahl of desertion. In interviews, members of his unit portrayed him as a naive, "delusional" person who thought he could help the Afghan people by leaving his army post, the official said.

...

"There was no patrol that night," he wrote. "Bergdahl was relieved from guard duty, and instead of going to sleep, he fled the outpost on foot. He deserted. I've talked to members of Bergdahl's platoon_including the last Americans to see him before his capture. I've reviewed the relevant documents. That's what happened."

Source: U.S. concluded in 2010 that Bergdahl walked away

 

[MachZer0]

U.S. concluded in 2010 that Bergdahl walked away

A Pentagon investigation concluded in 2010 that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl walked away from his unit, and after an initial flurry of searching the military decided not to exert extraordinary efforts to rescue him, according to a former senior defense official who was involved in the matter.

...

But the former Pentagon official said it was "incontrovertible" that he walked away from his unit.

The military investigation was broader than a criminal inquiry, this official said, and it didn't formally accuse Bergdahl of desertion. In interviews, members of his unit portrayed him as a naive, "delusional" person who thought he could help the Afghan people by leaving his army post, the official said.

...

"There was no patrol that night," he wrote. "Bergdahl was relieved from guard duty, and instead of going to sleep, he fled the outpost on foot. He deserted. I've talked to members of Bergdahl's platoon_including the last Americans to see him before his capture. I've reviewed the relevant documents. That's what happened."

Source: U.S. concluded in 2010 that Bergdahl walked away

Now that we've got him back, a court martial seems to be in order

 

[Panzerkamfwagen]

Now that we've got him back, a court martial seems to be in order

Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct,

Linky.

 

[MachZer0]

Linky.

My guess is that the weak President we have will not allow a court martial and the deserter will subsequently demand back pay for the time he was AWOL

 

[theophilus777]

My guess is that the weak President we have will not allow a court martial and the deserter will subsequently demand back pay for the time he was AWOL

Mach

Seriously though, back to the original concern. Our Gov't better have some impressively James Bond level surprises cooked up to make this deal a good idea.

 

[Panzerkamfwagen]

Mach

Seriously though, back to the original concern. Our Gov't better have some impressively James Bond level surprises cooked up to make this deal a good idea.

This deal is getting worse all the time.

 

[ShouldaWouldaCoulda]

It's treason! Plain and simple. And since he typically bypassed Congress yet again so as to commit this egregious betrayal of America, he should be arrested asap! And this soldier should be tried for desertion. While his Muslim father and Taliban sympathizer should be watched and monitored carefully. I knew Obama was a disgrace to the White house but this proves he is a danger to America.

 

[JustOneWay]

It's treason! Plain and simple. And since he typically bypassed Congress yet again so as to commit this egregious betrayal of America, he should be arrested asap! And this soldier should be tried for desertion. While his Muslim father and Taliban sympathizer should be watched and monitored carefully. I knew Obama was a disgrace to the White house but this proves he is a danger to America.

Don't you think we should at least wait for the trial before exacting punishment and assigning the blame to Obama


! OBAMA !

 

[AirPo]

Don't you think we should at least wait for the trial before exacting punishment and assigning the blame to Obama


! OBAMA !

Doesn't work as well as a tag, but whatever.

 

[ShouldaWouldaCoulda]

Don't you think we should at least wait for the trial before exacting punishment and assigning the blame to Obama


! OBAMA !

Shucks, you mean we have to uncuff him and return him to the White house now because he's been arrested just this morning?

Oh, wait.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

What's the difference between a POW and a hostage, exactly?

Just curious.

 

[Standing_Ultraviolet]

This isn't treason. That's a legal term, and I have enough respect for the law to know that it doesn't apply in this circumstance, no matter how much you want to slap it on a political opponent. If I could claim that whoever I wanted to had committed treason, I would say that Congress did by causing a government shutdown. That's just not how it works, though. You have to either wage war on the U.S. government, or provide "aid and comfort" to an enemy. We have enough precedent to say that aid and comfort doesn't include prisoner swaps or paying ransoms. It was an act in simple violation of a policy set by the previous president, and a policy that he didn't actually follow in practice (mostly because following it would have been impossible).

Just, for the record, everyone here knows that the five prisoners released would probably have had to be released with no conditions at the end of the war in Afghanistan, right? The government could have fought over it, but there's a serious risk that it would have ended with a Supreme Court decision declaring that we can't hold them under international law. Then, they would have actually gone straight back to killing our allies and remaining soldiers. As it is, we're negotiating from a position of comparative power.

 

[ShouldaWouldaCoulda]

You don't know enough about the points of treason to respect the law as relates to that charge.

• Offering the enemies of the United States of America assistance

Obama's illegal order released five of the most dangerous Taliban leaders on earth back into Afghanistan! Where our troops are still stationed. And we're in a state of war.

 

[Sistrin]

As it is, we're negotiating from a position of comparative power.

Compared to whom? But with respect you are wrong here. As with the hashtag wimpathy campaign, the US has again been shown to be weak and easily manipulated.

 

[Arcangl86]

And we're in a state of war.

I must have missed the declaration of war... oh wait.

 

[JustOneWay]

You don't know enough about the points of treason to respect the law as relates to that charge.

• Offering the enemies of the United States of America assistance

Obama's illegal order released five of the most dangerous Taliban leaders on earth back into Afghanistan! Where our troops are still stationed. And we're in a state of war.

We?

Are you from Canada, or just display your country as Canada as some type of deception?