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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWashington Post 2/17/14 - U.S. seeks prisoner swap with Taliban to free Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl
How the fuck do the righties in Congress say they didn't know about this? Oh and fuck Diane Feinstein too.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-seeks-prisoner-swap-with-taliban-to-free-army-sgt-bowe-bergdahl/2014/02/17/f142ed50-9590-11e3-afce-3e7c922ef31e_story.html
Botany
(70,524 posts)Bergdahl + Benghazi = Berghazi (totally made up scandals by the GOP)
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)They knew it was coming, they're such lying assholes. And yes, Bergdahl's walking away was common knowledge. And yes, there were already concerns about Bergdahl's health.
"Officials at the Pentagon said last month that they had obtained a new video of Bergdahl, the first evidence U.S. officials have seen in nearly three years that the soldier remains alive. They had long been seeking evidence that Bergdahl was still living, because of reports that he had attempted to escape once and because of concerns about his health, a U.S. official said. The United States intercepted the video before its makers intended to release or broadcast it, the official said."
JimDandy
(7,318 posts)And why didn't Obama veto it?
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)30 day rule was unconstitutional and he may act without the notice if the situation demanded it. Of course, Obama could argue he did give them notice given all the fits and starts of negotiations. I don't think even the Robert's court would find a 30 day notice rule Constitutional.
thesquanderer
(11,990 posts)If not, what would even be the purpose of a 30 day notification?
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)have any good press and they wanted an opportunity to either screw with the deal or prepare a media blitz condemning it. Remember, the 30 day notice was their way of blocking all Gitmo prisoners from leaving, basically. it was an attempt to keep control after they agreed to fund the moving of prisoners. Remember the repubs have fought everything Obama has tried to do to close Gitmo.
It all boils down to the gop trying to make sure Obama isn't successful. Can congress veto/block a swap? No, but they hold the purse strings so they might be able to come up with something there. Obama vowed to close Gitmo and the 30 day provision was their last ditch effort to make sure he wasn't successful in one of his big campaign promises.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)asked about this prisoner swap, and said something like "it's dead, it's not going anywhere". Well, six weeks later--Guess what, Johnny Mac?
lumpy
(13,704 posts)Rather important especially considering those Congress critters who claim to be taken by 'surprise' and are outraged by not being notified. Of course it is common knowledge that too many Congress critters don't know what the hell is going on anywhere at anytime.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Not a helpful contributor to the party.
From what I saw the day of, she was first in line to shit on the President for getting this done.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)monitoring situation.
SunSeeker
(51,576 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,372 posts)http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-seeks-prisoner-swap-with-taliban-to-free-army-sgt-bowe-bergdahl/2014/02/17/f142ed50-9590-11e3-afce-3e7c922ef31e_story.html
BY ANNE GEARAN AND ERNESTO LONDOÑO February 17
Five members of the Afghan Taliban who have been held at Guantanamo for years would be released to protective custody in Qatar in exchange for the release of Bergdahl, who was captured in Afghanistan in 2009 and is thought to be held in Pakistan by the Haqqani network, an allied insurgent group.
To refresh the American offer, which has been on the table for more than two years, senior officials from the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies decided within the past month to allow the simultaneous release of all five men. Taliban representatives had objected to the previous plan to release the prisoners by ones or twos as a test of Taliban and Qatari intermediaries ability to make sure the men did not return to militancy.
(snip)
Bergdahl, an Army infantryman assigned to a unit from Alaska, was taken captive after walking off his base in the eastern province of Paktika, a decision that confounded his comrades and commanders in Afghanistan. The U.S. military launched a massive manhunt, fearing it would be nearly impossible to find him if his captors smuggled him into Pakistan. The Taliban soon took credit for capturing him and offered to release him in exchange for $1 million and 21 Afghan prisoners.
(snip)
The decision to try to resume talks comes amid U.S. frustration with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has refused to sign a security pact that would allow some forces to stay in the country next year. Without it, all U.S. troops will depart this year, and the already declining U.S. leverage with the Taliban would be reduced.
Thanks for the thread, Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
Cha
(297,375 posts)Nothing?!
thanks YMBL