Republicans Attack Obama For Negotiations Leading To Release Of American POW
The negotiations that led to the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl represent one thing to Republicans: another excuse to attack President Obama.
“Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Berghdal’s release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans,” said Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)[pictured, right] and Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), the Senate Armed Services ranking member and House Armed Services chairman, respectively, in a joint statement.Earlier Saturday, White House officials announced that the Taliban released Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, held captive for nearly five years. Then came multiple reports that U.S. officials released five Taliban members from Guantanamo Bay. Those members are: Khair Ulla Said Wali Khairkhwa, Mullah Mohammad Fazl, Mullah Norullah Nori, Abdul Haq Wasiq and Mohammad Nabi Omari, according to multiple reports.
According to CNN: Khairkhwa was believed to be “directly associated” with Osama Bin Laden, as well as a “drug lord” and a friend of former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai; Fazi, Normi and Wasiq were top Taliban military officials, while Omari is the Taliban’s former chief of communications.
Inhofe and McKeon said that Obama “clearly violated laws which require him to notify Congress thirty days before any transfer of terrorists from Guantanamo Bay.”
“Our joy at Sergeant Berghdal’s release is tempered by the fact that President Obama chose to ignore the law — not to mention sound policy — to achieve it,” they said in their statement.
Obewon May 31st, 2014 at 5:50 pm
As soon as the US POW’s Freedom was announced, RWNJ’s said ‘Freedom is Bad!’ Earth to Inhoffe-The USA is done with combat operations in Afghanistan this year before the 5 GTMO detainees could ever leave Qatar where they’re being held! ‘The five Taliban prisoners at Guantánamo are held in Qatar -where they will be subject to security restrictions, including a one-year travel ban.’
“President Obama marks 2014 as the year that combat operations in Afghanistan conclude, a residual force of 9,800 U.S. troops will remain there for 1 year following the end of combat operations in December 2014. That number will be cut in half at the end of 2015, and reduced at the end of 2016 to a small military presence at the U.S. Embassy.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-to-leave-9800-us-troops-in-afghanistan-senior-official-says/2014/05/27/57f37e72-e5b2-11e3-a86b-362fd5443d19_story.html
Shades May 31st, 2014 at 6:55 pm
They’re upset they weren’t notified? Why? Were they going to block it? Would they have been happier if Obama’d left him there until they had five of our servicemen?
Just Wondering May 31st, 2014 at 7:23 pm
yes they would be ecstatic
Dwendt44 June 1st, 2014 at 1:07 am
They would hold a congressional hearing on the merits of exchanging a handful of Taliban for a American soldier.
AnthonyLook May 31st, 2014 at 7:35 pm
American voter’s don’t care what Republican’s think about getting an AMERICAN BACK HOME SAFE.
Maxx44 May 31st, 2014 at 7:46 pm
Once again proving that no matter what the black guy does, the right will find fault.
arc99 May 31st, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Consider just for a moment the scenario where the President does abide by this 30 day notification. In the interim, the Afghan group we are negotiating with, changes their mind and says the deal is off.
Right wing blogs would be ablaze with nonsense about the “weak” “indecisive” “dithering” “Muslim” “community organizer” whose bureaucratic pussyfootting let a brave American hero rot in a foreign prison.
At least in this one instance, the President seems to have learned his lesson. Right wingers will condemn him no matter what he does. Newt Gingrich proved that in 2012 when he condemned the President for not intervening in Libya and then two weeks later, condemned the President because we did intervene in Libya.
Mr. Obama is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. So f*ck em..
fahvel June 1st, 2014 at 3:23 am
as I remember, a bush was friends with the same gang.
Ron Jackson June 1st, 2014 at 10:09 am
So long as it’s not them or their family,right winger don’t care