June 2, 2014 original publish date
Aug. 21, 2014 UPDATE Reflects GAO report, Obama Admin’s prisoner swap violated law
Mar. 25, 2015 UPDATE U.S. military to charge Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion
President Obama Trades 5 Key Terrorists for POW Deserter
original article written by Net Advisor™
WASHINGTON DC. After 5 years being held by the Taliban, the Obama Administration negotiated a trade for an American POW in Afghanistan. The deal was brokered by the Middle-east country of Qatar.
I initially discusses these events back in 2011, and 2012 including how U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) and the White House tried to make the American public think that the Taliban was somehow ‘not our enemy.’ A gaff that is completely untrue.
[1] Obama Bypasses Congress (in Secret)
According to CSMonitor, “President Obama is supposed to give Congress advanced warning of Guantánamo detainee transfers. In the swap that freed Bowe Bergdahl, he didn’t. Why? It has to do with ‘signing statements.'”
Democrat Constitutional Law Professor Jonathan Turley said in this video that President Obama’s action of swapping GITMO terrorists without Congressional authorization is a violation of federal law. Outgoing White Press Secretary Jay Carney said that notifying Congress was “not an option.”
Professor Turley raised further concern about the U.S. long-standing policy of ‘not negotiating with terrorists.’
“While the country has long insisted that it would not negotiate with terrorists, it seems like it has been doing precisely that for years in working out a trade that ultimately led to the release of five Taliban leaders.
More importantly, federal law requires notice to Congress some 30 days before a release of a detainee from Guantanamo Bay — another federal provision that the White House appears to have simply ignored in a unilateral act.”
—Constitutional Law Professor Jonathan Turley said in his blog, June 2, 2014
[2] Who is Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl?
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl wrote a series of emails to his parents about his experiences in Afghanistan. Bergdahl spoke negatively about his commanding officers and had harsh words to say about being an American.
“The future is too good to waste on lies…And life is way too short to care for the damnation of others, as well as to spend it helping fools with their ideas that are wrong. I have seen their ideas and I am ashamed to even be american…
…the title of US soldier is just the lie of fools…
…The US army is the biggest joke the world has to laugh at. It is the army of liars, backstabbers, fools, and bullies. The few good SGTs are getting out as soon as they can, and they are telling us privates to do the same.”
— Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl emails to his parents [Source: Rolling Stone, June 7, 2012 (highlight added) PDF]
[3] Six American Soldiers Killed Trying to Save a Disrespecting Deserter
Despite his disregard of his duty, disrespect for his commanding officers, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl deserted his Afgan post in 2009. Six Americans were killed in trying to save Sgt. Bergdahl.
Before we “traded” five… #rememberthesix #norosegardenlovefortheirparents pic.twitter.com/d1FULD9INJ
— PocketFullOfLiberty (@pocketliberty) June 2, 2014
[4] Did Hillary Clinton Bail on Her Sec. of State Job to Later Avoid Being Tied to Another Scandal?
The final negotiation for Bergdahl’s release occurred after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton resigned their offices, because both would be required by law to sign off on this illegal trade of an American POW for GITMO terrorists.
“Panetta and Hillary don’t give a shit about getting him (Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl) home,” says one senior U.S. official involved in the negotiations. “They want to be able to say they COINed their way out of Afghanistan, or whatever, so it doesn’t look like they are cutting and running.” (Both Clinton and Panetta, by law, would have to sign off on any exchange.)
— Source: Rolling Stone, June 7, 2012 (page 12, highlight PDF)
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been mired in controversy including but not limited to her her role and lack of leadership of the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed in the Benghazi terrorist attack on September 11, 2012.
President Obama, Secretary Clinton, Susan Rice and others in the Administration tried to blame a YouTube video for the Benghazi attack, and not due to their failed foreign policy (Benghazi Reports). Secretary Clinton’s response to Congress on this matter created further controversy (video).
[5] More American Troops Killed in Afghanistan Under Obama than Bush – Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone, noted in their 2012 article about Sgt. Bergdahl that more Americans have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan under President Obama’s first three years in office, than under eight years under President Bush’s watch.
“Over the next three years, 13,000 Americans would be killed or wounded in Afghanistan – more than during the previous eight years of war under George W. Bush.”
— Source: Rolling Stone, June 7, 2012 (page 1, bottom PDF)
Although bringing home Americans held captive should have priority. Having an Administration working in secret, violating federal law, bypassing Congress, negotiating with terrorists, exchanging multiple top Al-qaeda supporters for an anti-Patriot deserter is not exactly something the Obama Administration should consider as a proud accomplishment.
Aug. 21, 2014 UPDATE
[6] U.S. Gov Report Says Obama Admin’s Prisoner Swap Violated the Law
A GAO report published Aug. 21, 2014 found that the Obama’s Admin’s prisoner swap for 5 Taliban held at GITMO for POW deserter, Sgt. Bergdahl failed to notify Congress at least 30 days before the action and such violated Pub. L. No. 113-76, div. C, title VIII, § 8111, 128 Stat. 5, 131 (Jan. 17, 2014) (Media References: Army Times, BusinessWeek, UPI).
The GAO report can be found here (PDF).
Mar. 25, 2015 UPDATE
[7] U.S. Military to Charge Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with Desertion
As we stated a year ago (report, page top), the U.S. military had arrived at the same conclusion that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl deserted his post in Afghanistan. Bergdahl is also charged with “Misbehavior before the enemy.” The desertion charge carries maximum five years in prison, and the separate misbehavior charge is a maximum life sentence if convicted.
Bergdahl’s case now faces an “Article 32 hearing” which could also result in a court martial, a dishonorable discharge, risks forfeiting his military compensation and loss of rank [Source: Chicago Tribune/AP (PDF)].
President Obama traded five terrorists held by the U.S. in Gitmo, Cuba for Bowe Bergdahl. Three of these released terrorists are reportedly now seeking to get reacquainted with their previous terror network(s).
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