US Soldier Held By Taliban For Five Years Freed in exchange for 5 Taliban Free

[arista]

http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Jul/Week3/125501/default/v2/15342057-522x293.jpg

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, from Idaho, was freed in exchange for America turning over 5 Taliban detainees held in Guantanamo, to Qatari custody.



Amazing they kept him Alive.
Lucky Man

http://news.sky.com/story/1272805/us-soldier-held-by-taliban-for-five-years-freed

[joeysteele]

I didn't see this coming about,surprised at the outcome but glad he is now safe.

[Tom4784]

Has no one learned anything from Homeland?

[Josy]

Very surprised at that tbh obviously he's been through a massively life changing ordeal but I hope he can get on with his life now as best as can be expected.

[Livia]

That's wonderful for the soldier and for his family. I wonder where it leaves the US government though, and their insistence that they don't do deals with terrorists?

[Crimson Dynamo]

That's wonderful for the soldier and for his family. I wonder where it leaves the US government though, and their insistence that they don't do deals with terrorists?

PR

they work the ticket like all nations do when the time is right

[Livia]

PR

they work the ticket like all nations do when the time is right

It weakens their argument and sets a precedent. It encourages other terrorists to snatch people in the hopes of making a deal.

[joeysteele]

That's wonderful for the soldier and for his family. I wonder where it leaves the US government though, and their insistence that they don't do deals with terrorists?

I agree, this could lead to further problems in years to come.

[Nedusa]

Good to see this Soldier finally released from his captivity, the Taliban have been allowed to pick from the 150 men imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay 5 men they want released.

So expect to see more serving soldiers kidnapped in Iraq/Afghanistan so they can be traded like this to free more men in G.B

Wouldn't it be better if the US President just closed this facility and let these poor wretched men go home after 12 years behind bars. After all if the War is over in this Country then these men as prisoners of war should be released.

They are not convicted of any crimes as far as I am aware merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time and being captured as enemy combatants.

At least it would stop current US/Western servicemen & servicewomen being kidnapped for similar prisoner swaps.

[CaudleHalbard]

It has set an apparently unfortunate precedent. But there again none of those released by the US have actually been convicted of a crime..... so far as I know, anyway.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I am not sure nutjob terrorists care about precedents - they know that hostages give them power

[CaudleHalbard]

Although it is easy to label them all 'nutjobs', I'm sure their leaders know exactly what they want and how best to achieve it.

It is all to do with power.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Although it is easy to label them all 'nutjobs', I'm sure their leaders know exactly what they want and how best to achieve it.

It is all to do with power.

They are nutjobs, nutjobs can be clever but they are doing things for patently stupid, selfish and sociopathic reasons

[arista]

That's wonderful for the soldier and for his family. I wonder where it leaves the US government though, and their insistence that they don't do deals with terrorists?



It appears he is not a hero, though.
He walked out of his camp in the night with no weapons.



And Swaps have been done forever
even in war.

[Nedusa]

It appears he is not a hero, though.
He walked out of his camp in the night with no weapons.



And Swaps have been done forever
even in war.

I agree, the political capital Obama thought he had with this released Soldier is fast disappearing. Turns out he was a deserter and 5 people died trying to rescue him originally. And now 5 high ranking Taliban leaders have been released in exchange for his release.

The far right Republicans are up in arms about this and it is blowing up into a Political storm.

[joeysteele]

It appears he is not a hero, though.
He walked out of his camp in the night with no weapons.



And Swaps have been done forever
even in war.

Yes, I was watching this on the news tonight arista,I'm not sure what to make of all this now

[Nedusa]

Unbelievable... The Soldier has been a prisoner held captive for 5 years and now the US authorities wants to court Marshall him for being a deserter.

Only in such a heartless godless place could a person receive such treatment.

It's a wonder he doesn't change his mind and stay with the Taliban

Disgraceful treatment.... Disgraceful Country.

[Ninastar]

Unbelievable.

[arista]

Yes, I was watching this on the news tonight arista,I'm not sure what to make of all this now


On all America News
its gone wild as now they claim Troops may have been killed
looking for him.


When he walked out of the camp
he made sure he had no weapons
he was ready to join the enemy.


The Latest is his hometown
has cancelled a rally for his return home
due to the backlash

[Nedusa]

On all America News
its gone wild as now they claim Troops may have been killed
looking for him.


When he walked out of the camp
he made sure he had no weapons
he was ready to join the enemy.


The Latest is his hometown
has cancelled a rally for his return home
due to the backlash

Yes........only in the US can a serving Soldier who has been held prisoner for over 5 Years and is finally rescued come home and find him and his whole town have been vilified and condemned.

[Nedusa]

Although to be honest I think Obama has shot himself in the foot with this whole episode.

Had he taken the time to check out the soldier in question I think he might have had a more low key annoucement of his return.

By holding such a triumphalist press conference in the White House rose garden he has left himself open to criticism from the Republican right.

[smudgie]

He was worth sending soldiers to rescue him, but not worth getting out by negotiation?
I think Obama did the right thing personally, isn't it all meant to part of trying to make peace with the Taliban, I suppose you need to look at the bigger picture.

[arista]

Although to be honest I think Obama has shot himself in the foot with this whole episode.

Had he taken the time to check out the soldier in question I think he might have had a more low key annoucement of his return.

By holding such a triumphalist press conference in the White House rose garden he has left himself open to criticism from the Republican right.


Its Both sides Now
all are debating this mess.

[Nedusa]

The idea that Governments don't do deals with terrorists is laughable.

Of course they do, the UK Govt negotiated with the IRA, the US Govt with the Taliban.

Israel with Hamas (although not sure which one is the Terrorist !!).

It goes on all the time it is realpolitik............

[Niamh.]

I hope that soldier will be able to live a normal life now, he must surely be severely traumatized

[Jesus.]

Its Both sides Now
all are debating this mess.

Mate, you're absolutely full of s**t on this issue. It's a complete republican led issue from fox news.

Firstly, and most importantly, no one knows what happened to this guy, so all these claims about him causing deaths are unfounded, as is the claim he's a deserter. In fact, the reports from the locals as he left the base describe someone who looked as though he wasn't all there, so mental health is obviously a consideration.

Right then, this backlash against him is disgusting. It really is. This is a guy who wasn't far away from being in serious and probably unrecoverable health condition, so bringing him back now was either then, or not at all.

Also, republicans themselves wanted this guy back, right up until Obama did it. There was also discussion in 2012 to bring him back, and the republicans warned the wh if they brought him back in an election year they would rubbish his name and call him a deserter and make an issue out of it. Well look what has happened.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/04/conservative-tweets-bergdahl_n_5447933.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpUBPRWIIAALde6.png

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpTvWpUIAAAZdJM.png

[arista]

"It's a complete republican led issue from fox news."


Sure thats normal
but now Democrats are asking questions
so its Now both sides

[Jesus.]

"It's a complete republican led issue from fox news."


Sure thats normal
but now Democrats are asking questions
so its Now both sides

Because of the blow back from fox. That's why. Everyone was greeting him and welcoming back at the start, but then as soon as every rw commentator started calling him a traitor and his dad part of the taliban etc, then this happened.

John McCain, in february called for a deal to be made, then as soon as obame did it, he needs to be impeached. If you can't see the hypocrisy and politiking involved here, then you're deluded. Check out the twitter in that huffpost link to see how many people are tying themselves in knots to be against something they all wanted, right up until the time obama did it.

[Nedusa]

Because of the blow back from fox. That's why. Everyone was greeting him and welcoming back at the start, but then as soon as every rw commentator started calling him a traitor and his dad part of the taliban etc, then this happened.

John McCain, in february called for a deal to be made, then as soon as obame did it, he needs to be impeached. If you can't see the hypocrisy and politiking involved here, then you're deluded. Check out the twitter in that huffpost link to see how many people are tying themselves in knots to be against something they all wanted, right up until the time obama did it.

Ahh..........John McCain

The whole World dodged a bullet when he failed to win the presidency.

[Jesus.]

Ahh..........John McCain

The whole World dodged a bullet when he failed to win the presidency.

American government is weird. They may have dodged the presidency bullet, but because the repubs own the house and the senate, then democrats can't do anything anyway.

I can't see republicans winning back the preseidency for at least the next 2 elections, then the demographics of minorities will make it impossible with their current attitudes towards immigration.

But republicans have redrawn the districts for house and senate seats, so it's increasingly difficult for democrats to win those for the next few years too.

There is an impasse that means no matter what needs to be done, as long as they keep the rw extremists happy, then they will remain in their seats. Republicans are supposed to hate government and see it as the problem, yet they are unwilling to give it up, and when you see the wealth it offers them, the reasons are there for all to see.

They are pretend patriots who tell anyone who'll listen how great the US is, and how much they love their country. They just prefer collecting cheques from lobbyists, than fixing the fixable problems.

[Nedusa]

American government is weird. They may have dodged the presidency bullet, but because the repubs own the house and the senate, then democrats can't do anything anyway.

I can't see republicans winning back the preseidency for at least the next 2 elections, then the demographics of minorities will make it impossible with their current attitudes towards immigration.

But republicans have redrawn the districts for house and senate seats, so it's increasingly difficult for democrats to win those for the next few years too.

There is an impasse that means no matter what needs to be done, as long as they keep the rw extremists happy, then they will remain in their seats. Republicans are supposed to hate government and see it as the problem, yet they are unwilling to give it up, and when you see the wealth it offers them, the reasons are there for all to see.

They are pretend patriots who tell anyone who'll listen how great the US is, and how much they love their country. They just prefer collecting cheques from lobbyists, than fixing the fixable problems.

Totally agree...............Good post :thumbs:

[Slevin]

im really glad i dont watch FOX News. what a bunch of loons on that ****. CNN has even turned to bs over the last couple years or more.

[Nedusa]

im really glad i dont watch FOX News. what a bunch of loons on that ****. CNN has even turned to bs over the last couple years or more.

Yes........for weeks all it showed was the plight of the missing Malaysian plane with every possible theory discussed and analysed in great detail.

[Slevin]

Yes........for weeks all it showed was the plight of the missing Malaysian plane with every possible theory discussed and analysed in great detail.
yea it was ridiculous. at least Jon Stewart gave me some great laughs and still does when he rips on CNN & FOX News.

[Nedusa]

yea it was ridiculous. at least Jon Stewart gave me some great laughs and still does when he rips on CNN & FOX News.

I agree.........shame though that the only way to get real biting political comment on US airwaves is from a Comedy show (albeit a very good one !!)





.

[arista]

im really glad i dont watch FOX News. what a bunch of loons on that ****. CNN has even turned to bs over the last couple years or more.


Yes CNN Fecks

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/05/09/article-2321671-19B00210000005DC-305_634x382.jpg
[Whoops: Nancy Grace and Ashleigh Banfield
were standing no more than 30 feet away from
one another while CNN USA producers
manipulated the footage to give the
appearance of a satellite interview]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2321671/Bizarre-moment-CNN-anchors-unsuccessfully-try-pretend-parking-lot.html#ixzz33mESvimk

[Livia]

Next time a soldier is captured by the Taliban and held to ransom, let's remember who it was who, contrary to the USA's previous stance, decided it actually was a good idea to negotiate with terrorists.

[Livia]

Yes CNN Fecks

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/05/09/article-2321671-19B00210000005DC-305_634x382.jpg
[Whoops: Nancy Grace and Ashleigh Banfield
were standing no more than 30 feet away from
one another while CNN USA producers
manipulated the footage to give the
appearance of a satellite interview]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2321671/Bizarre-moment-CNN-anchors-unsuccessfully-try-pretend-parking-lot.html#ixzz33mESvimk

You don't suppose it might be possible that there are two buses in Phoenix?

[Niamh.]

You don't suppose it might be possible that there are two buses in Phoenix?

:laugh2:

[arista]

You don't suppose it might be possible that there are two buses in Phoenix?



This was taken to bits on a Daily Show
showing how Utter Stupid CNN USA is

He said they could just move next to each
other , same car park etc