SMRs and AMRs

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Bergdahl release arrangement could threaten the safety of Americans, Republicans say

By Karen Tumulty, WashPost, Saturday, May 31, 4:14 PM

Amid jubilation Saturday over the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from captivity by the Taliban, senior Republicans on Capitol Hill said they were troubled by the means by which it was accomplished, which was a deal to release five Afghan detainees from the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Top Republicans on the Senate and House armed services committees went so far as to accuse President Obama of having broken the law, which requires the administration to notify Congress before any transfers from Guantanamo are carried out.

“Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Bergdahl’s release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans. Our terrorist adversaries now have a strong incentive to capture Americans. That incentive will put our forces in Afghanistan and around the world at even greater risk,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. McKeon (R-Calif.) and the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, James M. Inhofe (Okla.), said in a joint statement.

Lawmakers were not notified of the Guantanamo detainees’ transfer until after it occurred.

The law requires the defense secretary to notify relevant congressional committees at least 30 days before making any transfers of prisoners, to explain the reason and to provide assurances that those released would not be in a position to reengage in activities that could threaten the United States or its interests.

(More here.)

1 Comments:

Blogger Minnesota Central said...


Query : How many jihadists were there before the release of these five ?
Will five more make any difference ?
Yes, they may very likely go on to continue their jihad, but weren't there already plenty of others trying to do the same thing ?
And, won't the Americans be monitoring (as best they can) the activities of these five ... making them targets and anyone they associate with ?

My first reaction was that I understood the Republicans response, but after some thought, I think the exchange was worth it ... and of course, if this was done when Reagan or the Bushes were in charge, their tone would be muted.

7:16 AM  

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