Americans split on prisoner swap of Taliban for U.S. soldier

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

More logic fail from you. Not surprising really. So since former GWB administration officials (no source for your assertion BTW) allegedly would have made the same deal, that would have made it ok? Pretty funny.

Aren't you the one that constantly rails against GWB and the 8 years he was in office? Now that you're defending your man in the white house, it's perfectly fine to cite former Bush administration officials to make your case. I'd also bet that if the GWB administration made this same deal, you would be screaming bloody murder about it.

You hyper-partisanship is showing again. As usual.

Want a source - here. It's a clip of that guy being interviewed on Fox News. The bottom line is that bringing the serviceman home is not and should not be a partisan issue. It's an American issue. We don't leave our troops behind. Period. Some just can't help to make it partisan - you apparently being one of those.

A former Bush administration official broke with Republicans on Tuesday to defend President Obama’s prisoner exchange, arguing that since “the war in Afghanistan is winding down,” the United States would be required to return prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay back to Afghanistan.

“I don’t see how these particular Taliban officials could ever have been tried in the southern district of New York,” John Bellinger, who served as an adviser to President George W. Bush explained during an appearance on Fox News Tuesday. “They’re certainly some Al Qaeda detainees who committed actual terrorist acts against Americans who perhaps could have been tried in a federal court because they committed federal crimes, but these particular Taliban detainees I think could never have been tried in federal court.” Although some of the released prisoners posed a danger to the United States when they were captured in 2002, especially toward soldiers serving in Afghanistan, several of the detainees did not commit crimes against Americans.

You see that? These five figures would have to be returned to Afghanistan one way or the other. It's not like we could hold on to them forever. Obviously we can't charge them with anything otherwise, we'd have done that over the last decade plus. We didn't. You can bet all you want but unless and until you can show where anyone actually screamed bloody murder for Bush negotiating with the enemy and actual terrorists - and he has often enough as his former staff freely admits - you really got nothing.

[Karee 4,190]

Want a source - here. It's a clip of that guy being interviewed on Fox News. The bottom line is that bringing the serviceman home is not and should not be a partisan issue. It's an American issue. We don't leave our troops behind. Period. Some just can't help to make it partisan - you apparently being one of those.

A former Bush administration official broke with Republicans on Tuesday to defend President Obama’s prisoner exchange, arguing that since “the war in Afghanistan is winding down,” the United States would be required to return prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay back to Afghanistan.

“I don’t see how these particular Taliban officials could ever have been tried in the southern district of New York,” John Bellinger, who served as an adviser to President George W. Bush explained during an appearance on Fox News Tuesday. “They’re certainly some Al Qaeda detainees who committed actual terrorist acts against Americans who perhaps could have been tried in a federal court because they committed federal crimes, but these particular Taliban detainees I think could never have been tried in federal court.” Although some of the released prisoners posed a danger to the United States when they were captured in 2002, especially toward soldiers serving in Afghanistan, several of the detainees did not commit crimes against Americans.

You see that? These five figures would have to be returned to Afghanistan one way or the other. It's not like we could hold on to them forever. Obviously we can't charge them with anything otherwise, we'd have done that over the last decade plus. We didn't. You can bet all you want but unless and until you can show where anyone actually screamed bloody murder for Bush negotiating with the enemy and actual terrorists - and he has often enough as his former staff freely admits - you really got nothing.

Again, you seem to think it's perfectly fine for Obama to make this bad deal because some former "adviser" to Bush thinks it's ok. That's hilarious.

[Peikko 1,575]

Again, you seem to think it's perfectly fine for Obama to make this bad deal because some former "adviser" to Bush thinks it's ok. That's hilarious.

You can think it's hilarious, but the reality is these folks that were swapped were no longer relevant and they are an embarrassment and if you can trade them for an American, so much the better. I am not sure how you think the Taliban are going to be roused into action more than they have been previously. They've already declared that they see no end in sight until the American imperialists cease to threaten their territories, not sure how much more anti-US you can get really, perhaps you and your 'Obama is a sneaky Taliban toady' buddies can elaborate exactly how more 'emboldened', they can get than crashing planes into buildings on US soil?

[Karee 4,190]

You can think it's hilarious, but the reality is these folks that were swapped were no longer relevant and they are an embarrassment and if you can trade them for an American, so much the better. I am not sure how you think the Taliban are going to be roused into action more than they have been previously. They've already declared that they see no end in sight until the American imperialists cease to threaten their territories, not sure how much more anti-US you can get really, perhaps you and your 'Obama is a sneaky Taliban toady' buddies can elaborate exactly how more 'emboldened', they can get than crashing planes into buildings on US soil?

They were no longer relevant because they were locked away in Cuba. Generally when someone is incarcerated, they lose relevance. Now that they're free, we'll see how relevant they become. I don't know if the Taliban will be roused into action because of this, but I'd guess they're planning on kidnapping more folks to get some more of their brethren out of custody. I mean why wouldn't they? They would actually be stupid not to The precedent has now been set that the U.S. is willing to make a deal to release senior Taliban figures in exchange for kidnap victims. If this guy was even a kidnap victim at all.

I don't recall stating that Obama is a member of the Taliban, but if that helps you make your point, go for it. Also, I don't have any buddies. I'm turning in to an angry person from posting on this forum, and no one wants to be around me any longer.

[Karee 4,190]

You can think it's hilarious, but the reality is these folks that were swapped were no longer relevant and they are an embarrassment and if you can trade them for an American, so much the better. I am not sure how you think the Taliban are going to be roused into action more than they have been previously. They've already declared that they see no end in sight until the American imperialists cease to threaten their territories, not sure how much more anti-US you can get really, perhaps you and your 'Obama is a sneaky Taliban toady' buddies can elaborate exactly how more 'emboldened', they can get than crashing planes into buildings on US soil?

Ohh and BTW what I thought was hilarious was MBD's usual double standard. Please read my posts in the context in which I post them, before commenting on them.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Ohh and BTW what I thought was hilarious was MBD's usual double standard. Please read my posts in the context in which I post them, before commenting on them.

I believe that MBD's logic is a bit on the hypocritical side.

[Karee 4,190]

I believe that MBD's logic is a bit on the hypocritical side.

That's a nice way of putting it.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

That's a nice way of putting it.

I'm trying to be politically correct.

[Peikko 1,575]

They were no longer relevant because they were locked away in Cuba. Generally when someone is incarcerated, they lose relevance. Now that they're free, we'll see how relevant they become. I don't know if the Taliban will be roused into action because of this, but I'd guess they're planning on kidnapping more folks to get some more of their brethren out of custody. I mean why wouldn't they? They would actually be stupid not to The precedent has now been set that the U.S. is willing to make a deal to release senior Taliban figures in exchange for kidnap victims. If this guy was even a kidnap victim at all.

I don't recall stating that Obama is a member of the Taliban, but if that helps you make your point, go for it. Also, I don't have any buddies. I'm turning in to an angry person from posting on this forum, and no one wants to be around me any longer.

Taliban militants are not really known for caring about what the US thinks of their actions.

I am glad this was done, I am happy for the freed American. I am happy the president decided to do this no matter what his political motives were, and I am sure he had his motives. What I do not believe however is this has set some terrible precedent that will result in things be any more messed up than they are now. The Taliban militants are seriously messed up individuals, they believe in aggressive, inhumane actions to get what they want. They have never been afraid to put these into action and they are no more nor less afraid to engage with the US than they were before. The MISTAKE the US made was to go into Afghanistan with a military presence in the first place as if somehow doing so would have a clean and clear positive outcome for the US. They failed to take heed of the previous 20 years of Afghan geopolitics and they are constantly reaping that reward. They would have done better to fund educational programs. It would have had a more positive outcome for a gazillion less dollars outlay.

[Peikko 1,575]

They were no longer relevant because they were locked away in Cuba. Generally when someone is incarcerated, they lose relevance. Now that they're free, we'll see how relevant they become. I don't know if the Taliban will be roused into action because of this, but I'd guess they're planning on kidnapping more folks to get some more of their brethren out of custody. I mean why wouldn't they? They would actually be stupid not to The precedent has now been set that the U.S. is willing to make a deal to release senior Taliban figures in exchange for kidnap victims. If this guy was even a kidnap victim at all.

I don't recall stating that Obama is a member of the Taliban, but if that helps you make your point, go for it. Also, I don't have any buddies. I'm turning in to an angry person from posting on this forum, and no one wants to be around me any longer.

Point taken, you don't got no buddies , and you don't think Obama is a muslim - but the reaction from the extreme right wing blogosphere definitely is hinting at that.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Want a source - here. It's a clip of that guy being interviewed on Fox News. The bottom line is that bringing the serviceman home is not and should not be a partisan issue. It's an American issue. We don't leave our troops behind. Period. Some just can't help to make it partisan - you apparently being one of those.

A former Bush administration official broke with Republicans on Tuesday to defend President Obama’s prisoner exchange, arguing that since “the war in Afghanistan is winding down,” the United States would be required to return prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay back to Afghanistan.

“I don’t see how these particular Taliban officials could ever have been tried in the southern district of New York,” John Bellinger, who served as an adviser to President George W. Bush explained during an appearance on Fox News Tuesday. “They’re certainly some Al Qaeda detainees who committed actual terrorist acts against Americans who perhaps could have been tried in a federal court because they committed federal crimes, but these particular Taliban detainees I think could never have been tried in federal court.” Although some of the released prisoners posed a danger to the United States when they were captured in 2002, especially toward soldiers serving in Afghanistan, several of the detainees did not commit crimes against Americans.

You see that? These five figures would have to be returned to Afghanistan one way or the other. It's not like we could hold on to them forever. Obviously we can't charge them with anything otherwise, we'd have done that over the last decade plus. We didn't. You can bet all you want but unless and until you can show where anyone actually screamed bloody murder for Bush negotiating with the enemy and actual terrorists - and he has often enough as his former staff freely admits - you really got nothing.

Nobody thinks bringing him home was a bad idea. We think Obama breaking the law and releasing 5 hardened enemy commanders with a history of atrocities was not a good idea.

Once again Obama is so far out in left field you can't defend with out putting Bush in the Mix.. This is 2014. What bush did or did not do, has no bearing on this issue.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I believe that MBD's logic is a bit on the hypocritical side.

A bit..

Even D. Feinstein said Obama broke the law.

All they got defend him is the usual absurdity..of

A. Bush's fault . can also be "conjure up any conservative in history that even remotely did anything similar to what is going on today. It makes it ok.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Nobody thinks bringing him home was a bad idea. We think Obama breaking the law and releasing 5 hardened enemy commanders with a history of atrocities was not a good idea.

Once again Obama is so far out in left field you can't defend with out putting Bush in the Mix.. This is 2014. What bush did or did not do, has no bearing on this issue.

Maybe most weren't against bringing him home, but to some degree, he didn't want to come home, did he? Or at least he didn't until he got captured. He walked away in hostile territory by his own choice. Unfortunately for him and those killed trying to find him, it wasn't a good choice. ####### was he thinking anyway? Maybe he was having mental health issues that went unnoticed? Walking away from your unit in hostile territory doesn't sound like a rational choice to me. It will be interesting to hear what comes out a bit further down the road. Did he just want to get out, or did he want to help the enemy? Or maybe he gave it no thought at all, just packed up and split?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Maybe most weren't against bringing him home, but to some degree, he didn't want to come home, did he? Or at least he didn't until he got captured. He walked away in hostile territory by his own choice. Unfortunately for him and those killed trying to find him, it wasn't a good choice. ####### was he thinking anyway? Maybe he was having mental health issues that went unnoticed? Walking away from your unit in hostile territory doesn't sound like a rational choice to me. It will be interesting to hear what comes out a bit further down the road. Did he just want to get out, or did he want to help the enemy? Or maybe he gave it no thought at all, just packed up and split?

There was Sigint that clearly suggested he was actively seeking out the Taliban

Edited June 9, 2014 by The Nature Boy

[spookyturtle 9,466]

There was Sigint that clearly suggested he was actively seeking out the Taliban

Those are important details and I hope we get the facts on the matter sometime in the near future. If he sought out the Taliban, the word traitor comes to mind in addition to deserter. But that is only speculation at this point. And IMO, he should be held accountable for whatever he did in violation of his contract with the US.