Negotiating With The Taliban.

[Valmy]

I understand why Obama did the exchange.

Yep.  A necessary step, pity it seems to have been dearly bought indeed.

[CountDeMoney]

LOL, he gets a soldier in enemy custody released, it's an obvious political ploy.  If he doesn't, he's abandoned him.

Black guy can't win for shit no matter what he does, film at 11.

Change the record.  Heard this one a million times.

Only you ignorant dumbass Obamahaters would actually give him shit for getting the last POW from 2 wars' worth of bullshit out.

You fuckers are so obscenely contrarian for the sake of it, if the guy had to launch ICBMs to save the planet from an asteroid, you'd give him shit for violating NPT first-use policy.  Fucking assholes.

[derspiess]

Only you ignorant dumbass Obamahaters would actually give him shit for getting the last POW from 2 wars' worth of bullshit out.

I read that he wasn't on the POW list and there seems to be strong evidence he deserted.

You fuckers are so obscenely contrarian for the sake of it, if the guy had to launch ICBMs to save the planet from an asteroid, you'd give him shit for violating NPT first-use policy.  Fucking assholes.

I really did try to give him the benefit of the doubt from the beginning and I took some of the early criticism with a grain of salt.  I'd actually love for Obama to do something I could applaud. 

But if even half the stuff about this Bergdahl guy is true-- on top of the facts that we let five terrorist walk and that Obama technically broke the law by not giving Congress enough advance notice--  then I'd think even you would have to admit this was a pretty big fuckup.

If Dubya had done this I'd still call it a fuckup.  And you'd agree with me.

[CountDeMoney]

Those "terrorists" are compromised now.  And if we don't drone their asses into Nutella inside 24 months, then their buddies will do it.

And Chuck Hagel made his phone calls to the Hill.  Just because every moron rape-redefining Rep. Teabaggins (R- Teabag End) didn't get a personal phone call from That Uppity Negro is simply more bullshit bleating.  Even if he appeared before Congress, they'd interrupt him anyway.

But I suppose it's muh more palatable to trade arms for hostages instead.

[derspiess]

Those "terrorists" are compromised now.  And if we don't drone their asses into Nutella inside 24 months, then their buddies will do it.

Keep telling yourself that, CountdeMustafa

And Chuck Hagel made his phone calls to the Hill.  Just because every moron rape-redefining Rep. Teabaggins (R- Teabag End) didn't get a personal phone call from That Uppity Negro is simply more bullshit bleating.  Even if he appeared before Congress, they'd interrupt him anyway.

Interesting.  Wonder why the administration apologized for not notifying them?  Feinstein seems to be a little pissed over it.  You ought to call her & tell her she's wrong.

But I suppose it's muh more palatable to trade arms for hostages instead.

HAIG'S FAULT

[Berkut]

So what it the basic Republican talking point here? Should not have been done because the POW in question is an asshole, and hence we should impeach Obama?

[CountDeMoney]

That only US servicemen in Republican adminstrations deserve to come home, apparently.

[derspiess]

So what it the basic Republican talking point here? Should not have been done because the POW in question is an asshole, and hence we should impeach Obama?

Yes, that's exactly it.

[KRonn]

From what I've read, Republicans consider it a terrible move and a mistake, while Democrats think the GOP are manufacturing outrage for political reasons.

More than just Republicans feel this has likely been a real mess. The admin may have expected this would be a shot in the arm for the failures of the VA, and multiple other scandals which are about once a month now. This swap has backfired badly. Was the swap done for political motives? Funny how just the Repubs are blamed for politicizing it.

[Valmy]

From what I've read, Republicans consider it a terrible move and a mistake, while Democrats think the GOP are manufacturing outrage for political reasons.

More than just Republicans feel this has likely been a real mess. The admin may have expected this would be a shot in the arm for the failures of the VA, and multiple other scandals which are about once a month now. This swap has backfired badly. Was the swap done for political motives? Funny how just the Repubs are blamed for politicizing it.

Ok as far as I know the swap was clean.  How did it backfire?  I mean besides paying a high price and the guy being perhaps a less than perfect soldier.

[Valmy]

So what it the basic Republican talking point here? Should not have been done because the POW in question is an asshole, and hence we should impeach Obama?

We negotiated with terrorists and therefore he should be impeached I think.  But even the Republicans have to know we leave no man behind no matter how shitty.  Politically we had to retrieve this dude if we ever hope to end the war.

[derspiess]

If it turns out that he was in fact a deserter, I think we could have pulled out quite easily leaving this guy behind.

[Valmy]

If it turns out that he was in fact a deserter, I think we could have pulled out quite easily leaving this guy behind.

Color me skeptical.  His family was out there fighting for him.

[Jacob]

From what I've read, Republicans consider it a terrible move and a mistake, while Democrats think the GOP are manufacturing outrage for political reasons.

More than just Republicans feel this has likely been a real mess. The admin may have expected this would be a shot in the arm for the failures of the VA, and multiple other scandals which are about once a month now. This swap has backfired badly. Was the swap done for political motives? Funny how just the Repubs are blamed for politicizing it.

What's the part that's messy?

That people are casting aspersions on the soldier in question? Because "nah we don't like him" is a pretty fucked up reason to let someone rot. If he is a deserter, the US has methods for dealing with that that does not involve leaving someone as a perpetual POW; namely a court martial.

Is it the idea that there was a trade for him? Because in my view that's pretty standard.

It seems to me that there's a bunch of shrieking and people are buying into it, but I don't quite understand what the substance is to be honest,

[derspiess]

Looks like Feinstein was actually more blunt than reported in the other article from yesterday:

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/bowe-bergdahl-released/top-lawmakers-say-white-house-broke-law-bergdahl-deal-n121721

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss said the administration violated the law by failing to address serious concerns they had about the deal to swap Bergdahl for five Taliban detainees. Chambliss said he had not had a conversation with the White House about a possible exchange for at least 18 months.

"It comes to us with some surprise and dismay that the transfers went ahead with no consultation, totally not following law," Feinstein told reporters following a closed door meeting. "And in an issue with this kind of concern to a committee that bears the oversight responsibility, I think you can see that we're very dismayed about it ."