An American soldier, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held prisoner in Afghanistan since 2009, has been released from captivity after successful negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban:
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban Saturday evening, local time, in an area of eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. Officials said the exchange was not violent and the 28-year-old Bergdahl was in good condition and able to walk.
The announcement of Sgt. Bergdahl’s release was made earlier today:
Obama statement announcing the freedom of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl: pic.twitter.com/eFsfWttVBD
— Rebecca Sinderbrand (@sinderbrand) May 31, 2014
In return for the return of Sgt. Bergdahl, five Taliban commanders being held at Gitmo were released. Those five are setting off alarms, and for good reason:
We've identified the Taliban commanders freed in exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Berghdahl http://t.co/6WzpDoGTHz They are bad, bad guys.
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) May 31, 2014
Five of the Most Dangerous Taliban Commanders in U.S. Custody Released in P.O.W. Exchange http://t.co/9Hsb9PISIb
— The Weekly Standard (@weeklystandard) May 31, 2014
Here is one of my previous profiles of the GTMO 5 the Taliban has wanted freed:http://t.co/fl0il1qFfs (short bios of each)
— Thomas Joscelyn (@thomasjoscelyn) May 31, 2014
The 5 #Taliban leaders released from Gitmo by #Obama, Where are they now? pic.twitter.com/FshHVPADQs
— Khushal Wakily (@kwakily) May 31, 2014
More about what happened from Carol Rosenberg of the Miami Herald:
US government official tells me Congress was notified about the #Guantanamo prisoner release as it was happening, no 30-day notice…
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) May 31, 2014
"This is a case if the commander-in-chief exercising his prerogative to get one of his soldiers back." –US official.
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) May 31, 2014
All 5 Afghan prisoners freed from #Guantanamo today were indefinite detainees –forever prisoners. @MiamiHerald list. http://t.co/S6XH10uKSZ
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) May 31, 2014
The five released from Gitmo have reportedly left Cuba:
Defense official: Aircraft carrying 5 Gitmo detainees exchanged for Army Sgt. Bergdahl has left Cuba. http://t.co/PsVGJAkHsq
— David Webb (@davidwebbshow) May 31, 2014
Conservative radio host Tammy Bruce discussed what she fears could be one of the consequences of the deal that secured the release of Sgt. Bergdahl:
Bowe Bergdahl was released thru negotiating w terrorists & releasing 5 terrorists from Gitmo. This means more soldiers will be kidnapped.
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) May 31, 2014
I'm glad we got Bergdahl, but the method used means the kidnapping of Americans for money or the release of terrorist prisoners will ramp up
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) May 31, 2014
And they won’t be confined to one country for very long:
Don't worry, the terrorists we're releasing to Qatar are subject to a one year travel ban http://t.co/sEBlZd8GfY
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) May 31, 2014
Only a one-year travel ban? Yep:
After 1 yr confinement in Qatar, the 5 Gitmo jihadists traded for Bowe Bergdahl will be free to leave ==> http://t.co/RQW6j9aeHS
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) May 31, 2014
Unbelievable.
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