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'The wheels on the bus': CNN reports WH officials say SecDef Hagel made final call on Bergdahl trade

On May 31st, President Obama stood with Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s parents to announce that the soldier held in Afghanistan, who was reportedly a deserter, was coming home. Released in return for Bergdahl were five Taliban commanders who were being held at Gitmo.

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Something could be going wrong for the White House on the PR front, because in spite of the picture that was carefully painted during the initial announcement, CNN is reporting that White House officials are saying Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was the person who made the final call:

On the day the Bergdahl swap was announced, the White House certainly didn’t mind giving the impression President Obama made the decision.

Boy, that deflection of responsibility escalated quickly.


https://twitter.com/Greg651/status/476146998744449026

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So, when Obama said the Gitmo release was “something I would do again” he was referring to Hagel? This is confusing.

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Related:

‘Completely deranged’: Obama says Bergdahl concerns just ‘whipped-up’ controversy

Carney defends Obama on shady Bergdahl prisoner swap: ‘It was the right thing to do’

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