US Soldier spends 3rd Christmas as Taliban Prisoner

[fskimospy]

Also, now that you guys think the Taliban is going to be all about the capturing, cwhat number of captured US troops do you think we can expect going forward?

My guess is zero. What's yours?

 

[DeadFred]

Also, now that you guys think the Taliban is going to be all about the capturing, cwhat number of captured US troops do you think we can expect going forward?

My guess is zero. What's yours?

Im guessing only the ones dumb enough to desert their posts.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Also, now that you guys think the Taliban is going to be all about the capturing, cwhat number of captured US troops do you think we can expect going forward?

My guess is zero. What's yours?

Agree, zero troops will captured going forward. The big question is how many humanitarian workers will be captured/ransomed going forward?

As for Bergdahl, I'm sticking with the innocent until proven guilty approach. Give him his day in court, if he's proven guilty then he should be punished in accordance of the UCMJ.

 

[Pneumothorax]

😵

goddamn i can't believe anyone could be so dense. did you take a class or does it just run in the family? the rest of you regressives need to put a leash on this one.

when the russians were fighting in afghanistan the mujahideen would capture their enemy when they could. their form of hospitality was for every 7 soldiers they caught, they would rape 6 of them, to their death. the seventh would be set free to return and let his comrades know what was waiting for them. the taliban are an extreme and much more sinister offshoot of the original. but sounds as though you seem to have an inside track on what they're really like. 🙄

It's just too bad the soviets didn't occupy afghanistan when Stalin was in power. He would've nuked these aholes to glass or exterminated enough of the vermin that would've probably prevented 9/11 decades ago.

 

[fskimospy]

Agree, zero troops will captured going forward. The big question is how many humanitarian workers will be captured/ransomed going forward?

As for Bergdahl, I'm sticking with the innocent until proven guilty approach. Give him his day in court, if he's proven guilty then he should be punished in accordance of the UCMJ.

Probably quite a few aid workers will be kidnapped, I imagine. That has been happening for years already though.

 

[schmuckley]

You know,the way some you try to deflect and spin this situation calls attention as to how you are paid shills.
Sitting in a cubicle,to troll Anand..and spin things.

You can't spin this.It's out there.Plain and simple.

 

[emperus]

Saw the clip below this AM, has some good facts.

1.) This deal for the same 5 prisoners who were to be transferred to Qatar in exchange for Berghdal has been floated and reported on since May 2012. The same 5 prisoners. Pictures and all.

2.) A number of Republicans pressured Obama to do everything to get him home, even during the time and after this deal was reported on. One being John McCain who was aware of this deal and said that he would be ok with it. I wonder what changed to make John McCain the vociferous opponent now.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show

I'm always amazed at the amount of sheep on the right. You guys don't even understand what you're upset at and can't even voice it in a coherent sentence.

 

[himkhan]

Saw the clip below this AM, has some good facts.

1.) This deal for the same 5 prisoners who were to be transferred to Qatar in exchange for Berghdal has been floated and reported on since May 2012. The same 5 prisoners. Pictures and all.

2.) A number of Republicans pressured Obama to do everything to get him home, even during the time and after this deal was reported on. One being John McCain who was aware of this deal and said that he would be ok with it. I wonder what changed to make John McCain the vociferous opponent now.



I'm always amazed at the amount of sheep on the right. You guys don't even understand what you're upset at and can't even voice it in a coherent sentence.

It should be painfully obvious to them they are being used as puppets by their GOP masters. Lawmakers are up in arms over this because they know Obama was correct in doing what he did when he did it and the best part for them! They don't even have to come out and make a stink about it because they have their hands up the arseholes of a good number of persons posting in this thread working their clap traps.

 

[DeadFred]

Saw the clip below this AM, has some good facts.

1.) This deal for the same 5 prisoners who were to be transferred to Qatar in exchange for Berghdal has been floated and reported on since May 2012. The same 5 prisoners. Pictures and all.

2.) A number of Republicans pressured Obama to do everything to get him home, even during the time and after this deal was reported on. One being John McCain who was aware of this deal and said that he would be ok with it. I wonder what changed to make John McCain the vociferous opponent now.



I'm always amazed at the amount of sheep on the right. You guys don't even understand what you're upset at and can't even voice it in a coherent sentence.

Giving the taliban the top 5 of their wishlist back is bad enough, but giving them back for a deserter who may even turn out to be a traitor is very disturbing. But now that it is done; let the military justice system work on Bergdahl, hunt down and drone those 5 that were released, and investigate Obama for breaking the law he signed about giving Congress 30 days notice. And WTF is wrong with Susan Rice? Will she ever learn?

PS- McCain is pathetic, I will make no arguments for that loser.

 

[emperus]

Giving the taliban the top 5 of their wishlist back is bad enough, but giving them back for a deserter who may even turn out to be a traitor is very disturbing. But now that it is done; let the military justice system work on Bergdahl, hunt down and drone those 5 that were released, and investigate Obama for breaking the law he signed about giving Congress 30 days notice. And WTF is wrong with Susan Rice? Will she ever learn?

PS- McCain is pathetic, I will make no arguments for that loser.

My issue is the constant barrage of catch phrases by people on the right. If someone wants to make the sole case that Obama didn't notify congress in the 30 day required period. Ok. We can have a debate on executive power.

That's not what's happening. People are making multiple ridiculous arguments at the same time.

1.) That these people were the worst of the worst terrorists.
I hate the overuse of the word terrorist. These people were fighting against foreign invaders of their own country. How does that make them terrorists? Even if we chose to detain them or even kill then on the battle field, wouldn't they just be foreign fighters?
And what happens when the war ends? Are we as Americans comfortable with indefinite incarceration of foreign fighters who by all accounts didn't have US soldiers death on their hands. I think by international law, Guantanamo had to eventually close and the people tried or released. What do you do to those who aren't tried?

2.) Bringing Berghdal Home.
Isn't it a military understanding that no one is left behind on the battlefield? Why then the outrage to trade 5 prisoners for 1 soldier who hasn't been tried or has had any definitive evidence come out saying he was a traitor? Also what changed in a matter of days when the majority of Republicans were pushing for his release? Did these same people not know the questions surrounding him? I think the GOP stance on this is very devious and nauseating. How can anyone govern in this type of environment. You do something you believe everybody wants and the next second you're attacked for it. It can make any leader skidish. Imagine what the response would have been if he wasn't brought home and he died in captivity? I can already imagine the Obama roasts going on.

3.) That this was somehow a new deal.
From the information I gathered. This deal was in place in 2012. The same 5 prisoners for Berghdal. If so and everyone knew about. Why the selective outrage now? I can understand outrage that you weren't given the 30 day notice when the deal was executed but what is the outrage over the people released? Did they somehow become more dangerous in the 2 year timeframe? And if you felt they were so dangerous why was the GOP imploring the president to do everything in their power to bring him home. Knowing that the Taliban had already nixed this 5-1 deal. Wouldn't that have meant more than the 5-1 deal?

 

[Oldgamer]

My issue is the constant barrage of catch phrases by people on the right. If someone wants to make the sole case that Obama didn't notify congress in the 30 day required period. Ok. We can have a debate on executive power.

That's not what's happening. People are making multiple ridiculous arguments at the same time.

1.) That these people were the worst of the worst terrorists.
I hate the overuse of the word terrorist. These people were fighting against foreign invaders of their own country. How does that make them terrorists? Even if we chose to detain them or even kill then on the battle field, wouldn't they just be foreign fighters?
And what happens when the war ends? Are we as Americans comfortable with indefinite incarceration of foreign fighters who by all accounts didn't have US soldiers death on their hands. I think by international law, Guantanamo had to eventually close and the people tried or released. What do you do to those who aren't tried?

2.) Bringing Berghdal Home.
Isn't it a military understanding that no one is left behind on the battlefield? Why then the outrage to trade 5 prisoners for 1 soldier who hasn't been tried or has had any definitive evidence come out saying he was a traitor? Also what changed in a matter of days when the majority of Republicans were pushing for his release? Did these same people not know the questions surrounding him? I think the GOP stance on this is very devious and nauseating. How can anyone govern in this type of environment. You do something you believe everybody wants and the next second you're attacked for it. It can make any leader skidish. Imagine what the response would have been if he wasn't brought home and he died in captivity? I can already imagine the Obama roasts going on.

3.) That this was somehow a new deal.
From the information I gathered. This deal was in place in 2012. The same 5 prisoners for Berghdal. If so and everyone knew about. Why the selective outrage now? I can understand outrage that you weren't given the 30 day notice when the deal was executed but what is the outrage over the people released? Did they somehow become more dangerous in the 2 year timeframe? And if you felt they were so dangerous why was the GOP imploring the president to do everything in their power to bring him home. Knowing that the Taliban had already nixed this 5-1 deal. Wouldn't that have meant more than the 5-1 deal?

Agreed, and it's called conflating the issues. Typical crap from the right.

 

[emperus]

Here goes another fact checker on McCain's flip flop. I guess his lies are catching up with him.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...d-john-mccain-flip-flop-on-the-bergdahl-deal/

In other words, these names were not a secret — and in any case, McCain sits on the relevant Senate committees (Armed Services and Foreign Relations), with security clearances, and thus could have found out about the names and the background of the individuals.

Indeed, Rolling Stone reported in 2012 that McCain called them “the five biggest murderers in world history” during a 2011 briefing on a possible prisoner exchange to spur peace negotiations. “McCain reluctantly came around on the prisoner exchange, according to those present at the meeting, but he has continued to speak out against negotiating with the Taliban,” the article added.

...

McCain is hanging a lot on the question of details — which are obviously important — but the issues he raises were apparent back in February. His previous dispute had been on releasing the men as a confidence-building measure, not on the character of the men themselves. He certainly did not say he would have objected to these men being part of the prisoner exchange.

In between February and June, he gave an interview to the Associated Press for an article on the status of the talks and apparent disorganization in the effort to win Bergdahl’s return. Here’s what he said:


McCain, who was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for more than five years, also said Obama administration officials first told Congress that they wanted to release five Taliban detainees at Guantanamo as a confidence-building measure to jump-start talks with the Taliban.

“I said that was insane … to do that,” said McCain, a frequent critic of the Obama administration who believes the government’s approach to getting Bergdahl back is in disarray. “Then it was the swap for Bergdahl. I said, ‘OK, fine. How are you going to do that?’ They never explained anything to anybody about how it would be done…. How can you get him back if you are totally disorganized?”

..

Yet, on CNN this week, McCain insisted he was never told about a possible exchange in briefings by the administration:

...

McCain may have thought he left himself an out when he said his support was dependent on the details. But then he can’t object to the most important detail — the identity of the prisoners — that was known at the time he indicated his support. McCain earns an upside-down Pinocchio, constituting a flip-flop.

 

[spidey07]

This scandal and treason is solely about Obama. Let's put the blame and attention where it matters and start the impeachment.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

If Republicans really want to top off their behavior under this president with an impeachment for bringing home a PoW by all means please proceed.

 

[Victorian Gray]

It's just too bad the soviets didn't occupy afghanistan when Stalin was in power. He would've nuked these aholes to glass or exterminated enough of the vermin that would've probably prevented 9/11 decades ago.

How many Afghanies were in the highjacking group again?

 

[CitizenKain]

It's just too bad the soviets didn't occupy afghanistan when Stalin was in power. He would've nuked these aholes to glass or exterminated enough of the vermin that would've probably prevented 9/11 decades ago.

Or maybe if we sent Doc Brown back to stop this. If we are going to go with stupid fantasies, this one at least doesn't involving murdering thousands of people because you are an irrational child.

 

[DeadFred]

My issue is the constant barrage of catch phrases by people on the right. If someone wants to make the sole case that Obama didn't notify congress in the 30 day required period. Ok. We can have a debate on executive power.

That's not what's happening. People are making multiple ridiculous arguments at the same time.

1.) That these people were the worst of the worst terrorists.
I hate the overuse of the word terrorist. These people were fighting against foreign invaders of their own country. How does that make them terrorists? Even if we chose to detain them or even kill then on the battle field, wouldn't they just be foreign fighters?
And what happens when the war ends? Are we as Americans comfortable with indefinite incarceration of foreign fighters who by all accounts didn't have US soldiers death on their hands. I think by international law, Guantanamo had to eventually close and the people tried or released. What do you do to those who aren't tried?

2.) Bringing Berghdal Home.
Isn't it a military understanding that no one is left behind on the battlefield? Why then the outrage to trade 5 prisoners for 1 soldier who hasn't been tried or has had any definitive evidence come out saying he was a traitor? Also what changed in a matter of days when the majority of Republicans were pushing for his release? Did these same people not know the questions surrounding him? I think the GOP stance on this is very devious and nauseating. How can anyone govern in this type of environment. You do something you believe everybody wants and the next second you're attacked for it. It can make any leader skidish. Imagine what the response would have been if he wasn't brought home and he died in captivity? I can already imagine the Obama roasts going on.

3.) That this was somehow a new deal.
From the information I gathered. This deal was in place in 2012. The same 5 prisoners for Berghdal. If so and everyone knew about. Why the selective outrage now? I can understand outrage that you weren't given the 30 day notice when the deal was executed but what is the outrage over the people released? Did they somehow become more dangerous in the 2 year timeframe? And if you felt they were so dangerous why was the GOP imploring the president to do everything in their power to bring him home. Knowing that the Taliban had already nixed this 5-1 deal. Wouldn't that have meant more than the 5-1 deal?

There is no doubt that Mohammed Fazl, one the five released is very much a terrorist and war criminal. And I imagine the other 4 are rather nasty dudes in their own right. http://online.wsj.com/articles/release-of-taliban-detainees-rattles-afghan-villagers-1401924687

I think what has most people outraged about the prisoner swap are the lies surrounding it. First Bergdahl was declared so sick as to be on the verge of death so it was now or never, but then the video of his release was made public and he looked healthy enough. So now the administration changes the story to say he was under a death threat. On top of this Susan Rice declared him to have served with honor and distinction, while Obama does a victory lap in the Rose Garden with Bowe's parents like he has gotten us back a mighty war hero. And now from the looks of things Bowe's father is likely a taliban sympathizer himself. All of this stinks to high heaven to the average American.

The majority of politicans from both sides will flip and flop to go with whatever is politically expedient for them at the moment, nothing shocking there. It's a rare thing to see a politician who stands on principle and will not waver regardless of the polls or the current political climate. Those are the ones I respect, whichever side they are on. At least you know where they stand.

 

[emperus]

There is no doubt that Mohammed Fazl, one the five released is very much a terrorist and war criminal. And I imagine the other 4 are rather nasty dudes in their own right. http://online.wsj.com/articles/release-of-taliban-detainees-rattles-afghan-villagers-1401924687

I think what has most people outraged about the prisoner swap are the lies surrounding it. First Bergdahl was declared so sick as to be on the verge of death so it was now or never, but then the video of his release was made public and he looked healthy enough. So now the administration changes the story to say he was under a death threat. On top of this Susan Rice declared him to have served with honor and distinction, while Obama does a victory lap in the Rose Garden with Bowe's parents like he has gotten us back a mighty war hero. And now from the looks of things Bowe's father is likely a taliban sympathizer himself. All of this stinks to high heaven to the average American.

The majority of politicans from both sides will flip and flop to go with whatever is politically expedient for them at the moment, nothing shocking there. It's a rare thing to see a politician who stands on principle and will not waver regardless of the polls or the current political climate. Those are the ones I respect, whichever side they are on. At least you know where they stand.

A lot of the things in your post are factually inaccurate.

1.) Show me where anyone proves that the Administration's claim that he was on the verge of death was a lie. They showed other senators the same proof of life video and some other senators also agreed that he was in poor/deteriorating health. One may argue the Taliban made it appear such to get leverage. But what do you do? Do you gamble it was a fake? What happens if he really did die? They may release the video and then people can judge their veracity.

2.) I'm not sure if any of the prisoners killed other Afghans. Did they ever kill any Americans? Or attack America? What do you think we do with them when the war is over? Whether they release them is over my pay grade. I nor you are privy to any classified information or have understandings of how these things get done or how these prisoners now fit (having been removed so long) in the greater scheme of the Taliban. What I do know is that this deal again was floated 2 years ago and McCain having knowledge of it was ok with it. That tells me that it wasn't that crazy of a deal to garner bipartisan support.

3.) There was a huge campaign to have him released. This wasn't a sudden thing. There was a lot of pressure on the Administration to do everything in their power to release him. Do a google search

4.) What does anything his father says or did have to do with this situation? Does someone's dad having Taliban sympathies mean we don't rescue them even if they are a POW?

5.) It seems like ur getting a lot of mis information and/or disinformation. Might want to diversify your sources of information.

 

[werepossum]

Can you point to any evidence that indicates they've always placed a high priority on capturing Americans?

What would be the point? Until now there were no trades. Having a captive definitely meant our special and other forces would make your group a high priority to track down and kill. Hardly seems attractive to me.

Otherwise, their M.O. seems to be beheading those they capture.

Personally I find it hard to believe in the many years of conflict there were no opportunities to capture US soldiers. In fact, I find it impossible to believe. I think they just killed those who fell into their possession.

Fern

Personally I'd prefer our captured soldiers to be held for ransom and traded than to be beheaded.

Something else here - we're holding these Muslims as prisoners of war, thereby avoiding laws governing trials for crimes against humanity or for terrorism. If they are classified as prisoners of war, then they should be eligible for prisoner swaps. Now obviously that is subject to each prisoner's value - the Nazis certainly didn't offer to swap General O'Conner for Gefreiter Dummkopf - but the principle holds.

Like just mentioned it would be nearly impossible. Plus, if we impeach Obama we get President Biden. I just threw up a little in my mouth.

lol You and me both.

The Foxnews report claims he converted AFTER his capture. This should not be considered relevant or held against him. The important question is his desertion and capture. If he was loyal to the Taliban before he deserted.

Agreed. And assuming this cat did go over, probably better to get him out of their hands than to hold onto five leaders who must now reintegrate into the terrorist leadership, which hopefully effectively won't happen until we are out of Afghanistan.

 

[Svnla]

The Taliban found Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl walking alone, acting abnormally and cursing his countrymen before they captured him in Afghanistan in 2009, two men who were Taliban commanders at the time told NBC News on Thursday.

http://www.nbcnews.com/#/storyline/...found-bergdahl-cursing-his-countrymen-n123846

 

[Jaskalas]

This scandal and treason is solely about Obama. Let's put the blame and attention where it matters and start the impeachment.

You think anyone will impeach him over the crime of rescuing an American solider?

 

[DeadFred]

A lot of the things in your post are factually inaccurate.

1.) Show me where anyone proves that the Administration's claim that he was on the verge of death was a lie. They showed other senators the same proof of life video and some other senators also agreed that he was in poor/deteriorating health. One may argue the Taliban made it appear such to get leverage. But what do you do? Do you gamble it was a fake? What happens if he really did die? They may release the video and then people can judge their veracity.

2.) I'm not sure if any of the prisoners killed other Afghans. Did they ever kill any Americans? Or attack America? What do you think we do with them when the war is over? Whether they release them is over my pay grade. I nor you are privy to any classified information or have understandings of how these things get done or how these prisoners now fit (having been removed so long) in the greater scheme of the Taliban. What I do know is that this deal again was floated 2 years ago and McCain having knowledge of it was ok with it. That tells me that it wasn't that crazy of a deal to garner bipartisan support.

3.) There was a huge campaign to have him released. This wasn't a sudden thing. There was a lot of pressure on the Administration to do everything in their power to release him. Do a google search

4.) What does anything his father says or did have to do with this situation? Does someone's dad having Taliban sympathies mean we don't rescue them even if they are a POW?

5.) It seems like ur getting a lot of mis information and/or disinformation. Might want to diversify your sources of information.

All of this over my pay grade, just like everyone else in here, we are just going on what we hear from various sources. LOL

Most Senators said the video was completely inconclusive, and besides how long does it take to contact Mrs. Fienstein and let her know whats up, she too was none too pleased. Hopefully they will release the video and declassify all the taliban pow's files, but that may just be wishful thinking with "the most transparent adminstration in history" in charge.

Like I said earlier, McCain is an idiot, but so is 90% of the rest of Congress. Ive heard of the clamor to get Bowe release and Im not refuting that in any way, but at what cost? Several high ranking officials from both sides have publicly said they were not in favor of releasing these 5 then nor now, including Sec. of State Clinton who had deep reservations, wanted stricter conditions, and still may not have signed on to the swap had the negotiations succeeded in 2012.

If his father has taliban sympathies (as his deleted tweets on twitter suggests), and the son deserts his post and goes looking for the taliban as his fellow soldiers say, then the optics are really bad to say the least.

I dont care for how any of this went down or the terms of the swap, but I am glad Bowe is back in our hands and hope true military justice is served on him whatever his case turns out to be.

 

[DrDoug]

This just keeps getting stranger by the day...

Daily Beast:

... and Bergdahl began by explaining why he was at a political event at all."I grew up in a conservative family in Los Angeles," he said with a smile. "My father was for Goldwater. He wore a Nixon button in our liberal Jewish neighborhood. I was the lone U.C. Santa Barbara surfer who voted for Ronald Reagan." Many in the audience nodded in approval, and then Bergdahl talked about the work of retrieving his son.

Bowe's dad said this at a Republican fundraiser in Idaho. Yup, in their lust to go after Obama, conservatives are attacking one of their own. I hope his dad is paying attention to what his party and their supporters are doing to him, his son, his family and his town. Idaho politicians have been silent on this and have refused to defend the soldier or his family.

Chickens.

Support the troops? Not if it gets in the way of hating on Obama!

 

[Whiskey16]

It's just too bad the soviets didn't occupy afghanistan when Stalin was in power. He would've nuked these aholes to glass or exterminated enough of the vermin that would've probably prevented 9/11 decades ago.

Hate speech to the extreme.

Generalised and dehumanising incitement to exterminating genocide against an entire national group.

Pneumothorax, feeling oh so cool and powerful typing out such trash talk? We get it.. Genocide and the bigoted terrorising extermination against an ethnic group gets you off.

....I'm rarely on this site, yet when I do visit such content such as above regularly proves to be present and expected.... So unfortunate.

 

[Bitek]

So you are saying that the Taliban currently have the capability to fight against us harder but have elected not to up until this point? I hope they fire whoever is in charge!

Unless you are arguing that the Taliban will have increased resources now for some reason, they have a choice about how to deploy their finite resources against US troops.

Oh dear, following the successful release of the Taliban prisoners, the Taliban special defense projects agency (D.E.R.P.A-.D.E.R.P.A.) has been announced testing of their prototype Trapping Infidels Technology devices.

Taliban defense spokesman Wali Wali Chobani, "Our minds are fully focused at what we now have in our hands. While they are rooted in small beginnings, we will see our TITs develop into a power no GI can resist."

While the technology can be utilized year around, US defense analysts caution TITs will likely prove most effective during the summer season where they can be deployed in larger size and greater numbers.