US Soldier in exchange for 5 Al-Qaeda members

[RiverBoatBTC]

Just one soldier released in exchange for 5 hardcore terrorists. These terrorists in turn will kill many more American soldiers. Bergdahl wasn't even a high ranking officer to begin with.

That is a really jackass thing to say, what good is a desk jokey? How many high ranking officers do you see pulling the trigger? NOT A DAMN ONE OF THEM. Save all the pencil pushing officers and throw the people who actually fight to the wayside....

While I do not agree how this was handled that comment was beyond stupid...

The real reason obama did this was to say "I did everything I could to leave no US troops behind". Do not forget we are might be 100% out of afgan by the end of the year, and to leave a captured soldier would be just another smudge on the war.

[Ron~Popeil]

Just one soldier released in exchange for 5 hardcore terrorists. These terrorists in turn will kill many more American soldiers. Bergdahl wasn't even a high ranking officer to begin with.

That is a really jackass thing to say, what good is a desk jokey? How many high ranking officers do you see pulling the trigger? NOT A DAMN ONE OF THEM. Save all the pencil pushing officers and throw the people who actually fight to the wayside....

While I do not agree how this was handled that comment was beyond stupid...

The real reason obama did this was to say "I did everything I could to leave no US troops behind". Do not forget we are might be 100% out of afgan by the end of the year, and to leave a captured soldier would be just another smudge on the war.

I am not a conspiracy person but the move seems so stupid that it makes me wonder if there is something else going on.

[Slab Squathrust]

Just one soldier released in exchange for 5 hardcore terrorists. These terrorists in turn will kill many more American soldiers. Bergdahl wasn't even a high ranking officer to begin with.

That is a really jackass thing to say, what good is a desk jokey? How many high ranking officers do you see pulling the trigger? NOT A DAMN ONE OF THEM. Save all the pencil pushing officers and throw the people who actually fight to the wayside....

While I do not agree how this was handled that comment was beyond stupid...

The real reason obama did this was to say "I did everything I could to leave no US troops behind". Do not forget we are might be 100% out of afgan by the end of the year, and to leave a captured soldier would be just another smudge on the war.

I am not a conspiracy person but the move seems so stupid that it makes me wonder if there is something else going on.

Well I am not sure you are in the US or not, but our Veterans health care service recently had a big scandal where patients may have died waiting for care.  Whether this is Obama's fault or not is debatable.  The VA has had issues for years long before Obama assumed the office.  However, Obama did implement policy changes that may have exacerbated the situation.  Some suspect this swap may have been timed to help bury that news.  If true, it certainly seems to have worked. 

[Yakamoto]

So is this shaping up to be Homeland, just real?

[bryant.coleman]

Some suspect this swap may have been timed to help bury that news.  If true, it certainly seems to have worked. 

American politicians are experts in diverting media attention away from their wrongdoings. I can give you dozens of examples for that. I am not much familiar with the veteran healthcare scandal... but seems like a viable explanation for me.

[RiverBoatBTC]

The timing while intentional this exchange was a LONG time in the making. Like years we have been at the table with the taliban for around 2 years now.

[Ron~Popeil]

Just one soldier released in exchange for 5 hardcore terrorists. These terrorists in turn will kill many more American soldiers. Bergdahl wasn't even a high ranking officer to begin with.

That is a really jackass thing to say, what good is a desk jokey? How many high ranking officers do you see pulling the trigger? NOT A DAMN ONE OF THEM. Save all the pencil pushing officers and throw the people who actually fight to the wayside....

While I do not agree how this was handled that comment was beyond stupid...

The real reason obama did this was to say "I did everything I could to leave no US troops behind". Do not forget we are might be 100% out of afgan by the end of the year, and to leave a captured soldier would be just another smudge on the war.

I am not a conspiracy person but the move seems so stupid that it makes me wonder if there is something else going on.

Well I am not sure you are in the US or not, but our Veterans health care service recently had a big scandal where patients may have died waiting for care.  Whether this is Obama's fault or not is debatable.  The VA has had issues for years long before Obama assumed the office.  However, Obama did implement policy changes that may have exacerbated the situation.  Some suspect this swap may have been timed to help bury that news.  If true, it certainly seems to have worked. 

I am in the US the the son of a Vietnam veteran. This is another scandal in a string of disgusting scandals that all seem to have cost people their lives. Obama is by far the worst president in this nation's history.

[RiverBoatBTC]

My brother is fighting the V.A. right now for benifits. He got cancer from living on a base with contaminated drinking water in the early 80's. They told him he might not see a payment for 2 years, How the fuck is he supposed to pay for 2500$ in medicine a month and treatments? He told me before the scandel broke the V.A. is just waiting for people to Die off so they do not have to treat them and save money, I though he was just upset about the whole thing. Guess he was right

[Ron~Popeil]

My brother is fighting the V.A. right now for benifits. He got cancer from living on a base with contaminated drinking water in the early 80's. They told him he might not see a payment for 2 years, How the fuck is he supposed to pay for 2500$ in medicine a month and treatments? He told me before the scandel broke the V.A. is just waiting for people to Die off so they do not have to treat them and save money, I though he was just upset about the whole thing. Guess he was right

He was exactly right. Chillingly this is the same government that just took over a huge percentage of our health care.

He should put in a call to his congressman. Helping a sick vet would be the politically expedient move for whoever his rep is right now. May as well take advantage of the political situation while it is hot to at least get the care he needs. I wish your brother a speedy recovery. 

[RiverBoatBTC]

I even heard a fantastic way to fix the V.A. problem. The U.S. Navy, Army and Airfoce have the ability to extend contracts till the end of your non active duty. You may sign up for four years of service in the U.S. Military but you are actually signing a contract for 4 active and 4 inactive years. The need to put a stop loss on all medical jobs and send them over to the V.A. to help clear the back logs. This would speed up the process and clear the system with in a year.

[Ron~Popeil]

I even heard a fantastic way to fix the V.A. problem. The U.S. Navy, Army and Airfoce have the ability to extend contracts till the end of your non active duty. You may sign up for four years of service in the U.S. Military but you are actually signing a contract for 4 active and 4 inactive years. The need to put a stop loss on all medical jobs and send them over to the V.A. to help clear the back logs. This would speed up the process and clear the system with in a year.

If they just start fulfilling their promises it would be a start. My father has Parkinson's disease from agent orange exposure in Vietnam. My parents actually had to get an attorney to fight for his benefits.

[Swordsoffreedom]

What the hell was Obama thinking?!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/04/politics/bowe-bergdahl-release/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

I heard its because it was 1 person per year that the guy was held hostage.
That said Obama made a tricky decision especially with all the controversy around the guy.

Its extremely rare for the US to negotiate with terrorists not sure in my opinion it might work on the other hand it increases the danger to the 90,000 or so troops that will remain in the country afterward.

That said he did get some people out of Guantanamo now har har in the sense that he didn't close it down lol.

Edit In: Nice this was my l33t post going to leave it at this for a day ^_^

[bryant.coleman]

My brother is fighting the V.A. right now for benifits. He got cancer from living on a base with contaminated drinking water in the early 80's. They told him he might not see a payment for 2 years, How the fuck is he supposed to pay for 2500$ in medicine a month and treatments? He told me before the scandel broke the V.A. is just waiting for people to Die off so they do not have to treat them and save money, I though he was just upset about the whole thing. Guess he was right

This is why I keep saying that joining the US Army is a very bad career move. You don't gain anything in monetary terms, and you are forced to take part in battles which are masterminded by the politicians and bankers. There are plenty of other career options out there, and they should be preferred anytime over the career at the USAF.

[niothor]

I am not a conspiracy person but the move seems so stupid that it makes me wonder if there is something else going on.

Lately nobody in the US government and army can't take a fart without a few thousands bloggers and conspiracy nuts as well as us haters claiming that the gas was part of a mastermind plan to conquer the world.

[JohnnyLightning]

We released 5 of the worst terrorists we had at Gitmo, and we brought home a domestic terrorist. Does that about sum it up?

+1

Those he worked with seem to agree.

[RiverBoatBTC]

Now Now fellas we live in the USA he is innocent till proven guilty, but if he did run he should be shot.

[JohnnyLightning]

Now Now fellas we live in the USA he is innocent till proven guilty, but if he did run he should be shot.

Agreed, and I hope he gets his day in court.

[Kluge]

I'm kind of shocked by the responses here. Could someone arguing he should be shot give their line of thought, please? I'd guess you're arguing he entered into a contract voluntarily, and that violation of that contract deserves execution? Like if a farmhand goes AWOL and you have him on contract, he should be shot if found -- or I guess what I'm interested in, is why he should be shot rather than just let go. I'm not particularly receptive to the idea that he should've been traded for other people to return to the US and receive the ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL healthcare provided by the VA, but that was the administration's decision.

Is there evidence that this fellow actually requested to be brought back to the US? It sounds like he was enjoying himself and hated the USG, but if he actually asked to come back to the US for healthcare from a government he turned his back on, I think that completely destroys his argument.

[taipo]

Obama is by far the worst president in this nation's history.

He certainly has turned out to be a disappointment, but worst president in the nations history? Na thats a split tie between Nixon and Bush Jr with Bush tipping the scales due to having the lowest IQ of any president in the known world.

[taipo]

I'm not particularly receptive to the idea that he should've been traded for other people to return to the US and receive the ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL healthcare provided by the VA, but that was the administration's decision.

Thats the big drawback when the state uses that 'we don't negotiate with terrorists', and all the terror rhetoric to frame their enemies.

Works well for drumming up hysteria from the docile peon nation, not so well when you have to horse trade with your enemies during prisoner swaps.