# Should we be deeply troubled by the deal Obama cut with the Taliban? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796 "2014-06-01T23:30:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/61 "2014-06-03T00:55:09Z")
“Should we be deeply troubled by the deal Obama cut with the Taliban?” Not yet, but why the we? Does the we stand for SD or the USA? Lot of left and right population in both though, uh? [http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/controversy-surrounds-bowe-bergdahls-capture-trade-taliban-members/story?id=23961090](http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/controversy-surrounds-bowe-bergdahls-capture-trade-taliban-members/story?id=23961090) > [@](#): > > In a 2009 video Bergdahl said he was caught after lagging behind during a patrol – which would have been the only instance of such a capture in the 13-year war. > > Bethea wrote there was no such patrol that night. The Taliban said he was drunk and wandered off base. The U.S. intercepted radio traffic in the area that indicated Bergdahl had been captured while relieving himself, according to documents obtained and released by WikiLeaks. 1 He asked around in his company of men what would happen if he took his weapon or if he took his night vision glasses and was told it would be a violation. 1. He often expressed opinions of the war he was fighting was BS in emails to his own family 3 He premeditated leaving the base by taking supplies with him … it was no spur of the moment decision. 1. He took a knife and a compass. What if this whole thing has not been completely thought out to what those five men will do to get even for being held captive in Guantanamo Bay. What can keep five men that look like the released prisoners from taking there place in prison in Qatar? They have men, women and boys willing to strap on suicide vest and kill themselves, right? Why not five men that look like these released prisoners taking their place as they resume their war on Afghanistan and the year left for US troops involvement: [http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-government-protests-against-u-deal-free-taliban-073352930.html](http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-government-protests-against-u-deal-free-taliban-073352930.html) > [@](#): > > The Afghan president is angry at being kept in the dark over a deal to free five Taliban leaders in exchange for a captured U.S. soldier, and accuses Washington of failing to back a peace plan for the war-torn country. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/62 "2014-06-03T01:01:10Z")
> [@Onyerbike](#): > > Also, consider that releasing those taliban shitbags may just soften hearts and minds there. I seriously doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Onyerbike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onyerbike/32/5402_2.png) [@Onyerbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onyerbike)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/63 "2014-06-03T03:23:47Z")
I’d agree with that Mr. Plant, there is certainly a heap of bad blood to be overcome and this one little blip means very little by itself. But who knows how these things cogitate exactly in the mind of the undecided Afghan if this were to signal a broader change in policy? If you want to have less enemies, show them that you are both powerful and merciful. Done the first, now try the second. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/64 "2014-06-03T03:31:31Z")
> [@Onyerbike](#): > > I’d agree with that Mr. Plant, there is certainly a heap of bad blood to be overcome and this one little blip means very little by itself. But who knows how these things cogitate exactly in the mind of the undecided Afghan if this were to signal a broader change in policy? > > If you want to have less enemies, show them that you are both powerful and merciful. Done the first, now try the second. It hasn’t helped the Israelis and the Palestinians. I believe they will think we are a bunch of wimp pushovers. I don’t think there are undecided Afghans. There is too much religion involved. Taliban shoots little girls because they go to school. We build schools. Not much to cogitate there. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/65 "2014-06-03T03:36:26Z")
When one of our guys goes nutso and kills families, it turns a lot of folks against us. ---
**Author:** ![Onyerbike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onyerbike/32/5402_2.png) [@Onyerbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onyerbike)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/66 "2014-06-03T03:47:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I believe they will think we are a bunch of wimp pushovers. Wimp pushovers that bombed their previous government into dust and incarcerated a whole bunch of its leaders? > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I don’t think there are undecided Afghans. There is too much religion involved. I wonder if robert bales thought the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/67 "2014-06-03T04:09:38Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Such bullshit… the stated reason is a perfectly reasonable one. That they couldn’t contact Congress because it was a limited time offer? It’s not reasonable at all. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > If this is true, then he should be tried in court. In a US court. He’s a US soldier who was captured by the enemy. Accusations of desertion don’t change that, and have (and should have) nothing to do with whether we try to get him back. yes, but as has been pointed out, the chances of trying a POW that the President personally paid for with the release of 5 terrorists is pretty slim. It would make the President look like a complete fool. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Would you be making this same point if his fellow soldiers called him a hero and said he was the greatest guy they ever met? It would justify the cost of losing 6 people trying to rescue him. It might soften the act of releasing 5 dangerous terrorists if it was done legally. But these weren’t soldiers released in time of war, they were people responsible for crimes against their own countrymen. So whoever releases them takes full responsibility as well as any legal problems involved with breaking laws regarding their release. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I got along with most people when I was in the Navy, but there were guys I served with that I hated, and probably guys that hated me. I hope very much that the Navy and the President would not have taken their opinions about me into account (or vice versa) were we to be captured by the enemy. again, They repeated what he said to them. Nobody mentioned any love or hate for him personally. There is no opinion involved here. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/68 "2014-06-03T05:03:35Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I think it was an ok deal. > > The men being released are pretty old and do not have their underlings and power bases anymore (or so I should think). I dont think they are much of a threat. Plus we have probably learned all we could from them. > > The American POW does sound like a sort of deserter but he’s still an American so I’m glad we got him back. > > Plus as I understand they will not be released for another year. > > I’m ok with it. Furthermore - 1. As has already been pointed out -it makes America look “merciful” 2. You don’t know what the current mindset of these men is - what if (and it’s a bit Clancy-esque) they have been influenced towards being less “terroristic” - couldn’t it then be a good thing to be releasing them where they can do some “good”? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/69 "2014-06-03T06:41:35Z")
We let 5 people go who were being illegally/unconstitutionally (in my opinion, of course, not the SCOTUS or the rest of the US Government) detained without trial and got an American back as a bonus. Good for everyone involved. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/70 "2014-06-03T10:47:34Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > 1. You don’t know what the current mindset of these men is - what if (and it’s a bit Clancy-esque) they have been influenced towards being less “terroristic” - couldn’t it then be a good thing to be releasing them where they can do some “good”? I’m sure the odds of these men who no doubt think they’ve been held unjustly for over a decade positively changing their opinion about terrorism are really high. There’s no way that they’ll vow revenge and in a year when they’re free to speak to their countrymen (well, the ones they didn’t commit war crimes against) redouble their efforts to spread the sort of hate that encourages terrorism. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/71 "2014-06-03T11:31:56Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > That they couldn’t contact Congress because it was a limited time offer? It’s not reasonable at all. Limited time offers are a real thing that sometimes exist. Sometimes there are actual time considerations. Maybe this was one of them. Or maybe Obama secretly wants to save a fellow traitor because he’s a secret muslim terrorist and so he hid it from Congress, which after all, is filled with honest and fine patriots committed to working with President Obama to make the world a better place. > [@](#): > > yes, but as has been pointed out, the chances of trying a POW that the President personally paid for with the release of 5 terrorists is pretty slim. It would make the President look like a complete fool. Who cares? This doesn’t change the calculus as to whether we should try and get him out. > [@](#): > > It would justify the cost of losing 6 people trying to rescue him. It might soften the act of releasing 5 dangerous terrorists if it was done legally. But these weren’t soldiers released in time of war, they were people responsible for crimes against their own countrymen. So whoever releases them takes full responsibility as well as any legal problems involved with breaking laws regarding their release. Right – this was Obama’s decision, and Obama’s responsibility. I’m not sure if the trade was a good one, maybe it was foolish. But whether this is so has absolutely nothing to do with what Bergdahl is accused of, nor does it have anything to do with whether soldiers tragically died trying to find him. > [@](#): > > again, They repeated what he said to them. Nobody mentioned any love or hate for him personally. There is no opinion involved here. “No opinion involved”. Of course… because that’s how human minds and memories work. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/72 "2014-06-03T12:17:15Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > yes, but as has been pointed out, the chances of trying a POW that the President personally paid for with the release of 5 terrorists is pretty slim. It would make the President look like a complete fool. I don’t think that would influence a military trial. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/73 "2014-06-03T12:44:37Z")
Some news: the [President states](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obama-says-he-consulted-congress-prisoner-swap) Congress had been consulted on an ongoing basis on the progress of potential prisoner swaps. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/74 "2014-06-03T16:56:40Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Some news: the [President states](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obama-says-he-consulted-congress-prisoner-swap) Congress had been consulted on an ongoing basis on the progress of potential prisoner swaps. That’s quite the spin on reality. They did not consult Congress on the swap but implied Congress was aware of it because the idea of doing so was floated by them. The WH said it didn’t have time to brief Congress. [Quote:] ([Obama: We Consulted Congress About Possibility Of Prisoner Swap - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obama-says-he-consulted-congress-prisoner-swap)) “We have consulted with Congress for quite some time about the possibility that we might need to execute a prisoner exchange in order to recover Sgt. [Bowe] Bergdahl,” Obama said in a press conference in Warsaw, Poland. “We saw an opportunity. We were concerned about Sgt. Bergdahl’s health. We had the cooperation of the Qataris to execute and exchange, and we seized that opportunity. And the process was truncated because we did not want to miss that window.” Bolding mine. So the WH thinks it’s OK to take the time to make deals with terrorists and broker an agreement with Qatar but are too busy to include Congress and operate within the law. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/75 "2014-06-03T17:29:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > So the WH thinks it’s OK to take the time to make deals with terrorists and broker an agreement with Qatar but are too busy to include Congress and operate within the law. Apparently it is OK for the President to break the law, if he is in a hurry. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/76 "2014-06-03T17:31:48Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Apparently it is OK for the President to break the law, if he is in a hurry. There is some precedent. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/77 "2014-06-03T17:32:28Z")
[According](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17429671&postcount=82) to friend **Bricker** , the President operated within his legal power. But, unlike the accusations of desertion, at least these might be reasonable things to criticize the President for. This veteran is very relieved that the President didn’t take any accusations into account with regards to any attempts to recover an American soldier taken captive. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/78 "2014-06-03T17:32:45Z")
Hey Mods: there’s so much idiocy in this thread that it really needs its own Pit thread. But two where only one is needed seems kinda silly too. How about moving this one to the Pit? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/79 "2014-06-03T17:44:50Z")
[From the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff](https://www.facebook.com/GENDempsey/posts/696415437091967): “In response to those of you interested in my personal judgments about the recovery of SGT Bowe Bergdahl, the questions about this particular soldier’s conduct are separate from our effort to recover ANY U.S. service member in enemy captivity. This was likely the last, best opportunity to free him. As for the circumstances of his capture, when he is able to provide them, we’ll learn the facts. Like any American, he is innocent until proven guilty. Our Army’s leaders will not look away from misconduct if it occurred. In the meantime, we will continue to care for him and his family. Finally, I want to thank those who for almost five years worked to find him, prepared to rescue him, and ultimately put themselves at risk to recover him.” Again: “the questions about this particular soldier’s conduct are separate from our effort to recover ANY U.S. service member in enemy captivity”. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/80 "2014-06-03T18:58:26Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > There is some precedent. The 2013 National Defense Authorization Act was enacted last year. If there’s precedent for breaking the law then Obama did it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796.md?page=5)