# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/101 "2014-06-04T13:31:52Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m having trouble understanding the exchange of dangerous terrorists for someone who is at odds with his country in a time of war. If they took Jane Fonda hostage I wouldn’t have traded a box of stale Twinkies to get her back. Along these lines, if Kim Jong Un had taken Dennis Rodman hostage, I would happily have told them to keep him. ---
**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 4, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/102 "2014-06-04T13:38:47Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Along these lines, if Kim Jong Un had taken Dennis Rodman hostage, I would happily have told them to keep him. Thankfully, we don’t take accusations and alleged notes into account when we decide how much we value our servicemembers who have been captured. Like General Dempsey (Chairman of the JCoS) says: “the questions about this particular soldier’s conduct are separate from our effort to recover ANY U.S. service member in enemy captivity”. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/103 "2014-06-04T13:43:00Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > So far it looks as if the Army will be investigating him (as they should), and if the evidence warrants, they will bring charges. Well, duh. Of course they’re not going to say “We’re clearing Bergdalhl of all wrongdoing because Obama will look like a moron if Bergdalh gets court-marshalled for desertion.” They’ll say they’re looking into it, but either nothing will come of it, or they’ll clear him (with the decision to clear him being predetermined). ---
**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 4, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/104 "2014-06-04T13:46:30Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Well, duh. Of course they’re not going to say “We’re clearing Bergdalhl of all wrongdoing because Obama will look like a moron if Bergdalh gets court-marshalled for desertion.” They’ll say they’re looking into it, but either nothing will come of it, or they’ll clear him (with the decision to clear him being predetermined). Or they’ll actually charge and prosecute him. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/105 "2014-06-04T15:55:26Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Or they’ll actually charge and prosecute him. not a chance in hell. They’ll declare PTSD and it’s swept under the rug in 5 seconds or he’ll pardon him outright for all the pain and suffering the Taliban put him through. ---
**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 4, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/106 "2014-06-04T16:10:21Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > not a chance in hell. They’ll declare PTSD and it’s swept under the rug in 5 seconds or he’ll pardon him outright for all the pain and suffering the Taliban put him through. Your certainty is amusing to me. I guess we’ll see. Perhaps I have more faith in our military leadership’s integrity than you do. I think they’ll do the right thing, which may or may not be prosecuting him. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/107 "2014-06-04T16:35:09Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Well, duh. Of course they’re not going to say “We’re clearing Bergdalhl of all wrongdoing because Obama will look like a moron if Bergdalh gets court-marshalled for desertion.” They’ll say they’re looking into it, but either nothing will come of it, or they’ll clear him (with the decision to clear him being predetermined). Eh, I don’t know military law to guess at all the angles but I could see him not serving any time but getting a less than honorable discharge. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/108 "2014-06-04T17:12:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Your certainty is amusing to me. I guess we’ll see. Perhaps I have more faith in our military leadership’s integrity than you do. I think they’ll do the right thing, which may or may not be prosecuting him. What universe do you live in? There is no way anybody in the military is going to make their CIC look any more stupid than he does now on this at the expense of their career. It was a done deal before he was released. He was shunted away from the public and billed as unable to speak English anymore. All it takes is a doctor to sign off on PTSD and he’s riding in a parade the next day. It’s that simple. The nano second he gets billed as traumatized the people defending Obama will have their excuse. ---
**Author:** ![Patriot1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Patriot1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patriot1)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/109 "2014-06-04T17:18:00Z")
Most here seems to be ignoring the fact that he was NOT being held by the Taliban but by Haqqanis. Which is listed as a terrorist group by the US Government. Secondly Bergdahl has never been classify as a POW. This doesn’t change the fact we put him there and have a responsibility to bring him home. Now for the real question: With all the resources available to the US Government this is the best they could come up with? I doubt it! The timing points to this being a political move rather than a military one. His health was failing my \*\*\* he seem to have no problem getting to and into the chopper! This was designed as an olive branch to the military men and women by the current administration to try and make amends for the VA as well as other missteps with our military personnel. ---
**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 4, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/110 "2014-06-04T17:25:08Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > What universe do you live in? There is no way anybody in the military is going to make their CIC look any more stupid than he does now on this at the expense of their career. It was a done deal before he was released. He was shunted away from the public and billed as unable to speak English anymore. All it takes is a doctor to sign off on PTSD and he’s riding in a parade the next day. It’s that simple. The nano second he gets billed as traumatized the people defending Obama will have their excuse. [/QUOTE] You have no way of knowing any of this. But okay, you’re certain. You’ve got the certainty, I don’t. Your certainty is unpersuasive to me. ---
**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 4, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/111 "2014-06-04T17:27:04Z")
> [@Patriot1](#): > > Most here seems to be ignoring the fact that he was NOT being held by the Taliban but by Haqqanis. Which is listed as a terrorist group by the US Government. Doesn’t matter. We’ve been negotiating with terrorists since Carter’s administration. > [@](#): > > Secondly Bergdahl has never been classify as a POW. Doesn’t matter. He was a prisoner of the enemy. > [@](#): > > This doesn’t change the fact we put him there and have a responsibility to bring him home. > > Now for the real question: With all the resources available to the US Government this is the best they could come up with? I don’t know. There have certainly been much more costly hostage deals before – I think I’d rather give them 5 dudes then a whole bunch of missiles, like Reagan did. > [@](#): > > I doubt it! The timing points to this being a political move rather than a military one. His health was failing my \*\*\* he seem to have no problem getting to and into the chopper! This was designed as an olive branch to the military men and women by the current administration to try and make amends for the VA as well as other missteps with our military personnel. I’m sure Hannity thinks this, but I don’t think Hannity’s got all the facts here. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/112 "2014-06-04T17:32:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The problem is that some people have been crying wolf since 2008. There are people who are insisting every action taken by the Obama administration has been wrong. We all know that if Obama hadn’t made the deal and had left Bergdahl in Afghanistan, these same people who be denouncing him for that decision with equal fervor. For sure but that has lead to people defending Obama no matter what he does. He has made a mistake here. It seems he either ignored his security team’s advice and/or he rushed the decision. Releasing five serious terrorists for what appears to be, at best, a deluded slacker, was a poor decision. I really don’t see anything more sinister then that but sometimes you have to admit mistakes and one of Obama’s legitimate faults is that he doesn’t appear to be ever willing to do that. ---
**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 4, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/113 "2014-06-04T17:42:17Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > For sure but that has lead to people defending Obama no matter what he does. He has made a mistake here. It seems he either ignored his security team’s advice and/or he rushed the decision. What’s the evidence that he ignored his team’s advice? > [@](#): > > Releasing five serious terrorists for what appears to be, at best, a deluded slacker, was a poor decision. I’m not nearly ready to conclude anything about Bergdahl based on allegations and supposed notes. You shouldn’t either. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/114 "2014-06-04T17:50:08Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What’s the evidence that he ignored his team’s advice? > > . The Time article I linked to earlier. > [@](#): > > I’m not nearly ready to conclude anything about Bergdahl based on allegations and supposed notes. You shouldn’t either There are a significant number of allegations, with some corresponding evidence, surrounding Bergdhal and his motives. I am quite comfortable in concluding that he isn’t what he was initially portrayed to be. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/115 "2014-06-04T17:52:59Z")
The army investigated right after he disappeared. Thats the appropriate time to interview the other people. Get the answers when memories are fresh and gather any evidence. I’d speculate the army has copies of the email he sent from the computers soldiers use to talk with family & friends. They still need to get Bergdahl’s answers to questions. But his lawyers probably won’t let him say much. It could take a court martial to get his side of the story. Unless the case is too weak to pursue. Then we may never know. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > So far it looks as if the Army will be investigating him (as they should), and if the evidence warrants, they will bring charges. ---
**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 4, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/116 "2014-06-04T17:54:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The army investigated right after he disappeared. Thats the time to interview the other people when memories are fresh. I’d speculate the army has copies of the email he sent from the computers soldiers use to talk with family & friends. They still need to get his answers to questions. But his lawyers probably won’t let him say much. It could take a court martial to get his side of the story. If so, then we’ll find out in the court-martial. ---
**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 4, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796/117 "2014-06-04T17:57:49Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > The Time article I linked to earlier. I can’t read that link with the browser I’m using. What does it say that leads to the statement that he ignored his security team’s advice? > [@](#): > > There are a significant number of allegations, with some corresponding evidence, surrounding Bergdhal and his motives. I am quite comfortable in concluding that he isn’t what he was initially portrayed to be. If you’re comfortable concluding he had less value than any other captured soldier, then I’m glad you weren’t in charge when I was in the Navy. Like General Dempsey says, “the questions about this particular soldier’s conduct are separate from our effort to recover ANY U.S. service member in enemy captivity.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-deeply-troubled-by-the-deal-obama-cut-with-the-taliban/689796.md?page=5)