Prisoner Exchange: Bergdalh for 5 Taliban Commanders

[A Theist]

Because Congress won't.

They were supposed to be tried in regular courts, but Congress threw a shit fit.

They'd rather do what Heywood wants -- keep them like some kind of poker chip that may never ever be useful.

As far as they're concerned, if the detainees die before being tried, that is fine, because in their minds, the detainees are already guilty.

It's a hideous display of American's finest bullshit. Guilty enough to keep locked indefinitely, but not enough to actually try and sentence legitimately.

These guys are combatants. Combatants do not get trials(except for war crimes) but rather are released on cessation of hostilities. We did release some of them and more than a quarter returned to the fight. Now remember the ones released are the ones we thought would not return to the fight. If we release the ones we think are more likely going to return to the fight...chances are they will.

It is just stupid to release these guys when hostilities are still on going. Only a full retard would advocate it.

---

I was just watching more on the news. Two soldiers who served with Bergdahl say he deserted. There were also six soldiers who were killed while searching for him. It's also being suggested that Bergdahl may have collaborated (joined) the Taliban. The controversey's really starting to grow on this. Trading five dangerous terrorists for one supposed deserter just doesn't sit well. I think there's more to come on this.

2 of the released are wanted by the UN for war crimes....and we just let them walk. How do people supporting this prisoner exchange justify that?

Here's an idea, since Barack seems to be in a prisoner exchange mood, why don't we exchange all the illegal immigrant law breakers who were arrested for crimes here and are serving time in American jails and prisons for Marine Sgt.Tahmooressi who's currently sitting in a Mexican prison. Now that would be a fair prisoner exchange. Too bad Barack isn't giving that one the attention it deserves.

[Heywood]

The following article claims that we knew Bergdalh's location and details of his confinement down to how many gunman were guarding him. It further claims that the reason rescue missions were shelved was because the military did not want to risk the lives of special forces personnel trying to save a deserter.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014...didnt-ris/

If it is true that we had knowledge like this, should we have launched a rescue mission?

[Dragonetti]

We are not at war with Mexico.

The US Govt should ask for the return of the SGT.

[A Theist]

We are not at war with Mexico.

The US Govt should ask for the return of the SGT.

We're not at war with Cuba either. But since hearing of the exchange of swapping 5 Taliban terrorists for one suspected deserter Cuba approached the U.S. for one those obama sweet deals.

No. The US needs to demand the return of Sgt.Tahmooressi.

[Autumnlicious]

The following article claims that we knew Bergdalh's location and details of his confinement down to how many gunman were guarding him. It further claims that the reason rescue missions were shelved was because the military did not want to risk the lives of special forces personnel trying to save a deserter.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014...didnt-ris/

If it is true that we had knowledge like this, should we have launched a rescue mission?

Why launch a rescue mission when you can trade people?

Rescues are useful for high value assets where loss of lives is acceptable. He wasn't high value, PR or information-wise.

If this guy is a deserter, we will try him.

If he's crazy, then we will treat him.

No matter what, he is ours again.

And the Taliban alliance is split. This may be a useful opportunity to fragment them further.

[A Theist]

The following article claims that we knew Bergdalh's location and details of his confinement down to how many gunman were guarding him. It further claims that the reason rescue missions were shelved was because the military did not want to risk the lives of special forces personnel trying to save a deserter.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014...didnt-ris/

If it is true that we had knowledge like this, should we have launched a rescue mission?

Six soldiers already lost their lives searching for him. Why put more lives in jeopardy rescuing a suspected deserter who obviously loathed the country he swore to serve?

[Heywood]

The following article claims that we knew Bergdalh's location and details of his confinement down to how many gunman were guarding him. It further claims that the reason rescue missions were shelved was because the military did not want to risk the lives of special forces personnel trying to save a deserter.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014...didnt-ris/

If it is true that we had knowledge like this, should we have launched a rescue mission?

Why launch a rescue mission when you can trade people?

Rescues are useful for high value assets where loss of lives is acceptable. He wasn't high value, PR or information-wise.

If this guy is a deserter, we will try him.

If he's crazy, then we will treat him.

No matter what, he is ours again.

And the Taliban alliance is split. This may be a useful opportunity to fragment them further.

Well you launch a rescue mission to save him. The Taliban could have behead this guy at any moment.

Suppose the Taliban beheaded him....wouldn't the military have been remiss in not trying to save him?

[Minimalist]

Woodie seems to like the idea of holding people in prison camps indefinitely, torturing them and all without charging them with a crime.

I wonder where Woodie got that idea from?

Oh, right.

[Autumnlicious]

Six soldiers already lost their lives searching for him. Why put more lives in jeopardy rescuing a suspected deserter who obviously loathed the country he swore to serve?

Another instance of you being a fool.

An inquiry done under the law will determine if he has committed any offenses, not your political vendetta of deciding who is trash arbitrarily.

---

Well you launch a rescue mission to save him. The Taliban could have behead this guy at any moment.

Suppose the Taliban beheaded him....wouldn't the military have been remiss in not trying to save him?

The military would have been remissed had he been beheaded, yes. From the beginning, however, the Taliban made it clear they were holding onto him as a bargaining chip.

Usually (not always) you keep your bargaining chips mostly intact.

Were they to announce their intent to execute their prisoner, then a rescue should be considered.

As I said, we have him now and they can't hold him over our heads. Perhaps something useful will come out of this.

[Faith No More]

Six soldiers already lost their lives searching for him. Why put more lives in jeopardy rescuing a suspected deserter who obviously loathed the country he swore to serve?

Notice how you were aware enough to put "suspected" in your sentence, yet the gravity of that word doesn't seem to have seeped in at all? You're all too eager to condem this man on nothing more than heresay. Perhaps your seething political views have forced you to want him to be a derserter, so you can have one more political talking point to cry about.