Has the swap for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl set a precedent for future POWs?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 09:00:55 -0400

Debate Stirs Over US-Taliban Captive Swap. In weighing the swap, U.S. officials decided that it could help the effort to reach reconciliation with the Taliban, which the U.S. sees as key to more security in Afghanistan. But they acknowledged the risk that the deal would embolden insurgents.Republicans pressed that point. "Have we just put a price on other U.S. soldiers?" asked Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. "What does this tell terrorists, that if you capture a U.S. soldier, you can trade that soldier for five terrorists?"Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said, "I'm going to celebrate him coming home," but added that the release of "five mid- to high-level Taliban is shocking to me, especially without coming to Congress."

Response by CPL Charles Gale made Jun 1 at 2014 7:38 PM

CPL Charles Gale — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 19:38:35 -0400

Personally I am thankful that a POW was able to return home, however, I believe decision to trade detainees for POWs compromises the safety of All allied troops and civilians serving overseas.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 8:23 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 20:23:11 -0400

I think every time a president bypasses the law it sets a terrible precedent. However in situations like these, where there was probably a small window of time to "pull the trigger," it seems to have been necessary. The POTUS is the Commander-in-Chief and these decisions should probably be left up to his discretion, but I could also understand that he should have to consult maybe a small number of some congressional committee (Intelligence or some other) before he gives the go ahead. But for him to give 30 days notice on trading prisoners for our own POWs is probably not a realistic time frame. We are a country of checks and balances, but it always seems every branch of government is always looking for a to increase their power even if its by regulating the powers of another.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 10:34 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 22:34:14 -0400

I support the outcome not so much the path to get there. I would think the possible scenario would've come up and could have been discussed at some point in 5 years so that when a small window opened no one would be blind sided.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jun 2 at 2014 4:35 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 04:35:42 -0400

1. We aren't at war
2. Indefinite detention as well as pardons for crimes is at the will of the President
3. Congress can... continue to polish that turd called the NDAA that gave the President the ability to do an end run around them.

Had the President actually done something illegal, they would have initiated impeachment proceedings already rather than bellyaching about being left out of the loop.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jun 2 at 2014 9:20 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 09:20:29 -0400

There is no doubt that the exchange of 5 members, classified as some of the worst of the worst for Bergdahl's release has set the county down a new course when dealing with the enemy. Am I glad that Bergdahl is coming home, sure. Am I still questioning how he ended up with the enemy? Yes I am. Am I wondering why they didn't just kill him and put him on display like they done to other Americans? Heck yeah.

The story will continue to develop over the next few days, weeks and months.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 9:38 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 09:38:47 -0400

I can see this being possible, especially with the Haqqani Network which has a history of holding out and negotiating for the release of their captives.

The counter-point would be, how long did it take? Are they willing to expand this tactic if they assume the response is going to be 5 years?

I do have my own personal opinion about who we released and who brokered the deal. I do think we need to be cautious with what precident that we set as we move forward.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 9:45 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 09:45:08 -0400

I was in Afghanistan at the time this happened. My unit sent out patrols in the N2KL area, in which many were engaged by different groups. We ended up having two x KIA and 6 x WIA (out of theater) and another 5 x WIA ( that stayed after their wounds). I'm happy for the family and that Bergdahl will get to be with his family again, but I hope we screened and rehabed the five individuals that we are releasing back to the taliban. I know the taliban isn't the large enemy, but I don't see them changing their thought process towards us. I just hope we have changing their mind about their willingness to fight and die, and understands that at this point it's probably not in their best interest. I know with the drawdrawn to 9800 troops that things are going to get harder for us; unless we start to close some areas down and only sit around their capital, baghram, and kandahar... thoughts?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 11:11 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 11:11:57 -0400

Im glad he did. Maybe if it didnt take years to get the smallest things passed in this government of ours he wouldve went to congress. Being he probably little time to make this deal happen. Maybe he didnt want the media blasting it all over the world before the deal happen.
To me 5 terrorists are not going to make or break anything. Im so happy for him. I always had in my mind that if i was ever taken prisioner that the government would never make a deal to get me back.
I bet his family so happy.

Response by SSgt Michael Hacker made Jun 2 at 2014 3:19 PM

SSgt Michael Hacker — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:19:41 -0400

Not in my opinion. We've been doing prisoner swaps for hundreds of years.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 5:02 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 17:02:30 -0400

Prisoner swaps have been going on since the revolutionary war. I know most of you are old enough to remember Iran/Contra during Reagan's presidency. Do you remember what those weapons were traded for?

Response by SGT James Elphick made Jun 2 at 2014 5:05 PM

SGT James Elphick — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 17:05:42 -0400

I don't think it's going to embolden the enemy. Since the beginning of the War on Terror insurgents have been trying to capture American soldiers for whatever reason. In fact, because we made a swap, if another soldier is captured, it might buy us the time needed to make the rescue and might save the soldiers life if his/her captors believe they can make a deal.

Also, this whole "we don't negotiate with terrorists" rhetoric is insane. On the ground we have done plenty of negotiating with terrorists and their sympathizers. Not to mention, it's easy to say that when you are dealing with an isolated incident and a small group, but considering the Taliban is an entity that we have been at war with for 13 years and have connections to much larger entities, it's time to face the facts that "terrorists" are non-governmental organizations that are large enough and operate in numerous capacities that warrant a seat at the negotiating table, has hard as that may be to accept.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 5:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 17:56:47 -0400

Do not be surprised when we begin to see news reports of abducted military personnel.

Response by MSG Mitch Dowler made Jun 3 at 2014 11:25 PM

MSG Mitch Dowler — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 23:25:53 -0400

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is a deserter not a prisoner of war. He was not captured by the enemy, he abandoned his post and might as well have defected to the enemy. The Taliban are terrorists and not a legitimate recognized nation to negotiate with. Our president has negotiated with likely paid off terrorists. He has released five terrorists so they can again attack Americans. President Obama at this point is pretty much acting on behalf of the enemy.

Response by SFC Matthew Parker made Jun 4 at 2014 9:35 AM

SFC Matthew Parker — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 09:35:59 -0400

No, there has always been a price on the heads of US Service members.
Sen Cruz has never served a day in uniform, has never been in a fight or seen his buddies killed. Until he falls under the jurisdiction of the UCMJ and the Code of Conduct he needs to stand down.

Stop calling them terrorists and it becomes a prisoner swap. Understand they were in Gitmo for 12 years and have no intelligence value at all and you see why we released them to a third party.

US service members have always been targets and will remain targets until the groups and organizations we are fighting cease to be. Taking a soldier and demanding a swap is old news, turns out congress didn't read that part of the history book.

I'm good with getting our soldier back and don't care about five former Taliban we may or may not kill later.

Response by CPT Vance Walden made Jun 4 at 2014 12:44 PM

CPT Vance Walden — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 12:44:39 -0400

I think this is one of those scenarios that must play itself over time to reserve judgment. Not one to watch too much news anymore(difference topics, same lyrics), but it certainly appears to be one of those to be added to the long list of Obama disconnects with reality. Do you notice every time any first hand accounts of any event that runs contrary to their political narrative, it's classified as "conflicting" information by the state department and liberal media. The state departments attempt to minimize the statements of those soldiers who had first hand accounts of Bergdahl's defection is another insult to any of us who served.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jun 5 at 2014 9:47 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 09:47:33 -0400

And it begins. Time.com is reporting that at least one Taliban Commander is saying that the exchange of Bergdahl for 5 key captured Taliban leaders will push the Taliban to capture "such an important bird".

Taliban Commander: More Kidnappings to Come After Bergdahl Deal

Behind the Scenes of Bowe Bergdahl's Release A Taliban commander close to the negotiations over the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl told TIME…

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2014 6:42 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 06:42:20 -0400

Do any of you consider Israel to be "soft on terror"? If anything, Israel is insanely harsh, going so far as having a special forces "assassination team" to take out high valued targets in manners we would consider illegal. Yet, Israel has at times traded HUNDREDS of prisoners for a single Israeli soldier. Prisoner exchanges are nothing new and happen all the time.

Response by Capt William Holbrook made Jun 10 at 2014 1:04 PM

Capt William Holbrook — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 13:04:24 -0400

There will be a day when we return to sanity. Let the military sort out what this situation is all about. If the soldier deserted, there are appropriate penalties for such action. If he proves to be a traitor, there are appropriate penalties for such action. The only problem in all this is that POTUS celebrated his "accomplishment" before he knew what he had done. An "aim, fire, ready" scenario if there ever was one. Once the media and its treatment has "salved" the American public and the politicians put their "two cents worth" in, and it becomes a joke. As it appears now, POTUS broke the law that he endorsed and signed. As Truman put it, the buck stops at POTUS's desk.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2014 10:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 22:01:31 -0400

That would set a bad precedent and gives would be terrorists an incentive to bring us to our knees by capturing American citizens and use them as bargaining chips. The late former President Ronald Reagan probably is rolling around in his grave near Simi Valley.

Response by SGT Rick Myers made Mar 30 at 2018 5:44 PM

SGT Rick Myers — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 17:44:26 -0400

My opinion is we just opened up a whole new can of uncertainty by trading for the yellow puss and letting that coward off with a slap on the wrist!!!