Five for One

The release of PFC turned SGT Bergdahl happened this past week and who would have thought an American being released from the Taliban would cause a political fight. Then again, what doesn't start a political fight. Someone yesterday asked me what I thought about the situation. My answer is not a clear cut one. This is not an easy situation to maneuver. We had an American who was captured by a group aligned with the Taliban. He was captured because either he wanted to be captured or was extremely stupid. He left his FOB alone without a weapon. People in his unit say that he had become disgruntled with the army and the mission in Afghanistan. There were soldiers killed on missions out looking for him. His father is against Gitmo and would like to see all detainees released. The Obama administration brokered a deal that exchanged Bergdahl for five detainees without notifying Congress as prescribed by law according to those in both chambers from both parties. This decision was unique and many fear that it will encourage more terrorist groups to kidnap Americans.

If I were to talk to Bergdahl, I'd tell him that he is a worthless solider and that he is not an NCO just because he has obtained a certain rank. No matter what was going on, leaving in the middle of a combat deployment was stupid and/or selfish. People were held over from seeing their families and some died. If he had issues with the treatment of the local Afghanis then he should have found a better course of action. Also, being captured was not his punishment for leaving his unit. That was a consequence for being alone in a combat zone without having a weapon. He still needs to answer for any UCMJ that he may have violated.

To his father, I'd say that while I sympathize with his view on Gitmo, I do not agree with releasing everyone of them. I do support them all having a trial. That is a fundamental right. I believe that 90 percent of every detainee is guilty. I would bet anything that at least one is innocent. It is not right to hold someone indefinitely without due process. There has been some progess in this area but it is still not where it needs to be. 

As for the law that Obama has broken, I do not believe it to be Constitutional. I do not know if this law has been upheld by the Supreme Court. I don't think this part of it has gone to them. If it has and they upheld it then they are wrong. There are separation of powers for a reason. The legislative branch cannot tell the executive who they can or cannot hold. Had these guys gone to trial and even found guilty then the president could pardon them. I do not see how this is different except they haven't even had a trial. As for the actual swap, I think it will lead us down a slippery slope. If another American is taken, the captors will request more to be released. As for the motivation of others to capture Ameicans, I do not think that has  increased. There are plenty out there that have had a 10 on that scale for a long time. 

I do not know what I would have done as the president in this situation. There was an American being held against his will. I think that getting Americans back must always be a top priority.  If my child was being held, I would no longer about anything but their release.