Posted on 05/31/2014 2:48:30 PM PDT by jazusamo
Top Republicans on the Senate and House Armed Services Committee criticized President Obama on Saturday for negotiating with the Taliban in releasing five Guantanamo Bay prisoners for the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
"Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Berghdal's release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans," said Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), the Senate Armed Services ranking member and House Armed Services chairman, respectively, in a joint statement.
A senior White House official said the U.S. transferred five Afghan Guantanamo detainees to Qatar as part of a "broader reconciliation framework" was part of "successful indirect talks with the Taliban's political commission." "The five detainees transferred are in the custody and of Qatar and will be subject to restrictions on their movement and activities," the senior official said.
"As the Administration has repeatedly affirmed, we will not transfer any detainee from Guantanamo unless the threat the detainee may pose to the United States can be sufficiently mitigated and only when consistent with our humane treatment policy," the official said.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in a statement that he was "eager to learn what precise steps are being taken to ensure that these vicious and violent Taliban extremists" do not return in fighting against the U.S. or its allies.
"These particular individuals are hardened terrorists who have the blood of Americans and countless Afghans on their hands," McCain said
Earlier Saturday, White House officials announced that the Taliban released Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, held captive for nearly five years. Then came multiple reports that U.S. officials released five Taliban members from Guantanamo Bay. Those members are: Khair Ulla Said Wali Khairkhwa, Mullah Mohammad Fazl, Mullah Norullah Nori, Abdul Haq Wasiq and Mohammad Nabi Omari, according to multiple reports.
According to CNN: Khairkhwa was believed to be "directly associated" with Osama Bin Laden, as well as a "drug lord" and a friend of former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai; Fazi, Normi and Wasiq were top Taliban military officials, while Omari is the Taliban's former chief of communications.
Inhofe and McKeon said that Obama "clearly violated laws which require him to notify Congress thirty days before any transfer of terrorists from Guantanamo Bay."
"Our joy at Sergeant Berghdal's release is tempered by the fact that President Obama chose to ignore the law -- not to mention sound policy -- to achieve it," they said in their statement.
Inhofe and McKeon also said that Taliban terrorists will now have a "strong incentive to capture Americans," arguing that Obama's actions set a precedent where terrorists will think the administration will trade prisoners to release others.
This story was updated at 5:14 p.m.
dumbass obozo has a taliban poster over his bed.
Just wait until they find out what the Taliban really got for the soldier
One more example of 0bama ignoring law.
How long ago was the U.S. soldier, 5 from GITMO exchange said and done?
If it was some time back, a few days, a week, two weeks... whenever... was this info of the soldier for GITMO detainees exchange info being released now just a coincidence?
Or is the VA scandal causing an all-out from the WH?
Nixon negotiated with the North Vietnamese and arranged a POW swap. It is hard to argue Obama can’t do the same.
Five for one - Von Hayes. Enough said.
It could be avoided if we got out of the nation building business, stop collecting “senior Al Qeada” members, and started leaving rotting corpses.
Did Nixon do it without the knowledge of Congress or at least the Armed Services Committees?
That’s a great point, terrorists don’t deserve to live.
..negotiating with...? How about ARMING them?
C’mon.
We got our guy back....
More stupid party nonsense.
We are defeated in Afghanistan. Negotiating our surrender terms, though distasteful, is better than the last 10 000 being overrun.
Mh370 Em on the flight to their destination! Crew parachutes only! Syonarah!
The taliban are in the house, the WH.
Obama has actually supported many terrorist groups, with weapons and money. Iraq, Syria, Libya, the list is so long. There’s even a rumor that Boko Haram got their guns indirectly from the guys we supported in Libya.
Wait until Gowdy uncovers the al-Qaeda/Syria connection!
Obama’s the best friend terrorists have.
If even one American soldier is killed in the future as a direct result of this swap - Obama will be vilified ...
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