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In Pittsburgh, Leon Panetta questions prisoner swap with Taliban
TribLive ^ | June 4, 2014 | David Conti

Posted on 06/09/2014 3:40:51 AM PDT by expat1000

....Panetta, who was in the Cabinet for four of the five years Bergdahl spent in Taliban custody, said he opposed a swap for the terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, when he was Defense secretary.

“I said, ‘Wait, I have an obligation under the law,'” Panetta said during a lunchtime address at the Hart Energy Developing Unconventionals DUG East conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown. “If I send prisoners from Guantanamo, they have to guarantee they don't go back to the battlefield. I had serious concerns.”

He said talks fell apart because the Taliban “asked for five top guys.” He did not say when during his 2011-13 tenure in the Pentagon that discussions took place.

(Excerpt) Read more at triblive.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bergdahl; gitmo

1 posted on 06/09/2014 3:40:51 AM PDT by expat1000
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To: expat1000
He said talks fell apart because the Taliban “asked for five top guys.”

So, these are not just five ordinary rags. Getting these guys back has been a Taliban policy objective FOR YEARS.

2 posted on 06/09/2014 3:44:35 AM PDT by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.)
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To: expat1000

This is support for Hillary. All of Clinton’s minions will come out and say this swap was “bad”.


3 posted on 06/09/2014 3:46:35 AM PDT by raybbr (Obamacare needs a death panel.)
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To: expat1000
, they have to guarantee they don't go back to the battlefield.

Just curious - what would such a "guarantee" from a Gitmo prisoner look like ?

Cross your heart?

Swear on the Bible?

Pinkie swear?

Cut your palms and exchange blood?

4 posted on 06/09/2014 3:48:11 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: expat1000

Lots of talk bla bla bla bla bla bla bla

Headline news. Panera is talking


5 posted on 06/09/2014 3:52:45 AM PDT by stanne
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To: expat1000

Beginning of a break in the dam?

Interesting that Panetta feels free to talk, he knows the thugs in the WH are vindictive. With this statement, Panetta is just daring the WH to come after him.

He must have an ace in the hole-his knowledge of what Obama was doing on the evening of 9-11-2012 perhaps?


6 posted on 06/09/2014 4:06:29 AM PDT by wayoverontheright
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To: wayoverontheright
Don't forget that Panetta was a liberal congressman who faithfully toed the line for years before he got the coveted appointment to head the CIA.

I'm sure his strict liberal orthodoxy and voting record gave BO the confidence that he would be a willing accomplice in any necessary coverup, so when Panetta is willing to sing like a canary it means a lot more than when some affirmative action hire like Colin Powell is willing to go rogue on the GOP.

7 posted on 06/09/2014 4:28:50 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: expat1000

Even PETER NOSE don’t like it. . . .


8 posted on 06/09/2014 4:33:47 AM PDT by DeaconRed (The only person real happy right now is Rabbit Boy. . . JIMMAH. . . . He is now the 2nd worst. . . .)
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To: expat1000

Great timing, Leon...


9 posted on 06/09/2014 4:39:04 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
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To: expat1000

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/09/older-confirms-petraeus-probe-still-open-amid-questions-over-whether-case-used/


10 posted on 06/09/2014 4:59:56 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: raybbr
“This is support for Hillary. All of Clinton’s minions will come out and say this swap was “bad”.”

Exactly. I hate politics. It's so transparently disgusting and without any real principle. We've gone from “I cannot tell a lie”, to “what are todays talking points, who do we have over at the networks, and how do we best sell this?”.

11 posted on 06/09/2014 5:00:15 AM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: Jim Noble

Even communist Panetta was against it.


12 posted on 06/09/2014 5:49:49 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: Jim Noble
"Getting these guys back has been a Taliban policy objective FOR YEARS."

---------------------------------------->

Probably B. Hussein O.'s objective, too...

13 posted on 06/09/2014 9:32:25 AM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: Common Sense 101
"Great timing, Leon..."

--------------------------------->

Hillary/Panetta 2016

Ackkkkkk.....

14 posted on 06/09/2014 9:35:38 AM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: Izzy Dunne
The Gitmo Five didn't promise much in exchange for their freedom. Why shouldn't they honor a promise to live in paid-for luxury with their families in the richest nation on earth for one year?

Meanwhile, if the US doesn't keep Obama's end of the bargain, it'll give the bad guys a rallying cry to blow us up. It does seem that the Taliban were more honorable negotiators than Obama's negotiators were.

15 posted on 06/09/2014 9:48:30 AM PDT by grania
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To: expat1000
“I said, ‘Wait, I have an obligation under the law,'” Panetta said...

Leon, have you paid any attention at all to 0bama's presidency?

16 posted on 06/09/2014 11:16:14 AM PDT by TigersEye ("No man left behind" means something different to 0bama.)
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To: Jim Noble

Paneta is the guy who ordered the hit on Bin Laden IMHO. Barry was never going to authorize it so he did it anyway, and was promptly gone after it was over.


17 posted on 06/09/2014 11:18:23 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay
Someone else on FR said something, paraphrased, and I sorta get it..

The Clinton's, et al, at least seem to love their country, even if they go about it the wrong way. Obama? There is something fundamentally wrong about how he views and what he feels for the USA.

18 posted on 06/09/2014 11:20:35 AM PDT by Paradox (Unexpected things coming for the next few years.)
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To: HamiltonJay

It has become pretty clear that HRC wants to run against Obama, since he is unpopular and the GOP candidate won’t attack him.


19 posted on 06/09/2014 11:36:09 AM PDT by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.)
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