OT - Bowe Bergdahl

[peacepipe]

Originally Posted by Dukes

So if Obama does exactly what Bush/Cheney would do, why do you still support him?

That post went right over your head. Take time to think about it

[BroncoBeavis]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

Fox is the Nancy Grace of national news. Regardless of the story, they go into 100% attack the president hysteria.

If Fox is Nancy Grace, then I guess that would make MSNBC Jerry Springer?

Anyway, again with the quoting Media Matters to call Fox News biased? Someone needs to get out more.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by BroncoBeavis

It's been reported for several years that Bergdahl might be aiding the enemy. But context was key, and we weren't told the whole truth.

A soldier captured and then turned against us is still in a sympathetic position. But a soldier who left us to seek out the enemy, then aiding them against us is guilty of treason.

I don't believe there's enough evidence (yet) to say he was for sure aiding the enemy.

But let's not forget why we're talking about this. Low-level turncoats in war are absolutely nothing new. It happens every time we engage in one. What is new is releasing multiple high-level enemy captives in exchange for one. Unless you can show me otherwise, I'd have to say Obama made a unique piece of American history on that one.

I'm commenting on the right wing hysteria machine, not on the facts regarding the Bergdahl case, which we don't have yet. Oddly enough, that hasn't stopped Fox from spewing it's garbage. Obviously, they don't need facts. Personally, I call what they're doing an out-of-control propaganda frenzy, which is counter-productive to an informed populace. And no, there's is nothing on the left to compare with it.

And marching right along with Fox hysteria are politicians like Lindsey Graham who are already uttering the word "impeachment." IMO, Obama sucks as a president, but in my lifetime, most presidents have sucked. That doesn't mean I believe that every single action they take should be reason to get hysterical and start screaming impeachment. This right wing revolution (since Raygun) is the worst thing I've ever seen take place in this country. It has basically obliterated our capacity to operate as a republic.

Oh, and ask yourself this question, by the laws of war, once the U.S. leaves Afghanistan it would have to release its Afghani prisoners. That would be next year. So would those five have been released next year anyway? Yes. Of course they would have.

[Dukes]

Originally Posted by peacepipe

That post went right over your head. Take time to think about it

It's ok. I don't blame you for dodging that question.

[peacepipe]

Originally Posted by Dukes

It's ok. I don't blame you for dodging that question.

I don't have agree with Obama on every issue in order to support him. Regardless of Obama wanting to leave some troops,I support the final result that no troops will be left behind.

[BroncoBeavis]

Originally Posted by peacepipe

I don't have agree with Obama on every issue in order to support him. Regardless of Obama wanting to leave some troops,I support the final result that no troops will be left behind.

In other words, "I don't have to, but I will."

[ant1999e]

Originally Posted by peacepipe

I don't have agree with Obama on every issue in order to support him. Regardless of Obama wanting to leave some troops,I support the final result that no troops will be left behind.

I is unless he leaves people to die in ...Benghazi. Then it's ok.

[BroncoBeavis]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

Oh, and ask yourself this question, by the laws of war, once the U.S. leaves Afghanistan it would have to release its Afghani prisoners. That would be next year. So would those five have been released next year anyway? Yes. Of course they would have.

Technically, by the "Laws of War" the people we're holding aren't combatants. They're terrorists. There are no complaints to be had should we decide to keep them for life. In the old days they would've been long-since executed. Which would also accord with the Geneva Convention.

And regardless, even if they were fighting directly under the flag of a nation-state, this would be akin to saying that once we knocked Italy out of the war in WWII, we were obligated to release all the Germans we captured there. The war ain't over. Whether it polls well in an election cycle or not.

[Guess Who]

Wow this stayed on the main page a lot longer than I thought it would.

[barryr]

Heck, I don't even remember Obama supporters bringing this guy up much the last 5 years either, but now, it was paramount. "Leave no soldier behind" and exchanging prisoners means the war is over, so when did the Taliban quit? I must have missed that one. It is funny to see those that don't care about the military, including the Obama admin., throwing out that Hollywood military phrase to somehow show they are so knowledgeable about any of this.

[barryr]

Originally Posted by ant1999e

I is unless he leaves people to die in ...Benghazi. Then it's ok.

The Obama supporters also seem to care more about this deserter than those that served honorably and left to die with poor healthcare at the VA.

[barryr]

Originally Posted by Guess Who

Wow this stayed on the main page a lot longer than I thought it would.

Is they why you have avoided this thread like the plague or having troubles figuring out your usual defense of Obama? Don't worry, huffington and dailykos are providing all kinds of excuses you can use.

[Guess Who]

Originally Posted by barryr

Is they why you have avoided this thread like the plague or having troubles figuring out your usual defense of Obama? Don't worry, huffington and dailykos are providing all kinds of excuses you can use.

I have been waiting for it to go to the politics forum so I could troll away.

Too much attention if I do it on the main page!

[LetsGoBroncos]

Originally Posted by peacepipe

I don't have agree with Obama on every issue in order to support him. Regardless of Obama wanting to leave some troops,I support the final result that no troops will be left behind.

So you have blinders on. How many more soldiers and innocent people will die as a result of these five guys being released in addition to the soldiers that died looking for him? It's not always cut and dry.

And how about the thousands of soldiers we have lost in the war in Afghanistan that died fighting to capture these guys....and now they are free. How is that ok?

[LetsGoBroncos]

Originally Posted by barryr

The Obama supporters also seem to care more about this deserter than those that served honorably and left to die with poor healthcare at the VA.

That's how they roll. Nothing about their thought process makes any sense.

And they would rather die than admit the King made a mistake. Which is really weird. I supported Bush, but I had no problem admitting he made mistakes.

[Rohirrim]

Here are short bios and some back-story on the five Taleban who were traded. From 2012 when this trade was first being discussed: http://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/...soners-amended

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by barryr

The Obama supporters also seem to care more about this deserter than those that served honorably and left to die with poor healthcare at the VA.

You could get a job as a Fox propagandist. You parrot well. The use of the word "seems" is always useful for propagandists.

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by BroncoBeavis

Uh huh. You and Roh show us again where anyone was pounding the desk to give away Jihadis (or anyone really) for Bergdahls's release.

When/where did I suggest anyone was?

[barryr]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

You could get a job as a Fox propagandist. You parrot well. The use of the word "seems" is always useful for propagandists.

says the guy who routinely posts links to articles from huffington

[Guess Who]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

Here are short bios and some back-story on the five Taleban who were traded. From 2012 when this trade was first being discussed: http://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/...soners-amended

That is really interesting thanks.

Maybe this is Homeland in reverse.

[barryr]

Originally Posted by TonyR

When/where did I suggest anyone was?

You guys keep stating if the guy was left in Afghanistan, then people would be upset about that, so who has been harping about this guy's release the last 5 years? Not even you for one thing.

[peacepipe]

Originally Posted by barryr

You guys keep stating if the guy was left in Afghanistan, then people would be upset about that, so who has been harping about this guy's release the last 5 years? Not even you for one thing.

Republicans.

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

I'm commenting on the right wing hysteria machine, not on the facts regarding the Bergdahl case, which we don't have yet. Oddly enough, that hasn't stopped Fox from spewing it's garbage. Obviously, they don't need facts. Personally, I call what they're doing an out-of-control propaganda frenzy, which is counter-productive to an informed populace. And no, there's is nothing on the left to compare with it.

And marching right along with Fox hysteria are politicians like Lindsey Graham who are already uttering the word "impeachment." IMO, Obama sucks as a president, but in my lifetime, most presidents have sucked. That doesn't mean I believe that every single action they take should be reason to get hysterical and start screaming impeachment. This right wing revolution (since Raygun) is the worst thing I've ever seen take place in this country. It has basically obliterated our capacity to operate as a republic.

Oh, and ask yourself this question, by the laws of war, once the U.S. leaves Afghanistan it would have to release its Afghani prisoners. That would be next year. So would those five have been released next year anyway? Yes. Of course they would have.

Spot on. Regarding the bolded part, it's astounding how they pretend this doesn't even exist. And the lack of realization that they're not only products of this "machine", but also tools of it. And did some of the same thing go on while Bush was president? Yes, of course. But wow, it's being taken to a whole new level with respect to Obama. They're foaming at the mouth. Wonderful to see people derive so much enjoyment, gleefulness even, from perceived failures.

[peacepipe]

Originally Posted by barryr

says the guy who routinely posts links to articles from huffington

Wow,legit sites somehow lack credibility with you.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by LetsGoBroncos

That's how they roll. Nothing about their thought process makes any sense.

And they would rather die than admit the King made a mistake. Which is really weird. I supported Bush, but I had no problem admitting he made mistakes.

Always easier to just pass judgment on complex issues based on partisan bias than to wait for any facts to come out, isn't it? Such is nature of the Fox parrot. Is this a mistake? Well, we really don't know yet, do we? But that's okay. Let the right wing hysteria parade continue.

Think of this: Let's say the guy was a deserter and a collaborator. As a former US Army Infantryman, I believe in that case he should be court martialed, and if found guilty, shot. But we all know that's not going to happen. So, we could have just left him in Afghanistan. Of course, then you leave a very powerful asset for the Taliban; a traitor who is thoroughly versed in American culture and can help them plan attacks.

You could look at this as removing an immediate asset in trade for five guys who will be held in Qatar for a year before they can do anything, and would have been released next year anyway. Given that we'll be out of Afghanistan before they get there, their bad effect will be turned on the backstabbing Afghani government, not us. Win/win.

Besides, initial reports had the Taliban requesting 15 detainees and a ****load of money. Maybe getting him for just the five was a good deal?