(no subject)

[madam-shapo.livejournal.com]

Comments

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, here is the positive spin on the deal:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/06/bowe_bergdahl_and_negotiating_with_the_taliban_why_the_deal_to_free_this.html

The Taliban is a faction of the war in Afghanistan, not terrorists, so that this is a basic prisoner exchange, and there will likely be more negotiations.

I'm not sure how to feel about it myself.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Were the mujahadeen considered terrorists when we incited holy war against the Soviet Union's invasion and occupation and supplied them stinger missiles to kill Russian helicopter pilots? Were they terrorists when Rambo III played goat football on horseback with them?

Are they terrorists because they live in Afghanistan and resisted the infidel army of the west that was bombing and occupying their country on a vengeful whim?

Should we have just let that soldier die in the arms of the Talib?

Should we have held those five taliban indefinitely at Gitmo? Should we shoot them? Should we drone strike their homes?

By 2002, the BBC reported that Allied bombing of Afghanistan had resulted in more civilian casualties than America lost on 9/11/01. What do you call people who kill civilians with bombs?

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

thems some scary a-rabs in that there picture.

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

How were you with Reagan exchanging missiles for hostages?

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

The more illuminating question to ask, instead, is what would have happened politically had the White House sat on its hands and not acted. Some of the very Republicans criticizing the president today were imploring him to do more to free Bergdahl just a few months prior. Some even suggested he pursue any means necessary to get him released. Let's say the White House had waited to act in hopes of a better deal -- and never reached one. What then?

Said the Obama administration official: "Imagine the outrage from Republicans if we had left him there."

-- Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/03/bowe-bergdahl_n_5440532.html)

Considering the way the Republicans like to position themselves, to always be aggressively opposing his actions, even when he takes their positions, the Republicans would likely be roasting Obama no matter which way he acts.