Right when the Veterans Affairs scandal was getting out of hand, the Obama Administration pulled their card with the Bergdahl release and they used their mainstream media arm to divert attention, thus avoiding Congressional approval, and then proceeded to their final move.
The president defended his decision to give Congress a late heads-up to guarantee Bergdahl’s safe release, while conveniently forgetting to mention the six casualties along the road to find the hostage.
Satisfied with the outcome of their forbidden relations with the Taliban facilitated by the Qataris, Obama’s people exchanged Bergdahl for five of the most vicious Taliban terrorists held in Guantanamo Bay.
They are now in Qatar and, as part of the agreement, they are not supposed to leave the country for one year. They are: the Taliban army chief of staff, a Taliban deputy minister of intelligence, a former Taliban interior minister, and two other senior Taliban figures.
This file image provided by IntelCenter on Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010 shows a frame grab from a video released by the Taliban containing footage of a man believed to be Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, left. The nearly five-year effort to free the only American soldier held captive in Afghanistan is scattered among numerous federal agencies with a loosely organized group of people working on it mostly part time, according to two members of Congress and military officials involved in the effort. An ever-shrinking U.S. military presence in Afghanistan has re-focused attention on efforts to bring home Bergdahl, who has been held by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. (AP Photo/IntelCenter, File)
Labeled dangerous by the Pentagon, they were not recommended for release, and yet the president rushed to give them their freedom.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said: “These five individuals are not low-level, run-of-the-mill fighter-type terrorists. These are the guys that raise the money that made the plans to develop the IEDs and in some cases are accused of inciting riots that wound up killing not hundreds but maybe even thousands of people, including Americans.”
Yes, and they all played major roles in the Taliban before Sept. 11, 2001.
In all this, a somewhat indifferent American public opinion has been once again the quiet accomplice, swallowing the news easily down their throats.
Just as it happened with Benghazi: No protest.
Meanwhile, veterans and former colleagues, are raising their voices, as most of them suspect the administration has used and freed a traitor. However, even if that were the case, the chances are slim that this administration would take action for justice. After all, they still fail to call the Fort Hood massacre an act of terrorism.
On June 30, 2009, 26-year-old Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Hailey, Idaho, is believed to have willingly walked away from his post and was then taken prisoner in Afghanistan. A former Pentagon official has told the Associated Press that the U.S. military decided not to display extraordinary efforts to rescue him. Weird.
In this image taken from video obtained from Voice Of Jihad Website, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, right, stands with a Taliban fighter in eastern Afghanistan. The Taliban on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, released a video showing the handover of Bergdahl to U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan, touting the swap of the American soldier for five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo as a significant achievement for the insurgents. (AP Photo/Voice Of Jihad Website via AP video)
In a disingenuous explanation, “Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel repeated to reporters traveling with him to Afghanistan, that the swap took place because Bergdahl’s 'safety and health were both in jeopardy.'"
At the White House lawn press conference, during which the president was flanked by parents Janie and Bob Bergdahl, Bob said: “I’m proud of how much you [Bowe] wanted to help the Afghan people, and what you were willing to do to go to that length…"
Without any doubt, Bowe Bergdahl’s father unveiled his and his son's real mission.
And the president approvingly smiled when he heard the father, wearing an Islamic beard, saying: “bismillah al-rahman al-rahim,” Arabic for “in the name of Allah the most gracious, the most merciful.”
In June 2012 the late Michael Hastings wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine Bergdahl’s definitive profile, quoting emails he reportedly sent to his parents. He portrayed himself disillusioned with the mission in Afghanistan. He had lost faith in the Army and was very much considering desertion. Bergdahl told his parents he was "ashamed to even be American."
The Associated Press could not independently authenticate the emails.
In this respect, it is interesting to read Hastings' enlightening words:
"President Obama [has] announced that the United States will now pursue 'a negotiated peace' with the Taliban. That peace is likely to include a prisoner swap – or a 'confidence-building measure,' as U.S. officials working on the negotiations call it – that could finally end the longest war in America's history.
Bowe is the one prisoner the Taliban have to trade. 'It could be a huge win if Obama could bring him home,' says a senior administration official familiar with the negotiations. 'Especially in an election year, if it's handled properly.'"
And, sure enough, this is an election year.
Completely disregarding a 200-year-old policy based on zero tolerance of trading prisoners for American hostages, the administration has taken a turn for the worst. As of now, American soldiers and civilians have turned into targets of choice for their enemies.
Mullah Omar, one of the brains behind the Taliban, has called the release of the Gitmo Taliban Five a “great victory.”
And, Bergdahl’s father, Bob, has publicly tweeted that he is “...working to free all Guantanamo prisoners.”
However, the multi-faceted choreography of this tragedy in the making is far from over.
President Barack Obama looks to Jani Bergdahl and Bob Bergdahl, the parents of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Saturday, May 31, 2014, as Bob Bergdahl speaks about the release of their son. Bergdahl, 28, had been held prisoner by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. He was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees held by the United States. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
The Taliban terrorists have shared with the world a video showing the actual release of Bergdahl. Viewers can see him fighting his tears, obviously sad to leave his friends of the last five years. A reminder of the fond hostage-captor relationship characteristic of what is called the Stockholm syndrom. And, one can see them, maybe repeating instructions before the release. Pay attention also to the men picking up Bergdahl, no American uniforms, possibly Qatari troops, which would explain the friendly farewell hand wave between them and the terrorists.
The last message to Bergdahl by the Taliban terrorists on the video? "Don't come back to Afghanistan."
Bergdahl is said to have even forgotten to speak English, and for all we know he now could be one of them. Terrorists and their masterminds always say or act for a reason and that's why they have made sure he can get that video message anytime, anywhere.
Indeed, when, Bowe Bergdahl's father says that "it isn't over" he is most likely not only referring to his son's healing.
As for Obama and his globalizing mind, working with Qatar is normal and bypassing Congress is also a no brainer that has turned to a nasty habit.
He said: “Regardless of the circumstances, whatever those circumstances may turn out to be, we still get an American soldier back if he’s held in captivity. Period.”
And, so, an anti-American president has freed an anti-American soldier, by also freeing five virulent America-hating terrorists.
Masterful. Mission accomplished, Mr. President.
Now, the American public can legitimately wonder: Could Mr. Bergdahl one day turn out to be a time bomb planted in the middle of the country he and his family so profoundly seem to despise?
Food for thought.
Eliana Benador, strategist, risk consultant, adviser, intelligence analyst, opinion writer, speaker. Founder of Benador Associates and Benador International. Her website is www.elianabenador.com. Follow her on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook.
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