Some Dare Call it Treason

The Bad Deal

Our “amateur” president (to quote Bill Clinton) continues to display his ineptness in the 5-to-1 Taliban prisoner exchange for Private Bergdahl.  He claims the mantle of nobility in line with Washington, Lincoln & FDR who released prisoners, but shows his ignorance of history because those all followed cessation of hostilities, victory and instruments of surrender/treaties.  Of course he would like to think the war is over, and indeed politically wants to reap the rewards of unilaterally withdrawing troops before any conclusion to the conflict, or effective transition to a capable native defense force.  After all, OBL is dead, right, and he took the victory lap?  His ego is such that he apparently feels his sheer will and power of words will make it so.  But of course he didn’t even want to call it a war, but rather an “overseas contingency operation.”  So now that he wants to avoid the stigma of negotiating with terrorists, he calls it a POW exchange.  Another Orwellian dodge, just as with Obamacare – first it wasn’t a tax, and then it was – whatever it takes to get through.  And then there are the flip-flops on gay marriage, etc. – but I digress.

He also doesn’t seem to understand mathematics or negotiation.  Exchanging 5 senior Taliban generals and deputies for one deserter at best (by all first-hand accounts), and traitor at worst (by other accounts).  The Taliban is touting this as a great victory, and it will bolster their forces morally and with reinforced leadership.  And what have we gained?  A deserter or traitor about to be court-martialed.  Of course Obama thought it would be another great photo-op (and distraction from the VA scandal, etc., and show of support for the troops), including his parents at the White House.   And his Taliban-sympathetic father in full beard and praising Allah in Pashtun, with Obama smiling on.  Yes, another photo-op for the Taliban, in addition to the one they took of the exchange. 

As to Obama’s negotiating skills, we clearly came out on the short end of this one.  There apparently really was no negotiating – they seem to have just taken the deal the Taliban demanded.  Not only did he negotiate with terrorists, but he couldn’t even do that right.  And while they want to draw a distinction between the Taliban and Al Qaida, that goes against the entire premise of the Afghanistan conflict, that those who harbor and assist terrorists will be treated the same.  And of course the Taliban terrorized and oppressed women & children & any not of their radical religion. 

But he and his miserable advisors and apologists clearly are tone deaf to the American people’s sensibilities.  The reaction has been loud and clear and overwhelming against the exchange – even from some traditionally liberal press, and Dianne Feinstein.  Typical liberal stage 1 thinking – they’re shocked at the criticism because they’re blind to the larger ramifications.  Especially the military community is outraged at the honors given Bergdahl (promotion to Lieutenant in absentia and Rice saying he served his country “with honor and distinction”) and slap in the face to those who truly have served honorably.  Rice is vying for the credibility of Baghdad Bob after Benghazi – doesn’t she learn?  Maybe she has learned -- that being a spin-meister gets you promoted in this administration.  But a statement she made the other day – that we want to empty GITMO anyway – reveals another possible motive.  That this may be the beginning of Obama belatedly keeping his promise to close GITMO.  He couldn’t do it with no other place found to put them.  All this of course before 2016 – in his mind (and his constituency) his legacy after all is more important than our national security.  Which is why he’s set 2016 as the date by which the last troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan. 

Several of those in his platoon have said he clearly deserted, and saw and heard other indications of his disaffection, aside from his email saying he was ashamed to be an American, and the note left his comrades saying he was going to start a new life.  They noted also that when he walked off the post, he left his weapons.  Locals who saw him say they told him not to go the direction he was going because there were Taliban there.  Multiple fellow soldiers said that they heard the translator of a radio intercept say an American was seeking an English-speaking Taliban to talk to.  Between 6 and 14 lives were lost in the search for him.  They also noted that the accuracy and deadliness of roadside bombs increased dramatically soon after, giving some indication that he divulged U.S. operational information that gave them an advantage.  So he may be responsible for many more lives.  If he willingly deserted, why not just let him go, rather than compound the problem when it’s not even worth a single American soldier’s life, let alone many?  Ah, but the bleeding heart liberals must make a nod to the perverted parents and the Taliban – and dishonor the parents of those soldiers who died doing their duty, however mis-directed, in trying to recover him.  And then there were the lives lost, no doubt, in the battles to capture these 5 in the first place.

And of course the precedent of negotiating with the terrorists and exchanging for a hostage will only encourage more American hostage-taking to get the release of other terrorist prisoners, and will put more Americans in danger.  And at a 5-to-1 exchange rate, it won’t take many to empty GITMO.  One special forces soldier said the appropriate treatment of him is a firing squad (of course after due process).  And the 5 he was exchanged for are apparently responsible for many hundreds or thousands of lives – mainly civilian victims of the Taliban.  They are war criminals.  You don’t release war criminals, either, if Obama knew anything about history. 

And for being a professor of constitutional law, Obama continues to show his ignorance of, or disdain for, that constitution.  Even Dianne Feinstein agrees that he wrongfully ignored the constitutional requirement that he notify and consult with Congress 30 days prior to any such exchange.  But of course Obama is above the law, as he’s shown on various other occasions.  He knows better than the rest of us plebes.  After 5 years he suddenly (conveniently in the midst of the VA scandal) felt Bergdahl’s health was at risk (no indications have been cited or are evident in the videos), and there was no time to consult.  And now Obama acknowledges there’s always some chance these Taliban will return to the battlefield (should we call him Captain Obvious?), as a third of their fellow released prisoners have done.  Why, then, release them in the first place?  But we learn today that yesterday the director of national intelligence gave these 5 specifically a 90% chance of returning to the battlefield.  Obama clearly either didn’t seek or listen to his advice. 

In the face of this popular backlash, Reid et al accuse the critics of politicizing.  As if the release wasn’t meant to be a political statement, complete with White House photo op, and at the time of the VA scandal?  They slander and accuse the honorable men who served with Bergdahl and others of “Swiftboating” Bergdahl.  Well, they’re right to lump him with John Kerry – another soldier who in many ways deserted and misrepresented his comrades.  But to take the honor from the honorable, and give it to the dishonorable?  Again I’m reminded of the biblical passage, “Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil,…” (Isaiah 5:20).  And for political purposes.  It just seems to reveal their true disdain for the military which they try to cover for political purposes, but continue to cut benefits and budgets. 

But that’s the typical liberal tactic – when you’re out of legitimate logic or argument (as they often seem to be), resort to name-calling and personal attacks.  Conservatives are sexist, intolerant, xenophobes, homophobes, racist, bigots, want dirty air & water, to throw granny under the bus, for kids to go to bed hungry, etc., etc.  Only liberals have the moral high ground.  Their intentions, after all, are pure.  Forget about the consequences of their policies – ignore that man behind the curtain – that would take too much thinking beyond stage I.  Their intolerance and disdain for the military, Christians, conservatives, etc. are by almost every measure much more real, intense, expressed & acted upon than anything coming from the conservative side.

Some even dare call Obama’s actions just as treasonous as Bergdahl’s may have been -- aiding and abetting the enemy.  But that would just be one more in a line of Obama’s actions that continue to weaken this country -- economically (single-handedly doubling the national debt – oh, that’s right, Bush’s 4 trillion was unpatriotic, so 8 trillion must be patriotic; crushing the recovery, thwarting our energy independence), militarily (slashed budget, arms & forces), politically (less respect from our friends and enemies, meaningless red lines, dividing us internally), morally (free exercise of religion, expanding entitlements and government), ruining the health care system, etc.  But isn’t that, as D’Souza clearly documented in “2016,” exactly his self-expressed intention – to bring America down from its exceptionalist, leadership pedestal, to level the field internationally, just as his socialistic policies are intended to equalize us domestically?  Not just equal opportunity, but equal outcomes – a la the French and Communist models.  Unfortunately, doing that just creates the vacuum that Russia, China, Iran, Al Qaida, the Taliban, N. Korea, etc. are anxious to fill – and are already beginning to.