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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP Lawmakers: Obama Broke The Law With Prisoner Exchange
You knew it was coming...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/republicans-obama-broke-law-prisoner-exchange-bowe-bergdahl
GOP Lawmakers: Obama Broke The Law With Prisoner Exchange
DARLENE SUPERVILLE May 31, 2014, 6:51 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) Two Republican lawmakers on Saturday accused President Barack Obama of breaking the law by approving the release of five Afghan detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in exchange for a U.S. soldier believed held by Islamist insurgents for five years.
The White House agreed that actions were taken in spite of legal requirements and cited "unique and exigent circumstances" as justification.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, of Hailey, Idaho, was handed over to U.S. special operations forces by the Taliban. In return, five Afghans who were held at a U.S. detention facility in Cuba were released to the custody of the government of Qatar, which served as a go-between in negotiations for the trade.
Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon of California and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma said in a statement that Obama is required by law to notify Congress 30 days before any terrorists are transferred from the U.S. facility. They said Obama also is required to explain how the threat posed by such terrorists has been substantially mitigated.
McKeon is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Inhofe is the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In response, the White House said it moved as quickly as possible given the opportunity that arose to secure Bergdahl's release. Citing "these unique and exigent circumstances," the White House said a decision was made to go ahead with the transfer despite the legal requirement of 30 days advance notice to Congress.
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/republicans-obama-broke-law-prisoner-exchange-bowe-bergdahl
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,829 posts)But the GOPers would rather have him wait another 30 days and get sicker (or worse) just so they could have their legal "notification"? Or do they just want something to complain about?
Every time I think their assholery has reached an insurmountable level, they do something worse. I hope every last one of them fries in hell.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)They never seem to be at work.
I've seen comments that he shouldn't have been rescued since he (supposedly) walked off and was AWOL. I'm not familiar with the details, but I should think it might do them well to learn the truth before they shoot off their mouths.
neverforget
(9,436 posts)deaf and blinded by zeal to get Obama.
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)think was a better method. Geese,you would think these Politicians knew what the hell they were talking about. If you have a chance to get a nice kid from a Red State in exchange for 5 guys, whom probably were turned in by some tribal war lord for a bounty,you just go for it. Inhofe is such a twit. Go figger.
Kingofalldems
(38,469 posts)elleng
(131,077 posts)This will be the drumb they beat till the election
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)betting Boehner doesn't want to touch with a 10 foot pole.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)now it's going to be Issa AND Inhofe. Benghazi and Bergdahl
Cha
(297,574 posts)so boost their stature with the US military. I say bring it!
Cha
(297,574 posts)Statement by Bob and Jani Bergdahl, parents of Bowe:
We were so joyful and relieved when President Obama called us today to give us the news that Bowe is finally coming home! We cannot wait to wrap our arms around our only son. We want to thank Bowes many supporters in Idaho, around the nation and around the world. We thank the Amir of Qatar for his efforts. And of course, we want to take this opportunity to thank all those in the many U.S. Government agencies who never gave up. Today, we are ecstatic!
MOre..
TOD
mahalo babylonsistah
malaise
(269,157 posts)Are these fucking morons even human??
Benton D Struckcheon
(2,347 posts)But here's a few anyway...
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)repuke thugs
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)If Obama went to Congress it would ha e taken years, this soldier deserves to come home. Hope he will see thankfulness for his service. Welcome home, HERO!
spanone
(135,862 posts)Kber
(5,043 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)And I hope they do. It will highlight just how much contempt they have for our service men and women. And it will highlight just how evil they can be in their pursuit to attack the President for getting a US soldier out of 5 years of captivity.
Historic NY
(37,452 posts)fu-king a$$-oles.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)failure. Billions of dollars and millions of media minutes are invested in that simple thread.
Blue Owl
(50,490 posts)n/t
Wounded Bear
(58,698 posts)Welcome home, kid!
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Convenient for them to use as mouthpieces. The GOP are beyond depraved in their willingness to send men and women to war, keep them there until physically or mentally destroyed or dead, but unwilling to fund their care or end the wars because of profits either way. I'm sure they don't want to pay for this young man's care. And I'll stop now before I say what I really think.
Turbineguy
(37,364 posts)Bergdahl be killed. That's how the pro-life party rolls.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)PLEASE!!!!
Zambero
(8,965 posts)pursuing impeachment over freeing Bergdahl would be the one thing that might possibly turn my state blue!
antiGOPin294
(53 posts)Hey Repubs, remember Ronnie Raygun and the Iran-Contra affair? Didn't that involve negotiating with the "terrorists"? Yet you guys never said a word about that. Oh, and your boy Dubya is STILL a war criminal who is being protected by your party. So shove it.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)The fox narrative tomorrow will be: the 5 detainees knew the "truth behind benghazi and were ready to reveal it
mountain grammy
(26,644 posts)I like how President Obama is just taking charge of these situations and doing the right thing.
JeffHead
(1,186 posts)That's 1 more American soldier that comes home safe and sound to his family, and 5 less human skeletons we have to force feed to keep alive. Seems like everybody wins.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)I'll give Obama credit for creativity. I don't always like the fact that he walks away from fights, but how many times have we seen him come back with a sneak attack?
When the other side obstructs everything, they should not be surprised when Obama does an end-around.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)"We're impeaching the President for bringing home a POW..."
@$!#ing nitwits.
Zambero
(8,965 posts)Congress as of late would be more able to f**k up a wet dream, and the wingnut crazy members noted above are certainly not of the temperament or ideological mindset to see this thing through. On the other hand they would have had no problem scuttling any deal given 30 days to do so. It was far better to go ahead than risk failure courtesy of sabotaging partisans who would rather see this soldier remain in the hands of the Taliban so as to blame Obama. This is another prime example of the right wing attacking a successful outcome.