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kentuck

(110,950 posts)
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:06 AM Jun 2014

I don't buy the Republican logic on releasing the prisoners at Guantanamo...

Republicans argue that the five Taliban prisoners of war, that were released in exchange for the American prisoner held by the Taliban in Pakistan, will once again direct their hatred and violence against the US soldiers in the field in Afghanistan and elsewhere. But how is that different from right now?

And the Taliban leaders and their followers will be more apt to attack American interests with the release of the prisoners in Guantanamo than when they were captured and put in prison for several years? Their family, friends, and followers had no interest in attacking American interests when the Taliban leaders were captured and put in prison but will be somehow inspired to renew their attacks against Americans with the release of these prisoners. It defies the logic of human nature.

The Taliban were more apt to attack American soldiers and American interests while Americans were holding Taliban prisoners in Guantanamo than with the release of these Taliban prisoners. Simple-minded people like John McCain and others seem to be incapable of thinking beyond the surface appearance of psychological warfare.

In my opinion, this helps America in our withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. The new Afghan government will have to work with the Taliban in forming a new government. It is no longer the responsibility of the United States. This was a good first step, in my humble opinion.

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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
1. Well, there's the problem kentuck...
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:09 AM
Jun 2014

"Republican logic" is an oxymoron and there is nothing logical about the GOP

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
2. But...
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:14 AM
Jun 2014

It is a dangerous way of thinking when our national security is concerned, in my opinion. Simple-minded political sloganeering in the worst way.

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
4. And the supporters of these prisoners did nothing with the capture of these prisoners...
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:20 AM
Jun 2014

but will rebel at their release. I think the exact opposite of this. We created more enemies with their capture than we will create with their release.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
6. Pretty much. They were supposed to sit there and rot forever, according
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:24 AM
Jun 2014

to the GOP, and Bergdahl was supposed to be rescued with Special Forces going in guns a-blazing in a very risky mission--the Repubs would have giggled with delight had it gone wrong, I'm sure.

 

Swede Atlanta

(3,596 posts)
5. We don't know the details of the deal with Qatar......
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:23 AM
Jun 2014

These men are/were released and transported to Qatar. The sound byte is Qatar will ensure these men are not able to engage in any actions that threaten the U.S. in the future. What exactly does that mean and how will they do this?

I think this release was fully consistent with plans to exit Afghanistan. We left Korea and Vietnam with the whereabouts of some of our soldiers and airmen unknown and to this day there are many unaccounted for. At least with this release, unless someone else is captured before our final withdrawal, that nightmare will not be part of the future for the families and friends of our soldiers and airmen.

I full well expect that Afghanistan will disintegrate within 5-7 years after our final troops pull out. Iraq is in the process of imploding. The Taliban will re-take control of the control of Afghanistan and there will be retribution taken on those who aided the Americans. Schoolgirls will be denied an education and Sharia law will be re-instated. This is a tribal society. They don't share the same notion of national identity we do. They are driven by a strict interpretation of Islam.

They will have no problem letting AQ resume use of territory under their control for training and other purposes. We will be back to where we were pre 9-11. The only thing that may be different now is we can use drones to mitigate AQ activities but with the continued likelihood of collateral damage.

So what will the 15 years of the war in Afghanistan have accomplished? Nothing. Bush/Cheney refused to learn from history. The British tried to control this tribal country and failed. The Russians tried it and failed.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
8. I've read that none of these men were part of AQ, so I doubt they'd
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:38 AM
Jun 2014

come over here to make trouble. The Taliban is a fact of life in Afghanistan, however--we haven't defeated them, and as you say, they will control much of the country once we're gone, so it's hard to see how it's a huge concern now in terms of what these guys will do. They might try something against the US forces left next year (at the risk of getting killed or recaptured), but there's no way to predict that--I agree with the deal, getting our soldier back is worth the future risk. The Qatar deal is probably classified.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
7. Taliban=Brown Turbaned People=Terrorists is the equation Republicans always use to "rally" their
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:29 AM
Jun 2014

"base".


Edit: "rally" meaning frothing at the mouth with hate for the black usurper in the WH
"base" meaning low information hillbillies enraptured by Biblical fables and inspired by racist Pastors and Hate Media.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
9. The 5 themselves could feel like revenge, it is possible
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:47 AM
Jun 2014

But not everyone acts on revenge like that. Right wingers think everyone is as vengeful as they are. Being in Gitmo all that time might have caused different kinds of damage to them. Some might be depressed and less likely to take action. Bottom line, it is good to make a swap like this as it backs down from the war and helps empty Gitmo.

DCBob

(24,689 posts)
10. Indeed. Also this assumes they have not really been trying to attack/kidnap US soldiers previously.
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:49 AM
Jun 2014

I think that has been the Taliban's number one goal for these past 10+ years. The GOPers know their logic is flawed.. its all political.. as usual.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
11. "Republican logic" is an oxymoron. There's the problem.
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:51 AM
Jun 2014

There's no logic involved. The GOPers don't give a rat's hiney about the interests of American soldiers or the prisoners in Guantanamo or the Taliban or any other damn thing. What they care about is making Obama look bad. That's it. They are crapping their Underoos because that black guy in their White House once again managed to do something good, and they have to make it look bad, or wrong, or stupid.

n2doc

(47,953 posts)
14. There is no logic
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 11:19 AM
Jun 2014

Just, say whatever sounds like it will put the Prez in the worst light.

Frankly, I'll bet each released Taliban was given the message "Well be keeping an eye on you", and they all know what that means. I would not be surprised to see them all dead in a year from drone strikes.

 

Corruption Inc

(1,568 posts)
15. I don't buy the premise that there is "republican logic"
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 04:46 PM
Jun 2014

Pukes invent lies for fun to get negative attention, usually to hide whatever crime they're really up to. Focusing on their constant lies is being suckered by them, falling for their crap completely.

Response to kentuck (Original post)

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