Obama: I'd Make The Bergdahl Prisoner Swap Again
Source: TPM
CATHERINE THOMPSON JUNE 7, 2014, 10:37 AM EDT
President Barack Obama continued to defend the exchange of five Taliban detainees for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in an interview that aired Friday, saying that he'd make the deal again despite criticism from members of Congress.
This is something that I would do again, and I will continue to do wherever I have an opportunity, if I have a member of our military whos in captivity," Obama said in an interview with NBC News' Brian Williams. "Were gonna try to get em out.
The President reiterated that he makes "no apologies" for going forward with the deal without notifying members of Congress 30 days beforehand, as required by law. "As I said before, the main concern was we had to act fast in a delicate situation that required no publicity," he said.
Criticism of the prisoner exchange has also focused on the Taliban detainees, whom some lawmakers fear will return to the battlefield once released. "By definition you don't do prisoner exchanges with your friends, you do them with your enemies," Obama told Williams.
Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obama-would-make-bergdahl-swap-again
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)as possible. Now that he's been released they're pissing and moaning.
Tommy2Tone
(1,307 posts)they have erases tweets and deleted post on the net. Where is the media to call them out for this hypocrisy?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Very true President Obama, no need to exchange prisoners with friends.
RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)And Congress was on notice this deal was in the wrorks for years anyway. John McCain approved this swap with these 5 particular detainees when asked about it in February of this year on CNN.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)Catherine Thompson, the author of this article, and tell her she's incorrect about the 30 day law. Her email address is catherine@talkingpointsmemo.com. Or, you could write to Josh Marshall himself at talk@talkingpointsmemo.com