US Soldier Bowe Berghdahl freed from Taliban in prisoner exchange

#851
#851
Obama Administration: Bergdahl Was Chuck Hagel's Call | The Weekly Standard

Several congressmen told THE WEEKLY STANDARD that they remain frustrated that "about 80 or 90" people within the administration knew about the Bergdahl trade before it was announced on May 31, particularly considering none of the appropriate committee chairs or even House and Senate leadership were notified beforehand, save for Harry Reid.

"They couldn't brief a single member of Congress because they didn't trust us, yet the Qataris knew about it," said Mike Pompeo, a Republican from Kansas. "It's phenomenal."
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Qatar knew but Congress was kept in the dark?
 
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#852
#852
Grand Vol said:
lol at trying to put words into my post.

No, I probably could name a bunch of folks in leadership positions that the world would probably be better if they ended up pushing daises. And they really have no economic sway over the world so to speak.

However, Saddam was in a position that was and continued to be a threat to the world's known reserves at the time. Now does your book talk about the continued decline of the US military and expenditure of American capital during the 90s when we had constant troop rotations in the Gulf far and above "presence?" Or Southern/Northern Watch? Or the fact that Saddam was actively harboring terror groups above and beyond what the USG considered terror groups? That last little tidbit I can say for a fact because I trust the source on; although I can't give you a valid link for, so just trust me, it's good info.

There were plenty of reasons to go into Iraq in 2003 to finish up what we started. And I'll even agree the reasons given by the Administration maybe weren't the best. But it needed to be done in my opinion.
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Why?

How's this working out now? This is just today....

Iraq prime minister calls for state of emergency - US News

I fail to see how it was any of our business after 911 to go into Iraq. Saddam was effectively marginalized and a non-threat. Removing him from power should have been done in '91, but since it wasn't, there was zero reason for us to go back. the fact that the previou administration needed trumped up evidence to do it says a lot.
 
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#853
#853
Now the White House says Hagel made final call on Bergdahl as criticism of Obama over prisoner swap mounts | Mail Online

FInal approval for the prisoner exchange that freed Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was made by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, members of Congress learned on Monday from administration officials.

'They indicated (it was) Secretary Hagel (who made the final call),' Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) said after a classified briefing, ABC points out.

'It was the president of the United States that came out (in the Rose Garden) with the Bergdahls and took all the credit and now that there’s been a little pushback he’s moving away from it and it’s Secretary Hagel?'
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'It strikes me as unfortunate that they could have 80 to 90 people in the administration aware of what was happening and not be able to trust a single Republican or Democrat in the House or the Senate,' Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), said, Reuters points out.
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#854
#854
^^Has he ever taken responsibility for a decision?

Going in to get OBL is the only one that comes to mind but hey that was a success.
 
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#855
#855
If I was in the 0 Admin and I didnt know about the prisoner swap, id be looking for a new job because it seems like everyone knew, even the pastry chef
 
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#856
#856
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#857
#857
rjd970 said:
Why?

How's this working out now? This is just today....

Iraq prime minister calls for state of emergency - US News

I fail to see how it was any of our business after 911 to go into Iraq. Saddam was effectively marginalized and a non-threat. Removing him from power should have been done in '91, but since it wasn't, there was zero reason for us to go back. the fact that the previou administration needed trumped up evidence to do it says a lot.
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I've answered most of the questions you put out here in other threads over time. If you want to discuss it, bring it up there and I'll be more than happy to go over it yet again.
 
#858
#858
rjd970 said:
Why?

How's this working out now? This is just today....

Iraq prime minister calls for state of emergency - US News

I fail to see how it was any of our business after 911 to go into Iraq. Saddam was effectively marginalized and a non-threat. Removing him from power should have been done in '91, but since it wasn't, there was zero reason for us to go back. the fact that the previou administration needed trumped up evidence to do it says a lot.
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We would've done it alone, Arab coalition forces were against it and the main objective was to get Saddam out of Kuwait. Know your history,..son.
 
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#859
#859
Orange_Crush said:
Disgusting and also hilarious.

It seems Obama thought he was bringing a PR victory before America. Oops...

He has shown the most miserable and incompetent leadership ability of any president in recent history.
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If I was a senior official in this Administration, I'd start looking for a new job. Yet another example that the buck stops far lower than it should when the chips are down.
 
#860
#860
lawgator1 said:
80?

And Congress was not "left in the dark." They were not notified when it was actually going to happen, that's true. But they knew for quite some time that it was being pursued.

And I've asked this before and no one has really said its incorrect -- I really doubt that had they given some kind of advance notice, let's say a week, that anyone in Congress would have objected. They don't have the power to stop it and all that leaking it would have done is been a breach of security.

The notice issue is a bit exaggerated, imo, and yes, even by Feinstein. I think the real issue here is as has been discussed recently, which is what is the long range plan for Gitmo and the detainees there?
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Link? From what I saw the last briefing with Congress about swapping these 5 for Bergdahl was 2011-2012 - not exactly recent.
 
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#861
#861
VolsNSkinsFan said:
Obama Administration: Bergdahl Was Chuck Hagel's Call | The Weekly Standard
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What a clown show this administration is. It's funny to watch, but not so fun to live in. Definition of incompetence.


lawgator1 said:
80?
They don't have the power to stop it and all that leaking it would have done is been a breach of security.
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I'm beginning to wonder what the purpose of Congress is anymore. Why even have one? If Obama just needs his pen and phone and can legislate through executive orders and his various agencies, why does he need Congress? Remember, they are supposed a check on the executive branch.
 
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#865
#865
Holy Cow, that bus people are being thrown under is going to need a lift package put on it.

lifted%20bus.jpg
 
#873
#873
rjd970 said:
ok?
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out of curiosity, how old are you? Some of us were actually a part of Desert Shield/Storm and remember that one of the requirements imposed by the Arab members of the Coalition was that Saddam was to remain in power.

The main reason for that was the thought of Iran filling the void left by Saddam, which no Arab country could stomach the thought of. Saddam may have been an evil SOB, but he wasn't a theocratic, evil SOB like the Iranians. Thus, Desert Storm ended with a cease fire and a series of conditions Iraq must meet in order for the cease fire to hold.

The WMD issue aside, Saddam failed time and again to meet the requirements set forth under UN auspices. Whether it was supporting terror groups, violating no-fly zones, or killing his own citizens by exploiting the Oil for Food program for personal gain, he needed to be removed from power.
 
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#874
#874
MG1968 said:
out of curiosity, how old are you? Some of us were actually a part of Desert Shield/Storm and remember that one of the requirements imposed by the Arab members of the Coalition was that Saddam was to remain in power.

The main reason for that was the thought of Iran filling the void left by Saddam, which no Arab country could stomach the thought of. Saddam may have been an evil SOB, but he wasn't a theocratic, evil SOB like the Iranians. Thus, Desert Storm ended with a cease fire and a series of conditions Iraq must meet in order for the cease fire to hold.

The WMD issue aside, Saddam failed time and again to meet the requirements set forth under UN auspices. Whether it was supporting terror groups, violating no-fly zones, or killing his own citizens by exploiting the Oil for Food program for personal gain, he needed to be removed from power.
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Get out of here with your inconvenient facts.
 
#875
#875
DC_Vol said:
Textbook Obama. He was out front like a peacock when he thought this was going to be a PR win.

Now he's deflecting to Hagel. Next thing you know, he'll be claiming he didn't know about it until he read the newspaper.

Classic Obozo move. What a joke.
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Blame it all on a white, male republican.

Obozo never accepts responsibility for anything.
 
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