Is it just me? Serious question...

[icanthearyou 4,463]

We should tell mexico they got 24 hours before we start bombin the hell out of em. Kerry aint goin to mexico. He aint gonna help no real soldiers. Hed help a desserter or protester but he aint helpin no real soldier. All them libtard dimocraps hate this country.

Rather than admit to the extraordinary incompetence and epic failures which are becoming the hallmarks of this administration acting like an imbecile is so fitting for a guy who has gone out of his way to defend every misstep along the way.

You will never come to the realization that refusing to participate in the latest Obama bash thread or all liberals are idiots hell bent on destroying the country thread is not the same as supporting either.

Deflection is a weaseling tactic and the sign of a coward. Stand strong on your beliefs Itch. You'll be better for it!

I strongly believe that many of you have ingested so much of the right wing propaganda and rhetoric, that you have completely lost touch with reality.

It is impossible for me to deflect, I'm not on the side you are perpetually attacking. Cowardly? Hardly. Better? Thank you but, I am fine.

My youngest daughter has the same problem. In due time she'll understand. The maturation process is a funny thing.

Or, perhaps she has already outgrown you and your pettiness.

I am petty for encouraging you to take a stand on an issue? Really? Is your nickname Flounder?

I would not expect you to understand. Although, it is right in front of you.

[AUFAN78 3,926]

We should tell mexico they got 24 hours before we start bombin the hell out of em. Kerry aint goin to mexico. He aint gonna help no real soldiers. Hed help a desserter or protester but he aint helpin no real soldier. All them libtard dimocraps hate this country.

Rather than admit to the extraordinary incompetence and epic failures which are becoming the hallmarks of this administration acting like an imbecile is so fitting for a guy who has gone out of his way to defend every misstep along the way.

You will never come to the realization that refusing to participate in the latest Obama bash thread or all liberals are idiots hell bent on destroying the country thread is not the same as supporting either.

Deflection is a weaseling tactic and the sign of a coward. Stand strong on your beliefs Itch. You'll be better for it!

I strongly believe that many of you have ingested so much of the right wing propaganda and rhetoric, that you have completely lost touch with reality.

It is impossible for me to deflect, I'm not on the side you are perpetually attacking. Cowardly? Hardly. Better? Thank you but, I am fine.

My youngest daughter has the same problem. In due time she'll understand. The maturation process is a funny thing.

Or, perhaps she has already outgrown you and your pettiness.

I am petty for encouraging you to take a stand on an issue? Really? Is your nickname Flounder?

I would not expect you to understand. Although, it is right in front of you.

Understand this, I will not flounder aimlessly uncommitted to a cause.

[WarTim 3,457]

The current potus is a JOKE.....period.....end of discussion. (And THAT is being kind)....

[TexasTiger 13,046]

The current potus is a JOKE.....period.....end of discussion. (And THAT is being kind)....

More genius from Timmy .

[Auburnfan91 1,407]

Congress wasn't even told about this. Their concerns were never answered by the White House.

http://politicaltick...-prisoner-swap/

The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said a top White House national security official called her Monday night and apologized for not providing Congress with 30 days’ notice, as is required by law, before transferring five Guantanamo detainees in the recent swap for prisoner of war Bowe Bergdahl.

“It’s very disappointing that there was not a level of trust to justify alerting us to that,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, told reporters. “I had a call from the White House last night, from (Deputy National Security Adviser) Tony Blinken, apologizing for it.”

They had 30 days and didn't notify Congress of any details or facts of the deal.

I guess when you don't even have to answer to Congress then facts don't factor into the decision.

[alexava 6,973]

Just can't please some people...

Republicans are almost uniformly criticizing President Obama's decision to swap five Taliban fighters at Guantanamo Bay for the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American held hostage in Afghanistan. But many of the administration's loudest critics have previously demanded that it do more to bring Bergdahl to safety. Since his release, these lawmakers are emphasizing their criticism of Obama's handling of the prisoner exchange while downplaying the successful return of an American servicemember.

http://thinkprogress...-free-bergdahl/

this is what I'm talking about. no win.

You and the author are conveniently leaving out very important details:

The outspoken critics had a change of heart after learning of Bergdahl's antics. i.e. desertion, Facebook posts, emails, etc.

The five prisoners released were among the top leaders in captivity. Not just 5 regular Joe's.

That is just a few. But I ask you, do you think this negotiation should be celebrated?

Why are the only choices celebrating and decrying?

that is my question. I think this is a wait and see situation. it's just to popular to decry this administration for most people here. they will be clinically depressed when they do the same about the Clinton administration for another 8 years.

[AUUSN 823]

http://michellemalkin.com/2014/06/03/exclusive-the-story-you-havent-yet-heard-about-bowe-bergdahls-desertion/

My source still holds a highly sensitive position, so you won’t see him all over the cable news shows. But he wants all of you to know the hell he and his comrades have been reliving:

“I was assigned to 1st Platoon of Blackfoot Company,” based out of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno in Khost, Afghanistan, he said. “Bowe’s platoon was assigned to conduct security and stability operations out of FOB Sharana and other locations in Paktika. The untold background that led to Bowe’s situation involves an article and pictures published by Guardian reporter Sean Smith.” One of the battalion leaders punished soldiers, including Bergdahl (who had been photographed snoozing in his armored vehicle), with extra guard duty assignments for conducting operations in an unprofessional manner at Outpost MEST (OP MEST).

“PFC Bergdahl was already disenchanted with the war effort,” my source said, “and I think the extra duty was the last straw for him.” On the morning of June 30, 2009, “PFC Bergdahl completed a guard shift, removed his equipment, weapon and sensitive items, and left OP MEST with several Afghan security forces personnel. He took a compass, a couple bottles of water and two knives and his journal. His exact intentions may never be known, but he willingly walked off OP MEST and was secured by enemy forces not long after.”

My source, who had been up the previous night on a separate raid, was “shaken awake” on the afternoon Bergdahl disappeared. “We were told there was a DUSTWUN (Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown), and to pack for a 3 hour assault. We received a brief that PFC Bergdahl was missing, and we were going to get him…Sometime after dark we boarded CH-47′s to assault an objective thought to contain PFC Bergdahl. We never made it to the landing zone as the helicopters took very heavy fire on approach to the objective and had to divert.”

The soldier’s Focused Targeting Force (FTF) platoon was not told that it was being diverted to OP MEST. When they landed, he said, “We thought we were in enemy territory, so I recall my friends and I screaming ‘Vehicles’ and preparing to engage with the LAW and SMAW-D rockets we carried. We soon realized the lights were from RG-31 and Maxpro MRAPs, friendly vehicles, and de-escalated the situation. The CH-47′s had dropped us off at OP MEST and did not relay that information.”

With that near-disaster over, the soldier recounted: “We averaged 18-22 kilometers a day on foot, clearing house to house, room to room looking for PFC Bergdahl…We even went as far as rappelling down wells and crawling through tunnels to look for him.” The standard procedure for re-capturing PFC Bergdahl was not “normal,” the soldier noted. “He was very good with knives, and trained to throw and fight hand-to-hand with knives. We did not know the mental state of PFC Bergdahl at the time. All we knew was he left on his own, he caused us lots of hardship, and if we entered a room and saw him we would put him down because he could attack us.”

On the morning of July 4th, 2009, the soldier recalled, “we assaulted several objectives looking for PFC Bergdahl…We executed the mission without incident, and were waiting to be exfiltrated. Our aircraft were in sight when they turned and flew in the opposite direction. At the time we did not know why, but we were stranded. The enemy took advantage of PFC Bergdahl’s capture and attacked numerous outposts that morning.”

“Combat Outpost Zerok was almost overrun, multiple soldiers were wounded and PFCs Justin Casillas and Aaron Fairbairn lost their lives fighting that day,” the soldier told me. (I wrote about their deaths in my July 8, 2009 column, not knowing they were related to the Bergdahl mess.) My source continued: “We learned later that our exfiltration aircraft were diverted to support COP Zerok, and that the situation there was so dire that at one point there were two Apache gunships on station that went winchester, meaning they expended all ordinance and ammunition, but they would not abandon the soldiers still fighting so they resorted to low level unarmed passes to distract the enemy. PFC Bergdahl’s actions undoubtedly caused these events. We spent the remainder of Independence Day walking in the desert…waiting for aircraft that did not come for many, many hours.”

He added that PFCs Casillas and Fairbairn were part of his “sister battalion, 3rd Battalion 509th Infantry (Airborne). That is an Independence Day I will never forget for sure. It is certain that enemy forces took full advantage of our vulnerabilities caused by DUSTWUN recovery operations. Combat Outpost Zerok was just one of several small outposts attacked that day while 4-25(A) was spread very thin searching for PFC Bergdahl. There is no doubt his actions led to these coordinated attacks, and without his desertion PFCs Casillas and Fairbairn would not have given their lives that day.”

The soldier continued: “A few days later we (FTF) conducted a daylight raid on some tents looking for PFC Bergdahl. We took heavy small arms and RPG fire on approach and ran off the CH-47s in contact. Our entire element engaged the enemy, who turned out to be a Taliban shadow governor and his bodyguards…Multiple people died that day…All of this happened because PFC Bergdahl got tired of playing soldier. The remainder of that deployment was focused on recovery efforts. Countless members of the brigade were wounded and we lost good friends, among them PFC Matthew Martinek and 2LT Darryn Andrews. I have no doubt these great men would be alive if PFC Bergdahl did not leave.”

In addition to 2LT Andrews and PFCs Casillas, Fairbairn, and Martinek, PFC Morris Walker and Staff Sergeants Clayton Bowen, Kurt Curtiss, and Michael Murphrey died as a result of Bergdahl’s abandonment. That’s eight dead American soldiers (not six as the rest of the media has reported) betrayed by selfish Bergdahl and reckless President Obama.

My source did not mince words: “The fact that our government negotiated with terrorists and our enemy is incomprehensible. The fact that they exchanged five war criminals for a traitor is sickening. The worst part for those of us that suffered through that time is that PFC Bergdahl is being hailed as some kind of hero. He was automatically promoted to Specialist and Sergeant, ranks he does not deserve and did not earn. I have no doubt he will receive back pay for these past five years, a substantial sum. There will be book deals, and his family are celebrities. I am glad he is safe, and happy for his family, but he should return home to face a court martial.”

Are you listening, Capitol Hill and America? The Bowe Bergdahl mess isn’t just a story about one deserter, but two. There’s the muddle-headed lowlife who left his post and brothers behind. And there’s the corrupt commander-in-chief who has jeopardized more American soldiers’ lives to “rescue” Bergdahl by bowing to the Taliban, while snubbing the surviving heroes and 8 dead American soldiers who lost their lives because of him.

This cannot stand.

[AUFAN78 3,926]

Just can't please some people...

Republicans are almost uniformly criticizing President Obama's decision to swap five Taliban fighters at Guantanamo Bay for the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American held hostage in Afghanistan. But many of the administration's loudest critics have previously demanded that it do more to bring Bergdahl to safety. Since his release, these lawmakers are emphasizing their criticism of Obama's handling of the prisoner exchange while downplaying the successful return of an American servicemember.

http://thinkprogress...-free-bergdahl/

this is what I'm talking about. no win.

You and the author are conveniently leaving out very important details:

The outspoken critics had a change of heart after learning of Bergdahl's antics. i.e. desertion, Facebook posts, emails, etc.

The five prisoners released were among the top leaders in captivity. Not just 5 regular Joe's.

That is just a few. But I ask you, do you think this negotiation should be celebrated?

Why are the only choices celebrating and decrying?

that is my question. I think this is a wait and see situation. it's just to popular to decry this administration for most people here. they will be clinically depressed when they do the same about the Clinton administration for another 8 years.

First, I am not decrying. I am stating facts. If those facts lead you to believe this administration failed, then sobeit. With regards to your "wait and see" approach, that is your prerogative. I have no problem with that approach. I would encourage you to listen to those closest to the situation, his fellow soldiers. Finally, Hilary. Does it really matter?

[alexava 6,973]

Just can't please some people...

Republicans are almost uniformly criticizing President Obama's decision to swap five Taliban fighters at Guantanamo Bay for the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American held hostage in Afghanistan. But many of the administration's loudest critics have previously demanded that it do more to bring Bergdahl to safety. Since his release, these lawmakers are emphasizing their criticism of Obama's handling of the prisoner exchange while downplaying the successful return of an American servicemember.

http://thinkprogress...-free-bergdahl/

this is what I'm talking about. no win.

You and the author are conveniently leaving out very important details:

The outspoken critics had a change of heart after learning of Bergdahl's antics. i.e. desertion, Facebook posts, emails, etc.

The five prisoners released were among the top leaders in captivity. Not just 5 regular Joe's.

That is just a few. But I ask you, do you think this negotiation should be celebrated?

Why are the only choices celebrating and decrying?

that is my question. I think this is a wait and see situation. it's just to popular to decry this administration for most people here. they will be clinically depressed when they do the same about the Clinton administration for another 8 years.

First, I am not decrying. I am stating facts. If those facts lead you to believe this administration failed, then sobeit. With regards to your "wait and see" approach, that is your prerogative. I have no problem with that approach. I would encourage you to listen to those closest to the situation, his fellow soldiers. Finally, Hilary. Does it really matter?

first. you had john mccain and other republicans crucifying obama for not making more effort to have this guy returned. i presume now they didnt know the details of his departure? now they are doing the same because of the swap. i presume again we dont know all the details. can you admit the details can change the perception of a situation or does your hate for the administration trump any and all reason and logic?

[AUFAN78 3,926]

Just can't please some people...

Republicans are almost uniformly criticizing President Obama's decision to swap five Taliban fighters at Guantanamo Bay for the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American held hostage in Afghanistan. But many of the administration's loudest critics have previously demanded that it do more to bring Bergdahl to safety. Since his release, these lawmakers are emphasizing their criticism of Obama's handling of the prisoner exchange while downplaying the successful return of an American servicemember.

http://thinkprogress...-free-bergdahl/

this is what I'm talking about. no win.

You and the author are conveniently leaving out very important details:

The outspoken critics had a change of heart after learning of Bergdahl's antics. i.e. desertion, Facebook posts, emails, etc.

The five prisoners released were among the top leaders in captivity. Not just 5 regular Joe's.

That is just a few. But I ask you, do you think this negotiation should be celebrated?

Why are the only choices celebrating and decrying?

that is my question. I think this is a wait and see situation. it's just to popular to decry this administration for most people here. they will be clinically depressed when they do the same about the Clinton administration for another 8 years.

First, I am not decrying. I am stating facts. If those facts lead you to believe this administration failed, then sobeit. With regards to your "wait and see" approach, that is your prerogative. I have no problem with that approach. I would encourage you to listen to those closest to the situation, his fellow soldiers. Finally, Hilary. Does it really matter?

first. you had john mccain and other republicans crucifying obama for not making more effort to have this guy returned. i presume now they didnt know the details of his departure? now they are doing the same because of the swap. i presume again we dont know all the details. can you admit the details can change the perception of a situation or does your hate for the administration trump any and all reason and logic?

You are overly dramatic no? Crucifying Obama? If you go back and read you'll clearly see I educated you on the very fact that details do change perception. Quick study? IDK. What's up with the "hate for the administration rant?" When this administration does something worthy of my applause, they will get it. When they do something questionable, I will question. That is the difference between you, apparently, and I. You blindly follow. I call a spade a spade.

[homersapien 11,455]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

[TheBlueVue 177]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Actually i have no paradigm to fit. I have simply listened to those who served with him. Pardon me for believing those brave men know more about Bergdahl and what he did than the boobs who made this trade know. I am amazed by how many are willing to go along with a trade THE 5 most Sr Taliban operatives in Gitmo for one deserter as if that was a good deal for America. These guys are real jihadists...not like the kind Reid and Obama call Republicans...those guys WILL kill again.

I am happy for the guy and his family but Im guessing his troubles are a long way from over.

[AUcivE09 582]

Dixie leaves 1 comment and hasn't been back. lol

Cant blame him. Tex at least acknowledged something might be fishy - and that is the most progress I've seen from anyone here on any topic. To defend what Obama did here is complete ignorance. This was bad - very bad. Even if he did not desert his post this would be a raw deal. The fact POTUS set a precedent of this magnitude for one soldier who will probably get court marshaled is absurd. I am not even sure the president knew what he was doing. Maybe we just had to make the trade to see what was in it?

[TheBlueVue 177]

" Maybe we just had to make the trade to see what was in it?"

LOL....I can see clearly now the rain is gone. That's GOT to be it!

[autigeremt 6,717]

Just can't please some people...

Republicans are almost uniformly criticizing President Obama's decision to swap five Taliban fighters at Guantanamo Bay for the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American held hostage in Afghanistan. But many of the administration's loudest critics have previously demanded that it do more to bring Bergdahl to safety. Since his release, these lawmakers are emphasizing their criticism of Obama's handling of the prisoner exchange while downplaying the successful return of an American servicemember.

http://thinkprogress...-free-bergdahl/

this is what I'm talking about. no win.

You and the author are conveniently leaving out very important details:

The outspoken critics had a change of heart after learning of Bergdahl's antics. i.e. desertion, Facebook posts, emails, etc.

The five prisoners released were among the top leaders in captivity. Not just 5 regular Joe's.

That is just a few. But I ask you, do you think this negotiation should be celebrated?

Why are the only choices celebrating and decrying?

that is my question. I think this is a wait and see situation. it's just to popular to decry this administration for most people here. they will be clinically depressed when they do the same about the Clinton administration for another 8 years.

I think it's just sad on many levels. Some of which come from the supporters of Obama.

[AUFAN78 3,926]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Total

[TheBlueVue 177]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Total

Even ranking democrats are speaking out against the wisdom of this trade..not just Diane Feinstein.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/06/03/ruppersberger-call-taliban-prisoner-exchange-a-dangerous-precedent/

[Auburnfan91 1,407]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Why did President Obama bypass Congress to do this? He knew that he didn't have enough support from even his own party. There was bipartisan opposition to the prisoner swap. It wasn't just Republicans that were against this deal.

[AUFAN78 3,926]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Why did President Obama bypass Congress to do this? He knew that he didn't have enough support from even his own party. There was bipartisan opposition to the prisoner swap. It wasn't just Republicans that were against this deal.

I think we'll eventually find that intelligence led him to pull the trigger now without delay.

[Guest NC1406]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Why did President Obama bypass Congress to do this? He knew that he didn't have enough support from even his own party. There was bipartisan opposition to the prisoner swap. It wasn't just Republicans that were against this deal.

I think we'll eventually find that intelligence led him to pull the trigger now without delay.

The same intelligence that said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Will the president be ridiculed for following this faulty intelligence?

[autigeremt 6,717]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Why did President Obama bypass Congress to do this? He knew that he didn't have enough support from even his own party. There was bipartisan opposition to the prisoner swap. It wasn't just Republicans that were against this deal.

I think we'll eventually find that intelligence led him to pull the trigger now without delay.

The same intelligence that said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Will the president be ridiculed for following this faulty intelligence?

Iraq did have WMD...it ended up in Syria. But that's not at play here.

[AUFAN78 3,926]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Why did President Obama bypass Congress to do this? He knew that he didn't have enough support from even his own party. There was bipartisan opposition to the prisoner swap. It wasn't just Republicans that were against this deal.

I think we'll eventually find that intelligence led him to pull the trigger now without delay.

The same intelligence that said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Will the president be ridiculed for following this faulty intelligence?

Same intel, different day. Yes he will be ridiculed. Comes with the territory.

[TexasTiger 13,046]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Why did President Obama bypass Congress to do this? He knew that he didn't have enough support from even his own party. There was bipartisan opposition to the prisoner swap. It wasn't just Republicans that were against this deal.

I think we'll eventually find that intelligence led him to pull the trigger now without delay.

The same intelligence that said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Will the president be ridiculed for following this faulty intelligence?

The intelligence didn't exactly say that about Iraq. That was how Cheney chose to interpret it. Powell's presentation drew speculative connections between dots that didn't exist.

[homersapien 11,455]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Actually i have no paradigm to fit. I have simply listened to those who served with him. Pardon me for believing those brave men know more about Bergdahl and what he did than the boobs who made this trade know. I am amazed by how many are willing to go along with a trade THE 5 most Sr Taliban operatives in Gitmo for one deserter as if that was a good deal for America. These guys are real jihadists...not like the kind Reid and Obama call Republicans...those guys WILL kill again.

I am happy for the guy and his family but Im guessing his troubles are a long way from over.

I'll take that as an AMEN!

[AUFAN78 3,926]

Alexava is right. You all are jumping on anything that supports your political paradigm.

http://www.nytimes.c...murky.html?_r=0

Why did President Obama bypass Congress to do this? He knew that he didn't have enough support from even his own party. There was bipartisan opposition to the prisoner swap. It wasn't just Republicans that were against this deal.

I think we'll eventually find that intelligence led him to pull the trigger now without delay.

The same intelligence that said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Will the president be ridiculed for following this faulty intelligence?

Iraq did have WMD...it ended up in Syria. But that's not at play here.

While there is intel to back your claim and video evidence to support it, WMDs were not confiscated in Iraq. That fact alone created great satisfaction among the naysayers and it spread like wildfire in the media. It is a topic for another day, but far far to many in this country follow blindly without research. They simply hear it and consider it fact. All of us here can recall the Cam Newton fiasco, so you get the drift. Sad, but true.