The five Taliban prisoners Barack Obama exchanged for deserter Bowe Bergdahl have rejoined the Taliban.
Breaking news: Lifelong terrorists return to a life of terror. Such a headline sounds satirical, but it’s exactly what has been confirmed.
According to the Military Times, all five “have joined the insurgent group’s political office in Qatar, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday. They will now be among Taliban representatives negotiating for peace in Afghanistan, a sign some negotiators in Kabul say indicates the Taliban’s desire for a peace pact. Others fear the five, all of whom were close to the insurgent group’s founder and hard-line leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, bring with them the same ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam that characterized the group’s five-year rule that ended in 2001 with the U.S.-led invasion.”
While ISIS has dominated media coverage as the “new terror group on the block,” the Taliban’s fortunes have been rising as ISIS have been declining. The Taliban has gained immense strength in terms of territory and membership since 2014, and now threatens 70% of Afghanistan.
The worst trade deal in the history of trade deals, maybe ever
In 2015, Barack Obama traded five Taliban prisoners in exchange for Bergdahl, who deserted his post in 2009.
Everyone’s speculation about Bergdahl’s criminal behavior was vindicated when he was later tried by the general court-martial on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, and entered a guilty plea in October 2017. His penalty was relatively minor; a dishonorable discharge, reduction in his rank to “private,” and $1,000 monthly fine for 10 months.
While I assume he was being hyperbolic – Bergdahl remarked after his guilty plea that he preferred the Taliban’s treatment of him to America’s. How does he think the Taliban treats their deserters? If he did so, he wouldn’t have the head required to answer such a question.
Who could’ve predicted the terrorists would have returned to terror?
Everyone, that’s who.
We know that at least 121 former detainees at Guantanamo Bay have since re-engaged in terrorist activities. Of them, 87 were detainees freed by Obama. Overall, roughly 30 percent of those freed from Guantanamo Bay have re-engaged in terrorist activities. Of course, not everyone in Guantanamo Bay was confirmed to be a terrorist, so the percentage of freed Jihadists who then returned to the battlefield must exceed 30%.
More importantly, in the case of Obama’s Taliban five that figure was 100%.