A group of Taliban prisoners –
five, ironically – was released in a swap for a single American soldier, Sgt.
Bowe Bergdahl, after nearly five years in captivity.
Sgt. Bergdahl was captured six
months before USAID contractor Alan Gross was arrested in Cuba.
The Taliban officials include a
former provincial governor, deputy defense minister, and intelligence chief.
President Obama said that he has
received assurances from Qatari government, which acted as intermediary, that
it will take “measures to protect our national security.” According to numerous
press reports, that includes restrictions on the activity and movement of the
Taliban members when they are transferred to Qatar.
President Obama, as the
Times explains, defied Congress in effectuating this swap by apparently
ignoring parts of a statute that he rejected as unconstitutional infringements
on his foreign policy authority when he signed it into law.
Senator McCain welcomed
Sgt. Bergdahl’s release, did not criticize the President, and wants assurances
that “these vicious and violent Taliban extremists never return to the fight
against the United States and our partners or engage in any activities that can
threaten the prospects for peace and security in Afghanistan.” (A note on
Senator McCain’s activities regarding American prisoners in Egypt is here.)
Cuba offers to negotiate for Mr.
Gross’ release on a “reciprocal humanitarian basis” which many take to mean the
release of the remaining three Cuban intelligence officers in U.S. jails, who
have served 15 years. Washington has declined such a negotiation, and USAID and
the State Department don’t like the idea of putting a USAID operative and
intelligence officers in the same mix, as if they are not on the same moral
plane. Of course, in every prisoner swap both governments dislike trading bad
guys for good guys, but they suck it up to get their good guys back.
In a written statement, President
Obama noted “America’s unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform
behind on the battlefield.” Appearing at the White House with Sgt. Bergdahl’s
parents, the President said that he remains “committed to obtain the release of
Americans unjustly detained abroad.” Whoever informs Mr. Gross about today’s
news should tell him about that statement too.