WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration has told senators it didn't notify Congress about the pending swap of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for five Taliban officials because the Taliban had threatened to kill him if the deal was made public before it happened. That's according to three congressional officials who spoke to The Associated Press.
The officials said Thursday that the threat - not just concerns that the captive's health might be failing -drove the Obama administration to quickly make a deal to rescue Bergdahl. The threat had been transmitted by Qatari officials at the height of the negotiations.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was referring in part to the threat when he said Sunday that "there was a question about his safety," the officials told the senators in a closed-door briefing on Wednesday.
Why on Earth would the Taliban do something like that?
They stood to gain five commanders back in trade for one deserter.
Why would they be concerned about the timing of the news story and the opinion of the American people?
Why screw up such a beautiful trade over something they couldn't give less of a shit about?
+1(http://images.theweek.com/img/dir_0073/36641_article_main/my-presidency-is-not-over-a-confident-president-obama-said-thursday-ive-got-another-five-years.jpg)
KEEP TRYING .....
-He was captured in 2009 and the Taliban initially demanded $1 million for his release
-Pentagon press secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby said on Friday 'this has gone on too long'
Obama administration 'to offer Taliban 5 Gitmo prisoners in exchange for last Afghanistan POW Bowe Bergdahl who has spent four years captive'
The Obama administration will attempt to resume talks with the Taliban to free the only known American soldier in captivity in exchange for the release of Taliban prisoners held at the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The move is an attempt to free Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl before the majority of US forces leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, the report in the Washington Post said, citing current and former officials.
The swap would trade Bergdahl for five Taliban members who would be released from Guantanamo Bay into protective custody in Qatar, the Post reported.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2562211/Obama-administration-offer-Taliban-5-Gitmo-prisoners-exchange-Afghanistan-POW-Bowe-Bergdahl-spent-four-years-captive.html#ixzz33nKcNFiZ
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