Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban Saturday evening, local time, in an area of eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. Officials said the exchange was not violent and the 28-year-old Bergdahl was in good condition and able to walk.
In a statement, President Barack Obama said Bergdahl’s recovery “is a reminder of America’s unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield.”
In exchange, the US will transfer five detainees currently in GITMO to Qatar. No other details of who is being transferred were immediately available. Their future after reaching Qatar is unclear as well.
Ordinarily I’d say the return of a US serviceman to us is a good thing. And I’m not even terribly upset by the release of GITMO detainees, depending on just who they are. Negotiating with terrorists is bad policy, but on the other hand, throughout warfare there is a history of prisoner exchanges.
But Bergdahl wasn’t captured in battle. He simply walked off his post into the hills. Grunt forums are livid with Bergdahl, ready for him to be tried for desertion. Many, many lives were risked in the hunt for Bergdahl. Would you want to do for someone who betrayed and abandoned his brothers in arms?
I’m conflicted. You never leave a man behind. Not even a deserter. But if he did walk off, I’ve no problem with putting against the wall.
XBradTC 
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