Whoever thought bringing home a prisoner of war would be so controversial? I never thought there was so much wiggle room in the old “leave no man behind” adage. The two main issues that complicate this POW return are that Bowe Bergdahl may have walked off on his own and the fact that Republicans in Congress are trying desperately to make a failure out of Obama, no matter the issue. If Benghazi was getting a little played out, this Taliban prisoner swap will keep the investigation/hearings/conspiracy-mill going for a long time to come.
Even if Bergdahl was a deserter, doesn’t he at least deserve a court martial carried out by his own countrymen? Is our new policy under the Republican House leadership to turn over all deserters to the enemy? Let’s at least give the guy time to learn to speak English again and get some of the intestinal bugs out of his system before we hang him high. I don’t remember this level of vitriol when cold-blooded killers who undermined the war effort got off with hardly a slap on the wrist.
And though I tend to sympathize with Bergdahl and see much of this as a political stunt by politicians, it does seem like Obama is once again displaying his, ahem, masterful negotiating skills by trading five high-level Taliban guys for Bergdahl. Now get ready for the endless hearings and investigations— and maybe we’ll figure out a new policy to determine just what sort of men we leave behind. Enjoy the cartoon, and be sure to check out links to additional stories behind the cartoon.
News! In-a-Nutshell!
In the news today is . . . an Army of Wha’?!
Not since Mullah Omar palled around with Osama has such rage been directed at someone coming out of Afghanistan.
Who knew Bowe Bergdahl was so despised and responsible for all that is wrong in this chaotic conflict?
The anger coming from Capitol Hill is reminiscent of Congressional ire when some servicemen were returned to the U.S. . .
. . . and released after massacring civilians in Afghanistan and in Iraq.
We apologize, that clip cannot be located at this time.
And everyone knows the United States does not negotiate with the bad guys!
Except under U.S. presidents from Kennedy to Reagan, and back to president, um . . . Thomas Jefferson.
For negotiating with terrorists who are trying to kidnap you may lead them to try and kidnap you!
And, for Obama to release five notorious Taliban commanders on his say-so . . .
It’s almost as if that island prison of Guantanamo is not subject to the rule of law at all!
All of this, for a young man who was critical of the U.S. and questioned the mission, (unlike any other soldier who came before.)
Clearly, it is time “You Are Not Forgotten” be updated to: “Let the Enemy Kill Our Guys Who Wander Off!”
And “Support Our Troops” becomes, “Support Nearly All of Our Troops!”
And so begins the end of America’s longest war— in another complicated mix of mud and muddle.
Onward, befuddled nation!
Goodnight and . . . good-bye? (Hopefully by 2016 . . .)
