Now, let it first be said that it is a good thing that Bergdahl is free. Any American in captivity is abhorrent. Actually any human being in captivity is abhorrent.
However, Obama did not follow the law by informing Congress in advance, claiming Bergdahl's health was in jeopardy and thus he had to act quickly, telling only the special forces involved.
This revelation came along with the claim that these negotiations had been secretly ongoing since 2012.
How do those two facts square with one another?
Is it cynical to suggest that this is Obama's Benghazi attempted redemption moment?
Well, not really redemption as much as shutting critics up about leaving 4 guys behind in Libya while Obama slept, peacefully ignoring the 8 hour firefight in which Americans waited for backup.
Bergdahl's disappearance from his base is under question. Did he desert? It appears he simply walked off the base into al Qaeda's hand.
Wikipedia has Bergdahl's last emails to his parents include his so-called disillusionment with America, which he considers "self-righteous" and "arrogant." He's ashamed to be an American; America is a "horror," Bergdahl claimed, apparently preferring the company of the oppressive anti-female, anti-gay Taliban:
On June 27th, according to the Rolling Stone [17], Bowe sent a final e-mail to his parents: "The future is too good to waste on lies. And life is way too short to care for the damnation of others, as well as to spend it helping fools with their ideas that are wrong. I have seen their ideas and I am ashamed to even be american. The horror of the self-righteous arrogance that they thrive in. It is all revolting."
His email went on to describe his disillusionment in the army: "In the US army you are cut down for being honest... but if you are a conceited brown nosing shit bag you will be allowed to do what ever you want, and you will be handed your higher rank... The system is wrong. I am ashamed to be an american. And the title of US soldier is just the lie of fools...I am sorry for everything here. These people need help, yet what they get is the most conceited country in the world telling them that they are nothing and that they are stupid, that they have no idea how to live. We don't even care when we hear each other talk about running their children down in the dirt streets with our armored trucks... We make fun of them in front of their faces, and laugh at them for not understanding we are insulting them...I am sorry for everything. The horror that is america is disgusting...There are a few more boxes coming to you guys. Feel free to open them, and use them."That same Wiki entry notes that the Taliban claim Bergdahl was helping them make bombs.
Even the Washington Post notes that Bergdahl actually "walked off base," which is certainly indicative of desertion.
Many questions remain, including about Bergdahl's collaboration with the enemy. Michelle Malkin:
PETERS: On that video, he is collaborating with the enemy. Under duress or not, that’s really not relevant. He’s making accusations about the behavior of the military in Afghanistan that are unfounded, saying there are no rules. He’s lying about how he was captured, saying he lagged behind a patrol.
Julie, I’ll tell you, any 11 Bravo infantryman will tell you, that’s not how it works. In a war zone, any soldier is aware of where all his buddies are. If it’s a night patrol, you’re sure of where the guy in front of you and behind you is. So we know this private is a liar. We’re not sure if he’s a deserter. But the media needs to hit the pause button and NOT portray this guy as a hero…A fellow soldier claims that Bergdahl planned the desertion, leaving with water and supplies, and another claimed that the former ballet dancer left a note, saying he was going to the mountains to "find himself." Was Bergdahl's mental state to be pitied?
At any rate, it appears at this point what Obama has done is break the law by not informing Congress, traded 5 of the worst high risk terrorists who will immediately go back into the field of killing Americans--and numerous Muslims, we might add--for political and personal advantage.
Obama is deserting Afghanistan by announcing a date of withdrawal before his exit as president, rather than leaving a significant troop presence as in Germany and Japan. He has targeted Afghanistan.
Who would have helped the Americans if they knew they would be targeted when the US left only a small footprint in the country?
Now that he has negotiated with the most horrific of terrorists for a man who appears to have placed himself into harm intentionally, Obama has set a precedent for American kidnappings around the world for political advantage.
Both feckless and cynical, Obama has proven who he is yet again.
UPDATE: From Twitchy, Bergdahl's father recently tweeted and then deleted this:
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