The Taliban have recently released a video of a captured American soldier, Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl. Pfc. Bergdahl was captured this past June in Afghanistan after straying from his unit there. He is now being used by the Taliban for propaganda purposes. The release of this video at Christmas is despicable and shows the depths of depravity that the enemy will sink too. I'm sure that American commanders are using all means to find and secure the release of this young soldier. The question I would now pose is this: should we attempt some type of prisoner exchange to obtain the release of this young soldier? I have mixed feelings on this issue and would welcome your input. The government of the United States has done this in the past, notably in the early years of the War Between the States, but it was later discontinued when the government realized this program was benefiting the south more than the north. The government of Israel also does prisoner exchanges. Like I said before, I see benefits and dangers on this issue.Bergdahl disappeared June 30 while based in eastern Afghanistan and is the only known American serviceman in captivity. The Taliban claimed his capture in a video released in mid-July that showed the young Idaho soldier appearing downcast and frightened. He hadn't been heard from until Friday's video, in which he looks well and speaks clearly.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force confirmed hours later that the man in the video was Bergdahl, but denounced both its timing and content.
"This is a horrible act which exploits a young soldier, who was clearly compelled to read a prepared statement," said a statement from U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Gregory Smith, ISAF's spokesman. "To release this video on Christmas Day is an affront to the deeply concerned family and friends of Bowe Bergdahl, demonstrating contempt for religious traditions and the teachings of Islam." read more from FOX News
10 comments:
Ron
I'm against prisoner exchanges because it sets a bad precedent that only encourages the enemy to act the way their acting now.
What benefits has Israel gotten with all the prisoner exchanges they agreed to? None, that I can see. The problem we have today with military warfare is that we try and fight a politicaly correct war and follow ridiculous rules of engagement that ties our soldiers hands. If it we're up to me, certain parts of the world would not exsist anymore and that would send a message of strength that if you mess the U.S., your world as you know will be destroyed forever. That makes sense to me.
The Israeli put a very high value on each of their soldiers and will often swap hundreds of the enemy for only one of theirs. I admire their support for their men, but then like you say Samuel, "what has it gained them". When you release the enemy they can fight again and that must always be considered.
Samuel, I could not agree with you more... It's about time we started kicking ass and taking names... The Christmas day near catastrophy bomb incident would not have occured if these countries that harbor and aide these fanatics simply didn't exist...
Samuel, I am in 100% agreement with you. If our military starts exchanging our enemy for the release of our soldiers than that only reinforces the enemy actions in capturing our troops. And, who knows this could become a trend where they will capture numerous amounts of U.S. troops just so the U.S. releases the terrorists back to them. That seems to me like we would be aiding the enemy in their efforts against us.
I'm afraid I too must concur with prisoner exchanges: they historically do not work and yield nothing but propaganda. Even my LE agency, in its jail system, has a "no hostages" policy. If a deputy is taken, there are no exchanges, no concessions. We will simply extract them.
BZ
A prisoner swap is a bad precedent to start, look at the Israelis. They will trade 1,000 Palestinian terrorists for Gilad Shalit, one Jew.
What will the Taliban want for one US soldier.
Having said that, at least the parents and family know that he is still alive after viewing the Christmas video.
Debbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com
Do not attempt to negotiate with terrorists -- ever. Not only does it legitimize them as honorable combatants; it also encourages them to seek more "bargaining chips" with which to entice us into acting against our own interests.
Rather, tell those who claim to have this young man: We are coming for you -- and if Pfc. Bergdahl is not in perfect health when we find him, we will execute all of you, regardless of status or tenuousness of affiliation, and bury you in pig-blood-soaked unmarked graves.
One wins against the terrorists by beating them at their own game.
Here's a thought, we will have NO soldiers captured if we pull out and nuke the damned place...
Just sayin'..
I have to agree that a prisoner swap may not be such a good idea. Of course, it is not my relative that has been captured by the Taliban. If it were, I might have a different outlook on the situation.
I have mixed feeling on prisoner exchanges also. I understand the logic and I know that it is something that we have done in the past, but I think that it does set a bad precedent and shows a sign of weakness. Of course it is easy for me to say that because I do not know the prisioner.
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