A Pentagon source says…
…that Obama passed on the idea of a rescue operation for Bergdahl because he wanted to free the Taliban Five and close Guantanamo. A rescue would have made that a lot more difficult.
It seemed pretty clear from the start that this was Obama’s goal. I think it also was probably true that he didn’t like the PR risk of possible casualties during a rescue attempt, and that he underestimated the PR risks of releasing the Taliban.
I’ve also noticed for quite some time that the British papers frequently publish a lot more information about American stories that reflect poorly on Obama than American papers do, and that the information from the Brits often turns out to be correct.
The military must be incredibly angry at Obama right now. I expect more leaks of this nature in the future.
Besides putting Americans around the globe at increased risk, this action just makes no sense.
It is not plausible that he didn’t know the dangerous nature of the 5 terrorist leaders now freed, the circumstances around Mr. Bergdahl’s ‘disappearance’ from his unit, the casualties sustained by his fellow soldiers, the note left explaining his leaving, and communications with his father prior to his apparent defection.
Used to tut-tut those who called the CIC anti-American – but what other explanation is there for this? He’s essentially told the military to ‘eat sh*t and like it.’
Think the military will be mad enough to open up about Benghazi? That would be a perfect storm.
neo, I’ve also noticed that the British press is more curious and analytical that the American press. I started noticing that during the Clinton administration and especially is the first few days following the Benghazi tragedy. Much of the “speculation” in the British press has turned out to have been echoed by others in the recent months. Mainly, why did the ambassador meet with the Turkish official the evening of September 11? Was there arms shipments from US stockpiles to Syrian rebels being facilitated by Turkey? I’d sure like to know the answers to those and other questions.
Think the military will be mad enough to open up about Benghazi? That would be a perfect storm.
Around 16-32 State Department and consulate staff were evacuated successfully at the costs of the Ambassador’s deaths, some other people, and the 2 volunteer CIA hunter killers that had their team told to “stand down, let them die”.
So it’s not the military that’s been quiet, but the civilians.
Neo:
I agree with you about the British papers, especially the tabloids. Sometimes Pravda as well!
Over my lifetime (class of ’69) the American media has developed its own Iron Curtain, that has become more and more apparent since the Lewinsky scandal when who was it, Newsweek?, sat on the story for weeks until Drudge spilled it.
Is the military angry enough to actually do something about it?
Where is our Pinochet?
But, the Lewinsky scandal was a rabbit trail, to draw attention away from the real investigation, of bribery while he was Governor of Arkansas. That’s the First Lady’s job in most Third World countries, to arrange for the circuitous payments, through “deals”, especially failed deals, like, for example, Whitewater. After Drudge broke that story, the media were only too happy to run down that trail, and take us with them. It was silly, made us all a laughing stock, but it drew attention away from what would have gotten Billy-Boy impeached for real, quite possibly imprisoned, waving at Shrillary across the prison courtyard. We were pretty much playing Wile E. Coyote.
Frankly I have to dispute all of your opinions on the reliability of the British press. I can’t recall any specific examples, except BBC and Guardian stories about Israel, but I do recall skepticism about many other stories concerning secret American stuff. Some of the scoops they publish seems too good to be true. This particular story about the prisoner release being a ploy to close gitmo seems a bit over the top. Frankly one thing this debacle proves beyond all doubt is that Obama was more lucky than he is clever. That he was able to concoct some convoluted means of closing Gitmo presupposes an intelligence that is simply not visible.
Just finished reading all your posts on Bergdahl, neoneo.
Honestly the more I learn about this whole affair the worse it gets.
It’ll be “interesting” to see what the Taliban 5 do now that they’re released.
Interesting times, for sure. Interesting times.
How can anyone dispute that closing Guantanamo played a major part in this? Heck, the subject of Neo’s earlier post, Marie Harf, said just that on her Twitter feed at 11:00 AM today:
Looking forward, it’s crucial we close #Gitmo; worth remembering that recidivism rate under this admin is very low, esp compared to previous
Nice how she got a swipe at Bush in there as well.
Let the sh*t hit obama.
Keep the truth coming.
The MSM is beginning to show a few cracks in their until now impregnable Obama armor. I curious why this particular example of BHO’s malfeasance is striking a sour chord with the cheerleaders.
Ok, I am just fantasizing here, because the schadenfreude from the reaction to Obama’s foolishness/knavery is a narcotic for my nausea about what he did.
These things probably will not happen, but what if they did?
1) Bergdahl gets court-martialed and BO pardons him?
2) Bergdahl says, my work here in the US is done and I am now returning to my true loves, my jihadi brothers.
3) Bergdahl becomes a Cindy Sheehan hero adored by the Left.
Personally, I would favor # 2 as the most dramatic way of making BO look like the despicable creature he is.
“I’ve also noticed for quite some time that the British papers frequently publish a lot more information about American stories that reflect poorly on Obama than American papers do”
Not only that, but they do it with a charming, sophisticated accent.
A great ending to our national suffering would be if shortly after BO’s presidency ends, one of the Taliban he released from Gitmo orchestrates his kidnapping while he’s visting his birthplace in Kenya, mistakes him for a beloved American president, demands a huge ransom, and the new administration refuses to negotiate with terrorists.
But eventually agree to take him back if we get the rights to drill for oil and strip-mine minerals in Afghanistan. An updated version of O’Henry’s classic.
The Ransom of ExCommander in Chief.
southpaw, I love it!
BBC and Guardian are Leftist sources. By Britain, I presume that people mean sources like Daily Mail.
I’m not looking forward to future leaks, I’m looking forward to an artillery barrage descending on the White House from guns in the Pentagon courtyard.
Lawn chair out on the Mall. Bowl of popcorn. Cold beer in the cooler.
Ymarsakar:
Yes, and the Telegraph.
Although every now and then even the Guardian surprises me by being more critical of Obama than the US MSM.
rickl: Bless you for saying that. I too pray for our Pinochet.
In this I am reminded about how the anti-Hitler plotters in the Wehrmacht dithered and ultimately failed. But our situation is not analogous– there is no para-Wehrmacht like the SS with its armed divisions.
Neo, that British journalist that Snowden gave info to, worked for the Guardian, I think. So the Guardian or the BBC have no marching orders to take up Hussein’s back, so far.
Yeah, I confess to a liking for skimming the Daily Mail – and the Telegraph, when there is something especially good. The Mail is one bare step above a tabloid, the website seems to be run by barely literate interns, and some of the comment threads are truly cringe-inducing but still… they boldly go where few national US media outlets dare to go when it comes to US political news. I suspect that it is because the Mail (and the Telegraph) reporters don’t give a tinker’s d**m about being invited on the White House Press airplane, or to the good DC parties. They are still crankily independent, in the way that we once expected our own very dear press establishment to be.
I wish they would learn to spell, punctuate, write a coherent paragraph, and all — but one learns to take blessings where one can find them.
And you can always skip over all the stories about the Kardasians.
Judging by the comments here, no wonder DHS is forming up a civilian security force that will take care of any civil unrest from right wing domestic terrorists.
DHS bought up a large amount of ammo and now even explosives… for “training” purposes of course.
Up armored and anti IED vehicles are assigned to SWAT teams in that little county over there.
The military line officers are being replaced (or purged) by women and other Democrat loyalists. Loyal to their salt.
Pinochet’s going to find out that his mail encryption isn’t so good, and will get secrets leaked like Petraeus.
Sgt. Mom, you should have checked out the mail’s article on the Santa Rog killer. Faster and more accurate, more comprehensive even, than any equivalent US media for several days on the dot.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2638049/7-dead-drive-shooting-near-UC-Santa-Barbara.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2639555/Meet-model-named-Santa-Barbara-killer-reason-saw-women-mean-cruel-heartless-creatures.html
No wonder people become idiots in America watching the US news. I would too, if my primary source was them telling me what was going on.
Oh, of course, Ymasakar. It is a sad commentary, though – that our native press is outdone by … The Daily Mail … celeb obsession, spelling errors and all.
You sure they are real spelling and errors and not just the British spelling it their way ; )
No – I am fluent in Brit, Ymarsaker – and most of those are just spelling and punctuation errors.
Also, if I recall, was it not Esquire who also scouped the story on Edwards and his love child? Because the MSewerM was covering the story for Edwards?
Ymarsakar:
It was the National Enquirer.
Enquirer Esquire(r) they sound kinda alike, like Ectomorph and Endomorph. Esquire was written by people with at least half a brain until it became bizarrely left wing. Maybe their readership is now Pajama Boys instead of men.
Ymarsakar – the armory I’ve amassed in the last few years is alarming even me. But it’s pretty cool
I appreciate that the UK papers who are so driven to expose their own royals’ foibles and scandals have no remorse in exposing Obama’s (and other Dem royalty’s as well). Like the National Enquirer spilling the beans on John Edwards’ love child when the MSM embargoed that inconvenient narrative on his behalf.
* * * *
IIRC, the WSJ’s Richard Miniter exposed in a recent book that Obama did not order the Bin Laden raid. In fact, twice before the actual raid, when the conditions were right and his permission was sought, Obama delayed – went golfing for hours, or slept on it – until the window of opportunity closed. According to Miniter’s sources, it was Panetta who approved the 3rd request for permission while Obama was golfing (thus circumventing Jarett’s council, which was to not risk the raid). Not sure what to make of this hesitation considering how much he enjoys his personal drone strike assassinations and his otherwise disregard for the safety and well being of our troops – that leads one down the path of thinking that is disturbing….
That disturbance is the Force of social restraint and conditioning, which the Authorities use to command obedience.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edwards
Also, John Edwards, John Fing Kerry, and Hussein all share certain malignant narcissist traits, histories, and abuses of power.
Then again, calling them Democrats would pretty much bias towards that judgment.
‘Shut up and salute.’
/Please keep up with the memes.
I was calling Owebama anti-American in 2007, when he was running for president. No offense, but people like you would not see ‘the facts there shown before you’ (apologies to Yes). It was plainly evident how much this cocksucker (deliberate use of that word and pun intended) hated America and all the good for which She stands. I think the problem with those like yourself is that we have had a peaceful country for too long, that we have had no real internal crises by which to gauge evil among us. For example, we now have a real Rasputin as the power behind the throne, and her name is Valerie Jarrett. You assumed the best when evidence proved otherwise. Just glad you woke up. Now for the others, . . .
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One email account with two (or more) people having password access. All information in the ‘Draft’ folder so that, when read, the email is deleted and never sent.
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That one’s easy: The Iranian, Valerie Jarrett, understood the political ramifications of failure a la Carter and Operation Eagle Claw in 1980. (It’s all political optics all the time with this clown crew.) That’s why Panetta went around Jarrett when he had the chance and ordered the hit, letting Barky in on the plan as a ‘done deal’. Remember that photo of the White House Situation Room with President Small Man Sitting In The Corner? Jarrett was not in that picture.
Lizzy,
I have no trouble at all believing the Boy Who Would Be King wasn’t involved in the Bin Laden raid. It’s totally consistent with his presidency to be preoccupied with entertainment and self indulgence.
If anyone would like a good take on Obama’s recent plight and character, I highly recommend “Icarus Descending, Dishonorably” by Michael Walsh at PJ Media. The picture of Obama is worth going there just for the caption, which reads “Ecce Homo”. You will laugh out loud when you see it.
http://pjmedia.com/michaelwalsh/2014/06/05/icarus-descending-dishonorably/
Rumour has it that Hussein was attending a meeting in the WH with campaign finance organizers and fund raisers.
Jarret and others were supposed to be handling the situation room.
As for the picture, there’s still a belief that it was photo shopped. That Hussein was never in the room to begin with during the Osama hit.