Let's Be Frank: The Progressive Political Class Despises The Military + Veterans

"If the military stalls in turning over files to Congress pertaining to the five years of Bergdal's absence, we'll at least know that there is no national-institution remaining to be corrupted."...George Will

• Will makes a good point considering the scandals that have surfaced in almost every government institution in just the last 6 years alone. 
• Not long ago, I wrote about political correctness that infected the Pentagon and Defense Department surrounding the Ft. Hood shooter and the aftermath. In short, the FBI knew about the shooter's background well before the incident (he was emailing al-Qaeda operatives). In addition, the incident was classified as "work-place" violence---an absurd designation considering what we now know about the shooter.
• In 2009, the same year as the Ft. Hood shooting, the Department of Homeland Security labeled veterans as "potential domestic terrorists" in a report entitled, "Right Wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment." The report pointed out "returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to right wing extremists." The report added veterans may be "disgruntled, disillusioned, or suffering from psychological effects of war." And while there is some truth to these statements (but who is not disgruntled or disillusioned at one time or another?), the fact is they were made to characterize veterans as extremists. Since there are almost 22 million veterans today in the United States, one would consider---based on this absurd report---we should be facing a major problem. We're not.
• Of course, we now have a VA scandal that clearly shows many veterans have not been treated well by the administration. Back-logs of claims, veterans allegedly dying while waiting for care and secrete waiting lists are just a few of the problems that have surfaced recently.  Also add to this the cuts to Tri Care that were were proposed (right now they are on hold). But there was some good news. The administration proposed a "whopping" 1% pay raise for our troops in 2014.

The Taliban Prisoner Exchange Is The Mother Of All Blunders For The Obama Administration

"One sure sign that Pres. Obama is losing his edge. His lies are being exposed almost as soon as they come out of his mouth."...Michael Goodwin, NY Post

While the narrative continues to be played out regarding the exact nature of Berghdal's case, it's clear the exchange for these particular Taliban is one of Obama's biggest blunders. We know this for several reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

• Administration sources and spokespersons---including those in the complicit media---are now trying to discredit the vets who knew and served with Bergdahl. The term "swift boating" has already been raised.
• More Americans now know that the five Taliban prisoners released were some of the worst terrorist held at Gitmo. In fact, all five were considered a high risk.
• Susan Rice was sent out to defend the prisoner exchange. And, like her defense of the administration with Benghazi, her narrative is full of holes.
• The administration did not expect this negative reaction to the prisoner exchange. One pundit even said they expected an opposite reaction. To their surprise, many of those who served with Bergdahl are now providing a different account to that of the administration.
• Hillary Clinton is distancing herself from this entire episode.
• CNN reported that radio chatter that was intercepted indicated Bergdahl was trying to contact the Taliban. The UK Daily Mail went further. In 2010, they reported a captured American soldier was training Taliban fighters. Wikileaks cables appear to reinforce that report.
• Pres. Obama said the released Taliban thugs would be "monitored" while in Qatar. The day following their release, a Qatari spokesperson said they would have no role in watching over them. Keep in mind that Qatar has long been a source of support for terrorists.
• When asked if these five terrorists he traded for Bergdahl could take up arms again against Americans, Obama replied, "absolutely."
• The parents of some of the American soldiers killed while allegedly looking for Bergdahl are livid that they were never told the true nature of how and why their son was killed. Reports indicate anywhere from 6 to 12 were killed in their rescue attempts.
• Bergdahl's background is raising some red flags. Reports surfaced that he wished to join the French Foreign Legion (he was turned down) as well as becoming a mercenary.
• Legal observers have indicated this deal was illegal since it violated a 2013 law barring the release of any Gitmo prisoners unless the president gives Congress a 30 day advance notice. Surprisingly even some Democrats and media pundits agree the law was violated.
• All of this news comes on the heels of the VA scandal as well as last week's outing of our CIA station chief in Afghanistan.

It's now clear the issues surrounding this prisoner exchange are far from settled. But it does appear to be the mother of all blunders by the Obama administration.

Postscript: Since this was posted, Bergdahl has been charged with desertion. In addition, two of the Taliban released are wanted by the UN for war crimes + one was a close associate of Osama bin Laden.

The Release Of The Taliban 5 Is Yet Another Snapshot Into The Mind Of The Obama Administration's Progressive Ideology

I keep reading about the "conflicting accounts" of Bergdahl's disappearance. Happy to hear from those who dispute what his platoon says...David Burge Tweet

• In my post yesterday, I pointed out if Bergdahl is found guilty of what he is accused of doing---namely, and at a minimum, deserting--- then he deserves the appropriate discipline. And I also quoted comments made by former members of his platoon. In short, most believe he abandoned his post and his unit. The old adage, "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck then it's probably a duck" is now taking shape. In other words, there is reasonable suspicion that he deserted.
• But again, as I also mentioned yesterday, I'm more concerned about the five Taliban killers that were set free to return to the battlefield (yes, that's exactly what they will do and they will probably kill more innocent civilians as well as Americans in and out of uniform. For example, one of those released, Mohammed Fazi, was even denounced by the feckless UN as a war criminal who presided over mass killings). And I was equally dismayed at the photo op of Pres. Obama and Bergdahl's family in the Rose Garden yesterday given the past controversial statements and Tweets attributed Bergdal's father. In fact, The Telegraph (UK) reported yesterday that even some "senior administration officials" were "baffled"at the Rose Garden photo-op.
• I found that photo-op disturbing because---to date---Pres. Obama has not bothered to appear with the families of the victims of Benghazi nor the victims of the soldiers who died looking for Bowe Bergdahl. Yet, he chose to appear with the parents of a soldier who has been vilified by most of his platoon mates.
• Equally disturbing and in the face of the "reasonable suspicion" that exists regarding Bergdahl's alleged desertion, Susan Rice (infamous for her pushing the bogus talking points regarding the attack in Benghazi) went on the Sunday pundit shows and said Bergdahl served with "honor and distinction."  We now have some information from those with whom he served that his record suggests otherwise.
• All of this and the scandals preceding this one gives us yet another snapshot into the mind of the Obama administration's progressive ideology. And, as I've written about on several occasion, this ideology can be very dangerous. And this was reinforced by Susan Rice on Sunday when she said: "the existence of Guantanamo Bay is itself a detriment to our national security." But her warped logic apparently believes that freeing 5 known terrorist makes us safer? You can't make this stuff up.
• Perhaps Rich Lowry of National Review said it best: "Let Bergdahl's parents and friends rejoice and his hometown in Idaho welcome him with open arms. But let's not pretend this his return is some national triumph."

The Release Of The Taliban 5: An Act Of Betrayal?

So Mr. Obama, Hagel + Ms. Rice, what are you going to tell the families of the troops that these five Taliban murderers killed?...My Tweet today

• At this point in time, I'm still conflicted about Sgt. Bergdahl and the circumstances of his capture. There's certainly a plethora of anecdotal evidence from those who served with him that he may have deserted. For example, former Sgt. Vierkant, a member of Bergdahl's platoon,  said yesterday: "I was pissed off then, and I'm even more so now with everything going on...Bowie Bergdahl deserted during a time of war, and his fellow Americans lost their lives searching for him." In addition, another former member of Bergdal's unit said, "He walked off. He left his guard post." In other words, he was on guard duty to protect them, but decided to walk off for whatever reason (CNN).  So from my own standpoint, after he's debriefed and he gets his medical care (ironically, probably better medical care than many our our veterans in the VA), an investigation is warranted. At this point, he's still an American soldier. If he did was he's accused of doing, he deserves the appropriate consequences for his actions.
• I'm now more concerned about the release of five former Taliban commanders. For one reason, they are all responsible for the killing of American troops and thousands of innocent civilians. As even the Washington Post reported this weekend, there were battle-hardened Taliban commanders.  At least one of them was the head of the Taliban army. Another arranged for al-Qaeda trainers to visit Afghanistan. In fact, the last time we freed a high-ranking Taliban terrorist, he returned to the battlefield and became director of Taliban military operations.*
• In addition, it didn't take long for the Taliban to use the release of these five as a propaganda coup. Mullah Mohammed Omar, a terror warlord, called their release a "big victory for the entire Afghan Muslim nation."
• And what does it say about our administration when it sends out Susan Rice again to defend this action? The same Susan Rice who tried to sell the nation a bogus story about the attack on our consulate in Benghazi. Think about it. Sending out Rice would be like sending out Sebelius again to talk about Obamacare.
• But one fact is certainly clear. If the administration intended to get the VA scandal off the front pages with breaking this story---a coincidence?---it worked. But I believe it can also backfire. Sending out Susan Rice rebounds attention back to Benghazi and the litany of lies that followed.
• Act of betrayal by our government? I'll leave that up to the reader to decide. As far as I'm concerned---yes. Why? Every American---in uniform or not---has now become a target.

One Sidebar of Note:

Last week, the Obama administration sent out an email to 6,000 reporters leaking the name of the CIA station chief in Afghanistan.  Need I remind everyone of the hysteria in the media and among Democrats when Valerie Plame was outed as a CIA operative during the Bush administration? But in this case, it's treated as a simple mistake. But as the NY Post correctly pointed out, the CIA station chief in Afghanistan lives in Kabul, one of the most dangerous places any American can be an agent. On the other hand, Valerie Plame was living in the United States. In other words, our administration made the CIA chief in Afghanistan a target---including his family. Once again, another act of hyper-incompetence by the "dudes" in this administration.

Postscript: Breaking news today:  Bergdahl to be charged with desertion. In addition, it is believed several of the Taliban released have returned to the battlefield.
*Two of those released are wanted for possible war crimes. One was directly associated with Osama bin Laden.