I don’t want to say the Bowe Bergdahl/Taliban tradeoff is spiraling out of control by the hour, because that should be self-evident to anybody who’s paying attention.
First, take a look at the opening paragraph of this NYT story by Eric Schmitt, Helene Cooper, and Charlie Savage:
Sometime after midnight on June 30, 2009, Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl left behind a note in his tent saying he had become disillusioned with the Army, did not support the American mission in Afghanistan and was leaving to start a new life. He slipped off the remote military outpost in Paktika Province on the border with Pakistan and took with him a soft backpack, water, knives, a notebook and writing materials, but left behind his body armor and weapons — startling, given the hostile environment around his outpost.
Then look at the headline:
Bowe Bergdahl’s Vanishing Before Capture Angered His Unit
Is that really the story here? Why wouldn’t they be angry that Bergdahl defected from the United States? But it’s the NYT, so they have to deliver the bad news for their side with as bland a headline as possible. The only thing missing is “Republicans say.”
This guy hates America. He renounced his country and deserted his post. Now it’s looking like he may have collaborated with the enemy. Hey, let’s give him a hero’s welcome.
Bergdahl, that is.
Obama is in Poland right now. Isn’t there anybody over there we can trade him for?
Update: No takebacks, Barry.
Bergdahl's team leader: Intercepted radio chatter said he sought talks with Taliban http://t.co/E8rD4OtBjz #TheLead right now
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 3, 2014
Update: What’s that? This whole thing isn’t stupid and insane enough for you already? Good news, then.
Senate Majority leader Reid on Bergdahl prisoner swap/release of Gitmo prisoners: "I'm glad to get rid of these five people."
— Kara Rowland (@kararowland) June 3, 2014