Obama sees exchange of prisoners an opportunity for Afghanistan

The release of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. soldier swapped for Taliban prisoners on Saturday after five years of captivity between Afghanistan and Pakistan is too full of contrasts, and its consequences seem too uncertain to be celebrated in the United States.

There have been no jingoistic expressions after Bergdahl exchange for five Taliban prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. In Washington begin to hear criticism for an operation as leading voices in the Republican Party, could compromise national security and the law infringed upon to report to Congress thirty days in advance of any transfer from Guantanamo.

Facilitates the exchange of prisoners, while a broader dialogue with the Taliban to end more than a decade of war. Contacts with the group housed Osama bin Laden before the attacks of 2001 lasted more than three years and had the mediation of Qatar. They can be a prelude to an agreement allowing the orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan seeking U.S. President, Barack Obama.

“Throughout North Africa, Al Qaeda raises money with bailouts. We’ve Now put a price ” complained Sunday Republican Mike Rogers, chairman of the intelligence committee of the House of Representatives.

“Regardless of who retains an American prisoner of war, we must do everything possible to retrieve or recover,” said the national security adviser at the White House, Susan Rice, in the same chain. The Obama Administration denies that Bergdahl was a hostage more: it is a prisoner of war.

The release of Bergdahl, 28, reveals more than any speech or Democrat Obama official strategy paper on the reality of what his predecessor, Republican George W. Bush called war on terror.

A few hours later, Obama appeared before reporters in Washington by Robert and Jani Bergdahl, released soldier ‘s parents. The words of welcome Robert Bergdahl spoke in Arabic (“in the name of God the merciful, the compassionate “) and Pashto sounded like a rare moment of authenticity in a place, the White House, where the gaps are more frequent and speech prefabricated posts. The father explained that the child has difficulty speaking English.

The meeting near the border with Pakistan – tense but peaceful, and evidence of an American soldier who has forgotten English and partially assimilated into the culture of the captors project a nuanced portrait in a war that began as a story in black and white, good and bad. But the heroes here are multidimensional figures away from the simplifications of propaganda, then enemies have now legitimized as partners in a negotiation, and end a war – a war without victory, forcing the U.S. government to take lesser evils.

Bergdahl ‘s release ” could open the door to broader discussions among Afghans about the future of their country, boosting confidence that it is possible to find common ground between all parties,” Obama said in a statement. Saturday swap drives not automatically dialogue but creates the conditions for progress.

Obama announced his plan to withdraw last week. The combat mission ends at the end of 2014. U.S. wants to leave 10,000 troops in the Central Asian country in 2015 dedicated to train Afghan forces and participate in counterterrorism operations. The approval of the winner in the second round of the Afghan presidential, 14 – June – pending plan provides complete withdrawal by the end of 2016.

A stable Afghanistan as possible is needed for withdrawal can take place on time. U.S. does not want to return because Al Qaeda, now weakened in this country has become, not because war between factions has intensified. To avoid this, the contribution of the Taliban is crucial.

Attempts to negotiate a deal with the Taliban have been parallel with the negotiations for the release of Bergdahl, from initial contact to the end of 2010. In 2012 contacts were suspended and resumed briefly in the summer of 2013, when the Taliban opened an office in Doha, Qatar ‘s capital. The dispute with the Afghan government of Hamid Karzai diplomatic status by the Taliban sought to give this office aborted dialogue.

A few months later, the Taliban did know that they were willing to negotiate the release of Sgt Bergdahl, but only through the mediation of a third party. The final place in Doha negotiations. Obama on Tuesday finalized the details of the exchange – including the condition that the Taliban can not leave Qatar within the next year – with a telephone conversation with Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Thani.

In an interview with NBC from Afghanistan, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, gave credit for the operation to Qatar. Hagel said since negotiations broke down in 2012 the U.S. has had no formal contact with the Taliban: the only case in the past to organize the delivery of Bergdahl.

“Perhaps this is an opportunity that can produce an agreement,” said Hagel.

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Posted by Khalil Khan on Jun 3 2014. Filed under USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.