US SOLDIER OR MILITARY DESERTER?

Submitted by ub on

A prisoner exchange is a deal between opposing sides in a conflict to release individuals. But since USA does not deal with terrorists, there's now lots of talk about this soldier being a military deserter.

Immediately following the release of the last U.S. prisoner of war in Afghanistan, a national debate in heating up on whether the deal to free 28 year old Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was missing since 2009.

His welcome home celebration has now been cancelled, while the military determines if charges will be filed against Bergdahl.

Was this a dangerous concession to Taliban terrorists, or a necessary move that will aid the violence-wracked country’s long-term stability? The people City Island Images spoke to along the avenue seem to agree that President Obama made serious a mistake. The release raised concerns among Republican lawmakers that it would encourage the kidnapping of more Americans abroad.

The administration defended itself against accusations that it made concessions to terrorists and failed to give Congress enough notice of its initiative to secure the release of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban.

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to U.S. special forces in Afghanistan this weekend in a lob-sided swap for five Taliban leaders who were released from Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and flown to Qatar.

The individuals released were reportedly Afghanistan’s deputy defense minister under the Taliban along with others who helped people involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Bowe Bergdahl: Vets Accuse Soldier of Walking Away - ABC News http://abcn.ws/1kyAMEu via @ABC

Critics and defenders of Bowe Bergdahl swap continue chiming in http://www.cbsnews.com/news/critics-and-defenders-of-bowe-bergdahl-swap… via @cbsnews

Officials in Bergdahl's Hometown: Stop the Hate http://nbcnews.to/1pQ0jsY via @NBCNews