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Freed U.S. soldier’s father and Taliban praise Allah for prisoner exchange

Jun 1, 2014 12:46 pm By Robert Spencer

obama-bergdahl-011There needs to be a complete investigation into whether Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl actually was captured, or walked away from his unit to join the Taliban, as some of his fellow soldiers have asserted. But in today’s political climate, these is exceedingly unlikely — it might be “Islamophobic.”

“Obama Submits To Taliban Demands, Allows Praise For Allah,” by Neil Munro, Daily Caller, June 1, 2014 (thanks to Darcy):

President Barack Obama apparently traded five jailed jihadis held in Guantanamo for one American soldier, despite federal law, which requires Congress to be notified before prisoners are transferred.

Obama used a Rose Garden press event to tout the surprise trade — which he won by making critical, last-minute concessions — while the parents of the freed soldier, Bowe Bergdahl, stood alongside.

At the end of brief event, the soldier’s father, Bob Bergdahl, recited the most frequent phrase in the Koran — “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” —which means “In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate.”

After Bergdahl finished his statement and his praise for Allah, Obama hugged him.

The Taliban echoed Bergdahl, saying the trade happened “due to the benevolence of Allah Almighty and the sacrifices of the heroic and courageous Mujahidin of the Islamic Emirate.”…

The five jihadis released by Obama are senior leaders of the Taliban. One is the former head of the Taliban’s army.

They were released by Obama from the secure Guantanamo prison to the custody of the United Arab Emirates.

White House officials acknowledged that the sudden trade violated a federal law requiring a 30-day notice to Congress before prisoners are transferred.

“The administration determined that given these unique and exigent circumstances, such a transfer should go forward notwithstanding the notice requirement,” officials told media outlets.

GOP leaders of the House and Senate armed services committees criticized the trade.

“In executing this transfer, the President also clearly violated laws which require him to notify Congress thirty days before any transfer of terrorists from Guantanamo Bay and to explain how the threat posed by such terrorists has been substantially mitigated,” said the statement from California Rep. Buck McKeon, and Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe.

“America has maintained a prohibition on negotiating with terrorists for good reason,” they said.

“Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Berghdal’s release may have consequences… Our terrorist adversaries now have a strong incentive to capture Americans [which] will put our forces in Afghanistan and around the world at even greater risk,” said the statement.

During recent negotiations, Obama agreed to exclude the Afghan government from the negotiations, and to drop a U.S. condition that the prisoners be released over a period of time, officials told reporters.

Since his son was captured in 2009, Bergdahl has conducted his own outreach to the captors, who are an ally of the Taliban, the Haqqani tribal group. He has also included Islamic phrases in his videos, such as “As-salamu alaykum” which is a religious greeting exchanged between observant Muslims.

Although Bergdahl quoted the Quran verse, the White House transcript did not translate it or even include the Islamic prayer.

Instead, the transcript simply said Bergdahl spoke in the Pasho language, which is the language of the Pushtun tribe, which forms the vast majority of the Taliban force. In fact, “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” is Arabic…..

Read the rest here.

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Filed Under: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Taliban Tagged With: featured


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Comments

  1. Peter Buckley says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    On this “prisoner exchange”, what’s to stop the military from sewing discreet microscopic “bugs” into the lining of the clothes these prisoners wear, so that they can be traced after release. Then in, say, a month’s time, a plane can conveniently fly over where they are, and drop one.

    Has nobody thought of this, or is it against the Geneva convention or something? This is far better than dropping ’em on peasants in the wilds of Afghanistan.

    • JKG says

      Jun 1, 2014 at 10:13 pm

      Are you really thinking these prisoners will he wearing the sane clothes in a moth or so? Although the us military does have a gps spray that will last a certain period and is undetectable. Or the possibility of the skin imbedded microchip. But clothes? Doubtful.

      • Peter Buckley says

        Jun 2, 2014 at 3:32 am

        OK. Make it a week. Also they don’t have to be necessarily wearing them…….

      • David Hollaz says

        Jun 2, 2014 at 9:17 am

        Yeah. Below the skin. Wrap it in bacon.

  2. PRCS says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    How many reporters there even knew what Robert Bergdahl said.

    I caught how well, and how sincere he sounded doing that during the press conference.

    And Neil Munro is correct. The Bismallah IS Arabic, not Pashto.

    I read somewhere that Sgt. Bergdahl had sent his uniforms home.

    More than meets the eye here, I think.

    • jihad3tracker says

      Jun 1, 2014 at 1:24 pm

      Hello PRCS — Yes, HUGE THX for mentioning Neil Munro.

      He is a superb reporter. An email to him (at the Daily Caller) from some of you Jihadwatch readers here would certainly be appreciated.

      Our all-too-few counter-jihad allies in the press need a pat on the back from time to time. I have already sent my praise to him…..

      The ENTIRE backstory on this — as we are already beginning to see — will be devastating… one more wake-up to our sleeping clueless fellow Americans of BOTH parties.

  3. weavo2 says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    “Bob Bergdahl, recited the most frequent phrase in the Koran — “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” —which means “In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate.”

    Sure would hate to have this idiot for a father. What a dunce…

    No doubt an ardent supporter of CAIR…

    • Jay Boo says

      Jun 1, 2014 at 2:23 pm

      The father could have just as easily said
      “In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate.”
      But that might have prompted the PC news media to actually do their jobs.

    • Jade says

      Jun 2, 2014 at 3:38 pm

      What a shame they didn’t leave him there.

  4. duh_swami says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    None of this passes the smell test, but most things Rasool is involved with don’t.

    • Jay Boo says

      Jun 1, 2014 at 2:17 pm

      The news media are scampering about in a desperate search for places to duck their heads in the sand.

  5. voegelinian says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    This is numbingly shocking.

  6. wildjew says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    OT: I am wondering (dreading to know whether) there is any truth to this story:

    Benghazi Select Committee Staff Director Lobbyist for Muslim Brotherhood-linked Org
    Posted on June 1, 2014 by creeping sharia

    via Republican Party works with Muslim Brotherhood Lobbyist to Investigate Benghazi | Walid Shoebat

  7. Sara B says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    One wonders if the Marine who is being held in a Mexican cartel prison because of a wrong turn at the border would be better off by renouncing his
    Christian faith and becoming a muslim to get obama’s attention so the phone call can be made for his release.

  8. Jeanne says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    Take a look at this from Allen West:

    http://clashdaily.com/2014/06/shocker-pow-bergdahls-fathers-deleted-tweet-smoking-gun/#CeifwCrVDuYsEJDX.99

  9. Dan says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    Big Fckn deal.

    The entire series of wars designed by the Neo cons simply created more “refugee” conditions for moderate Muslims to colonize Europe.

    Who gives a crap about a prisoner exchange in the face of refugee resettlement that is actually changing demographics in Europe and America.

    • Quotha Raven says

      Jun 2, 2014 at 11:41 am

      Dan – You’re spot on, pissed off and realistic. Mark Steyn wrote a whole, terrifying book about these alarming demographics. Can’t recall title. Worth reading.

  10. Wellington says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    So, is it definite that this American soldier is a convert to Islam? This is crucial. Appreciate any solid information here.

    • CogitoErgoSum says

      Jun 1, 2014 at 7:43 pm

      I’m not sure what to make of this Bergdahl. Apparently he was allowed to celebrate Christmas and Easter during his time in captivity. So, at some point in his life he must have been a Christian…but did he convert (or revert as the Muslims would call it)? Many mysteries and unanswered questions at this point. It may be a while before we know the whole story…..if we ever do.
      Here’s a link to more information:

      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10868955/Bowe-Bergdahl-played-badminton-with-his-Taliban-captors.html

    • Jack Diamond says

      Jun 2, 2014 at 12:38 am

      I don’t think there’s anything definite if he is a convert or not, it does seem clear he is a deserter and quite possibly a traitor who helped the enemy. It is certain that American soldiers were killed trying to “rescue” him and those deaths are on his head. This is the account going around from someone in his unit about what actually happened, damning if true:

      Dan Witmer “We were at OP Mest, Paktika Province, Afghanistan. It was a small outpost where B Co 1-501st INF (Airbone) ran operations out of, just an Infantry platoon and ANA counterparts there. The place was an Afghan
      graveyard. Bergdahl had been acting a little strange, telling people he
      wanted to “walk the earth” and kept a little journal talking about how
      he was meant for better things. No one thought anything about it. He was
      a little “out there”. Next morning he’s gone. We search everywhere, and
      can’t find him. He left his weapon, his kit, and other sensitive items.
      He only took some water, a compass and a knife. We find some afghan
      kids shortly after who saw an american walking north asking about where
      the taliban are. We get hits on our voice intercepter that Taliban has
      him, and we were close. We come to realize the kid deserted his post,
      snuck out of camp and sought out Taliban… to join them. We were in a
      defensive position at OP Mest, where your focus is to keep people out.
      He knew where the blind spots were to slip out and that’s what he did.
      It was supposed to be a 4-day mission but turned into several months of
      active searching. Everyone was spun up to find this guy. News outlets
      all over the country were putting out false information. It was hard to
      see, especially when we knew the truth about what happened and we lost
      good men trying to find him. PFC Matthew Michael Martinek, Staff Sgt.
      Kurt Robert Curtiss, SSG Clayton Bowen, PFC Morris Walker, SSG Michael
      Murphrey, 2LT Darryn Andrews, were all KIA from our unit who died
      looking for Bergdahl. Many others from various units were wounded or
      killed while actively looking for Bergdahl. Fighting Increased. IEDs and
      enemy ambushes increased. The Taliban knew that we were looking for him in high numbers and our movements were predictable. Because of
      Bergdahl, more men were out in danger, and more attacks on friendly
      camps and positions were conducted while we were out looking for him.
      His actions impacted the region more than anyone wants to admit. There
      is also no way to know what he told the Taliban: Our movements,
      locations, tactics, weak points on vehicles and other things for the
      enemy to exploit are just a few possibilities. The Government knows full
      well that he deserted. It looks bad and is a good propaganda piece for
      the Taliban. They refuse to acknowledge it. Hell they even promoted him
      to Sergeant which makes me sick. I feel for his family who only want
      their son/brother back. They don’t know the truth, or refuse to
      acknowledge it as well. What he did affected his family and his whole
      town back home, who don’t know the truth. Either way what matters is
      that good men died because of him. He has been lying on all those
      Taliban videos about everything since his “capture”. If he ever returns,
      he should be tried under the UCMJ for being a deserter and judged for
      what he did. Bergdahl is not a hero, he is not a soldier or an
      Infantryman. He failed his brothers. Now, sons and daughters are growing
      up without their fathers who died for him and he will have to face that
      truth someday.”
      http://clashdaily.com/2014/06/shocker-pow-bergdahls-fathers-deleted-tweet-smoking-gun/#CeifwCrVDuYsEJDX.99

  11. bicky says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    This soldier of ” allah ” will soon CAIR and start intimidating all kuffars,
    Imam Obama has pulled a ” quickie “

  12. gravenimage says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 12:19 am

    Freed U.S. soldier’s father and Taliban praise Allah for prisoner exchange

    There needs to be a complete investigation into whether Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl actually was captured, or walked away from his unit to join the Taliban, as some of his fellow soldiers have asserted. But in today’s political climate, these is exceedingly unlikely — it might be “Islamophobic.”
    ……………………………………

    I had thought that the main claims that Bergdahl joined the Taliban came from the Taliban itself—which I was largely ready to discount. I hadn’t realized that some of his fellow soldiers asserted the same thing—I’d put a lot more weight on what they had to say.

    More:

    President Barack Obama apparently traded five jailed jihadis held in Guantanamo for one American soldier, despite federal law, which requires Congress to be notified before prisoners are transferred.
    ……………………………………

    I was disturbed by this prisoner exchange and the troubling precedent it sets—what I *hadn’t* known was that this was done behind Congress’s back. *Very disturbing*.

    More:

    At the end of brief event, the soldier’s father, Bob Bergdahl, recited the most frequent phrase in the Koran — “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” —which means “In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate.”
    ……………………………………

    WTF?? I knew his father was an idiot—but this?

    And here’s a Tweet he sent out—this story is covered by the stalwart Allen West:

    @ABalkhi I am still working to free all Guantanimo prisoners. God will repay for the death of every Afghan child, ameen!

    http://allenbwest.com/2014/06/bergdahls-fathers-deleted-tweet-smoking-gun/

    This certainly sounds like Robert Bergdahl has “reverted”—and joined the Jihad.

    More:

    After Bergdahl finished his statement and his praise for Allah, Obama hugged him.
    ……………………………………

    Sounds like Obama is fine with this, as well.

    Good to see there are some members of Congress who aren’t so sanguine…

  13. bicky says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 3:37 am

    It is a masterstroke by Imam Obama, 5 jihadis to make mayhem outside and one jihadi to ” weaken the wretched house from within “.

    Please Americans, come to your senses, god bless America and the civilized world

  14. Jerry says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 5:04 am

    Bismil Allah Rahmani Rahim –

    In the name of God, the Merciful and Forgiving
    The death worshippers make war on all living.

    Islam is a fake religion, invented by as recruitment
    propaganda by a Desert Plundering Warlord.

    The falshood starts with the above proclamation
    which, as an excuse for all Islamic false propaganda
    purports to imply that all atrocities committed
    by Muslims in the name of Allah and Islam were
    actually commanded, snactioned or authorised
    by God.

    The improbability of such assertions is clear.

    Why would an almighty creator of all life
    take the trouble to create diveristy, and then
    abdicate by bestowing the decision as to who is
    to live and who is to be killed in his name upon
    fallible men, many uneducated and un-intelligent
    instead of relying on his own omniscient wisdom?

    If properly analysed, Islam can be demonstrated
    to be founded on Blasphemy upon Blasphemy.

    In Islam, the wisdom of God has allegedly been
    revealed to Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel.

    If that is true, either God or Gabriel must have
    been as confused, contradictory and irrational
    as Mohammed.

    Even if you sincerely believe that Mohammed was
    indeed the Messanger of God for the delivery of
    a certain message or messages, you must
    inevitably concede that if God is the repository
    of all knowledge and understanding, whatever
    message Mohammed ultimately delivered
    must have been delivered through the instument
    of a fallible man.

    Long before the birth of Mohammed, there
    existed the legend about Balaam and his Ass.
    According to the legend, for the purpose of
    delivering the message the ass was enabled
    to speak in a human voice and language.

    But once the message was delivered and the
    ass has stopped braying did the ass become
    a supernaturally holy ass?

    The probaility is that the ass remained
    just an ass.

    Similarly, after all, Mohammed remained
    just a Plundering, Murdering and Raping
    Desert Warlord, and a paedophile as well.

    The ass remained an ass.

    Mohammed remained Mohammed.

  15. Bezelel says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 8:24 am

    Not exactly Pvt. Ryan

  16. bill says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 10:25 am

    In 2012 Qutar was ranked 27th on the corruption index, better than Saudi at 66th I know but still not people who are very trustworthy. BTW that is public corruption who can guess privare is worse!
    I believe at least one third of people released from Gmo have returned to jihad activity, and these 5 are the hard core. I think this will come back to bite the hand that fed(released) them

  17. Paleologos says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    THE ONLY WAY THIS DEAL WORKS FOR ME IS IF WE HAD THROWN IN THIS BUCK-TOOTHED, ANTI-SEMITE PEANUT FARMER INTO THE DEAL WITH THE EXPRESS STIPULATION THAT HE NEVER COMES BACK! (THE MORON ON THE LEFT)

    http://dancingczars.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/images-41.jpg?w=500

    The moron on the right I would so have loved to take care of in a “personal” way, being the New York born, German Catholic boy I am (never turn a cheek to a muslim who is so close you can punch him in the head). 🙂

    R/

    Paleologos

  18. Steve says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    For the poster asking why God of the Bible and Allah cannot be one and the same: According to Islam, Muhammad’s first revelation was the event in which Muhammad was visited by the Arch-angel Gabriel who revealed to him a verse from the Quran. The event took place in a cave called Hira, located on the mountain called Jabal an-Nour, near Mecca. In this Quran, Jesus, the Christ, is disputed and he is depicted as merely a prophet. It also denies that he died on the cross which is the foundation of God’s salvation plan.
    In the Bible Paul wrote: “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:7-9)

  19. Cindy says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    This damn president does not know what he is doing?? He is putting our military in such great danger, even more than before!!! This administration does now it’s ass from a hole in the ground and I’m so sick of this dumb ass playing president. He is NOT equipped to do it!!!!! So we need to get him out RIGHT NOW!!!!!! Now he is killing Americans in the war. Well, I take that back he has been doing that since Benghazi!!!!! He just needs to get out!!!!!

  20. mark says

    Jun 2, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    Even if these Muslims kill innocent Americans later, Obama will get away with it.

    • Quotha Raven says

      Jun 3, 2014 at 12:49 pm

      Maybe part of the agreement reached after 5 years of those oh-so-secret negotiations w/ Taliban was a promise that these baddies wouldn’t kill Americans until Obama is safely out of office, when he’ll be virtually unassailable.

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