Republicans say they are outraged with President Obama (although it seems like they live in a permanent state of outrage over the president). This time it's because he successfully negotiated the release of an American soldier who had been a prisoner of Afghan militants for the last five years (Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl).Why are the Republicans so outraged? They claim that the president negotiated with "terrorists" -- and illegally released prisoners from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Sgt. Bergdahl.
Their outrage is ridiculous. First, because it was no secret to begin with. Congress was notified that the talks were going on before any agreement was released. Why are they just now expressing their outrage. Could it be that they didn't really oppose the negotiations, but just wanted to get some barbs in at the president?
As for prisoners being released from Guantanamo, I would just ask why they weren't all released. Both of the last two administrations have admitted that for most (if not all) of the detainees in Guantanamo, we have no evidence that they have committed any crime or taken action against this country in any way. They are there because someone in their native country made claims (which can't be proven) and turned them in for a cash reward. For all we know, they are there just because of someone's greed or hard feelings that have nothing to do with the war (or terrorism).
In short, we shouldn't even be keeping those detainees in Guantanamo. If there is evidence against them, then they should be charged and tried in a court of law -- and if there isn't, then they should never have been detained (and should be immediately released).
And finally, where was the Republican outrage when their own right-wing icon, Ronald Reagan, not only negotiated with Iranian terrorists but sent them weapons in exchange for the release of Americans. Isn't sending weapons to an enemy a lot more dangerous than the release of five people we have no evidence ever did anything?
But we all know the reason for the GOP outrage -- and it has nothing to do with negotiating with terrorists or releasing prisoners from Guantanamo. It's because they simply can't stand the idea of an African-American being president.
(The image of the GOP elephant above is by DonkeyHotey.)
