CIAO DATE: 07/2014
June 2014
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The exchange of five Taliban detainees in Guantanamo Bay for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was a Taliban prisoner for more than five years, has drawn the ire of many Republicans. While Bergdahl may not have been the perfect soldier, Republican critiques miss a fundamental point—the military leaves no American behind. In this memo, we provide a framework for discussing the issue and offer responses to many of the misguided attacks being put forward by opponents of the deal that brought an American soldier home.
Resource link: Understanding the Bergdahl Prisoner Exchange [PDF] - 197K