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Senators Show Frustration After Briefing on Ex-P.O.W. Senators Show Frustration After Briefing on Ex-P.O.W.
(2 days later)
WASHINGTON — White House officials failed Wednesday night to quell rising anger and frustration in both parties on Capitol Hill after a senators-only classified briefing about President Obama’s decision to free five Taliban prisoners in return for the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who military officials say walked off his base in Afghanistan five years ago.WASHINGTON — White House officials failed Wednesday night to quell rising anger and frustration in both parties on Capitol Hill after a senators-only classified briefing about President Obama’s decision to free five Taliban prisoners in return for the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who military officials say walked off his base in Afghanistan five years ago.
Senior defense, diplomatic and intelligence officials showed lawmakers a 90-second, classified video of Mr. Bergdahl in January that officials said raised alarms about his health and spurred action, according to several members who attended. The video showed Mr. Bergdahl distraught, incoherent and in overall very poor shape, according to the descriptions of several senators.Senior defense, diplomatic and intelligence officials showed lawmakers a 90-second, classified video of Mr. Bergdahl in January that officials said raised alarms about his health and spurred action, according to several members who attended. The video showed Mr. Bergdahl distraught, incoherent and in overall very poor shape, according to the descriptions of several senators.
But Republican and Democratic senators emerged from the secure basement room in the Capitol Visitor Center saying that officials did not provide further evidence that Sergeant Bergdahl’s health had deteriorated recently or that his life was in immediate danger. Deeply skeptical lawmakers insisted that the exchange of the Taliban prisoners for Sergeant Bergdahl put American lives at risk.But Republican and Democratic senators emerged from the secure basement room in the Capitol Visitor Center saying that officials did not provide further evidence that Sergeant Bergdahl’s health had deteriorated recently or that his life was in immediate danger. Deeply skeptical lawmakers insisted that the exchange of the Taliban prisoners for Sergeant Bergdahl put American lives at risk.
Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, exited the briefing visibly angry and said he left with more questions than answers. “I think we can all agree we’re not dealing with a war hero here,” he said.Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, exited the briefing visibly angry and said he left with more questions than answers. “I think we can all agree we’re not dealing with a war hero here,” he said.
Senator Kelly Ayotte, Republican of New Hampshire, said she remained concerned about what she called the five “high risk” detainees. “I’m not satisfied with their ability to prevent them from re-engaging in the fight,” she said. “I think that is one of the things that worries me most.”Senator Kelly Ayotte, Republican of New Hampshire, said she remained concerned about what she called the five “high risk” detainees. “I’m not satisfied with their ability to prevent them from re-engaging in the fight,” she said. “I think that is one of the things that worries me most.”
Senator Mark S. Kirk, Republican of Illinois, said senators pressed the briefers — top officials from the Pentagon, the State Department, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Joint Chiefs of Staff — on whether Mr. Bergdahl deserted in 2009. But the senator said they gave no answer.Senator Mark S. Kirk, Republican of Illinois, said senators pressed the briefers — top officials from the Pentagon, the State Department, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Joint Chiefs of Staff — on whether Mr. Bergdahl deserted in 2009. But the senator said they gave no answer.
“They ducked it,” he said, characterizing the response as, “We’re looking into that.”“They ducked it,” he said, characterizing the response as, “We’re looking into that.”
The secret session, in which senators had to surrender their cellphones at the door, ended a day that started with the Taliban release of a video showing Sergeant Bergdahl’s handover to American commandos in a Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan — a sight that mesmerized officials in Washington — and continued with the abrupt cancellation of a June 28 welcome-home celebration for Sergeant Bergdahl in Hailey, Idaho. Local officials cited concerns that vast numbers of supporters and protesters could overwhelm the town, population 8,000.The secret session, in which senators had to surrender their cellphones at the door, ended a day that started with the Taliban release of a video showing Sergeant Bergdahl’s handover to American commandos in a Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan — a sight that mesmerized officials in Washington — and continued with the abrupt cancellation of a June 28 welcome-home celebration for Sergeant Bergdahl in Hailey, Idaho. Local officials cited concerns that vast numbers of supporters and protesters could overwhelm the town, population 8,000.
Elaine Weinstein, the wife of a 72-year-old American who is being held hostage by Al Qaeda in Pakistan expressed anger and frustration on Wednesday that her husband, Warren Weinstein, was not included in the deal that led to Mr. Bergdahl’s being released. Mr. Weinstein, a development consultant, was abducted in 2011 from his house in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore by armed men. “Five prisoners for one hostage is not a very good deal when there are other hostages out there,” Ms. Weinstein said. “Every American deserves the same treatment.”Elaine Weinstein, the wife of a 72-year-old American who is being held hostage by Al Qaeda in Pakistan expressed anger and frustration on Wednesday that her husband, Warren Weinstein, was not included in the deal that led to Mr. Bergdahl’s being released. Mr. Weinstein, a development consultant, was abducted in 2011 from his house in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore by armed men. “Five prisoners for one hostage is not a very good deal when there are other hostages out there,” Ms. Weinstein said. “Every American deserves the same treatment.”
By Wednesday evening on Capitol Hill, the officials had briefed lawmakers for more than an hour in an attempt to ease security fears and to assert the president’s right under the law to pursue the return of the last remaining prisoner of war in Afghanistan. Lawmakers heard from James F. Dobbins, a State Department specialist on Afghanistan and Pakistan; Robert O. Work, the deputy secretary of defense; Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Robert Cardillo, the deputy director of national intelligence.By Wednesday evening on Capitol Hill, the officials had briefed lawmakers for more than an hour in an attempt to ease security fears and to assert the president’s right under the law to pursue the return of the last remaining prisoner of war in Afghanistan. Lawmakers heard from James F. Dobbins, a State Department specialist on Afghanistan and Pakistan; Robert O. Work, the deputy secretary of defense; Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Robert Cardillo, the deputy director of national intelligence.
White House officials said Mr. Obama and his aides knew in the days leading up to Sergeant Bergdahl’s release that it would be “controversial and contentious” on Capitol Hill when it was made public. But they said the administration concluded that getting Sergeant Bergdahl released was the right thing to do. And they rejected claims that the freed Taliban prisoners would quickly pose a danger to American security interests.White House officials said Mr. Obama and his aides knew in the days leading up to Sergeant Bergdahl’s release that it would be “controversial and contentious” on Capitol Hill when it was made public. But they said the administration concluded that getting Sergeant Bergdahl released was the right thing to do. And they rejected claims that the freed Taliban prisoners would quickly pose a danger to American security interests.
Some said the White House was too quick to react to the video showing Mr. Bergdahl in distress. “I think it probably had a pretty emotional effect on the president, which is probably what the Taliban intended,” Mr. Kirk said.Some said the White House was too quick to react to the video showing Mr. Bergdahl in distress. “I think it probably had a pretty emotional effect on the president, which is probably what the Taliban intended,” Mr. Kirk said.
Members of Congress who attended the session said officials vigorously defended the operation.Members of Congress who attended the session said officials vigorously defended the operation.
“They expressed concerns for his safety, no question about that,” said Senator John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota, although he added that officials did not say the threat to Sergeant Bergdahl was “imminent.”“They expressed concerns for his safety, no question about that,” said Senator John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota, although he added that officials did not say the threat to Sergeant Bergdahl was “imminent.”
The video released by the Taliban added new intensity to complaints that the swap for Sergeant Bergdahl represented a breach of presidential power that violated the constitutional requirement that he consult with Congress at least 30 days before acting. In the video, released Wednesday morning, Sergeant Bergdahl walks to a waiting chopper, looking relatively healthy. The president’s aides have said they acted swiftly out of concern that the soldier’s health was deteriorating rapidly. The video released by the Taliban added new intensity to complaints that the swap for Sergeant Bergdahl represented a breach of presidential power that violated a legal requirement that he consult with Congress at least 30 days before acting. In the video, released Wednesday morning, Sergeant Bergdahl walks to a waiting chopper, looking relatively healthy. The president’s aides have said they acted swiftly out of concern that the soldier’s health was deteriorating rapidly.
There were growing calls for the White House to release more information that could shed light on its decision. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, the senior Republican on the Intelligence Committee, wrote the president and insisted that he declassify intelligence reports on the five Taliban men released, who were held at the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. “While I have been able to see the intelligence, the American people have not,” Mr. Chambliss wrote, adding that the reports had convinced him that the men should remain in custody. “In order to fully evaluate the validity of this transfer and decide for themselves, the American people should be afforded the opportunity to see as much of this intelligence as possible.”There were growing calls for the White House to release more information that could shed light on its decision. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, the senior Republican on the Intelligence Committee, wrote the president and insisted that he declassify intelligence reports on the five Taliban men released, who were held at the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. “While I have been able to see the intelligence, the American people have not,” Mr. Chambliss wrote, adding that the reports had convinced him that the men should remain in custody. “In order to fully evaluate the validity of this transfer and decide for themselves, the American people should be afforded the opportunity to see as much of this intelligence as possible.”
Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, bluntly accused Republicans on Wednesday of disparaging Sergeant Bergdahl as a deserter for political purposes before all the facts are known. He took to the Senate floor on Wednesday morning and delivered a six-minute denunciation of Republicans, accusing them of hypocrisy as he read from past statements in which several of them had called for the administration to do everything in its power to free the soldier.Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, bluntly accused Republicans on Wednesday of disparaging Sergeant Bergdahl as a deserter for political purposes before all the facts are known. He took to the Senate floor on Wednesday morning and delivered a six-minute denunciation of Republicans, accusing them of hypocrisy as he read from past statements in which several of them had called for the administration to do everything in its power to free the soldier.
“Opponents of President Obama have seized upon the release of an American prisoner of war — that’s what he was — using a moment of celebration as a chance to play political games,” Mr. Reid said, acknowledging that there were still questions that needed to be answered about Sergeant Bergdahl’s conduct.“Opponents of President Obama have seized upon the release of an American prisoner of war — that’s what he was — using a moment of celebration as a chance to play political games,” Mr. Reid said, acknowledging that there were still questions that needed to be answered about Sergeant Bergdahl’s conduct.
“Would any American honestly prefer that a U.S. soldier remain in captivity until all the questions have been answered?” he added. “In the United States we rescue our soldiers first and ask questions later.”“Would any American honestly prefer that a U.S. soldier remain in captivity until all the questions have been answered?” he added. “In the United States we rescue our soldiers first and ask questions later.”
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who arrived Wednesday night in Romania for a visit to an American cruiser in the Black Sea, called Sergeant Bergdahl’s family to pledge the military’s support for their son’s “reintegration and medical care” in the future. Officials described the 10-minute call as “positive.”Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who arrived Wednesday night in Romania for a visit to an American cruiser in the Black Sea, called Sergeant Bergdahl’s family to pledge the military’s support for their son’s “reintegration and medical care” in the future. Officials described the 10-minute call as “positive.”