Obama defends Bergdahl prisoner swap, but admits it's 'absolutely' a risk
4 June 2014, 10:47 -- President Obama, in his first public comments on the controversial trade of five Taliban prisoners for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl since the deal was announced, acknowledged Tuesday there's 'absolutely' a risk that the former Guantanamo inmates will try to return to the battlefield - but nevertheless defended the deal as in America's interest. The five hardened terrorists sprung from Guantanamo Bay for suspected deserter Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's return could rejoin the jihad on America, the President conceded in defending his decision.
'Is there a possibility of some of them trying to return to activities that are detrimental to us? Absolutely,' Obama told a news conference in Warsaw.
'That's been true of all the prisoners that were released from Guantanamo. There's a certain recidivism rate that takes place.'
The unidentified official told Reuters that the Taliban leaders had already moved into a residential compound in the capital, Doha, and could 'move around freely' within the nation. The source said the terrorists will not be treated like prisoners and US officials will not be allowed to monitor them.
Administration officials note that Obama attached a notice when he signed the current defense policy law calling the restrictions unconstitutional and reserving the right to bypass the notification requirement if there was a national security interest.
The administration has said the exchange that led to Bergdahl's freedom was expedited due to fears his life was in jeopardy, though the administration had notified Congress that an exchange was a possibility.
Rep. Buck McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, was angered by the Bergdahl swap and appears to have stiffened his opposition.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, McKeon said despite Obama's plan to close Guantanamo, 'Congress has passed a law and he has signed a law that he will not close Guantanamo. Whatever his desires are, that does not conform to the law and he is the chief administrator of the law of the nation and should uphold his constitutional obligation to follow the law.'
The president also responded Tuesday to concerns about Bergdahl's conduct, and questions over whether he had effectively deserted when he walked off his post in 2009, only to be captured by the Taliban.
Obama said they saw an opportunity to bring Bergdahl back and seized it, and that the US government will bring a soldier back regardless of circumstances.
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