Senator John McCain knows the risks of military service having been a prisoner of war in the infamous Hanoi Hilton in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. His arm was broken during beatings he suffered and improperly left to mend giving it the appearance of being distorted. However, that is the risk a person takes when they enlist for military service. In an interview with CNN’s Candy Crowley, he explained that alleged US Army deserter Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl took that risk when he enlisted.
When asked about whether he would have supported the prisoner exchange, he said absolutely not. McCain went on to say that the five prisoners released had been examined time and again and determined to be at high risk to reenter the battlefield and put US lives at risk. In addition, they were engaged in acts of terrorism. In fact, McCain said the five men in question were responsible for the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. It is well-known that Osama Bin Laden staged the attacks in Afghanistan where the recently released Jihadists are from.
As per McCain, if we were to send these men anywhere, it should have been to another detaining camp or prison. The maverick senator’s opinion underscores just why the Obama administration failed to obey the law and give House and Senate subcommittee’s 30-days to review and approve of the prisoner exchange.
McCain and others would have voiced their disapproval and rejected the deal Obama negotiated with the Taliban. As it stands, the deal is done and it remains to be seen what damage those five terrorists will inflict.