Letters: Swapping prisoners for Bergdahl
President Barack Obama speaks with Jani Bergdahl, left, and Bob Bergdahl, right, the parents of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Saturday, May 31, 2014, after the announcement that Bowe Bergdahl has been released from captivity. Credit: AP / Carolyn Kaster
I was amazed at your rush to judgment in praising President Barack Obama for making a deal with the Taliban to release Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl ["President's first duty was to bring U.S. POW home," Editorial, June 3].
I thought that our country's policy was to never negotiate with terrorists. Using Qatar as a buffer does not excuse the fact that the five detainees released from Guantánamo are top-ranking Taliban officials.
And there is also the question of whether Bergdahl deserted the Army. If he did, then shame on us for dealing with the devil. I hope the Army investigates to discover the truth of what happened to him.
Mike Semple, Rockville Centre
Releasing five terrorists for one American was a good trade. It will be better for the United States to have the five in charge because we know who they are.
We would not know who their replacements were for some time. They could cause lots of trouble, likely leading to unnecessary American deaths.
Henry Ozga, Oyster Bay
In the op-ed "Jarring new reality in Bergdahl swap" [Opinion, June 8], Charles Krauthammer states that the American people are "asking themselves what kind of man they have twice chosen to lead them."
In sending Americans to fight wars, we expect this country to honor the code that we do not leave anyone behind. I applaud President Barack Obama for obtaining Bergdahl's release, no matter what the inquiry into the circumstances of his capture reveals.
I'm thankful that we have chosen a president who has ended the Iraq War, plans to wind down the war in Afghanistan, refused to involve this country in the civil war in Syria and is trying to negotiate a peaceful settlement to Iran's nuclear program.
Jack Pepitone, West Hempstead
