A Bowe Bergdahl Reader

Lots of news articles are out today about the Bergdahl exchange, which boil down to —

Bergdahl did try to escape at least once, and was kept in a cage after he was re-captured. My impression is that his physical health is not too bad, considering, but it appears the captivity messed with his head. It’s still not clearly understood why he left his unit, but it’s possible he just wandered off to wander off.

The guys who were exchanged were not exactly hardened Taliban troops. They are old men, kept at Gitmo for many years. The photographs of them we’ve been seeing are several years old. Even before they were prisoners only one was all that hard core.

And finally, the hypocrisy of wingnuts knows no bounds, and Diane Feinstein is really annoying.

Articles about Bergdahl and his captivity:

[From 2010] America’s Last Prisoner of War

Bergdahl Was in Unit Known for Its Troubles

As Bowe Bergdahl Heals, Details Emerge of His Captivity

Articles about the Gitmo prisoners who were exchanged:

Most of 5 freed Taliban prisoners have less than hard-core pasts

Taliban prisoner swap makes sense

Articles about why Republicans are shameless and Diane Feinstein needs to retire:

The Bergdahl boomerang: GOP lawmakers who long urged a rescue now sour on the idea

Critics of P.O.W. Swap Question the Absence of a Wider Agreement

Commentary by Digby

Commentary by Kevin Drum.

Commentary by Prairie Weather