Source: http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/taliban-hails-prisoner-swap-%E2%80%9Cvictory%E2%80%9D

Content: The U.S. government’s decision to swap five senior Taliban commanders that collaborated with Al-Qaeda for an American soldier (who may have been a deserter) is being heavily criticized for valid reasons. Now, the Taliban is describing it as a “victory” attributable to Allah’s blessing.

“This huge accomplishment brings the glad tidings of liberation of the whole country and reassures us that our aspirations are on the verge of fulfillment,” said Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Omar reiterated his commitment to winning the release of “all those who have been imprisoned for defending the honor and freedom of their country.” We should therefore expect more Americans to be kidnapped, since the prisoner swap has proven the tactic to be fruitful.

A Taliban spokesperson dismissed the idea that the swap would lead to political reconciliation, stating, “It won't help the peace process in any way, because we don't believe in the peace process.”

The five Taliban commanders will move to Qatar and cannot leave for one year. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says Qatar has an arrangement with the U.S. to make sure the commanders don’t pose a threat to the U.S., but this is the same U.S. “ally” that supports the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. The Qatar-based spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradawi, was a key mediator.

These Taliban commanders are fully committed to their cause. It is foolish to believe they won’t re-enlist in the terrorist cause. At the very least, they will work with the Taliban’s political office in Qatar to provide advice and leadership.

The prisoner swap is a tremendous morale boost for the Taliban and its terrorist allies who are eagerly looking for evidence that they are defeating the U.S.

Battlefield victories have a tremendous impact on the Islamist ideology and recruitment. As I explained here, a victory is viewed as an endorsement from Allah. A series of indisputable defeats are viewed as a judgment from Allah.

It goes beyond the normal morale boost any military feels from victory. For Islamists, a defeat for the U.S. becomes proof that Allah intervened on their side and approves of their ideology and methods. It is the ultimate vindication. You can see this in Mullah Omar’s statement about the prisoner swap:

“This huge and vivid triumph requires from all Mujahidin to offer thanks to the Benevolent Creator who accepted the sincere sacrifices of our Mujahid nation and managed the release of these five renowned Mujahidin from the enemy’s clutch,” he said.

The Taliban will argue that it defeated the U.S. no matter what, but the prisoner swap and announced timeline for withdrawal from Afghanistan strengthen the credibility of their narrative. The American media barely covers the progress in Afghanistan and the leadership has done virtually nothing to counter the enemy’s narrative by highlighting the serious gains.

Making matters worse are the indications that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was a deserter. A soldier who served with him says he was anti-American and is “at best a deserter and at worst, a traitor.” Six U.S. soldiers were killed looking for him and many others put their lives on the line during the search.

Bergdahl’s father deleted a tweet to a Taliban spokesman that indicates he has anti-American and pro-Islamist sentiment. Shortly before he went missing, he sent an email stating he is “ashamed to be an American. And the title of US soldier is just a lie for fools.”

“I am sorry for everything. The horror that is America is disgusting,” Bergdahl wrote. His father urged him to take action, replying, “OBEY YOUR CONSCIENCE!”

The next day, he inexplicably walked off-base and was captured. The Pentagon says it still does not know why he did that. A growing number of voices, including some of his fellow servicemen, say he deserted.

Bergdahl’s team leader says that they received a report that Bergdahl was in a dangerous village named Yahyakehl the day he disappeared.

"I was there when it came over the radio that he [Berghahl] was in Yahyakehl attempting to find someone who spoke English so he could speak to the Taliban. It was that quick that we realized that he's trying to reach out to the Taliban somehow,” Sgt. Evan Buetow said.

Following his release, Bergdahl will be investigated for possibly collaborating with the enemy. The Taliban claimed in 2010 that he converted to Islam and was training its fighters. Of course, he may have done this under duress. It was reported that he tried to escape in 2011.

National Security Advisor Susan Rice says Bergdahl served with “honor and distinction.” The Taliban says he left his base drunk. Bergdahl said said in a video after he was captured that he fell behind during a patrol. However, a soldier who served in his unit said there was no patrol at the time.

If it is true that he deserted, then the Taliban will logically ask: If the U.S. was willing to give up five of our commanders for a deserter, then what will the U.S. give up for a loyal soldier or a civilian?

At the end of the day, the damage is done. The prisoner swap can be criticized, but it cannot be reversed. Now, we must limit its damage and undermine the Taliban’s narrative of victory.

The April 5 presidential election was a victory for the U.S. and its Afghan allies. Freelance war correspondent Nolan Peterson tells Clarion bluntly, “The Taliban is not coming back.” The Afghan forces have made tremendous strides, handling 95% of all operations and taking 95% of all casualties.

The Defense Department’s April 2014 report says U.S. casualties “dropped significantly” over the past year and the Afghan forces conduct “virtually all of these operations independently.” The Afghan security forces are at 340,000, about 98% of the way to the goal. Surveys find that the Afghan population is optimistic with where the country is heading and a majority view their military and police favorably.

The Afghan economy has lunged forward since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 with 9-10% GDP growth on average every year. The per capita income increased from $186 in 2002 to $688 in 2012.

The Defense Department reports “a dramatic increase in basic education” since 2002, with 10 times as many children going to school now than in 2001. Access to basic education will be provided to 77% of children nationwide by next year. About 4.7 million of the 11.5 million children going to school are girls.

It isn’t fair to echo the Taliban’s propaganda by decrying the Afghanistan campaign as a failure without taking into account where it was in 2001. Even with all of its problems and backwardness, the country has made significant progress. It’s holding democratic elections, is moving incrementally towards modernity and the main objective of the war—establishing an Afghan government that can secure the country from Islamist terrorists—is being achieved.


The Taliban should not be allowed to paint the U.S. departure as a retreat. With the Taliban using the prisoner swap to claim victory, it is imperative that we highlight what our soldiers and their Afghan allies have accomplished.


Personal thoughts on the matter: Not only had I heard nothing of the gentleman's 'desertion' until after the exchange took place (which may or may not be relevant anymore) but I was under the impression that the US 'did not negotiate with terrorists'. Anyways, I saw this on bbc when it first broke and noticed The Dollars weren't taking much notice - so I contributed. What does everyone else think?

I think we should Crusades 2: The Electric Boogaloo.

It's not that I'm a bigot, it's just that I understand how big of an impact faith can have on a person.
Muslims are dedicated to what they believe and they dislike us on a cultural/spiritual level.

Also, inb4 American soldier is working as a spook for those dirty sand people.

bump