AP Exclusive : Taliban Offer To Free US Soldier

[octoberlib]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — The Afghan Taliban say they are ready to hand over a U.S. soldier held captive since 2009 in exchange for five of their senior operatives being held at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

A Taliban spokesman, Shaheen Suhail, says U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl "is as far as I know in good condition."

Suhail spoke in an exclusive telephone interview with The Associated Press from the newly opened Taliban offices in Doha, Qatar.

Bergdahl disappeared in eastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009.
Shaheen says "first has to be the release of detainees," and after that, the Taliban "want to build bridges of confidence."
He offered no details on Bergdahl's current whereabouts.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-exclusive-taliban-offer-free-us-soldier

[magellan]

1. Kick -- I'm interested to hear views on this

Because if I were the President, I sure wouldn't know how to handle this one.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Damned if he does : damned if he doesn't

Will probably be the same old line - we don't deal with terrorists.

[magellan]

3. Yes, devil and the deep blue sea

I'd be tempted to make the deal. That soldier's family must be heartsick over this new twist.

Fortunately I'm not in Obama's shoes.

[octoberlib]

4. We're supposed to have talks with the Taliban

in the next few days. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

[dipsydoodle]

8. They've been cancelled

.

[Recursion]

7. Only seven of the dozens of Taliban organizations are officially listed as terrorists

As long as they aren't from one of those seven groups, there's no policy issue in talking with them. They are recognized combatants, and the US has negotiated for the release of POWs in the past.

[Marrah_G]

5. President can't release them

His best bet is to try an locate where he is being held and send a team to go get him.

[Recursion]

6. This isn't a vacuum; Obama and Kerry are making noises about negotiating with the Taliban

This is one of the responses to that.