Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) on Tuesday argued that the five Taliban prisoners exchanged for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl would not likely return to combat due to their age.
The House is poised to pass a resolution later Tuesday that condemns the Obama administration for failing to give Congress advance notice of the trade of Bergdahl, who was imprisoned by the Taliban, for five Guantánamo Bay detainees. Administrations are required by law to provide Congress with at least 30 days notice before transferring any detainees at Guantánamo Bay.
{mosads}Many members of Congress said after the Bergdahl exchange became public that the prisoners’ release would pose a national security threat.
But Hastings denied that the “Taliban Five” would return to physically fighting in the war. The five former detainees are all in their forties, ranging from 43 to 47.
“Yes, indeed, they were former members of organizations that would do us harm, but they’re not likely to return to the battlefield at their age. If so, then old people like me need to be in the war and we probably wouldn’t have so many in the first place,” Hastings said during preliminary floor debate on the resolution.
Hastings acknowledged, however, that the former prisoners may still be employed by the Taliban.
“Are their minds going to be utilized? That may very well be the case. But I don’t think all five of them put together were worth as much as one American soldier, Bowe Bergdahl,” Hastings said.
Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), an Iraq War veteran, insisted that the freed prisoners would pose a danger to Americans.
“If changing or breaking that law isn’t enough, the president released five of the most dangerous detainees at Guantánamo Bay. These Taliban leaders orchestrated plans to engage in hostilities against Americans and in association with al Qaeda,” Collins said. “By his own admission, there is absolutely the possibility that these detainees would return to the fight.”