The Bergdahl Story Gets Complicated for the White House

After a triumphal announcement by President Obama about the release of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, the White House has been playing defense on the story. It turns out that Bergdahl had become disillusioned with the American military operation in Afghanistan and had walked off the base. Some soldiers who served with him call Bergdahl a deserter and say the search for him cost the lives of other troops. The White House has been criticized for “negotiating with terrorists” and releasing high-level Taliban detainees in the prisoner swap. And members of Congress are angry that they were not consulted before the Guantanamo prisoners were released, as the law requires.