You Can See Why the Taliban Was Confused

Deep down in today’s Wall Street Journal front-page story about the negotiations for Bowe Bergdahl’s release is this ironic gem:

As talks were getting under way in 2011, the U.S. negotiating team struggled to explain to the Taliban why Mr. Obama was unable to unilaterally release the Taliban detainees. They would say things like, “What are you talking about? He’s the president,” according to a former U.S. official close to the talks.

In the spring of 2011, the U.S. negotiating team provided the Taliban with copies of legislation restricting the president’s ability to release detainees unless the administration could certify to Congress 30 days before any transfer that possible dangers have been mitigated.

“They thought we were tricking them,” said a former official.

The Taliban negotiating team seemed particularly confused by the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

Well that would just make these Taliban negotiators perfect appointees for the Obama Administration wouldn’t it, since the Obama Administration is itself deeply  “confused” about the separation of powers?  I’m guessing the Taliban were only reading the American press on this point, or perhaps took an online course in modern American government from the University of Michigan or somewhere.

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