Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, has asked the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee to hold a hearing on the transfer of five former Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Qatar in exchange for the freedom of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from captivity in Afghanistan.
“While I appreciate an American was released from captivity, this decision by the Obama Administration has serious implications for our future national security,” Mr. Graham wrote to Sens. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, and James Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican.
Mr. Graham called the five detainees “the hardest of the hard-core” and said the United States is now less safe.
“I fear President Obama’s decision will inevitably lead to more Americans being kidnapped and held hostage throughout the world,” he wrote.
Congressional Republicans have objected to the fact that the Obama administration did not give them at least 30 days of notice on the transfers from Guantanamo, as required by law, while administration officials have said they needed to act quickly in order to save Sgt. Bergdahl’s life.
“With President Obama’s announcement of a total withdrawal from Afghanistan by 2016 — basically canceling an insurance policy to protect our homeland — and now releasing five Taliban leaders, it’s safe to say last week was a great week for the Taliban,” Mr. Graham wrote.
PHOTOS: Eye-popping excuses in American political scandals
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.