Miller renews call for withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan
By Aaron Martin
The Ripon Advance
Thursday, June 5, 2014

Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) renewed her call on Tuesday for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan following news that five terrorism suspects were released in exchange for the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

The Obama administration recently negotiated with the Taliban to release Bergdhal in exchange for the release of five Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Miller said the released detainees were “top-level” members of the Taliban government, and two of them were wanted by the United Nations for war crimes.

“These terrorists were also given a hero’s welcome in Qatar, which gives little comfort they will truly be kept from returning to the battlefield,” Miller said. “This release was also concluded outside the parameters passed by Congress, and signed into law by the president, that requires consultation with appropriate leaders in Congress before such releases are made. It is indeed very troubling that the president seems to have decided that he can negotiate with terrorist elements of the Taliban, but he refuses to consult with Congress.”

Obama recently announced that 10,000 U.S. troops would remain in Afghanistan through 2016. Miller said the release of suspected terrorists could increase the threat to deployed soldiers.

“I believe this plan should be approved through a vote of the people’s representatives in Congress,” Miller said. “There is no question that our troops have courageously executed and accomplished their mission. Now it is time to bring them home and end America’s longest war. If the president believes he can negotiate with the Taliban, then he should have the same consideration for the elected representatives of the American people.”