At least 3 members of Taliban 5 swapped for Bergdahl tried to make contact with terror networks
According to a Fox News report, intelligence officials are saying that at least three of the five Taliban commanders traded for deserter Bowe Bergdahl tried to reconnect with their terrorist networks while supposedly under the watchful eye of the Qatar government.
The director of the Defense Intelligence Agency recently told Congress that, after that expiration, all his officers can do is warn the U.S. government if the men return to the battlefield.
"I've seen nothing that causes me to believe these folks are reformed or [have] changed their ways or intend to re-integrate to society in ways to give me any confidence that they will not return in trying to do harm to America," Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., a member of the House intelligence committee, told Fox News.
The official who described the attempts by three to make contact did not identify the men by name. But the evidence came to light through intelligence from liaison services and monitored communications available to the U.S. government.
A defense official did not dispute the claim, emphasizing that one of the men has come "very close, trying to provide advice, council or inspiration" to his terror network, while the other two had not crossed that line.
In January, CNN was first to report, and U.S. officials later confirmed, that one of the five fighters was making phone calls to militants. The latest claim indicates those efforts were more widespread.
A State Department official, though, disagreed with the characterization of the intelligence and how it relates to the "Taliban Five's" activities.
"None of the five individuals has returned to the battlefield and none of the five have left Qatar," the official said. "Since their transfer many actions have been taken to restrict the actions of these individuals, and they are all being closely monitored by the United States and Qatar.
"We are in frequent and high level contact with Qatari government about the implementation of these measures, to ensure our concerns about these individuals are being met. For example, by enabling us to closely track their activities."
Well, the swap certainly is working out well, don't you think? Five terrorists who will all probably jump at the chance to re-engage in the war against the U.S. for a lowlife deserter who wanted to join them. No wonder Jen Psaki thinks the trade was "worth it."
The State Department won't admit there's a problem until one or all of the five actually plan and carry out an attack. Until then, things are just peachy.
The office of the DNI takes the same attitude: by our definition, the terrorists are following the rules. Qatar is obviously not watching these terrorists closely, which gives us little confidence that we actually know what they're up to.
Will Psaki still think it "worth it" when the commanders are discovered on the battlefield in Afghanistan? No doubt, she'll find some way to spin the news that will hold the administration harmless when the inevitable happens.