Obama: Released Taliban Prisoners Could ‘Absolutely’ Pose Threat to U.S.
While in Poland on Tuesday, President Barack Obama was asked if the five Taliban prisoners released from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could eventually return to the battlefield in Afghanistan and pose a threat to American personnel or interests. Obama said that, while his administration does not believe these individuals pose an imminent threat, there is always the risk of recidivism from released Guantanamo prisoners.
“In terms of potential threats, the release of the Taliban who were being held in Guantanamo was conditioned on the Qataris keeping eyes on them and creating a structure in which we can monitor their activities,” Obama said. “We will be keeping eyes on them.”
“Is there the possibility of some of them trying to return to activities that are detrimental to us? Absolutely,” Obama continued. “That’s been true of all the prisoners that were released from Guantanamo Bay. There is a certain recidivism rate that takes place.”
“I wouldn’t be doing it if I thought that it was contrary to American national security,” the president concluded.
The hosts of Fox & Friends noted, however, that a security expert they previously invited onto the program said that he expects the five released detainees to return to anti-American insurgent activities in Afghanistan soon.
Watch the clip below via Fox News:
[Image via screengrab]
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