Obama Administration Uses 'Strategic Release' of Taliban Prisoners in Afghanistan

The Obama administration is, according to a Washington Post story, secretly releasing captured Taliban fighters into the wild in Afghanistan.

The United States has for several years been secretly releasing high-level detainees from a military prison in Afghanistan as part of negotiations with insurgent groups, a bold effort to quell violence but one that U.S. officials acknowledge poses substantial risks.

As the United States has unsuccessfully pursued a peace deal with the Taliban, the “strategic release” program has quietly served as a live diplomatic channel, allowing American officials to use prisoners as bargaining chips in restive provinces where military power has reached its limits.

But the releases are an inherent gamble: The freed detainees are often notorious fighters who would not be released under the traditional legal system for military prisoners in Afghanistan. They must promise to give up violence — and U.S. officials warn them that if they are caught attacking American troops, they will be detained once again.

And then, perhaps, released once again. For the families of Americans killed or wounded apprehending and re-apprehending these enemy combatants, too bad, so sad.

CNN puts the number of released Taliban at about 20, all senior level.

“Everyone agrees they are guilty of what they have done and should remain in detention. Everyone agrees that these are bad guys. But the benefits outweigh the risks,” said one U.S. official who, like others, discussed the issue on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the program.

What are those benefits of putting enemy commanders back on the streets?

Is this a related story? The US has had to abandon its consulate in Mazir-e Sharif. It’s too dangerous to build there now.