And not one was traded for ransom or prisoner exchange.
By contrast, former potus Obama exchanged 5 Islamic terrorists in Gitmo for Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl in 2014, despite a Government Accountability Office (GAO) determination that Obama lacked the authority to make such a trade. Oddly enough, there was zero Leftist outrage noted on the editorial pages of the nation's newspapers about Obama's lack of unilateral authority in this matter. Apparently, it didn't reach the 'literally hitler' threshold so liberally applied to the Trump white house.
The 'Gitmo five' were the Taliban army chief of staff, a Taliban deputy minister of intelligence, a former Taliban interior minister, and two other senior Taliban figures. All 5 terrorists were close confidants of Taliban founder & leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, who died in 2013 of tuberculosis.
Initially hailed as a hero by Obama in a 2014 Rose Garden press spectacle, Bergdahl was eventually court marshaled in 2017 for desertion & misbehavior. Bergdahl was dishonorably discharged, but not sentenced to prison.
Last November, all of the Gitmo 5 terrorists resurfaced at the Taliban's 'political office' in the failed terrorist state of Qatar.
As of yesterday, American oil worker Danny Burch has been reunited with his wife and children.
"The UAE is believed to have played a critical role in negotiating Burch's release, as well as the release of other Americans held captive in the Middle East."
The 19th person recently freed from foreign captivity by the Trump administration is Pastor Andrew Brunson. He spent 2 years in the hell hole of a Turkish prison. Upon Brunson's release, he and his wife were invited to meet with Trump.
The Christian Post reported: "From a Turkish prison to the White House in 24 hours — that's not bad," Trump said of Brunson's release, adding that he won't ask if the couple plan to return to Turkey where they pastored a Protestant church in Izmir for 25 years.
Brunson was arrested in October 2016 and charged with providing assistance to groups the Turkish government accused of being involved in a failed coup."
A complete list of 17 others released from foreign captivity by Trump & Co. can be found here. And a cheap internet trinket is offered to whomever can name number 18.
Trump said at yesterday's presser, "Recovering American hostages is a priority of my administration..." I believe him. Nothing succeeds like success. Trump has done far more in 2 years than Obama did in eight. I'm not tired of winning. If this keeps up, I'll buy a red MAGA hat and risk getting punched by a fascist. Yes, really.
