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alp227

(31,962 posts)
Fri Aug 22, 2014, 01:43 AM Aug 2014

U.S. watchdog finds Pentagon broke law in Bergdahl transfer

Source: Reuters

The Defense Department violated U.S. law by failing to alert Congress before releasing five Taliban members held at Guantanamo Bay military prison in exchange for a captured U.S. soldier, a government watchdog agency said on Thursday.

The Government Accountability Office said the Pentagon broke the law by using money appropriated by Congress to carry out the transfer of Guantanamo prisoners without giving lawmakers the required 30-day notice.

"In addition, because DoD (the Department of Defense) used appropriated funds to carry out the transfer when no money was available for that purpose, DoD violated the Antideficiency Act" barring agencies from spending more than authorized, the GAO said in a letter posted on its website.

The GAO assessment was requested by Republican lawmakers who were angered over the lack of notice they'd received about the U.S. decision in May to transfer five Taliban prisoners to Qatar in exchange for the release of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/21/us-usa-pentagon-bergdahl-idUSKBN0GL2BB20140821

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U.S. watchdog finds Pentagon broke law in Bergdahl transfer (Original Post) alp227 Aug 2014 OP
How'd the GAO feel about no bid contracts in Iraq? Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #1
Ok, but what about this finding? Psephos Aug 2014 #2
I consider it another in a string of fake scandals.... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #3
The president did the right thing no matter what the GAO might think about it. cheapdate Aug 2014 #10
After this week's beheading, which came after a huge/risky rescue mission failed TwilightGardener Aug 2014 #4
I'm with you madokie Aug 2014 #5
Make room on the bench for me, too. nt msanthrope Aug 2014 #8
Ditto. cheapdate Aug 2014 #11
WTF? Unknown Beatle Aug 2014 #6
Ooops!! Somebody better get Issa on the line!! nt msanthrope Aug 2014 #7
Thus emphasizing, once again, the complete impotence of this Congress. nt bemildred Aug 2014 #9
 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
1. How'd the GAO feel about no bid contracts in Iraq?
Fri Aug 22, 2014, 02:10 AM
Aug 2014

Oh yeah,...that's right,...they called those "errors".

Wait,...."significant errors".

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
3. I consider it another in a string of fake scandals....
Fri Aug 22, 2014, 02:56 AM
Aug 2014

Republicans tried to make like Obama traded the guys behind 9/11 for a traitor and that just made them look like drama queens. They're NUTS to think the "American People" (as they like to call them) are going to give a damn about the bookkeeping.

cheapdate

(3,811 posts)
10. The president did the right thing no matter what the GAO might think about it.
Fri Aug 22, 2014, 05:01 PM
Aug 2014

Do the right thing and screw the law. Let the GOP add it to their stupid suit. They can add to their list of grievances that the president took steps to save an American prisoner of war from being executed.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
4. After this week's beheading, which came after a huge/risky rescue mission failed
Fri Aug 22, 2014, 03:21 AM
Aug 2014

a few weeks ago, I can't imagine Hagel gives a shit about what the GAO thinks of the way he had to get an American soldier home with his head still attached. Go fuck yourselves, Republicans.

cheapdate

(3,811 posts)
11. Ditto.
Fri Aug 22, 2014, 05:05 PM
Aug 2014

Let Boehner add it to the list of grievances in his suit. "...the president acted unlawfully in his actions to prevent the execution of an American prisoner of war."

Unknown Beatle

(2,672 posts)
6. WTF?
Fri Aug 22, 2014, 04:47 AM
Aug 2014
"In addition, because DoD (the Department of Defense) used appropriated funds to carry out the transfer when no money was available for that purpose, DoD violated the Antideficiency Act" barring agencies from spending more than authorized, the GAO said in a letter posted on its website.

The DoD spends money like drunken sailors and now they're worried about a few million dollars. The DoD spends a hundreds of billions of dollars yearly on shit and trillions more can't be accounted for and the GAO suddenly cares about the money? Hypocrites!
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