"Has Obama Gone Rogue?"

The President broke the law over the weekend, defied Congress and set a dangerous precedent: He negotiated with terrorists.

All on his own, he decided to swap 5 terrorists in Guantanamo Bay for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who has been held captive in Afghanistan by the Taliban for the last five years.

The problem? America does not do business with terrorists.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations,

"The argument against negotiating with terrorists is simple: Democracies must never give in to violence, and terrorists must never be rewarded for using it. Negotiations give legitimacy to terrorists and their methods undermine actors who have pursued political change through peaceful means. Talks can destabilize systems, undercut international efforts to outlaw terrorism, and set a dangerous precedent."

Oh, and the five terrorists our President decided to set free? High-level Taliban militants, who Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said were "possibly responsible for the deaths of thousands."

Not to mention there is a legal requirement to give Congress 30 days advance notice when prisoners are released from the detainee facility at Guantanamo Bay.

The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) said,

"Some notion that this was so secret and so sensitive that that couldn't be done is just wrong."

And then there's the little matter regarding Sgt. Bergdahl's fellow soldiers. It seems many of them believe Bowe was captured by the Taliban while deserting his platoon and may have actually collaborated with the enemy.

Traitorous allegations have surfaced to muddy the waters even further and must be investigated despite the White House attempts to make him a hero.

One thing is clear: Obama has unilaterally decided to throw US policy of "never negotiating with terrorists" out the window. Politico calls his non-compliance with the law "going rogue." They think that is good. We think it's dangerous.

A wise man once said:

"America will never negotiate with terrorists." -- every US President in history (until now)

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."  (Ephesians 5:11-12)

News:

• Reuters: Bowe Bergdahl's small Idaho hometown cancels Welcome Home celebration; cites security concerns
• The Los Angeles Times: White House faces growing fury in Congress over Bowe Bergdahl deal; Democrat and Republican lawmakers outraged over lack of consultation
• Time Magazine: Asked whether Taliban would be inspired by the exchange (of Bergdahl) to kidnap others, a commander laughed, "Definitely."