The Biden administration executed a prisoner swap last week that brought Mark Frerichs home to the United States after being held captive in Afghanistan for more than two years.
In return for Frerichs' release, U.S. officials allowed Haji Bashir Noorzai — a prominent member of the Taliban, who had been in an American prison for 17 years on drug-trafficking charges — to be granted clemency.
The same Noorzai who reportedly belonged to a prominent U.S. agency's special ops "kill" list in a classified setting.
A U.S. Navy veteran who had spent more than a decade in Afghanistan as a civilian contractor, Frerichs was abducted in January 2020, possibly within the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.
Frerichs' release comes five months after the Biden administration negotiated terms to bring home U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed.
However, WNBA star Brittney Griner and corporate security executive Paul Whelan are still being held by Russian authorities, and there no indications that a prisoner swap involving Griner and/or Whelan is imminent -- excerpt, rest at link above --
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
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Biden Admin Freed Taliban Drug Lord on DEA 'Kill' List
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Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:01 pm
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