Four ex-Guantanamo Bay inmates Obama freed in exchange for Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl are named as top commanders in Afghanistan's new Taliban government
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...government.html

New Taliban government includes four former Guantanamo Bay prisoners
They were released in a prisoner swap in 2014 in exchange for Bowe Bergdahl
Bergdahl was an admitted Army deserter held hostage by the Haqqani network
The Taliban unveiled its new interim government on Tuesday
It included a wanted terrorist and the four former Guantanamo Bay prisoners
White House said: 'There is no rush to recognition' of the Taliban government
The Taliban has used social media to present a more inclusive face to the world
But its government includes many of the same faces from its pre-9/11 regime
Rep. Mike Waltz said it was a 'slap in the face' to every veteran and victims of 9/11

By Keith Griffith and Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.Com
Published: 23:58 EDT, 7 September 2021 | Updated: 07:47 EDT, 8 September 2021


Four top members of the Taliban's new interim government are former Guantanamo Bay prisoners who were freed by the Obama administration in a prisoner exchange for Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl.

The four new officials were members of the hardline 'Guantanamo Five' who were traded to free Bergdahl from the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in 2014.

The Taliban on Tuesday announced the appointment of Acting Director of Intelligence Abdul Haq Wasiq, Acting Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs Norullah Noori, Deputy Defense Minister Mohammad Fazl, and Acting Minister of Information and Culture Khairullah Khairkhah.

The four men, who also took part in direct negotiations with the US at the Doha summit last year, spent about 13 years in the military prison camp before they were freed in a trade for the admitted deserter, who was captured by insurgents after wandering off his post.

Abdul Haq Wasiq was named on Tuesday as Afghanistan's new director of intelligence

Mullah Noorullah Noori was named minister of borders and tribal affairs

Four of the so-called Guantanamo Five were named to the Taliban government on Tuesday. They included Abdul Haq Wasiq (left) as director of intelligence and Mullah Noorullah Noori as minister of borders and tribal affairs. They were held at Guantanamo Bay for 12 years before being released in exchange for American soldiertraitor Bowe Bergdahl

Mullah Mohammad Fazl returns to the role he held before 9/11, becoming deputy defense minister

Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah is the new information and culture minister

Mullah Mohammad Fazl (l) returns to the role he held before 9/11, becoming deputy defense minister while Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah will be information and culture minister in the new Taliban administration

Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl was freed from the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in 2014 in a prisoner swap for five Taliban leaders imprisoned at Guantanamo, who are now key officials

President Barack Obama makes a statement about the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl as his parents, Jani Bergdahl (L) and Bob Bergdahl (R) listen May 31, 2014 in the Rose Garde

Republican Rep. Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret who served in Afghanistan, expressed his disgust that key positions will now be held by the former Guantanamo Bay prisoners.

'I have déjà vu knowing it’s the same national security team in place now that then "exchanged" such high-value terrorists for traitor Bowe Bergdahl,' he told DailyMail.com. -- excerpt, rest at link above --