Obama defends trading five Taliban leaders for Bowe Bergdahl

Obama defends trading five Taliban leaders for Bowe Bergdahl - but admits the freed terrorists could attack the US again

• It's 'absolutely' possible the prisoners the U.S. released form Guantanamo Bay could rejoin terrorist cells, President Barack Obama said today 
• But the U.S. has an obligation to not leave soldiers behind, he said
• 'I wouldn't be doing it if I thought that it was contrary to American national security,' he told reporters at a press conference in Warsaw, Poland
• Obama suggested that he did not violate federal law by making the trade without congressional approval because his administration consulted with Congress 'for some time' about the possibility
• He also brushed aside questions about Bergdahl's capture by insurgents in 2009, saying the circumstances of his departure from base are irrelevant
• 
  

President Barack Obama defended his decision to release five detainees from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl today, saying the country had an obligation to not leave its military personnel behind.

'Is there a possibility of some of them trying to return to activities that are detrimental to us? Absolutely,' Obama said during today's press conference of the recently released detainees.'That's been true of all the prisoners that were released from Guantanamo. There's a certain recidivism rate that takes place.'

But the president added, 'I wouldn't be doing it if I thought that it was contrary to American national security.'

More