I called the Twin Falls Times News today and I hope they have enough game to ask Senator Jim Risch, how he justifies the doubts he has now about Bowe Bergdahl's release when he was the one member of Congress driving that issue more than any other. Risch, along with Senator Mike Crapo, and Mike Simpson in the House, are the members of Congress who are supposed to represent the interests of constituents like the Bergdahl family in the federal government. Risch has been the most visible and vocal of the three.
What changed since a few days ago when Risch said that he couldn't be more pleased and that he was grateful for the efforts of the State and Defense Departments?
What was he thinking when he tugged at the heart strings of his constituents each time he called for Bowe to be brought home?
What good were Risch's emotional appeals for Bowe's safety to Bowe, to Bowe's family, to their community, and to Idaho, if a prisoner swap was ruled out, and instead of recommending an alternative, he kept silent about it? How did he plan to do what he said he wanted again and again?
Politics aside, Risch sat before the Select Committee on Intelligence when he begged for Bowe's return, on behalf of the Bergdahl family with their unimaginable anguish, and for the sake of US security.
If there was any reason for Risch to qualify his appeal, didn't he learn about those details, given the frequent contact he says he had with US intelligence?
He posted word on his US Senate website a year ago about a prisoner swap offer from Bowe's captors. He never said it was a deal breaker. He said efforts were being made to bring Bowe home.
If a prisoner swap was ruled out, where is the alternative? Risch owed that to the public each time he said "Bring Bowe Home" leaving the impression that the delay must be with the only person who could make it so, the President.
And so I called the paper, asked for the editor, explained the story that tells itself from public information, and sent it off with all the details and documentation when we were done speaking.