Bill Kristol: Republicans Justified to Criticize 'Unfortunate Deal' for Bowe Bergdahl

On Sunday’s broadcast of ABC’s “This Week,” Weekly Standard editor praised GOP lawmakers that criticized the deal the Obama administration made for the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and subsequent victory lap National Security Advisor Susan Rice had made for the outcome of that deal.

“I’ve been impressed by the courage actually of the Republicans who are willing to criticize what I think is an unfortunate deal made by the president of the United States,” Kristol said. “Obviously everybody is happy to have Sgt. Bergdahl back. Therefore it takes some political courage I think to say, ‘Wait a second, let’s look at the long-term national interest of the country. Let’s not just say as Susan Rice said twice, ‘It’s a joyous occasion.’”

“I was very struck by that,” he continued. “She didn’t say what normally what the president would say of a country that has to make a difficult and really an unfortunate decision like this says, which is, ‘We hated having to do this. No, we don’t want to set a precedent, but in this case – we reluctantly made the decision.’ They’re just spinning this as if it’s a wonderful day for America.”

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