Kerry Arrives As Afghan Vote Worries Undercut Transition | Nation & World | The Seattle Times

Bowe Bergdahl for five imprisoned Taliban leaders, letters released Thursday show. After criticism of the May 31 exchange, mainly from Republican lawmakers, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin solicited the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. All seven members of the Joint Chiefs, who head the major military services, sent Levin letters in support of the deal. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, indicated President Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had sought his opinion before signing off on the deal. I balanced the risk of transferring the detainees with the importance of returning a U.S.