How Jay Carney Explains Berdahl Swap Wasnt Negotiating With Terrorists Will Leave You Furious In a recent interview on CNN, White House press secretary Jay Carney was grilled about whether the United States were negotiating with terrorists when they decided to release five Guantanamo Bay detainees in release for Bergdahl. Carney claims that this is not the case, and beat around the bush in his explanations. He was not a hostage, Carney claimed of Bergdahl, he was a prisoner. Carney also noted that Bergdahls release was an urgent matter because of reports that his health was deteriorating after five years in captivity. Why not just call this what it was? asked CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, You negotiated with these terrorists because he is a prisoner of war and you have this pledge of leaving no man or women behind? Carney remained firm in his objections, claiming, The fact is he was held in an armed conflict with the Taliban. We were engaged in an armed conflict with the Taliban, and we have a history in this country of making sure that our prisoners of war are returned to us. What do you think? Is Carney just making excuses? 