According to the Washington Post, the United States has been secretly releasing Taliban and other insurgents in Afghanistan for the promise of good behavior. What could possibly go wrong?

The United States has for several years been secretly releasing high-level detainees from a military prison in Afghanistan as part of negotiations with insurgent groups, a bold effort to quell violence but one that U.S. officials acknowledge poses substantial risks.

As the United States has unsuccessfully pursued a peace deal with the Taliban, the “strategic release” program has quietly served as a live diplomatic channel, allowing American officials to use prisoners as bargaining chips in restive provinces where military power has reached its limits.

But the releases are an inherent gamble: The freed detainees are often notorious fighters who would not be released under the traditional legal system for military prisoners in Afghanistan. They must promise to give up violence — and U.S. officials warn them that if they are caught attacking American troops, they will be detained once again.

There are no absolute guarantees, however, and officials would not say whether those who have been released under the program have later returned to attack U.S. and Afghan forces once again. (Read More)

Fox News adds:

Under the risky program, the hardened fighters must promise to give up violence and are threatened with further punishment, but there is nothing to stop them resuming attacks against Afghan and American troops. (Read More)

This is insanity.

Update: The First Street Journal picked up on the story, and found a recent news article noting that released Guantanamo Bay detainees have a recidivism rate of over 25%. So why would anyone believe the terrorists on the ground in Afghanistan are any better? Like I said, this is insanity.