WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today announced that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s Afghan captors have released him to the U.S. military after taking him prisoner nearly five years ago while he was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Bergdahl, at the time a private first class, went missing from his post in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009. He was the only U.S. service member known to be held captive there.
The now 28-year-old soldier was thought captured by the Haqqani network. He appeared in a proof-of-life video that surfaced last January and military officials said at the time they believed the video to be recently made.
“A few hours ago, the family of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was informed by President [Barack] Obama that their long wait for his return will soon be over,” Hagel said in today’s statement.
“We will give him all the support he needs to help him recover from this ordeal,” the secretary added, “and we are grateful that he will soon be reunited with his family.”
Also today, Hagel said he informed Congress of the decision to transfer five detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Qatar.
“The United States has coordinated closely with Qatar to ensure that security measures are in place and the national security of the United States will not be compromised,” Hagel said.
“I appreciate the efforts of the Emir of Qatar to put these measures in place and I want to thank him for his instrumental role in facilitating the return of Sgt. Bergdahl,” the secretary acknowledged.
One of Hagel’s first acts upon taking office in February 2013 was to call the Bergdahl family about their son’s situation, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said during a January press conference.
In June 2011 the Army announced that it had promoted Bergdahl to the rank of sergeant. Bergdahl, now 27, is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Richardson, now Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Alaska.
That was Bergdahl’s second promotion since he was listed as Missing-Captured on June 30, 2009. He was promoted to the rank of specialist in June 2010.
“Sgt. Bergdahl’s return is a powerful reminder of the enduring, sacred commitment our nation makes to all those who serve in uniform,” Hagel said in his statement today.
The U.S. government never forgot Sgt. Bergdahl, he added, and the Defense Department and other federal agencies never stopped working to bring him back.
“I am grateful to all the military and civilian professionals - from DOD and our interagency partners - who helped make this moment possible, and to all those Americans who stood vigil with the Bergdahl family,” the secretary said.
Hagel issued the announcement while on a 12-day international trip to countries in Asia and Europe.
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Actually my opinion has changed some after reading this page. http://clashdaily.com/2014/06/shocker-pow-bergdahls-fathers-deleted-tweet-smoking-gun/#fSU0coxLdK3QLBwO.01
@maybe-From what I just read (if true) was he is a deserter and a traitor. Again, if true he should be shot or hanged. He was the cause of other soldiers getting killed or wounded. What in the HELL are we doing releasing Taliban Leadership for a deserter??? (Again, if true).
@maybe-If this is true I would say it does not surprise me in the least with this administration.
No Comment, because if you say you want to kill a traitor you can still go to jail even if he is the president.
@maybe-I was not talking about the president. I was talking about Bergdahl. And, as I recall, desertion is punishable by death if convicted. That is why I said if true.
Obviously the father was doing what he felt would save his son’s life, including growing a beard in the Taliban style, and condemning the killing of Afghan civilians and children. He’s a father who loves his son, that’s it. Don’t make this out to be anything other than a survival story, because it isn’t. His perseverance and due diligence paid off, and his son is coming home alive. You and LVS should STFU about 3 comments ago.
Did you read that article I posted?
Yes, and isn’t it obvious the father was just posting what the Taliban wanted to hear? It is to me. He was acting Islamic to appease the men who was holding his son’s life in the balance. This ClashDaily fellow (your link) is exploiting the situation…which is reprehensible. But why should we expect any morals and ethics out of hard ass right wingers? They talk tough until they are the ones whose life is in jeopardy, then 9/10 turn into big whimpering pussies.
@Philly-who the hell asked you?? I was not talking to you at all. If you want my opinion, and you are going to get it, pacifist is nothing more than another name for coward. Keep your mouth off me.
From what I know of military promotions, it’s done by, time in grade, and if you are doing your job. That doesn’t change if you are a POW, and probably enhances it. Some would think that being a POW and surviving, is meritorious. Considering time in grade, there are people out there that will always be E-0, as opposed to E-1, E-2 etc. I for one am happy for the Bergdahl family, but somewhat agree with maybe..
(If) Bergdahl did leave his post and seek out the Taliban, it changes my opinion of him drastically. Hopefull the truth will come out.
So basically the Army is acknowledging their act of bestowing rank upon someone is arbitrary versus meritorious?
No, what our government just told the world is that now we do negotiate with terrorists, so might as well kidnap americans.
So you would allow your comrade to perish at the hands of his captors? No, the message here is when the opposition has you by the balls, you do what is necessary to secure the safe return of captured soldiers, AND most importantly MAKE DAMN SURE, no soldier is ever placed in a situation to allow capture in the first place. Those insurgents that were freed are more than likely going to be killed x 100 at the hands of the US Military, so a temporary release for a gain is a win/win.
I have never agreed with the stoic idiocy that is the policy of “we will never negotiate with terrorists who kidnap Americans”. That policy needed to go, and I’m glad the Obama Administration didn’t let it stand in the way of doing the right thing. The point is not whether to negotiate for the release of those captured, the point is for Americans and Soldiers to exhibit due diligence to NOT BE CAPTURED. That is what needs to be stressed. Why is GOP stinking about a life saved?
You are a pacifist peter, you cannot stand up to bullies by giving them whatever they want. Using your words, if they have you by the balls you go for the throat or grab their balls, it’s the only way to make a bully back down. You do what it is that you feel is right but I will not be pussiefied, I will give back what I receive. As soon as I found out that we had a missing soldier I would have sent out the troops looking for him and once we found him I would have destroyed them.
Your actions would probably have resulted in the missing soldier’s death if you were lucky enough to find him, which I doubt you would be able to do. You think it’s as easy as storming in with guns blazing. Sometimes with the right intel, that may work out, but more than not,hostage situations take time and skilled diplomacy to work through. Obama administration made the right call, and this man is able to come home alive. You and LVS are callous and unrealistic. What if it were you?
If it was me I would want my country to be strong. not a pussy.
You talk the talk, but you have no power to walk the walk, few do. I get that you want to be strong, but this isn’t Russia where life is cheap. We are Americans and we care about individual lives. You hardass Republicans get us into troubles, and then you are heartless for the people who you exploit for your operations. Bush Administration didn’t give a shit about the soldiers, that’s fact. Obama’s administration is a Godsend on too many levels for your brain to comprehend.
When the economy collapses and everything stops and Obama declares martial law and then hands over the united states to the united nations, then I will say I TOLD YOU F***KING SO. Obama has done more to destroy our nation than the drug cartels or the mafia or stalin and hitler and mao combined. You can sit there and tell me that Obama is the greatest and all that says to me is that you were easily brainwashed as is thousands of other people. The muslims call us the great satan, hummm.