Close Topic Options

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

The U.S. Military has obtained a new video made by those holding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the soldier taken captive in Afghanistan in June 2009 and believed held by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network, a U.S. Military official tells CNN.

The video, which has been described to CNN by the official, shows Bergdahl in diminished health from the effects of captivity.

The proof-of-life video has a reference to December 14, 2013. CNN has contacted Bergdahl's family. Last year, his family received a letter from him via the Red Cross. The military says that it keeps the family aware of developments regarding his case.

Bergdahl Bowe Sgt

The parents of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. Soldier released in Afghanistan after nearly five years in captivity, said they are "Ecstatic."

"We were so joyful and relieved when President Obama called us today to give us the news that Bowe is finally coming home! We cannot wait to wrap our arms around our only son," Bob and Jani Bergdahl said in a statement today.

Bergdahl was released in exchange for five Guantanamo detainees, authorities said. Ref. CNN

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl History & Civil Business Politics

This is great news for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and his family. I hope his parents can understand that he won't be the same person. Five years in captivity alters your being - you are no longer the person you used to be.

Bergdahl Bowe Sgt

The United States found "An opening" And acted quickly to save U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's life, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today.

"We believed that the information we had, the intelligence we had, was such that Sgt. Bergdahl's safety and health were both in jeopardy and in particular his health deteriorating," Hagel said. "It was our judgment that if we could find an opening and move very quickly with that opening, that we needed to get him out of there essentially to save his life. I know President Obama feels very strongly about that, I do as well."

Bergdahl, the last American soldier held captive from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, is on a long journey home after being freed Saturday in a prisoner exchange. Ref. CNN

Bergdahl Bowe Sgt

President Barack Obama today defended the decision to undertake a prisoner exchange to secure the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Afghanistan. "We don't leave men and women in uniform behind," Obama said in Warsaw, Poland.

He said his administration had previously consulted with Congress on the possibility of a prisoner exchange for Bergdahl but then had to move quickly because of concerns over Bergdahl's health and to not miss a window of opportunity.

Obama said questions about the circumstances of Bergdahl's capture in Afghanistan were immaterial. "Whatever the circumstances may turn out to be, we still get an American soldier back if he is held in captivity. Period. Full stop. We don't condition that." Ref. CNN

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

How Obama needlessly bungled the case of Bowe Bergdahl

It's not often that the recovery of a captured American soldier turns into a political embarrassment for the White House. But the Obama administration has so needlessly bungled the case of Bowe Bergdahl that not a single aspect of his release from captivity remains untouched by controversy. Ref. Source 7

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

Taliban video shows Bergdahl release

The Taliban released the video of Sgt. Bergdahl being handed over to U.S. Forces. Ref. Source 2

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Politics Business Civil & History

US Army may press charges against Bowe Bergdahl:

The United States may still choose to press charges against the American soldier released this week from Taliban custody after five years in captivity, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday. Ref. Source 7