Saturday, May 31, 2014

SERGEANT BOWE BERGDAHL RELEASED




US SOLDIER FREED FROM CAPTIVITY IN AFGHANISTAN


WASHINGTON (AP) — The only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan has been freed by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Obama administration officials said Saturday.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban Saturday evening, local time, in an area of eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. Officials said the exchange was not violent and the 28-year-old Bergdahl was in good condition and able to walk.

In a statement, President Barack Obama said Bergdahl's recovery "is a reminder of America's unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield."

The handover followed indirect negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban, with the government of Qatar serving as the go-between. Qatar is taking custody of the five Afghan detainees that had been held at Guantanamo Bay.

According to a senior defense official traveling with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Singapore, once Bergdahl climbed onto the noisy helicopter he took a pen and wrote on a paper plate, the letters "SF?" — asking the troops if they were special operations forces.

They shouted back at him over the roar of the rotors: "Yes, we've been looking for you for a long time."

Then, according to the official, Bergdahl broke down and cried.

Bergdahl, of Hailey, Idaho, is believed to have been held by the Haqqani network since June 30, 2009. Haqqani operates in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region and has been one of the deadliest threats to U.S. troops in the war. The network, which the State Department designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012, claims allegiance to the Afghan Taliban, yet operates with some degree of autonomy.

Officials said Bergdahl was transferred to Bagram Air Field, the main U.S. base in Afghanistan, for medical evaluations, before eventually heading on to the United States.

Several dozen U.S. special operations forces, backed by multiple helicopters and surveillance aircraft, flew into Afghanistan by helicopter and made the transfer with the approximately 18 Taliban members. The official said the commandos were on the ground for a short time before lifting off with Bergdahl.

The official added that the U.S. still believes that Bergdahl was being held for the bulk of the time in Pakistan, but it was not clear when he was transported to eastern Afghanistan.

All the officials insisted on anonymity in order to discuss details of Bergdahl's transfer.

Officials said Obama spoke with Bergdahl's parents Saturday, shortly after their son had been taken into U.S. custody. Bergdahl's family was in Washington on a previously scheduled visit when they received the news.

The parents of the freed soldier, Bob and Jani Bergdahl, said in a statement that they were "joyful and relieved."

"We cannot wait to wrap our arms around our only son," they said.

The news of Bergdahl's release spread quickly in his hometown in southern Idaho, and residents immediately began making plans for a welcome-home celebration.

An annual event called "Bring Bowe Back" scheduled for June 28 was quickly renamed "Bowe is Back."

"It is going to be Bowe's official welcome-home party even if he's not quite home yet," organizer Stefanie O'Neill said Saturday.

The U.S. has long been seeking Bergdahl's release, but efforts have intensified as Obama finalized plans to pull nearly all American forces out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016.

"It is our ethos that we never leave a fallen comrade. Today we have back in our ranks the only remaining captured soldier from our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Welcome home Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl," said Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Officials said the Taliban signaled to the U.S. in November that they were ready to start new talks on the issue of detainees. After the U.S. received proof that Bergdahl was still alive, indirect talks began, with Qatar sending messages back and forth between the two parties.

The talks intensified about a week ago, officials said, resulting in Bergdahl's release and the transfer of the Afghan detainees.

The five Guantanamo detainees departed the base on a U.S. military aircraft Saturday afternoon. Under the conditions of their release, the detainees will be banned from traveling outside of Qatar for at least one year.

Obama and the emir of Qatar spoke last week about the conditions of the release, which have been codified in a memorandum of understanding between the two countries, officials said.


In a statement, President Barack Obama said Bergdahl's recovery "is a reminder of America's unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield."--------Unless of course that man or woman in uniform happens to be in Benghazi!  Then, all bets are off.

Below is the link for the entire story:

http://news.yahoo.com/us-soldier-freed-captivity-afghanistan-164824831--politics.html




12 comments:

WomanHonorThyself said...

not to mention this guy may be a traitor and his father is seeking to release ALL Git-mo filth!..but hey...the world is still turning Joe!!..xoxoxo

Always On Watch said...

AA,
Be sure to read this about the Bergdahl. I'm sure that you will find that blog post and the comments thereto of interest.

Anonymous said...

Its so funny Glen Beck says, soldier Andrew Tahmooressi is telling the truth while at the same time telling us that soldier Bowe Bergdahl is a liar. You should see his interview with Andrew Tahmooressi, trying to get him to slam the Whitehouse, sorry gecky, no go. Gecky has always been full of lies, remember his FEMA death camps rants, what a joke and all his chicken littles that try to sell that the sky is falling but we know better, keep lying Gecky, that all you do now!

Average American said...

I am reserving my comments about this likely scandal until all the information is in. One thing I do have STRONG feelings about is that we NEGOTIATED with terrorists AND traded 5 VERY BAD people for Bergdahl. WTF was obummer thinking? He purposely broke his own new (2013) law in the process! As far as I am concerned, this is most certainly an impeachable offense and most likely falls under the purview of TREASON! If he did this to get our minds off the VA scandal, he F###ed up royally because this one is MUCH WORSE!!
Thanks for visiting and commenting!

American4Americans. said...

Obama betrayed the highest obligation of his office — safeguarding national security — in trading five hard-core Taliban for the American serviceman who appears to have deserted in Afghanistan. The five sworn enemies of the United States are now in the Gulf state of Qatar, where they are free to come and go as they like, In just one year, they will be free to return to Afghanistan to fight there and stage terror attacks far beyond that country’s borders

The Taliban has released video of the transfer of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Taliban to U.S. hands. The narration on the video says the transfer took place in Khost province, in eastern Afghanistan. U.S. officials had previously said the transfer took place SATURDAY
Obama is trampling on the graves of all those killed in Afghanistan, especially those who died trying to rescue him. This President has betrayed our nation.
In just one year, they will be free to return to Afghanistan to fight there and stage terror attacks far beyond that country’s borders.

These facts were known to Obama when he made the deal, and yet he went ahead in irresponsible disregard for lives he has endangered. As the facts have emerged — and more surely will — it has become ever clearer that he lost his presidential compass in the Taliban swap.

His Rose Garden announcement looked more like a Victory Lap where he was bringing home an American POW appears to have been a cynical act of theater. And that “HIG” to Bowe Bergdahl’s Mother was sickening!
This event here will become his legacy... the legacy of the weakest POTUS our nation ever had. WE DO NOT DEAL WITH TERRORISTS and this is yet another reason why this will show our nation as weak.
PS, YOU Progressives PIGS who are comparing Obama with Ronald Reagan are the lowest of the low. It’s like comparing a Snake to a Puppy. Get that Shaw?

Average American said...

Thank you A4A for dropping by. You make very good points. Sounds like you hate that SOB (small p)resident as much as I do. As God is my witness, I hope the Republicans take over the Senate and IMMEDIATELY commence with Impeachment proceedings. No one has ever deserved it more than that America hating president!

WomanHonorThyself said...

Have a fabulous weekend my friend~!:-)

Jarhead said...

I for one am sick of these people who sympathize with this Deserter.
Especially the republicans who want to be goody two shoes like FT. all I can say it that I'm sorry to hear that you are having difficulties with yourself. Shock therapy may be right for you, perhaps?
Wake the hell up and get back to reality:

Not in MY name said...

this pos was a deserter and Obama is a traitor

Unknown said...

Harry Reid Calls Cliven Bundy Supporters "Domestic Terrorists"
What a schmuck, I wonder what we should call the Bowe Bergdahl supporters ?
What did he call Bowe Bergdahl when he left his post and walked away into enemy territory misbehaving?
Nothing new here. It's just what leftist scum say all the time.

WomanHonorThyself said...

hey Joe:0 HAPPY DAD'S DAY TO THE special men in our lives my friend!..hugssssssssss xoxoxox

WomanHonorThyself said...

tragic news about the boys in Israel..keep the faith..I need your strength....:(