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As Israeli Hostage Is Set for Release…Don’t Forget the U.S. Soldier Being Held by Militants for Over Two Years

As Israel prepares for the return Tuesday of its soldier Gilad Shalit held hostage for five years by Palestinian militants, it’s worth taking a moment to remember the U.S. military also has an abducted soldier, held in captivity for more than two years.

Dont Forget the U.S. Soldier Being Held by Militants for Over Two Years | Bowe Bergdahl

Screen shot of video showing Spc. Bowe Bergdahl being held in Afghanistan (Photo: AP)

In June 2009, Bowe Bergdahl was taken hostage in Afghanistan by the Taliban and al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network. Though their exact demands are unclear, some reports suggest that for freedom, Bergdahl’s kidnappers are demanding a million dollar ransom and the release of Afghan prisoners in U.S. custody, most being held at Guantanamo Bay. They also want the release of Aafia Siddiqui – an alumna of the U.S. Most Wanted Terrorists list now in U.S. prison – and threaten to execute 25-year-old Bergdahl of she isn’t released.

It’s anyone’s guess if Sergeant Bergdahl (recently promoted in absence) is being held in Afghanistan or the tribal region of neighboring Pakistan. Since his captors have released five videos, it appears he is alive and that his captors have an interest in continuing to hold him in the hopes of a future deal.

In May, Bergdahl’s father Bob posted a video on YouTube appealing to the Pakistani military and Haqqani kidnappers to help secure his son’s release.

Bergdahl’s father said:

“Our family is counting on your professional integrity and your honor to secure the safe return of our son…And we thank you. Our family knows the high price that has been paid by your men in the army and the frontier corps. We give our condolences and thanks to the families of those who have fallen for Pakistan…”

“We have been quiet in public, but we have not been quiet behind the scenes … Continue to be patient and kind to those around you. You are not forgotten.”

The public plea was a departure from the virtual silence Bergdahl’s parents have maintained since their son’s abduction. The AP reported:

The Bergdahls, who live in a home outside of Hailey [Idaho] near the tourist resort of Sun Valley, have largely shunned media attention following their son’s capture. Last year, Bowe Bergdahl’s mother, Jani Bergdahl, attended an elementary school ceremony after students wrote President Barack Obama urging him to help bring about the captive’s release.

The military has been trying to locate Bergdahl and offered a $25,000 reward for his safe return. Some supporters online ask: if the U.S. could find Osama bin Laden, why can’t they find Bergdahl?

In contrast with Bergdahl’s abduction, almost from the moment Gilad Shalit was kidnapped in 2006, his family and neighbors spearheaded a massive public diplomacy campaign – later joined by large swaths of the Israeli public – to secure his release.

Here are some of the methods they employed in what the Free Gilad website described as the “battle” for his freedom, aimed at “creating pressure on decision makers to promote the release agreement”:

They constructed a protest tent outside the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem to create a constant reminder of Shalit’s absence. They met with Israeli cabinet and international officials. Because Shalit is a dual citizen of Israel and France, the family recruited the support of French diplomats, even President Nicolas Sarkozy. Supporters once displayed cardboard cutouts of Shalit in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Dont Forget the U.S. Soldier Being Held by Militants for Over Two Years | Bowe Bergdahl

One memorable ad campaign showed the faces of Israelis holding up a newspaper headlined “We Are All Gilad Shalit” imitating Gilad’s hostage video where he’s holding an Arabic newspaper.

Dont Forget the U.S. Soldier Being Held by Militants for Over Two Years | Bowe BergdahlThree songs were written about Shalit by pop superstars Eyal Golan, Aviv Geffen and Boaz Sharabi. In June 2010, more than 200,000 Israelis joined the Shalit parents in a 125-mile cross-country trek from their home in northern Israel south to the protest tent in Jerusalem.

One indication of the intimacy Israelis feel with the struggle – and the success of the family’s public diplomacy campaign: police this weekend erected barricades outside entrances to the small village of Mitzpe Hila where the Shalits live to keep out well-wishers and effort a quiet homecoming for Gilad (as much as they can considering hundreds of journalists are already parked outside the country home).

This being the Sukkot holiday week, Israeli news channels have shown vacationing Israelis stopping by, hoping to express their congratulations to parents Aviva and Noam.

As successful as the PR push has been, there’s no escaping the fact that the family had one goal in mind: convincing the government to agree to a prisoner exchange deal with the Hamas terror organization running Gaza. Israel struck what officials called a painful deal with Hamas: Gilad Shalit in exchange for the release of 1,027 Palestinians held in Israeli prison. Among them, perpetrators of some of the most vicious terrorist attacks the country has known, including:

Walid Anajas, who was convicted for his involvement in the bombing of the Moment Cafe in Jerusalem in 2002. Twelve civilians were murdered and 54 injured in the attack.

Also on the list is Nasser Yataima, convicted of planning the 2002 Passover Seder suicide-bomb attack on the Park Hotel in Netanya, in which 30 civilians were killed and 140 were wounded.

Fadi Muhammad al-Jabaa, sentenced to 18 life sentences for plotting the suicide bomb attack on a Haifa bus in 2003, in which 17 passengers were murdered, will be released and deported to Gaza. The list includes Maedh Abu Sharakh, also convicted of plotting the Haifa bus bombing.

Tamimi Ahlam, the Palestinian female Hamas terrorist convicted of aiding and abetting the suicide bomber who murdered 15 civilians and injured 140 in the 2001 Sbarro pizzeria bombing in the capital will be deported to her native Jordan.

Another soon-to-be released prisoner is Abd al-Aziz Salaha, who in 2001 took part in the murder of two IDF soldiers who mistakenly drove into Ramallah. Salaha was caught on camera holding out hands covered in blood after beating one of the soldiers to death. He held his hands out of a Ramallah police station where the soldiers were killed, to a frenzied Palestinian crowd that gathered outside.

For Israelis, Salaha’s blood soaked hands has become the iconic picture of the brutality of Palestinian terrorism.

Dont Forget the U.S. Soldier Being Held by Militants for Over Two Years | Bowe Bergdahl
In light of what one journalist described as the five year national “psycho drama,” you’d be hard pressed to find an Israeli who hasn’t heard of Gilad Shalit, considered the nation’s son. On the other hand, most Americans have probably never heard of Bergdahl outside of Idaho – where yellow ribbons tied around trees decorate the streets – which prompted Dan McGinnis to post a critique on Yahoo in July:

It’s great that his hometown is showing their support and preserving his memory until he returns, but it’s time for the rest of the country to do the same. The Idaho congressional delegation released a statement this week that said Bergdahl remains a top priority for U.S. military and intelligence officials. But there are 49 more congressional delegations that could have issued the same statement if there was enough national attention drawn to his plight.

The U.S. and our allies should be using every resource at our disposal to locate and extract him from the hands of his captors. We need a grassroots effort sweeping the nation. We need more yellow ribbons. We need more action.

National attention yes, but to what end? Do Americans want the government to negotiate with terrorists? Would the U.S. even consider releasing Guantanamo prisoners in exchange for Bergdahl? Or launch a risky rescue mission that could endanger more soldiers? The Israeli news site Arutz Sheva noted the irony of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s phone call last week to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the Gilad Shalit deal, which her own nation never would have made. Observers say Clinton’s sentiments are particularly surprising given the enduring and iron-clan policy of the United States against negotiating with terrorists, instead preferring to mount rescue operations where viable, or to leave captured citizens in captivity.

The painful price Israel paid to secure Shalit’s release is being fiercely debated. Some lawmakers now want to inoculate the government from future public pressure to cave to terrorist demands, including legislating against these kind of terrorist releases. To prevent a future 1-soldier-for-1,027-prisoner swap, one former Mossad agent suggests outlawing any deals with terrorists beyond a one-to-one ratio.

A cabinet member is pushing for the death penalty for the murderers of the Fogel family, stabbed to death in their home, including three-month-old Hadas killed in her crib. Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz is worried their killers could be included in a future exchange deal.

And this chilling report on Israel’s Channel 2 News Sunday night shows how Israeli soldiers have been instructed on the “Hannibal protocol” to prevent being kidnapped in the first place by blowing themselves up:

The commander instructs his troops:

“The strategic weapon, the “Judgment Day Weapon” that Hamas wants to acquire, is to capture a soldier. But no soldier in Battalion 51 will be kidnapped at any price. At any price. Under any condition. Even if it means that he blows himself with his own grenade together with those trying to capture him. Also even if it means that now his unit has to fire a barrage at the car that they are trying to take him away in.”

Israelis are thrilled to be welcoming home the nation’s son after five long years. At the same time, concern is rife about which innocent victims could pay the future price of putting a mass of convicted terrorists back on the streets.

Comments (50)

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  • boxturtle
    Posted on October 18, 2011 at 5:29am

    To take an oath to protect ones country and it not make every effort to rescue you would be a sorry partnership. Israel has ten million or more enemies ready to attack her, what does another one hundred, two hundred make? Israel cares about it’s soldiers.

    Report Post »  
  • MLV 1055
    Posted on October 18, 2011 at 5:24am

    Snowleopard, I like that line of thinking. I pray Isreal’s plan (if it exists) works in their favor and does not backfire. May God be with all our soldiers and may they all embrace Jesus as their savior and find peace in his ever present love.

    Report Post »  
  • mlcblog
    Posted on October 18, 2011 at 4:42am

    Once again, it is shown that one Israeli is worth one-thousand others.

    Report Post » mlcblog  
  • Chuck Stein
    Posted on October 18, 2011 at 3:16am

    “National attention yes, but to what end? Do Americans want the government to negotiate with terrorists? Would the U.S. even consider releasing Guantanamo prisoners in exchange for Bergdahl? Or launch a risky rescue mission that could endanger more soldiers?”

    I vote NO on a prisoner exchange.
    I vote YES on a risky rescue mission.

    Report Post »  
  • tomahawk85
    Posted on October 18, 2011 at 1:51am

    WOW, That was a great plea for the release of your son!!!! As a recently retired US Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot (36 years) I wish you and your family God Speed and a safe return of your son, I can only imagine the difficulty your family and son have endured these past 2 years. Our Prayers are with you and DO NOT give up any hope. If only this Government of ours could make this happen behind the scenes….

    Report Post »  
  • altneuland
    Posted on October 18, 2011 at 1:26am

    Hi Pigpen,
    Why would Israeli soldiers be in Afganistan or Iraq anyway?
    You really think US army is in Middle East because of Israel…, really?
    As for it being illegal to proselyte in Israel: COMPLETE NONSENSE.
    I have had numerous JW come to my door in Tel Aviv, have been stopped by Jew For Jesus twice on the streets (and was even sent a New Testament) and even yesterday a leaflet about Jesus was put in my mailbox. We have FREE SPEECH in Israel.

    Report Post » altneuland  
    • qzak491
      Posted on October 18, 2011 at 12:41pm

      NO you don’t have free speach in Israel, all comments to the Jerulsalem Post are censored. I know I have tried it.

      Report Post »  
  • shackero
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 11:13pm

    NOT SMART!!!!
    NEVER-EVER trade prisoners—especially hundreds for one!!!!
    I love Israel—but this is not a good trend……………

    Report Post » shackero  
    • mlcblog
      Posted on October 18, 2011 at 4:43am

      ..this Israeli is precious. That is all.

      Report Post » mlcblog  
  • niereb
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 11:01pm

    “Gilad Shalit in exchange for the release of 1,027 Palestinians held in Israeli prison.”

    - I guess this means that one Israeli is worth 1,027 Palestinians. Sounds about right.

    Report Post »  
  • PROV1X
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:57pm

    if the good sgt was a female we would be hearing about this night and day! one of the things that is understood in the military is that no one is left behind, we will come for u! no matter what! we dont know that this is not a top priority at the pentagon but lets hope it is. and we should never due a prisoner swap.

    Report Post » PROV1X  
  • philipzhao
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:56pm

    God-fearing Israelis value life more than Godless Americans do !

    Report Post »  
  • Mtremblay
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:30pm

    If you have Facebook please go to http://www.facebook.com/tributeballoon?sk=info. I created an awareness balloon for Sgt Bergdahl. Please pass his balloon

    Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:26pm

    I feel so bad for the Israeli soldier (and his family), but I feel positively sick for the future families that will mourn actual corpses due to this exchange. 1 soldier in exchange for over 1,000??? Gee, and poor Private Ryan lived a life of service in exchange for the price that was paid.

    This is bad. It’s a bad exchange. No good will come of this.

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
  • sbenard
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:10pm

    This kind of deal only creates moral hazard. It only encourages more hostage-taking and kidnappings! How many dozens, if not hundreds, of Israelis will die at the hands of these same terrorists in future months and years following their release? This is not the first time the Israelis have done this, trading one live hostage for hundreds of terrorists. I remember this occurring in the 1970′s also.
    Unfortunately, the Israeli people will regret this, and it won’t take long, either!
    This also underscores the brutality and heinous roots of radical Islam! Negotiating with them is just selling one’s soul to the Devil!

    Report Post » sbenard  
  • majorsco
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 9:39pm

    Yes, don‘t forget the solder that’s a captive. Also don’t forget the two American Citizens held by Al Qaeda affiliate terrorist Abu Sayaff in the Philippines. A mother and child were kidnapped just outsize Zamboanga city just a few months ago. These are the same terrorists that beheaded an American citizen nearly ten years ago and also who killed an American missionary’s husband. I think that the Palestinian issue is terrible, but a one for a thousand swap shows how low the Palestinians are valued, even to themselves.

    Report Post »  
  • 1389AD
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 9:38pm

    This is why we should take NO prisoners among the terrorists, but always kill them immediately. As long as we keep enemy prisoners, the enemy will have an incentive to take OUR troops and civilians hostage to use as bargaining chips to get them released.

    All this stuff about “rules of war” that were meant to sanitize warfare and make it less bloody, have only done the opposite. Our enemies are brutal savages and we must fight them as such.

    Report Post »  
  • ezeewhiz
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:59pm

    This is appauling to say the least!

    Report Post »  
  • bankerpapaw
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:20pm

    I‘m sorry to say that I didn’t even know about Mr. Bergdahl. I’m sure the State Department is
    making arrangements for his soon release.

    Report Post »  
  • Pigpen
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:19pm

    Well, the official US Policy, as every military family knows, is that we NEVER negotiate with terrorists. Very honorable that Bergdahl’s family has born the burden stoically and soberly without falling to the temptation of the limelight. May the Lord God in Heaven keep and preseve the Bergdahls and their son. And may the Chief Imam in the Whitehouse burn in h3LL.

    Report Post » Pigpen  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:30pm

      Obama’s policy is, “Never negotiate and always bow down”.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 9:04pm

      Yeah, right.
      We don’t pay ransom (negotiate with terrorists/kidnappers).
      BUT, we DO pay $500,000.00 per person in BAIL to the government if they are “arrested” like in IRAN.
      Israel is releasing HUNDREDS of terrorist prisoners in exchange for ONE citizen in return this week. Their official statement is that it was a ‘fair’ exchange or ‘good deal’ or something along those lines that implied their one citizen was WORTH hundreds of murderers and would-be murderers.
      As for the question “why” can they find ubl, but not this guy… ubl sent out messengers; prisoners have NO communication, so there is nobody/nothing to trace.
      I pray all ends well and that God delivers Israel from the escalating situation.

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • Mtremblay
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 9:42pm

      That is the policy however I strongly believe we help out the Oman with freeing the idiot hikers

      Report Post »  
    • Pigpen
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 9:59pm

      No offense to your good intentions, TOMFERRARI, but scr3w Israel! How many IDF soldiers are in Afghanistan? How many went into Iraq? How many Israelis will march into or fly over Iran when Obama in his desperate bid to get reelected gives the AIPAC their long lobbied for war on Iran? The hikers were ferociously fought for by both the Whitehouse and the media because they were semitic. What does Obama or the Jew-controlled media care about Crackers who are stupid enough to join the military? Let the Jews care for the Jews. Let the IDF fight Iran. Get the Crackers out of the Middle East. And God defending Israel? That’s a laugh. It IS illegal to proselyte in Israel IF you are a Christian. Don’t let theBlaze dupe you on that. And did it ever occur to you, if you do believe in God, that maybe Israel is surrounded by enemies because Jesus Christ wishes for Israel and the Jews to REPENT? I seem to remember that motif from the Old Testament.

      Report Post » Pigpen  
  • dsind
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:50pm

    our (israeli) soldiers are to precious to leave behind.
    we will release 1000+ terrorists that will kill more isrealis
    just to get that ONE back, but we really don’t like letting muslims getting
    the upper hand, so….if you get caught in the future then blow yourself up please?
    WOW!
    parallel universe marty?
    please! take me back to 1955, my year of birth!

    Report Post »  
  • LastAmerican
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:46pm

    Reagan would have the fleet off the coast till our guy was back.

    Report Post »  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:38pm

      You have to wonder what would happen if we had historic military in the Pentagon and Joint Chief’s before all this touchy-feely stuff became military must do’s? Can you imagine if it was McArther and his men looking for this soldier! Bet they’d all have had loaded guns and NO FBI to read the enemy their [wrong]s . We’d probably have had the Taliban out of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and all their neighboring countries years ago. Our soldiers really are dedicated but they must fight the ROE‘s and schmuck’s in control just to fight the war!

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
  • outofthemire93
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:41pm

    Unbelievable. It seems as if evil is winning, but we know that God will come through for Israel. As far as our country goes, so so sad.

    Report Post »  
    • mlcblog
      Posted on October 18, 2011 at 4:45am

      We got our man back. The ones that were released will just keep running around in the desert acting violent and praying 5 x a day.

      Report Post » mlcblog  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:36pm

    The Crisis Duo, Obama and Holder are making a deal to free them in exchange for all the Gitmo slime. Problem solved, another victory bus tour, and he’s reelected. In your dreams!

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:29pm

    Good for the Israeli, bad for our guy. Prayers for both families.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • saranda
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:22pm

    We have never negotiated with terrorists. The Israelis are giving up 475 prisoners for this one returned home. Which country is correct?

    Report Post »  
    • broker0101
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:32pm

      “We have never negotiated with terrorists.”
      BaaaaaaHahahahahahah!!!!!!!!! We have DIPLOMATIC relations with Suadi Arabia and the UN Headquarters is in Manhattan. Tell us another whopper, Dumby!

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • saranda
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:57pm

      Really broker? Something about a pot and kettle come to mind….oh never mind, you wouldn’t understand.

      Report Post »  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:43pm

      @saranda
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:22pm
      We have never negotiated with terrorists. The Israelis are giving up 475 prisoners for this one returned home. Which country is correct
      ***
      According to the story that number is 1,027, that’s an awful lot of bombings, kidnappings and killed babies!

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
    • broker0101
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 9:48pm

      SARA, try to form a though that isn’t a bumper-sticker-fragmanet and get back to me. And believe me, I understand EVERYTHING you know, and then some, a BIG SOME.

      Report Post » broker0101  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on October 17, 2011 at 7:01pm

    Mr Obama cares nothing for the fate of our captive solider; he would gladly sell the man and the rest of the armed forces down the river if it became to his advantage.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • chips1
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:10pm

      Let’s offer them Obama and a nice new Prius.

      Report Post »  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:28pm

      Snow, you’re probably right but with military family members, my heart splits to both sides of the arguement. What we see each time Israel does one of these lopsided prisoner swaps is that the terrorists get “Heroes Welcomes” and promotions in the ranks to help take even more prisoners. It wasn’t long after the last swap that young Gilad was taken captive. I think there were more than him attacked and he was the only soldier who lived but I may be mixing together two different incidents. I would want my favorite soldier back at any cost, but he would tell me, “NOT IF IT PUT OTHERS AT HIGHER RISKS, that‘s why we don’t negotiate with terrorists.” I also wouldn’t want him put at higher risk, (or other family military) because the terrorists got some of the more ruthless, and valuable of their own for a single soldier. I only pray for this young soldier, and that God will protect him, and guide our military to bring him home safely soon. May God be with this family!

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:44pm

      @Mil Mom, I understand a soldier putting others ahead of himself, especially his fellow armed service fellows. In the case of Israel though, a few days ago I mentioned Israel is playing a bigger game as well…Recall that the Palestinian mess is divided between those of Gaza and the West Bank.

      In giving some to one, Israel makes the weaker of the two into a stronger light; while at the same time shaming the other…at the same time to the world stage they show the distance they will go to make a gesture and stick with it….and most likely tracking the new released prisoners via their own networks to find the bigger fish and fry them.

      Israel is playing the game worhty of Machavelli himself; and for the survival of their nation they have to .

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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