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Taliban Vid Shows Captured U.S. Soldier Held in Afghanistan

Taliban Vid Shows Captured U.S. Soldier Held in Afghanistan

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

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A new video released by the Taliban shows Spc. Bowe Bergdahl, the only known U.S. serviceman held captive in Afghanistan, with bags under his eyes and what appears to be an abrasion on his left cheek.

The video — the fourth since 24-year-old Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, was captured nearly 18 months ago — was provided to reporters Wednesday by IntelCenter, a private, U.S.-based organization that tracks Islamic extremist activities and communications.

His parents, Bob and Jani Bergdahl, have declined to speak with reporters throughout the ordeal, but Idaho National Guard spokesman Col. Tim Marsano said Wednesday that they had confirmed that the man in the video was their son.

“They responded that it was him, based on the screen shots,” Marsano said.

“It’s been an extremely difficult year and a half. Without any concrete news, everyday brings more challenges. They do continue to take some comfort in the support they’ve gotten, from the community, their family and friends.”

It was not clear when the video was made.

Bergdahl, who is shown on the tape wearing Afghan-style clothes, has been held by the Taliban since June 30, 2009, when he disappeared in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan.

According to IntelCenter, another man in the video appeared to be the Taliban commander who had once threatened to kill the U.S. soldier.

In July 2009, Taliban commander Mawlavi Sangin’s spokesman told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that Berghdal would be killed unless the U.S. stops strikes in Ghazni province‘s Giro district and Paktika province’s Khoshamand district.

The video, which also shows militant attacks in Afghanistan, was released by Manba al-Jihad, a video production group affiliated with the Taliban. Bergdahl appears only briefly in the video and is not the main focus.

Bergdahl has appeared in three other videos that the Taliban released on July 18, 2009, Dec. 25, 2009 and April 7.

NATO spokesman Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz said the coalition was not sure whether the footage was old or new.

“We are still investigating this case and hope Bowe Bergdahl is still fine,” he said.

Separately, two NATO service members died Wednesday following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan. The coalition did not disclose their nationalities or details about their deaths. So far this month, 12 members of the NATO coalition have been killed in Afghanistan. At least 671 have died so far this year.

The Afghan Defense Ministry on Wednesday condemned a coalition airstrike that it said mistakenly killed two Afghan soldiers on Tuesday afternoon. The ministry said in a statement that three other Afghan soldiers were wounded in the airstrike in Charkh district of Logar province in eastern Afghanistan.

NATO said it was investigating the incident.

On Tuesday, Afghan soldiers killed a suicide attacker who threatened to blow himself up at an Afghan army base in the Gereshk district of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, the Afghan Defense Ministry said. The ministry did not disclose any other details of the incident.

Also in the south, one child was killed and two men were injured in a homemade bomb explosion in the Shahjoy district of Zabul province, said Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, spokesman for the provincial governor.

___

Associated Press writer John Miller in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.

Comments (57)

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  • cstcomputers
    Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:40am

    I’ll go get him. I‘ll gladly join anyone that they’ll let go…

    Report Post » cstcomputers  
  • jedi.kep
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 10:02pm

    Lord, I ask that you give this man a way out of captivity and back to this country and to freedom. Amen

    Report Post » jedi.kep  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 6:37pm

    Oh my God… this young man looks so despondent. He looks so much like my son. For the first time in my life I want our sons & daughters home (I don’t care about the war or the reasons anymore). Please, God, somebody do something! I hope he’s still alive & has hopes of rescue. I hope he gets a sign from God that he has not been forgotten. God bless him & his family.

    Report Post »  
  • roberja
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 4:50pm

    The taliban like the Japanese army before them, never abide by the Geneva Convention. The army must do everything they can to find this soldier and bring him home. Therefore, we should treat these enemy combatants we hold as what they really are. People who want to kill and destroy us.

    Report Post »  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 2:26pm

    How many days of vacation and fun has our failed “president” enjoyed over the 18 moths that this serviceman has been held by our enemies?

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
    • Tri-ox
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 3:02pm

      …..over the 18 MONTHS that this serviceman has been held…….

      Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • Camo Pants
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 2:22pm

    Step 1: Strip all resources in Afgan. for our own use.

    Step 2: Kill all Liberals in conus.

    Step 3: Remove or kill any and all Muslims from our country and return any illegal aliens found.
    Only kill the extream ones… some are awesome :D
    Step 4: Withdraw all US forces and bring them home.

    Step 5: Create glass parking lot once known as Afghanistan.

    Step 6: Secure all borders with the new surplus of troops and give “shoot on sight” orders.
    *BOOM* HEAD SHOT!
    Step 7: Point all weapons outbound and warn the world to watch their P’s & Q’s.
    p = que q = pee
    Step 8: Stop all foreign aid and direct all efforts towards our own countries benefit, for once.

    Step 9: Rebuild the greatest nation on earth, under our constitutional guidlines.
    So tell the Govt. to stick it. :D
    Step 10: Live happily ever after.

    Only a few minor adjustments

    Report Post »  
    • LiberalNutjob
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 3:34pm

      @Camo pants and Major infidel
      So let me get this straight. You are advocating mass murder of a religious group, mass murder of political opponents, and rabid anti-foreigner nationalism but the left are the Nazis because they want socialized healthcare. That’s just precious.

      Report Post »  
  • rbagala
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 2:04pm

    The picture of this captured American soldier speaks a thousand words. It demonstrates how our enemy treats prisoners of war while we have bowed to lawyers and politically correct politicians and have given them everything to appease them, including prayer rugs, kosher food, and by our ever loving President they are to be tried in our courts in the same manner as Americans instead of military courts.

    This along with the “seven rules of engagement” that our troops are subjected, it is no wonder that we are losing an easily winnable war.

    Report Post »  
  • robx
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 1:31pm

    “It’s tempting not to negotiate with hostage takers, unless the hostage gets harmed” – Barack Obama

    Hmmm, Obama signals you wont negotiate unless the hostage gets harmed. The Taliban releases video of hostage in clear distress. I guess Obama was right “Words matter”.

    Report Post » robx  
    • ConsChristian
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 2:06pm

      Interesting. I think you’re on to something.

      I can see Obama setting the stage for negotiation. The agreement might be something like, If the Taliban releases this guy, we will release 100 of their guys.

      Report Post »  
  • Vie_En_Ras
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 1:02pm

    May God’s hand continue to be with this soldier and may the Angels form a hedge of protection around him. May he also be found alive and brought home quickly, dear Lord.

    Report Post » Vie_En_Ras  
  • fastfwd
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:59pm

    So our pro islam government cant find this guy ? what a bunch of crap ! Turn our troops loose to do there damn job and they will find him !!!

    Report Post » fastfwd  
  • BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:58pm

    I am praying for this poor soldier, his family, his captors, and our government.

    Report Post » BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?  
  • SlimnRanger
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:37pm

    God Bless America again

    Report Post »  
  • ConsChristian
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:14pm

    Nice. Double bonus. According to Star Trek’s future, there are no Muslims and Whoopi Goldberg is a friendly bartender, instead of an obnoxious, racist liberal on The View.

    Report Post »  
  • parkerbilt
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:03pm

    I say that we treat the prisoners we have just like this young man is obviously being treated. Maybe the only food that they get is pig blood pie cooked in pig fat. The Germans treated our prisoners better than they did their own people because they knew we would treat their men captured the same. Time to starve some fat a** taliban.

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:27pm

      How about we not descend to that level and remain a beacon of civilized honor? You don’t defeat your enemy by becoming your enemy.

      And the Germans treated *select* prisoners that way. If you were a black American POW, you got to go to the medical experiments tent.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • TXPilot
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:01pm

    The majority of Muslims are murdering, torturing animals, and until we get past the political correctness and start fighting fire with fire, we will continue to see good people slaughtered like sheep. If they kill this soldier, maybe we need to obliterate a few thousand of them…..make the punishment for the crime a little more difficult to swallow, than the prospect of sanctions, UN condemnation, or whatever idiocy the left can come up with.

    I’m a peace loving person who would normally be reluctant to say what I just did, but all other options have been exhausted and it angers me to see Muslim terrorists continue to get away with their atrocities time after time after time. You cannot negotiate with a group of people whose religion on its most basic level denies the right of others to live, simply because their beliefs are different.

    Report Post » TXPilot  
    • Nvrforget
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 2:13pm

      ” If they kill this soldier, maybe we need to obliterate a few thousand of them”

      That’d help them more than you can imagine. Can you say “Recruitment drive”?

      Report Post »  
    • Diamondback
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 3:07pm

      Ok, no problem. We just kill all the new recruits too!

      Next problem?

      Report Post »  
  • Disabledvet
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:59am

    I say we make a video of our own, take a few of the Gitmo prisoners and video tape us soaking them in pig blood and fat and then shooting them, put that on the internet and send it to all the taliban sites, letting them know when captured this is what will happen to them.

    Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:46am

    Anyone know why there are no muslims on Star Trek?
    Because it’s the future silly!
    There are no Muslims in the future.!

    Report Post » randy  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:02pm

      Don’t worry, they are showing up in commercials and sitcoms all the live long day. Gotta make them real people so we won’t fight them anymore.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
    • po-boy
      Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:14am

      I see you haven’t been in a convenience store or bought gas lately.

      Report Post »  
  • sapper
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:33am

    @ Lketchum;

    absoulutely right. He has been beaten up pretty bad. Personally, I am livid that this guy hasn’t been rescued. What the hell are we doing? When we handed this crap to NATO the taliban was beaten and running scared. What happened? We need to tell NATO to get lost and go back in balls to the wall and slaughter the taliban once and for all. I’m sick of this crap. As a combat vet it’s especially difficult for me to understand how these morons are still fighting. With our technological superiority there is no reason we havn’t tracked down and killed them.

    Report Post »  
  • GeauxAlready
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:31am

    Let’s face reality! At some point in the not to distant future, we are going to have to Kill Them All!!! It is not a pleasant thought but one that is a coming reality whether we like it or not……

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:50am

      Genocide is evil. Pure Satanic evil. Get a grip.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Konservative PUNK
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:07pm

      Yes genocide is evil. Perhaps a better solution to this war would be to outlaw immigrants from terroristic nations. Of course we would also have to secure our borders.

      Report Post » Konservative PUNK  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:24pm

      @KP

      Sounds fine by me.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • KEA
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:27am

    Gods hand is at work with this Soldier. They have killed every other one they capture but not this one. I pray that this young mans faith is in fact infuencing these people at least to a point he survives this ordeal. God Bless this young man and all those who have been fighting the fight, suffering and died for our Freedom.

    Report Post »  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:01pm

      I concur!

      Right now and for him the War is over, so the reasons why we are there are for another day. Pray he gets to come home. Alive!!

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:22am

    This is a damned shame. A crying damned shame. I hope he makes it out of there and back home.

    Life is too precious to waste it on war. God, how we’re doomed to live this kind of insanity over and over again.

    I wish I knew why we were over there, what the exact goals were, what the victory conditions were and when we planned to withdraw. None of those things exist.

    My so called government can pinpoint from space what zoning violations I may have with my deck in my yard, yet this same government cannot find < 100 guys running around in a mostly deserted country. And our young men die for it. So sad.

    Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 5:40pm

      It’s really about Pakistan. Pakistan is the Taliban target, and it is fast becoming an Islamo-fascist state. That traitorous wimp is using our boys as cannon fodder…

      Report Post »  
  • lketchum
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:19am

    The Soldier’s nose has been broken repeatedly, and his cheek bone is broken. He likely has a raging sinus infection from all the blood in the lower sinus cavity on the left side of his face.

    He’s been sleep deprived, half-starved, under-dressed for the climate and is not being well cared for at all.

    I hope his brothers in arms slaughter the dogs that have treated him like this.

    Meanwhile… in Gitmo, their allies enjoy designer foods, HDTV, ping pong, soccer, college classes and legal representation.

    God Bless and Keep this young man and his family and may God speed him home safely!

    Report Post » lketchum  
    • Bauervision
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:32am

      I couldn’t have said it better, well done.
      Thank you liberals for ensuring the enemy is so well cared for.

      Report Post » Bauervision  
    • capecodsully
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 1:52pm

      God Bless him and keep him, and His angels watch over him.

      Report Post »  
    • missionarydad
      Posted on December 9, 2010 at 9:11pm

      I came to the exact same conclusions from the photo as you can see that his eyes are blackened from beatings and their is a bruise on his nose and looks like a cut on his left forehead also. He has certainly been mistreated badly and you are right about the light clothing. Those SOBs need to really pay for what they have done to him. He looks very depressed also.

      Report Post »  
  • bolec slodkie
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:14am

    “The most note worthy characteristic of the American people is their initiative. It is this spirit which has developed America, and it was the same spirit in our soldiers which made our armies successful abroad.”

    Andrew Mellon 1924

    http://www.archive.org/stream/taxationthepeopl033026mbp/taxationthepeopl033026mbp_djvu.txt

    Restrictive Rules of Engagement reduces initiative. The rules are based the left wing idea that America is a bad nation and our soldiers won’t act morally.

    This is the result

    Report Post »  
  • anigmanm
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:07am

    and this does what to convince the world how peaceful and loving these people and their religion are, HOW?

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:20am

      I hate to say “but to be fair” in this case…

      But….

      To be fair, they’re in an armed conflict with us. I don‘t suspect that you’d find a bunch of people throwing flowers and kissing babies on battlefields.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • dkhartman
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:35am

      Maybe he’s referring to the part where they were attempting to blow up and injure their own people. Because it was when I read that part that made me think the same exact thing.

      Report Post »  
    • Konservative PUNK
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:00pm

      Yes indeed. The works of the practicioners of ‘The Religion of Peace’

      Report Post » Konservative PUNK  
  • fobama
    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:05am

    My heart goes out to this young mans parents, may he get out alive! I would like to thank him for his service, an will pray he gets out of there…

    Report Post » fobama  
    • Nightstalker
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:23am

      I know some guys who would love to go collect him from the taliban!

      Report Post » Nightstalker  
    • FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:38am

      I am requesting a party from the left, you all know who you are to take a trip to talk with these terrorist who have this young American. I know you all have the ability to “talk and reason” with the terrorist and convince them to release this young man. After All that is the BS you all try to sell.

      You would find that you too would become their prisoners. What you’re not willing to actually put your beliefs to a real world test…I didn’t think so.

      Now that that is out the way, if we can find these enemy’s we bomb them all and everyone who has helped hide this young patriot. I will be praying for this young man and his family for strength and that our forces can locate him soon…………..VICTORY OR DEATH

      Report Post » FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION  
    • Disabledvet
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:54am

      I’ll sign up to go to bring that young man home.

      Report Post »  
    • FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 12:27pm

      @SEMPER

      This is a great piece of information. Thank you………………VICTORY OR DEATH

      Report Post » FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on December 8, 2010 at 1:20pm

      God bring him home safely, and whole; let our special op’s guys or the marines find his captors and bring the justice to them. In the courts or to before you personally.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION
      Posted on December 9, 2010 at 8:31am

      Why was Semper’s post removed?? Just wondering…………..VICTORY OR DEATH

      Report Post » FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION  
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