Private Bowe Bergdahl was Captured by Taliban in June 2009; Is New Video Proof He is Alive?

The Taliban in Afghanistan captured Private Bowe Bergdahl in June of 2009. He was taken by eight armed Taliban members. He is the only known American soldier being held by the Taliban. It is unknown if he is still in Afghanistan or if he has been relocated. Bergdahl's family has confirmed that the new video released by the Taliban does show images of Bowe, notes the Daily Mail.

Private Bergdahl's family is in Idaho. They have experienced something few families can imagine. Their son has been taken by a terrorist group. They have been waiting over a year to see him again.

Taliban Claims Private Bergdahl Has Converted to Islam

The Taliban claims Bergdahl has become a Muslim and is teaching them how to make bombs. Those claims are unlikely, as any changes Bergdahl made were surely based on duress and not his true choice. The Taliban is likely using the video of Private Bergdahl as propaganda to recruit new members.

Mistreatment of Bowe Bergdahl by Taliban

The Taliban seems to have beaten the Private. In the images, he has a wound or large bruise under his eye. He is also much thinner than he was in prior pictures. The Taliban is abusing Bergdahl. They are breaking laws by holding him and mistreating him. The new images show the world that the Taliban is inhumane and a terrorist group.

Is this Video New or Old?

The Taliban claims this is new video. However, Bergdahl is clean-shaven in the images, and in past photos he had grown a beard. This just-released video may actually be from an earlier time, perhaps shortly after Bergdahl was kidnapped. If, as the Taliban claims, he is now following Islam, he would likely have a beard as his captors do, notes CBS.

Ransom Demand by Taliban

The Taliban have already requested $1 million and the release of 21 prisoners as the terms to release Bergdahl from captivity. Those demands will never be met. Even if they were, the Taliban is a terrorist group and would likely not follow through with the release.

Government Effort to Release Private Bergdahl is Ongoing

Our government continues to work for the release of Private Bergdahl. It will not release any specific details about the quest to find and release the serviceman. Any time an American soldier is being held captive, our entire nation is under duress. The Taliban kidnapping of Bergdahl is horrific. It is also horrible that our government has not been able to bring him home yet.

President Obama needs to get Bergdahl home and bring the rest of the troops home too. This war is futile. There will not be a "win" for the USA in this battle. Our country is not going to bring true change to Afghanistan; that is not a realistic goal. This war risks the lives of the troops.

End the war, President Obama. By keeping troops in Afghanistan, you gain nothing yet risk everything by continuing to inflame the Middle East with anti-American hatred.

Sources :

Daily Mail

CBS