Bring us home so that we can b back where we belong and not over here, wasting r time and our lives

[masuki bance]

AP sources: Taliban video shows captive US soldier

Two U.S. defense officials confirmed to The Associated Press that the man in the video is the captured soldier. (AP Photo/Militant Video)

July 18, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - The American soldier who went missing June 30 from his base in eastern Afghanistan and was later confirmed to have been captured, appeared on a video posted Saturday to a Web site by the Taliban.

...

He is interviewed in English by his captors, and he is asked his views on the war, which he calls extremely hard, his desire to learn more about Islam and the morale of American soldiers, which he said was low.

Asked how he was doing, the soldier said on the video:

"Well I'm scared, scared I won't be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner."

He begins to answer questions in a matter-of-fact and sober voice, occasionally facing the camera, looking down and sometimes looking to the questioner on his left.

He later chokes up when discussing his family and his hope to marry his girlfriend.

"I have my girlfriend, who is hoping to marry," he said. "I have a very, very good family that I love back home in America. And I miss them every day when I'm gone. I miss them and I'm afraid that I might not ever see them again and that I'll never be able to tell them that I love them again and I'll never be able to hug them."

He is also prompted his interrogators to give a message to the American people.

"To my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it's like to miss them, you have the power to make our government bring them home," he said. "Please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives and our precious life that we could be using back in our own country. Please bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power."

The video is not a continuous recording _ it appears to stop and start during the questioning.

It is unclear from the video whether the July 14 date is authentic. The soldier says that he heard that a Chinook helicopter carrying 37 NATO troops had been shot down over Helmand. A helicopter was shot down in southern Afghanistan on July 14, but it was carrying civilians on a reported humanitarian mission for NATO forces. All six Ukrainian passengers died in the crash, and a child on the ground was killed.

On July 2, the U.S. military said an American soldier had disappeared after walking off his base in eastern Afghanistan with three Afghan counterparts and was believed to have been taken prisoner. A U.S. defense official said the soldier was noticed missing during a routine check of the unit on June 30 and was first listed as "duty status whereabouts unknown."
...


http://www.wtop.com/?nid=116&sid=1720655

[LiberalAndProud]

1. .

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

2. Maybe you can post some choice OBL quotes as well.

This poor guy is under duress and anything he says while a prisoner is suspect. You're doing nothing more then propagating Taliban propaganda.

I bet if you were in the same situation, they could even get you to say something positive about Obama.
:rofl:

[Oregone]

3. No one has to be under duress to say those things

They just have to have a brain. What a waste of time, life and resources

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

4. Yeah right. I'm sure there is no stress being a Taliban prison and

not knowing what they're going to do with you. Try again.

If nothing else, it's uber-slimy to use a POW's statement to further your agenda.

[lilytea]

5. The Pentagon Propaganda

TPP

[Oregone]

6. I didn't say that. Nice strawman you built there

I just think its perfectly normal to see the waste and diversion of resources this war creates. Saying the opposite would be more concerning.

Yes, this person may not be in normal circumstances. That doesn't disqualify their ability to say something intelligent.

Do you think that if you remove the stress, they would all of a sudden sound like a fucking moron (IOW, be pro Afghan killing and waste)? That is certainly condenscending.

"Well, yeah, this guy would sound like an imbecile if it wasn't for the rifle shoved up his ass. So yeah, otherwise its just Taliban Propaganda" (see what I did there?)

[smalll]

25. "even get you to say something positive about Obama."

:rofl: Oh, that was good. :toast:

[FrenchieCat]

7. This video was released for purpose of Taliban propaganda

Good to see they have folks willing to spread it.

[masuki bance]

10. Here is a link to hundreds of US news organizations running this story

http://news.google.com/news?pz=1&um=1&ned=us&hl=en&q=AP+sources%3A+Taliban+video+shows+captive+US+soldier&ncl=dTOl2MBpM9YzVGM&cf=all&scoring=d


In your world, they are Taliban propaganda mills.

[Jennicut]

11. It is slightly exploitative.

We really don't know his true feeling when he is being interviewed by his captors of all people.
That being said, I have never been for the war in Iraq.

[Oregone]

15. Toddler Beauty Pageants are exploitive

This is in Afghanistan

[Jennicut]

57. Yeah well both wars suck

And the media exploits these videos all the time to get a reaction out of people.

[Oregone]

13. I don't think the US is even formally at war with the Taliban

Nor do they recognize them as a legitimate government.

So essentially, they are just like a religious NGO. What's wrong with showing something they release if it is newsworthy?

:patriot:

[jefferson_dem]

20. And it's no surprise this is the one who ponied it up...

Typical "shit stirring" form...

[Autumn]

8. This is so wrong

we need to bring them home. Now. We can not win these wars.

[Oregone]

9. But don't you see?

It makes the Democrats look tough on terrorism and good on defense to take it to the enemy. And what could be more "right" than that?

[Autumn]

12. I hope you are being

sarcastic. We Democrats do not need to look tough on terrorism , we just need to do what is right. Get the fuck out of those places and bring our troops home.

[Oregone]

14. What's "sarcastic" mean?

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. That's rich, considering your avatar. (nt)

[Autumn]

17. And what does that have to do with anything

Hillary didn't start these fucking wars. George Fucking Bush did.

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. All the assholes now complaining about the president doing what he promised...

to do, and still voted for him, should STFU is all I'm saying.

[Autumn]

19. Excuse me,THIS asshole has always

complained about these wars. Just because they are now Obamas war I have no fucking intention of STFU. And I will complain all I want, by the way one promise kept does not cancel out others not kept. So STFU is all I'm saying.

[Tarheel_Dem]

21. Blow it out your diddee bag seems to be an appropriate response here.

"Obliterate Iran" lately?

[Autumn]

65. Well when we do I'm sure you will support it. n/t

[Oregone]

22. Tee hee. Campaign promises are justifications for not doing the right thing

And everyone else needs just shut the fuck up. Nice.

[Autumn]

23. Seems to be the new trend at DU

just shut the fuck up and don't complain. Obamas got this. what a bunch of:puke:

[jefferson_dem]

24. Campaign promises made are campaign promises kept.

The American people voted for an expanded military effort in Afghanistan (Remember, Kucinich lost.) Therefore, this is... "the right thing."

My heart weeps for this soldier but his being held hostage does not detract from the merits of the mission.

[Oregone]

26. this is... "the right thing."

Haha. Right. And if the American people voted for a pro-slavery demagogue, then slavery is "the right thing"


How fucking ridiculous--that being, the lengths people go to in order to defend their party and their chosen leaders' policies.

[jefferson_dem]

32. Ah...you must be the great "decider" of what's right and what's wrong.

My point is that you may be disappointed with Obama's Afghanistan policy but you shouldn't be surprised by it.

Look up "electoral mandate" and get back to me. Those are kind of important in democratic political systems.

[Oregone]

34. "you shouldn't be surprised by it"

Im not--he was quite clear. That doesn't mean people should STFU and not try to change something they see as wrong (as has been implied)

[jefferson_dem]

36. Point taken.

We agree on that. :hi:

[dflprincess]

33. A lot of the American people voted against McCain, not for Obama.

If I had known that casting a vote for Obama meant that I was never suppose to question him or had to agree with every last thing he did - I would have voted 3rd party.

When he was campaigning, he said he opposed mandated health insurance, now he's decided it's a great idea. When he was a state senator, he thought single payer was the way to go, now he won't even discuss it. If he can change his mind on those items, he could change his stance on continuing Bush's policy of endless war. Strange how he sticks to the policies that enhance corporate profits and changes his mind about the ones that don't.

[cherokeeprogressive]

67. "merits of the mission" What would those be, exactly?

Merit of the mission. Can you tell me what is the stated objective in Afghanistan and how we'll know when we've achieved that objective?

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. Yup. Especially you. Hey, you express yourself ENDLESSLY around here.

Why don't you stop by and let Skinner know how much you appreciate this site, or do you think EVERYTHING should be free?

[Oregone]

28. I like free stuff

Kill me.

[Tarheel_Dem]

29. You mean as long as someone else foots the bill, you're good to go, right?

Says everything I needed to know about you, and much more.

[Oregone]

30. Essentially. But don't attack the messenger while you are at it.

That would be bad form and lend to the absolute lack of credence in your argument, if you ever had one to begin with.

[Tarheel_Dem]

31. Self-Delete. Responded to wrong post, but admittedly it was over the line.

[dflprincess]

35. It really isn't your place to decide why someone has or has not contributed to DU

I was unemployed a few years ago and during that period my donor star lapsed. I suppose you think I should have ceased posting during that time. Assuming somene hasn't made a monetary contribution because they prefer to let "someone else foot the bill" seems to be such a Republican attitude.

[Oregone]

37. Besides, I should be paid to post here

The quality of the content of my posts is priceless. Im bewildered that people need this pointed out to them

[dflprincess]

39. I have often thought that when reading your posts

:rofl: :hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

38. Ah yes. Since you're doing so much better now, perhaps you could donate

a few stars? The poster in question, as well as the o.p. seem to be in need. One very common theme seems to be emerging at DU, and it's quite troubling that the biggest whiners don't support this board, which leads me to question their support of the Democratic party. You guys are good for laughs, though.

What's not so funny is the fact that more and more, the uber liberals and progressive purists who frequent these boards, seem to be as nutty as the birthers. Get this straight, Dennis Kucinich & anyone like him, will never win national office. Hell, I'll go so far as to say that Dennis couldn't even win a statewide race in his own homestate.

[dflprincess]

40. Let me know how much more you think I should donate

I would hate to fall short of your requirements.

BTW I was told I was nuts for supporting Wellstone when he ran because he "couldn't win".

[Tarheel_Dem]

42. Kucinich '12. Rah!

[dflprincess]

48. Actually, I was kind of wishing Bernie Sanders would make a run at it

[Tarheel_Dem]

49. Where? In Venezuela? Bernie is a proud self described "socialist".

:spray:

[dflprincess]

51. I know that. What's your point?

If more people were able to listen to him on his weekly visits to Thom Hartmann's show and hear the sense he makes, he'd be able to make a good run at it. This is all speculation, I have no idea if he's even interested in it.

[Tarheel_Dem]

53. Outside Vermont, Bernie might appeal to the 10% of uber-liberals,

and progressive purists, but would have no national appeal, sorta like Thom Hartmann. The extremists on the left might rally to a Kooch or a Bernie, like the fundie base rallied around Jesse Helms. Perhaps the extremes on both sides could get together and form a third party? Sanders/Sessions 2012?

[dflprincess]

55. I think if more people could hear Bernie speaking about the

way both parties are screwing over the middle class and his views on what needs to be done to change it, an awful lot of them would agree with him certainly more than would agree with the Blue Dog/DLC/Republican philosophy of government of, for and by the corporations.

[Tarheel_Dem]

60. "IF". I personally like Bernie, but a suitable candidate for president, he is not.

One has to have charisma, and a buttload of money. Sorry, but Bernie and Dennis are doomed from the start. As much as you rail against corporations, they provide us with the jobs that allow us to donate to DU. ;-)

[Oregone]

41. Lets have a star-based witchhunt!

Are you now or have you ever been a donating member of the Democratic Underground?

Freedom isn't free!

[Tarheel_Dem]

43. Well you certainly haven't, so no need to question you.

Oh, the horror of paying one's way. I'm a capitalist pig because I believe in paying for the privelege to play. Where do I report for the stoning? It has to be in the constitution somewhere that I get to bitch & moan on a privately held message board that exists, partly, on quarterly donations from it's membership.

Ever hear of the honor system?

[Oregone]

44. Most of the 50 million without health insurance haven't either

They can fuck off too I guess

[Tarheel_Dem]

45. Quality healthcare is not something any of us can LIVE without. The ability to piss &

moan on a message board isn't life threatening, as far as I know. But nice try.

[dflprincess]

46. I have a real problem with the idea that only those who can afford to pay

have any businesses participating on this board it does seem undemocratic (both small & large "D").

Apparently Skinner does too as he hasn't made dues mandatory.

[Oregone]

47. Its just another way to change the subject

Which isn't in the same neighborhood as the OP anymore.

If this poster really believes this, they should start a thread/poll on it and lobby the board admin (it doesn't belong here). In the meantime, its just an Ad hominem attack, with little to no merit.

[Tarheel_Dem]

52. You like free stuff, right? Here's a tip. Why didn't you respond to me

instead of Ms. Princess? And you never answered the question, how is quality healthcare for everyone even remotely comparable to your ability to snipe anonymously on a message board? You made a dumb point, and you couldn't defend it, so I guess that's when the conversation drifted too far afield for you? You're translucent at this point.

[Oregone]

56. You missed the point

Those who cannot afford healthcare also cannot afford to donate, and thus, have no right to whine about anything here. The ability to contribute content to a forum ultimately hinges on one's ability or willingness to pay for its operation. Otherwise, they are a non-person and their views are irrelevant and unwanted. Is this the manifesto of the party you claim to belong to?

Without a doubt, this entire tangent of bullshit was started as a worthless ad hominem attack. Forgive me for feeding the trolls

[Tarheel_Dem]

59. Trolls that pay their way. Next fundraiser, we should all take your position.

Let's see how that plays itself out.

[Tarheel_Dem]

50. There are plenty of folks like you. Always looking for something for free.

As you say, it's Skinner's board, and he hasn't chosen to make it mandatory. What's undemocratic, is thinking you're owed something. As much as you dislike it, this site wouldn't even be here if everyone took the attitude of the poster in question. He quite flippantly admits that he "likes free stuff". Personal responsibility isn't the terrible thing socialists like to make it out to be. What's particularly galling for me is supporting disruptors. And just because they agree with you, doesn't make them any less so.

DU is a community, with everyone chipping in to keep it afloat.

[dflprincess]

54. "There are plenty of folks like you. Always looking for something for free"

as you are replying to my post, I suggest you take a closer look. I have donated and am not looking for something for free as accuse me in your title line. Having had financial problems, I appreciate that we are not required to donate to participate.

I find it rather odd that, on the one hand you call DU a community that everyone should support, and then turn around and take a shot at Socialists. Socialists hold to the idea of community better than other societies and, contrary to your slam, they not only have a sense of personal responsibility to the group but also a sense of shared responsibility - that's why they have things like health care and we don't.

[Tarheel_Dem]

58. "Shared responsibility". But we're not all sharing, now are we? (nt)

[LooseWilly]

69. Have you ever heard of advertising?

It pays a number of bills for things like television... and websites.

Or do you write checks to NBC if you like their programming?

[kiva]

64. Dammit, this is what I get for cleaning out my ignore list --

a nasty (counter to DU rules) tirade about someone else not living up to your expectations...*plunk*

[frylock]

62. or what?!

i don't give two shits what he promised. we had no FUCKING choice but to vote him! i will continue to voice my displeasure at the way MY president is handling this unwinnable bullshit war, no matter how uncomfotable it may make you.

[Tarheel_Dem]

66. Doesn't make me uncomfortable. Makes you look like a total sellout though.

You had a choice. You could have stayed your ass at home. What did this president say that lead you to believe he wouldn't escalate as he promised he would? Your stupidity isn't the president's fault, I suspect you were stupid long before you ever heard the name Barack Hussein Obama.

[Balbus]

61. If this is one of O's campaign promises,

why is this the one he decides to keep?

[Grinchie]

63. At least this guy is actually in enemy hands, unlike Pat Tillman

Either way, the GWOT is a fraud, and it's sad that these folks got caught up in it.

Patriotism or Poverty, either one supports crappy decision making or life choices that are not anticipated.

This isn't your parent Cold War anymore, because they actually use bullets and fight back in this one.

[cherokeeprogressive]

68. At least. Lucky for him huh?

[Grinchie]

70. What if they gave a war, and nobody came.

It's his choice to go fight in the fraud.