U.S. Condemns Video of Captured G.I.

[babylonsister]

U.S. Condemns Video of Captured G.I.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 19, 2009

Filed at 4:58 p.m. ET


HAILEY, Idaho (AP) -- A soldier from Idaho who disappeared from his base in Afghanistan has been captured, the Pentagon confirmed Sunday, a day after he was seen in a Taliban video posted online.

The Defense Department released the name of Pfc. Bowe (pronounced BOH) R. Bergdahl, 23, who was serving with an Alaska-based infantry regiment. The private was serving at a base near the border with Pakistan in an area known to be a Taliban stronghold.

The 28-minute video, in which Bergdahl said he was ''scared I won't be able to go home,'' provided the first public glimpse of the missing American. He said in the video he was lagging behind a patrol when he was captured, which conflicts earlier military accounts that indicated he left the base with three Afghans. The Pentagon gave no details of the kidnapping.

It wasn't clear who initially captured Bergdahl, but the U.S. command in Afghanistan said he was being held by the Taliban and condemned the video as a violation of international law.

''I'm glad to see he appears unharmed, but again, this is a Taliban propaganda video,'' spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker said. ''They are exploiting the soldier in violation of international law.''

Bob Bergdahl, the soldier's father, told the AP Saturday that the family was requesting media respect their privacy.

''We hope and pray for our son's safe return to his comrades and then to our family, and we appreciate all the support and expressions of sympathy shown to us by our family members, our friends and others across the nation,'' Bob Bergdahl said in a statement issued through the Department of Defense. ''Thank you, and please continue to keep Bowe in your thoughts and prayers.''

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/07/19/us/AP-US-Afghan-Soldier-Captured.html?hp

[BlooInBloo]

1. (facepalm)

[PDJane]

2. Violation of international law? Interesting tactic eom.

[spanone]

3. i hope he doesn't become a victim of the cheney/bu$h* torture program

who are we to condemn?

[Swede]

4. This is why you don't torture.

[No Elephants]

8. Also why no one should look away from torture. It's one thing to say we had a rogue

administration. It's another thing to say that we will not prosecute our own, even though a treaty requires us to prosecute. We are killing the rule of law.

And then, there's Bagram, and reports of continuing torture at Gitmo and Bagram.

We may have jumped the shark. Yet, we call a video a violation of international law? What did we expect to gain from that, other than sneering and contempt from the rest of the world?

[opihimoimoi]

5. Can they waterboard him? Just so they can say..."Well. they did it to our peeps"

"Why can't we???"

Bush had opened the door and now look....sho nough...FUBAR

[tanyev]

6. Violating international law, are they?

So...the DOD will fully support the investigation and prosecution of the Bush administration for violating international law?

[No Elephants]

7. Tears for Private Bergdahl and his supporters, and for my country