Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl is currently and officially the "only known American serviceman in captivity". Bergdahl is a U.S. airborne infantryman, and was apparently captured and abducted by the Taliban on June 30th in the Province of Paktika, in Afghanistan.
The American Navy's Rear Admiral, Gregory Smith gave a statement saying;
"This is a horrible act which exploits a young soldier, who was clearly compelled to read a prepared statement."
Above pic; Still from the first video taken in July 18, 2009 after Bowe Bergdahl was abducted.
Smith is the spokesman for NATO-led international forces in Afghanistan. He also gave confirmation of Bergdahl's identity and said;
"To release this video on Christmas Day is an affront to the deeply concerned family and friends of Bowe Bergdahl, demonstrating contempt for religious traditions and the teachings of Islam."
Bergdahl give information concerning his identity for the authorities to confirm, saying he was born in Sun Valley, Idaho, and giving his rank, date of birth, blood type, his unit and mother's maiden name.
he then continued to give a critical discourse on the behaviour of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and the way the U.S. has conducted a series of wrongdoing against the Muslim community.
Strange it is, that Bergdahl seems to be in good health, and much the less abused or mishandled in any manner.
The video footage shows pictures of Muslim prisoners who had been captured and taken in U.S. custody being mistreated, whilst Bergdahl maintains that he has not been mistreated in any manner.
In the video, Bergdahl says that "U.S. officials keep leading America "into the same holes," citing Vietnam, Japan, Germany, Somalia, Lebanon and Iraq".
"This is just going to be the next Vietnam unless the American people stand up and stop all this nonsense," he continued.
At the end of the video, A statement read by a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid is given and makes the request for a "limited number of prisoners" in exchange for Bergdahl. The threat is made that more American troops may be captured.
Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia
The Geneva Convention forbids the use of POWs for propaganda, and prohibits member countries from Publicly displaying captured military personnel.The Taliban are however, not party to the treaty laid down in the Geneva Convention.
Geneva Conventions
Fred L Borch (Paperback - Jan 5, 2010)An earlier video of Bergdahl made a few weeks after he was captured was shown last July 19th, in which Bergdahl aappeared rather worried and scared.
read abc News article on the first video shortly after his capture
Bergdahl was 23 when he vanished five months into his term in Afghanistan.
It is not publicly known whether he is even being held in Afghanistan or neighboring Pakistan.
Bergdahl's parents, Bob and Jani, have not seen the video and are said to be eagerly awaiting any new developments on their son's situation.The Bergdahl family still aren't speaking publicly about his capture.
My Opinion;
In my obverse opinion, both the video and the alleged soldier seem to be fake, despite the confirmation of identity by US authorities - Perhaps this soldier voluntarily defected, as he seems to be in a very healthy condition and sounds also to be in agreement with the opinions and criticisms he is allegedly 'told" to communicate in the video. I hope i am wrong but i get this kind of gut feeling that something isn't quite right in this video. Maybe it is also made by U.S. secret service to justify some upcoming action agains Afghanistan and the Talibans.. kind of like a reverse propaganda technique.
Slideshow of Atrocities in Afghanistan
Recommended related reading/viewing;
The Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban
Seeds of Terror: How Heroin Is Bankrolling the Taliban and al Qaeda
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