Cheney comments
Cheney calls the Bergdahl exchange “bad staff work” and believes the Obama Administration negotiated with terrorists. He notes the possibility that the five released Taliban members will resume their battle positions. To Cheney, the exchange was not a good deal. He does not believe it should be treated as a victory for the president, as the negotiations were for a person who Cheney believes left his post.
We’ll end up paying another kind of price because of the transaction that’s been negotiated here.
Exchange video release
0 CommentsThe Taliban release a video that documents the release of Bowe to U.S. forces. Taliban members provide commentary on the exchange. The commentator calls it a “historical achievement.” He also notes that the Taliban were disappointed with how the Americans rushed through the procedure. Two Americans shake their hands, however it is customary in Afghanistan to also provide greetings and a friendly chat. The Taliban are also offended at the way one of the soldiers pushes his left-hand forward for shaking. The commentary ends with words for Bergdahl to not come back to Afghanistan.
Platoonmate speaks out
0 CommentsAn anonymous soldier details his experience after Bowe’s disappearance. The soldier, along with 34 other men, was briefed on the hostage rescue/recovery mission for Bowe. The soldier then flew to Bowe’s last location, which is where they were told Bowe’s unit was ambushed. Upon arrival, the soldier notes no evidence of bullet shell casings.
This [ambush] has been proven false through written statements, including those of my unit commander.
As more negative information came out about Bowe, several units stopped looking for him. After analyzing the videos of Bowe made by his Taliban captors, the anonymous soldier concluded that Bowe vowed to help the Afghan people.
Bergdahl became a sympathizer, walked off his post to seek out the Taliban in order to join their ranks, help and live with them.
According to the soldier, the Taliban seek to release more prisoners, and warns it is now a dangerous environment for American soldiers who may captured for similar hostage exchanges.
Detainees arrive in Qatar
The U.S. government releases Taliban detainees to Qatar to complete the prisoner exchange. A video uploaded onto a Taliban website shows these detainees being welcomed to Qatar.
Enlists in US Army
0 CommentsBowe joins the US Army without telling his parents, but later receives their support. He trains in Georgia, and is then assigned to1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based in Fort Richardson, Alaska. A former roommate, Shelly Horton, says about his enlistment:
He wasn’t going to go to college. He liked the odd jobs, but I think he was ready for a career, and that is the career he chose.
Discharged from Coast Guard
Bergdahl is discharged from the Coastguard just 26 days after enlisting. Coast Guard records indicate that Bergdahl received an “uncharacterized discharge” due to psychological issues. At the time of the discharge, Bergdahl is in boot camp in Cape May, New Jersey. In a June, 2014 interview with the Washington Post, Bergdahl’s close friend Kim Harrison says she believes that the circumstances of the discharge were psychological issues, which should have disqualified him for acceptance into the Army in 2008. Bergdahl says he “faked” his problems in order to be released.
Joins Coast Guard
0 CommentsBergdahl enlists in the US Coastguard.