Please Mr. President

Bowe Bergdahl

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Bowdrie Robert Bergdahl
Born	March 28, 1986 (age 27) Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	2008–present[1]
Rank	Sergeant (promoted in absentia)
Unit	1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan (POW)

Bowdrie "Bowe" Robert Bergdahl^[2] (born March 28, 1986) is a United States Army soldier who has been in the captivity of the Taliban-aligned Afghanistan Haqqani network since June 2009.^[3][4][5]

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 Early life and education
• 2 Military status and disappearance
• 3 Capture
  • 3.1 Threat of reprisal
  • 3.2 Reports of joining the Taliban
  • 3.3 Release efforts
  • 3.4 Proof of Life
• 4 See also
• 5 References

Early life and education[edit]

Bergdahl was born on March 28, 1986 in Sun Valley, Idaho to Jani (Larson) and Bob Bergdahl, a UPS driver.^[6][7][8]Bergdahl has an older sister, Sky Albrecht,^[9][10][11] and was home schooled by his mother Jani in Hailey, Blaine County,Idaho. He received a GED certificate through the College of Southern Idaho by the time he was in his early 20s.^{[12][13][14][15]}

As an adult, Bergdahl studied ballet at Sun Valley Ballet School in Ketchum, Idaho.^[16][17]

He never owned a car, riding his bicycle everywhere.^[18]

Military status and disappearance[edit]

Bergdahl was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.^[19] During his unit's normal deployment rotation to Afghanistan, he went missing on June 30, 2009, near the town of Yahya Khel in the Paktika Province, which is in the south-east of Afghanistan, right on the border to Pakistan. The area in which Bergdahl was captured is right next to Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

He is believed to be held by the Haqqani network, an insurgent group affiliated with the Taliban, probably somewhere in Pakistan.^[20]

Since then, the Taliban have released five videos showing him in captivity. The Taliban originally demanded $1 million^[21] and the release of 21 Afghan prisoners and Aafia Siddiquiin exchange for Bergdahl's release. They threatened to execute Bergdahl if Siddiqui was not released. Most of the Afghan prisoners are being held at Guantanamo Bay.^[22][23] The Taliban later reduced its demand to five Taliban prisoners in exchange for Bergdahl's release.^[24]

Bergdahl was a Private First Class (E-3) when captured. He was promoted to Sergeant (E-5) on June 17, 2011.^[25]

Capture[edit]

Wikinews has related news:Taliban publicize video of captured U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl

On July 18, 2009, the Taliban released a video showing the captured Bergdahl.^[3] In the video, Bergdahl appeared downcast and frightened. A Department of Defense statement issued on July 19 confirmed that Bergdahl was declared "missing/whereabouts unknown" on July 1, and his status was changed to "missing/captured" on July 3.^[26] In the 28-minute video his captors held up his dog tags to establish that the captured man was Bergdahl.^[3] Bergdahl gave the date as July 14 and mentioned an attack that occurred that day.^[27][28][29]

Accounts of his capture differ. The version offered by Bergdahl, in the video, is that he was captured when he fell behind on a patrol.^[3] CNN, in its report, cites both Taliban and U.S. military sources, the former alleging he was ambushed after becoming drunk off base, and the latter denying that claim stating: "The Taliban are known for lying and what they are claiming (is) not true".^[5] Other sources said Bergdahl walked off his base after his shift.^[30] A Department of Defense spokesperson, Lieutenant Commander Christine Sidenstricker, said, "I'm glad to see he appears unharmed, but again, this is a Taliban propaganda video. They are exploiting the soldier in violation of international law."^[3][4]

According to the Associated Press, General Nabi Mullakheil of the Afghan National Police said the capture occurred in Paktika Province.^[3] Their other sources inform them that he was captured by a Taliban group led by Maulvi Sangin, who has moved him to Ghazni Province. The Guardian quoted sources who speculated about the increased difficulty of a rescue mission if Bergdahl had been smuggled across the nearby border into Pakistan.^[4]

CNN described two Pashto-language leaflets the U.S. military was distributing in seeking Bergdahl.^[5] One showed a smiling GI shaking hands with Afghan children, with a caption that called him a guest in Afghanistan. The other showed a door being broken down, and threatened that those holding Bergdahl would be hunted down.

In December 2009, five months after Bergdahl's disappearance, the media arm of the Afghan Taliban announced the release of a new video of "a U.S. soldier captured in Afghanistan", titled "One of Their People Testified". In the announcement the Taliban did not name the American, but the only U.S. soldier known to be in captivity is Bergdahl. U.S. military officials have been searching for Bergdahl, but it is not publicly known whether he is being held in Afghanistan or in neighboring Pakistan, an area off-limits to U.S. forces based in Afghanistan.^[31] On December 25, another video was released that shows Bergdahl in a combat uniform and helmet.^[32][33] He described his place of birth, deployment to Afghanistan and subsequent capture. He then made several statements regarding his humane treatment by his captors, contrasting this to the abuses suffered by insurgents in prisons. He finished by saying that America should not be in Afghanistan and that its presence there is just another Vietnam. On April 7, 2010, the Taliban released a third video of Bergdahl, now with a full head of hair and a beard, pleading for the release of Afghan prisoners held at Guantanamo and Bagram.^[34][35] In November 2010, Bergdahl appeared briefly in a fourth video.^[36] In May 2011, Bergdahl appeared briefly in a fifth video.^[37]

In December 2011, it was reported that Bergdahl tried to escape three months earlier but was recaptured after three days.^[38] In June 2013, Bergdahl's parents received a letter from him through the Red Cross.^[39]

Threat of reprisal[edit]

On February 4, 2010, the Afghan Taliban demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist who was convicted by a U.S. court on charges of attempting to murder U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, and threatened to execute Bergdahl if their demand was not met.^[40][41] The Taliban claimed that members of Siddiqui's family had requested their assistance.

Reports of joining the Taliban[edit]

Fox News reported in August 2010 that a Taliban commander named Haji Nadeem said Bergdahl was helping to train the Taliban in bomb making and infantry tactics. The Pentagon dismissed the reports as Taliban propaganda.^[42][43]

Release efforts[edit]

This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. (February 2013)

The missing serviceman's fate is tied up in U.S. efforts to broker a peace deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government, a high-level, high-risk diplomatic initiative which appeared to be on the cusp of a breakthrough before the Taliban suspended preliminary talks in March 2012.^{[citation needed]} For months, U.S. negotiators were seeking to arrange the transfer of five Taliban detainees held at Guantanamo Bay military prison to the Gulf state of Qatar. The transfer was intended as one of a series of confidence-building measures designed to open the door to political talks between the Taliban and Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government.^[44] That move - at the center of U.S. strategy for ending the long, costly conflict in Afghanistan - was also supposed to lead directly to Bowe's release. The Taliban has consistently called for the United States to release those held at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for freeing Western prisoners. But the Guantanamo transfer proposal, which would have required notification to Congress, ground to a halt when the Taliban rejected U.S. conditions designed to ensure transferred Taliban would not slip away and re-emerge as military leaders. The Obama administration has since become skeptical that any such peace deal with the Taliban will occur before the bulk of NATO forces leave in 2014.^[45]

Proof of Life[edit]

Daily Mail Uk reports a proof of life video was found referencing the date December 14, 2013 and is the first footage out in three years. ^[46]

See also[edit]

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal

• Ahmed Kousay Altaie, United States Army – The last American serviceman missing in Iraq. His remains were recovered in February 2012.
• Michael Scott Speicher – A United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet pilot shot down in the Gulf War whose status became the subject of uncertainty and headlines, and whose death was not confirmed until August 2, 2009, after positive identification of his remains after they were discovered near his crash site.

References[edit]

1. Jump up^ Hastings, Michael (June 21, 2012). "The Last American Prisoner of War". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
2. Jump up^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1394&dat=20070213&id=JAUlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gBIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=559,2585100
3. ^ Jump up to:^{a b c d e f} Pamela Hess, Lolita Baldur (July 19, 2009). "Bowe Bergdahl: Soldier Captured In Afghanistan Identified As 23-Year-Old Idahoan". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
4. ^ Jump up to:^a b c Declan Walsh (July 19, 2009). "Taliban release video of captured US soldier".The Guardian (London). Retrieved July 19, 2009.
5. ^ Jump up to:^a b c "U.S. soldier captured by Taliban: 'I'm afraid'". CNN. July 19, 2009. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
6. Jump up^ "Bowe Bergdahl: America's Last Prisoner of War by Michael Hastings | Politics News". Rolling Stone. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
7. Jump up^ http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/51336717.html
8. Jump up^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1394&dat=20070213&id=JAUlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gBIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=559,2585100
9. Jump up^ http://www.mtexpress.com/2000/01-12-00/naval.htm
10. Jump up^ http://syvnews.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/recent-obituaries/article_10a7d865-3d58-5c17-bf72-82f297d4ced4.html
11. Jump up^ http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/americas-last-prisoner-of-war-20120607
12. Jump up^ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/us/bowe-bergdahls-unlikely-journey-to-life-as-a-taliban-prisoner.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
13. Jump up^ http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/01/taliban_may_use_bowe_bergdahl.html
14. Jump up^ http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/51336717.html
15. Jump up^http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/family_of_captured_soldier_mov.html
16. Jump up^ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/us/bowe-bergdahls-unlikely-journey-to-life-as-a-taliban-prisoner.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
17. Jump up^ http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/51336717.html
18. Jump up^http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/family_of_captured_soldier_mov.html
19. Jump up^ John Miller (July 19, 2009). "Soldier held in Afghanistan is 23-year-old Idahoan". Associated Press. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
20. Jump up^ "'Frustrated': Dad of Taliban prisoner Bowe Bergdahl takes matters into own hands - World News". Worldnews.msnbc.msn.com. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
21. Jump up^ "Woodside Elementary students plead for Taliban to release Bergdahl". Magicvalley.com. 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
22. Jump up^ "Pakistan News Service". PakTribune. Archived from the original on 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
23. Jump up^ Heintz, Jim; Amir Shah (December 25, 2009). "Family pleas for captive US soldier's release". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
24. Jump up^ "AP Exclusive: Taliban offer to free US soldier Bowe Bergdahl - AP Exclusive: Taliban offer to free US soldier Bowe Bergdahl: News". Idahostatejournal.com. 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
25. Jump up^ "Press release 14580". U.S. Department of Defense.
26. Jump up^ United States Department of Defense (July 19, 2009). "DoD Announces Soldier Status as Missing-Captured". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
27. Jump up^ Miller, John (July 19, 2009). "Pentagon IDs Soldier Held by Taliban". CBS News. Associated Press. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
28. Jump up^ Video: U.S. Soldier, Bowie Bergdahl, Captured By Taliban. CNN. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
29. Jump up^ "U.S. soldier captured by Taliban: 'I'm afraid'". CNN. July 19, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
30. Jump up^ "Parents of captured GI plead for privacy - World news - South and Central Asia - Afghanistan | NBC News". MSNBC. 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
31. Jump up^ Riechmann, Deb (December 16, 2009). "Terror monitor: Tape of captured US soldier due". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
32. Jump up^ "VIDEO: Talibani objavili snimku zarobljenog vojnika (Video: Talibans publish a recording of captured soldier)" (in Croatian). Dnevnik.hr. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
33. Jump up^ "Taliban video shows captive US soldier Bowe Bergdahl". BBC News. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
34. Jump up^ "American captured soldier Bowe Robert Bergdahl "Plea to his government"". YouTube. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
35. Jump up^ [1]^{[dead link]}
36. Jump up^ "Taliban video thought to show captured spc.". Armytimes.com. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
37. Jump up^ "Dad of Captive U.S. Soldier Makes Public Appeal to Pakistan". Fox News. May 7, 2011.
38. Jump up^ Sami Yousafzai; Ron Moreau (7 December 2011). "U.S. Prisoner Bowe Bergdahl’s Failed Attempt to Escape From Taliban". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
39. Jump up^ "POW Bowe Bergdahl's parents receive letter from captive son". CBS News. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
40. Jump up^ Paktribune staff (February 5, 2010). "Taliban to execute US soldier if Aafia not released". paktribune.
41. Jump up^ Mushtaq Yusufzai (February 5, 2010). "Taliban to execute US soldier if Aafia not released". The News International. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. "The Afghan Taliban on Thursday demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist who has been convicted by the U.S. court on charges of her alleged attempt to murder U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, and threatened to execute an American soldier they were holding currently. They claimed Aafia Siddiqui’s family had approached the Taliban network through a Jirga of notables, seeking their assistance to put pressure on the U.S. to provide her justice."
42. Jump up^ Zatkulak, Karen (2010-08-23). "NBC: Reports about captured Idaho soldier not true | KTVB.COM Boise". Ktvb.com. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
43. Jump up^ "Taliban: Captured Soldier Joined Cause". Fox News. 2010-08-22. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
44. Jump up^ Ryan, Missy (May 9, 2012). "Family pleads for U.S. prisoner at heart of Afghan peace push". Reuters (Washington).
45. Jump up^ Rosenberg, Matthew; Nordland, Rod (October 1, 2012). "U.S. Abandoning Hopes for Taliban Peace Deal". New York Times.
46. Jump up

1. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2540143/Americans-prisoner-Afghanistan-alive-diminished-health-FIVE-YEARS-captivity-according-military-officials-whove-seen-newly-released-video.html

Famous Presidential lies.

Famous Presidential Lies LBJ: We were attacked (in the Gulf of Tonkin) Nixon: I am not a crook GHW Bush: Read my lips - No new taxes Clinton: I did not have sex with that woman... (Miss Lewinski) GW Bush: Iraq has weapons of mass destruction Obama: I will have the most transparent administration in history. The stimulus will fund shovel-ready jobs. I am focused like a laser on creating jobs. The IRS is not targeting anyone. It was a spontaneous riot about a movie. If I had a son. I will put an end to the type of politics that "breeds division, conflict and cynicism". You didn't build that! I will restore trust in Government. The Cambridge cops acted stupidly. The public will have 5 days to look at every bill that lands on my desk It's not my red line - it is the world's red line. Whistle blowers will be protected in my administration. We got back every dime we used to rescue the banks and auto companies, with interest. I am not spying on American citizens. ObamaCare will be good for America You can keep your family doctor. Premiums will be lowered by $2500. If you like it, you can keep your current healthcare plan It's just like shopping at Amazon I knew nothing about "Fast and Furious" gunrunning to Mexican drug cartels I knew nothing about IRS targeting conservative groups I knew nothing about what happened in Benghazi I have never met my uncle from Kenya who is in the country illegally and that was arrested and told to leave the country over 20 years ago And, I have never lived with that uncle. (He finally admitted (12-05-2013) that he DID know his uncle and that he DID live with him. And the biggest one of all: "I, Barrack Hussein Obama, pledge to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America."

How much more can we take?

How much more can we take?  Our lives are becoming more and more regulated, and we have less and less personal rights.  We will never be able to pay off our National Debt in our lifetime harnessing our children and grand children with decades of grief over high taxes.  America was built on the premise of free enterprise and it seems we have forgotten what that is.  A person goes into business risking all he has to make a better life for his family and in the end they find over regulation by a government with their hand deep inside his pocket.  The odds of the business being successful are less and less every year.  Now with Obama Care we find another oppressive obstacle to add to their ever burdening collection of rules.  If you think it’s tough to get a job now just give it another year when the business side of the Affordable Care Act takes hold.  I know the extension of the un-employment insurance is popular to many but In my mind it is no different than the coddling of an addict.  We need to create jobs not more debt, you don’t create jobs with so called stimulus money, you create them by making it easier for business to hire, train and educate the workers.  We’ve shipped our manufacturing base overseas because we the public demanded lower prices and the union demanded more money and benefits.  The two mix like oil and water and neither will give an inch. 

I believe we could bring our jobs back with tax free zones in populated under employed urban areas but not as long as the constant demand for higher and higher wages exist.  In capitalistic countries venture Investors put their money where they can earn from the investment, they’re not in business to create jobs but to build wealth.  A good side effect though of wealth building ventures is that they do produce lots of jobs and with those jobs come benefits like health insurance and retirement funds.  You can dismay at the fact that the investors will get richer or you can pick up your hammer and start building your own wealth.  Those who feel that some jobs are beneath them and refuse to work don’t deserve anymore extensions. 

The government could solve the problem by taking a small portion of the tremendous amount of welfare and un-employment funds and subsidizing the worker’s salary in these start up companies for a short period until the company was on its feet and capable of paying a livable wage.  Just like running your family home a business needs cash flow to succeed.  When you have no money left at the end of the month you can’t pay your bills, when the company pays out more than it receives they have to reduce their labor force.  The country could spend a quarter of what this recession is costing on this program and put millions back to work and the national debt would go down every year.  As human beings we are not endowed at birth with an entitlement to anything we haven’t worked for.  Social Security, disability and medicare are funded by our labors and our employers.  Medicaid, Welfare and all the additional benefits awarded to people come out of you the workers pocket.  You see, government has no money to spend unless we give it to them from what we work to earn.  Yes I believe in charity but before charity comes opportunity and if 25 to 35% of our population has decided to suck the government teet dry and refuse to snatch any opportunity that comes along they no longer deserve our charity. 

Less taxes, less regulation will bring more jobs back to America immediately.