New Taliban video shows captive US soldier

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

New Taliban video shows captive US soldier (AFP)

25 December 2009, 5:38 PMThe Taliban Friday released a video purportedly showing US soldier Bowe Robert Bergdahl, who was captured in Afghanistan about six months ago.

A spokesman for the Islamist group said the video, which NATO denounced as “an affront” to the soldier’s family, was issued to highlight its demand for the release of prisoners from US detention centres.

The 36-minute video features Bergdahl, 23, in various poses including one in front of a carpet, wearing combat fatigues, a helmet and sunglasses and another where he is seen shaven-headed and in grey robes.

The clip shows news footage of US political leaders, Taliban military action, some graphic pictures of what appears to be civilian casualties and apparent abuse of prisoners at US detention facilities.


Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/international/2009/December/international_December1361.xml§ion=international

[UpInArms]

1. I just finished reading the LA Times article on Berghdahl -

Taliban video shows captured U.S. soldier

I thought it was a cheesy statement that this was somehow wrong to release on "Christmas Day" - an insult to the family - I think that I would be happy to see any film of my kid on any day - especially if he had been taken prisoner 6 months ago and no one could tell me where he was or if he was even alive.

sheesh

I certainly hope he gets to come back home - alive.

[rampart]

2. hoping this soldier

and all other victims of this senseless adventure are soon home safe with their families.

[zeemike]

3. Anything that could make people turn against this war will be kept from us

And so we will never see this.

[chrisa]

6. Well, if you really want to see the video,

I'm sure it's somewhere on the internet. Don't wait for the MSM.

[zeemike]

10. I have no need to see it because I am already against these wars.

It is the general public that needs to see it.

[chrisa]

14. Very true.

[Ian David]

4. If he was a contractor, we'd pay millions in ransom to get him back.

But because he's only a regular American citizen who volunteered to protect our freedom, he's fucked.

[RedSock]

5. if his captors agree with obama regarding torture, yeah he's fucked (eom)

[TexasObserver]

7. Recommend

[skyounkin]

8. Thoughts and well wishes to

to his family. And to him.

[Hulk]

9. Video clip link......

Searched Google, and this is what I found. Video link.....http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-TgbTLEwT2bg/raw_video_purported_taliban_footage_of_u

May be more out there...not sure.

[SandWalker1984]

11. What is the US planning to do in Yemen????

from whatreallyhappened.com

BBC headline:

The increased violence in Yemen is a clear indication that military campaigns to crush al-Qaeda-inspired violence extend far beyond the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan.


As reported in:

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65730/joost-r-hiltermann/disorder-on-the-border

"in order to mobilize more than just the marginal Zaydi revivalist groups, the Houthi leadership has portrayed its position as purely defensive against acts of state oppression and attacks by the Yemeni army."

"although the Houthis are critical of the Yemeni government's siding with the United States in the "global war on terror," they should not be lumped together with terrorist groups such as al Qaeda and its affiliates, something the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia have been trying to do since 2004. Despite their incendiary rhetoric, the Houthis have never targeted Westerners or the tiny remaining Jewish population in northern Yemen."

"Foreign money contributes to the Sa'dah governorate's war economy, which is built on the trafficking of weapons, drugs, and diesel to Saudi Arabia and the Horn of Africa. These inflows offer an additional incentive to fight, as army officers, tribal sheikhs, arms dealers, and rebels all gain a shared interest in the war."



The above is a very clear, unbiased description of the government in Yemen the US is supporting. So is our goverment setting up to expand their "global war on terror" to Yemen too?

How many frigging countries are they planning to invade?

And where do they think we are supposed to get the money to fight all of these corporate/mercenary wars???

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. thank you for posting that from Foreign Affairs

I have been trying hard to try to figure out what is going on Yemen for the last month or so. From what I can gather, the issue of Al Qaeda in Yemen and the issue of the Houthi rebels are two different issues. The accusation being made regarding the Houthi uprising claims that Iran is actively and significantly arming and supporting the Houthi rebels. But as this article and other material points out, there simply has been no hard evidence so far that has been made public to support that accusation. Although, the Iranian state media is clearly sympathetic to the Houthi - although despite some common misconceptions - Zaydism, is more of a breakaway from Shiite Islam then then a sect of Shiite Islam - there belief system would be completely incompatible with the form practiced in Iran. Zaidis constitute about 40-45% of the population in Yemen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaidiyyah

anyway its a very good article. Thanks for posting:

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65730/joost-r-hiltermann/disorder-on-the-border

[bluestateguy]

12. Disgusting

nt

[Soylent Brice]

15. .

[winyanstaz]

16. I pray he is released and not harmed any further...

I am afraid though that after all the people we have tortured etc...he is in big trouble.
Thats the danger in torturing other people...it's hard to be rightious when they torture our side right back.
I am so sick of these wars and the needless losses of life on both sides.