Posted on 07/20/2009 4:46:04 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said American commanders are “sparing no effort” to locate a U.S. soldier who went missing early this month in Afghanistan.
Speaking to reporters today during a Pentagon news conference, Gates also expressed his disgust at the exploitation of Army Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, who the Defense Department identified as the missing soldier and who is featured in a video apparently released yesterday on the Internet by his captors.
“Our commanders are sparing no effort to find this young soldier, and I also would say that my personal reaction was one of disgust at the exploitation of this young man,” Gates said.
In a news release yesterday, the Defense Department identified Bergdahl as the 23-year-old Army private from Ketchum, Idaho, listed as “missing-captured” on July 3 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Bergdahl is a member of 25th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, from Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Appearing alongside Gates today was Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who denounced the situation in similar terms.
“I deplore the exploitation of this young man,” Mullen said.
On a visit to Afghanistan last week, the chairman said he spent time with forces conducting operations to find Bergdahl.
“They are extensive, vast; they’re on it 24-7,” Mullen said. “We’re doing absolutely everything we can to get him back.”
Mullen declined to discuss whether intelligence had been gleaned from the 28-minute video.
Have Obama talk to them. Barak Obama, blessings be upon his name, can do all things. He is greater than Mohamed.
I wish the government would spend this much effort on all of our POW/MIAs. Obama can turn this into a PR boost and so he cares. Because of that video, it is now fine for him to play Saving Private Bergdahl while hundreds of other POW/MIAs remain unsearched for. Not that saving Mr. Bergdahl is not important. Saving his life would be a great blow to the enemy. But after saving him, they will go back to business as usual and the other POW/MIAs will be forgotten.
Lots of weird leaks coming out about Bergdahl being AWOL/deserting. Apparently he left a note and walked to villages asking for water?
A very odd story. I wonder how Obama will use this one.
The odds are slim to none!
How many years have we been searching for Osama? I bet the soldier and Osama are in the same cave together. By the time we get him back (if he still has his head) he will have converted to Islam and become Osama house servant. I have little faith they will get him back.
I really think bin Laden’s dead.
Just like he is using the economy...Intentionally cause even worse news and when he is offered the sensible plan to rescue the kid he'll either stall or obstruct bureaucratically so as to distract the serfs while he continues with his plan to implement all his communist ideas.
IOW, he hopes for the worst outcome to this matter....and hopes it takes several months to occur!
We know that's not happening.
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