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Freed soldier Bowe Bergdahl arrives back in the US

US soldier Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was freed after nearly five years as a Taliban captive, ha...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.28 13 Jun 2014


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Freed soldier Bowe Bergdahl ar...

Freed soldier Bowe Bergdahl arrives back in the US

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.28 13 Jun 2014


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US soldier Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was freed after nearly five years as a Taliban captive, has arrived in Texas from Germany.

Sergeant Bergdahl arrived early today at Brooke Army Medical Centre in San Antonio on a flight from Ramstein Air Base, a Pentagon spokesman said.

He is expected to be reunited with his family in his native Idaho.

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A homecoming party for the soldier was cancelled because of security concerns.

His home town of Hailey - where yellow ribbons and posters celebrating his release have been hung from trees, gate posts and telegraph poles - had planned a welcome home party for family and friends.

However some say Bergdahl (28) whose release was filmed by Taliban fighters, should be punished for allegedly abandoning his post in Afghanistan before his capture in 2009.

Some of Hailey's 8,000 residents have been swamped with hate mail and angry phone calls branding Bergdahl un-American and a traitor and leaving officials to admit they do not have enough resources to guarantee security at the event.

Lee-Ann Ferris, who lives next door to the Bergdahls, has said "It's like a modern-day lynching. He hasn't even been able to give his side of the story yet. This community will welcome him back no matter what".

Jane Drussel, President of the town's chamber of commerce, added "The joy has all of a sudden become not so joyful".

The decision to cancel the celebration came as top intelligence officials defended their decision to free five Taliban commanders in exchange for Sergeant Bergdahl.

During a classified briefing earlier this month, US Senators say they should have been consulted about a move they claim is a threat to Americans abroad, were reportedly shown a proof-of-life video of the soldier filmed in December 2013.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel previously warned critics not to judge the soldier prematurely, telling a NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels "It's not in the interests of anyone and certainly, I think, a bit unfair to Sergeant Bergdahl's family and to him to presume anything. We don't do that in the United States. We rely on facts".

At a White House press conference following his release, the US President Barack Obama said he was proud of the operation to release Bowe.


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