AP sources: Taliban video shows captive US soldier

[SavageOrangeJug]

The quoted text is the easy part to read. The rest is little more unsettling. Let's hope for this soldier and his family, that special forces can find and rescue him.

By PAMELA HESS and LOLITA BALDOR, Associated Press Writers Pamela Hess And Lolita Baldor

WASHINGTON – The American soldier who went missing June 30 from his base in eastern Afghanistan and was later confirmed captured, appeared on a video posted Saturday to a Web site by the Taliban, two U.S. defense officials confirmed.

The soldier is shown in the 28-minute video with his head shaved and the start of a beard. He is sitting and dressed in a nondescript, gray outfit. Early in the video one of his captors holds the soldier's dog tag up to the camera. His name and ID number are clearly visible. He is shown eating at one point and sitting on a bed.

The soldier, whose identity has not yet been released by the Pentagon pending notification of members of Congress and the soldier's family, says his name, age and hometown on the video, which was released Saturday on a Web site pointed out by the Taliban. Two U.S. defense officials confirmed to The Associated Press that the man in the video is the captured soldier.

The soldier said the date is July 14. He says he was captured when he lagged behind on a patrol.

Captive soldier

 

[MG1968]

something is fishy here. It's been reported that he walked off-base alone and without any of his gear and was not on a patrol.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

something is fishy here. It's been reported that he walked off-base alone and without any of his gear and was not on a patrol.

Wag the Dog (1997)

 

[orangeblooded2]

The latest.





?Tight-knit? community prays for captive soldier - Field Notes - msnbc.com


http://mwcnews.net/content/view/32032/26/

 

[KB5252]

I saw a military analyst on the news last night that said it was confirmed to him by a senior official that this guy was a deserter at worst and awol at best. Either this guy had emotional issues or something worse possibly.

 

[MontereyVol]

I saw a military analyst on the news last night that said it was confirmed to him by a senior official that this guy was a deserter at worst and awol at best. Either this guy had emotional issues or something worse possibly.

Since he has been captured, the worst is dereliction of duty at minimum failure to obey. That military analyst is wrong unless the guy left a note saying adios.

 

[SavageOrangeJug]

I saw a military analyst on the news last night that said it was confirmed to him by a senior official that this guy was a deserter at worst and awol at best. Either this guy had emotional issues or something worse possibly.

I have no sympathy for civilians who remain in hostile countries against State Department orders to leave.

However, this man is a soldier in the US military. He was not there of his own choosing. The US has a duty to secure his safe release.

Since he has been captured, the worst is dereliction of duty at minimum failure to obey. That military analyst is wrong unless the guy left a note saying adios.

MV, what actions would the military take?

1. It was a case of dereliction of duty?

OR

2. He actually did say adios?

Once he is repatriated what will they most likely do?

 

[dantheman617]

Something about this guy makes me think he is someone who is anti-war and joined the army just to do this....anyone else seem to think that? I mean why would a guy just wonder from camp without gear/other soldiers/etc?

 

[KB5252]

Since he has been captured, the worst is dereliction of duty at minimum failure to obey. That military analyst is wrong unless the guy left a note saying adios.

I don't think he was speculating on the charges, just saying that from the info he has the guy simply walked off and deserted, maybe that is the wrong word technically, I wouldn't know.

 

[MontereyVol]

MV, what actions would the military take?

1. It was a case of dereliction of duty?

OR

2. He actually did say adios?

Once he is repatriated what will they most likely do?

I have no idea about the details of what his commander knows. If he left a note he will be considered AWOL although it doesn't change anything they will go get him anyway. I just stated that as an afterthought thinking there could possibly end up being more to this story?

Right now with what I read, he did leave unarmed without any other US soldiers, only Afghan workers, that is a reliable source. One thing you have to keep in mind over there is these guys are like your best friends who really aren't.

Since he now has an excuse (being captured) worst case scenario, disobeying a direct order (that has a huge range on punishment). So unless any new news comes up, the Army will not risk the fire storm of punishing this guy too hard. Probably just slowly phased out.

 

[MontereyVol]

I don't think he was speculating on the charges, just saying that from the info he has the guy simply walked off and deserted, maybe that is the wrong word technically, I wouldn't know.

Not trying to bust your chops and I didn't see the show you were talking about the guy may actually have more info on the situation?

The AWOL or desertion seems a bit of a stretch since he was captured. To be considered either of those he would have had to miss roll call, duty or something before being captured and it doesn't seem the time line is nailed down on this event.

 

[KB5252]

Not trying to bust your chops and I didn't see the show you were talking about the guy may actually have more info on the situation?

The AWOL or desertion seems a bit of a stretch since he was captured. To be considered either of those he would have had to miss roll call, duty or something before being captured and it doesn't seem the time line is nailed down on this event.

From what I understand the guy took off on his own and walked off, he didn't take his gun, vest, water or anything with him. The fact that he didn't take his vest with him leads me to believe they weren't out on patrol but at a base? From what I gather he was captured because he walked away from his base and fellow soldiers, I don't know if that makes any difference but it isn't like he was captured during any operation, again this is from the news reports I've heard.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Wag the Dog (1997)

k: