Taliban Hostage-Taking More Hopeful Than Past

The latest video of captive American soldier Bowe Bergdahl suggests that the Taliban -- whose reputation leans towards cutting off prisoners' heads -- may have adopted a new approach.

What can one say about the only American soldier held in captivity by the Taliban in Afghanistan?

A poignant video released by the Taliban, shows a bearded  Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl in camouflage pants, army windbreaker and hat, pleading into the camera for his release. His voice is firm, he’s not cowed.

Bergdahl apparently was captured last June, and this is the first video of him since before Christmas. He appeared fit and did a few knee bends and push ups for the camera, apparently to show he was not undergoing torture.

What is different about this video of  a prisoner, is that while he was pleading to be released, “bring me home . . .let me go . . . I want to go home . . . Afghan men in our prisons, they want to go home too,” there was no blaming America, or accusing his country for waging an unnecessary war, or demeaning himself to gratify his captors.

In short, while plaintive and pathetic, his appeal had a certain dignity. While it’s hard not to empathize with anyone in the hands of the Taliban, one can only imagine the pressure this soldier – who comes from Idaho – was under to denounce America. But there was none of that.

Was that Pfc. Bergdahl’s choice, or is this a new approach by the Taliban, whose reputation  leans towards cutting off prisoners’ heads on video? The seven-minute video concludes with the Taliban offering to exchange Bergdahl for an unknown number of prisoners held by the Americans.

This isn’t likely to happen, but the fact that an offer has been made, indicates there is movement and possibly progress being made. Of late, the Taliban have indicated an interest in negotiating a future role in governing in Afghanistan – or at least ruling, because there isn’t a hell of a lot of “governing” as we understand the word going on in that country.

Violence is increasing, but optimists see a “Hail Mary” aspect to the violence as a desperate gesture to divert pressure from themselves. In the field, U.S. and  coalition forces are giving the Taliban a rough time, while in Pakistan, the army seems to have made up its mind that life would be better without the Taliban constantly poised to take over government.

Pfc. Bergdahl is an unfortunate symbol, and one worries on his behalf if overtures of some sort of prisoner exchange are ignored or rejected.

It’s likely another video will be released before Bergdahl’s story is done. If the next video has him begging, and echoing scripted dialogue against the  U.S. army command and the politicians who guide the country, then it will indicate a turn for the worse . . . for him.

In the meantime, one hopes the present  video offers clues as to his whereabouts, that  perhaps may lead to a rescue attempt – something U.S. forces are pretty adept at pulling off.

Meanwhile, soldiers, don’t get captured.