A look at the Bergdahl release video

World Today

The U.S. military is reviewing a 17-minute Taliban video of U.S. soldier, Bowe Bergdahl’s release over the weekend. CCTV’s Jessica Stone reports with more on the remarkable piece of footage.

It is the world’s first look at Bergdahl since the Americans announced a prisoner swap of 5 Guantanamo Bay detainees for him. It shows a pretty orderly transition – which is significant in its lack of drama.

A look at the Bergdahl release video

The U.S. military is reviewing a 17-minute Taliban video of U.S. soldier, Bowe Bergdahl's release over the weekend. CCTV's Jessica Stone reports with more on the remarkable piece of footage.

As the U.S. military helicopter nears a hilly outcrop in Afghanistan — we see masked men in traditional Afghan dress, carrying guns and surrounding a silver pickup truck. One shoulders a rocket propelled grenade on the hillside above. Narration on the Taliban-released video says it was taken at four p.m. local time on the Pakistani border in the Afghan province of Khost.

Inside the truck, one can see a squinting Bowe Bergdahl, head shaven and dressed as a local. He blinks frequently, and looks out of the truck, occasionally listening as one of his captors speaks to him. As the helicopter approaches, one of the Taliban men gets closer to Bergdahl and is heard speaking in Pashto. “Don’t come back to Afghanistan,” the man tells Bergdahl. “You won’t make it out alive next time.” Earlier, his captors had shouted — “Long life to Mujahedeen,” or holy warriors, as the Taliban call themselves.

Bergdahl, wearing a gray shawl across his shoulders, is accompanied by two Taliban fighters — one carrying a makeshift white flag. Three U.S. special forces approach and shake hands with the Taliban soldiers. A special forces agent then motions a “thumbs up” towards the waiting Black Hawk. Bergdahl approaches the helicopter and is frisked by one agent before boarding.

Then the video transitions to a homecoming , reportedly for the five Guantanamo Bay detainees, released in exchange for Bergdahl. There are long hugs and celebratory drinks among a group of white-shalwar kameez-clad men before they leave the site of the long-awaited reunion.

CCTV’s Mike Walters interviews Dan O’Shea, Vice President of Personnel Recovery, Kidnap and Ransom at G-ROM Technologies, on Bowe Bergdahl and the new Taliban video.

Dan O\'Shea on Taliban\'s Bergdahl video

CCTV's Mike Walters interviews Dan O'Shea, Vice President of Personnel Recovery, Kidnap and Ransom at G-ROM Technologies, on Bowe Bergdahl and the new Taliban video.