Photo of former Taliban prisoner raises questions

World Today

A newly-released photo of a former Taliban prisoner in captivity sparks controversy in the United States. Peter Alexander reports.

Bowe Bergdahl, 28, was freed from Taliban imprisonment just over a month ago, in a controversial exchange for five Taliban militants who are currently in Guatanamo Bay. However, his five years in captivity is raising new questions after a photo was posted to a Twitter account associated with the Taliban and al Qaeda. The photo shows Bergdahl smiling alongside a former leader of the Haqqani terrorist network.

Pentagon officials have downplayed the significance of the photo, referring to it as “100 percent propaganda.”

U.S. military officials say Bergdahl may still have “a few more weeks” ahead of him at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas before easing his way back into the public. They also say he has been receiving training on interaction with the media although he will not be assigned an escort.

Photo of former Taliban prisoner raises questions

A newly released photo of a former Taliban prisoner in captivity sparks controversy in the United States. Peter Alexander reports.