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The Taliban released a video today showing captured U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl. Marco Werman has more.

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MARCO WERMAN: I’m Marco Werman.  This is the World.  The Taliban today released a video of an American soldier they captured in June.  Private Bowe Bergdahl had been in Afghanistan only five months when he disappeared.  In the video, Private Bergdahl is shown seated.  He’s wearing sunglasses and what appears to be a U.S. military helmet and uniform.  Bergdahl is facing the camera, as he identifies himself.

PRIVATE BOWE BERGDAHL: My name is Bowe Bergdahl.  I was born on March 28, 1986 in the City of Sun Valley in the State of Idaho in the United States of America.  My blood type is A positive.  The name of my mother before she was married was Jani Larson.

WERMAN: Private Bergdahl goes on to criticize the United States over the war in Afghanistan.

BERGDAHL: I’m afraid to tell you that this war has slipped from our fingers.  And it’s just gonna be the next Vietnam, unless the American people stand up and stop all this nonsense.

WERMAN: Finally, a Taliban spokesman calls for the release of captured insurgents in exchange for Private Bergdahl.  It’s not clear when the video was recorded.  The U.S. military described the release of it as an affront to the soldier’s family at Christmas.  And NATO said that Bergdahl was clearly forced to read a prepared statement.

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