Parents of captured Idaho soldier want prisoner swap

The Idaho parents of the only U.S. soldier in Taliban captivity say they want the Obama administration to negotiate a prisoner swap to bring their son home. Bob and Jani Bergdahl broke their long silence in new interviews, hoping to build public pressure for a deal.

The parents of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl revealed to the Idaho Mountain Express and the New York Times that a prisoner swap is on the table in U.S. peace talks with the Taliban. Those negotiations were barely off the ground this year when they stalled. But the Bergdahls told the Times a deal in the works would exchange five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay for their son.

Bowe Bergdahl was captured while on patrol in Afghanistan in June of 2009. His parents have made few public statements about their son, not wanting to jeopardize his potential return. But the Bergdahls now say they’re frustrated with the slow progress and what they see has lack of political will to negotiate.

Bowe Bergdahl’s parents hope to add fuel to a growing movement to bring public awareness to their son. The soldier’s father, Bob Bergdahl, plans to speak at a POW rally on Memorial Day in Washington D.C.

On the Web:

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/world/asia/pow-is-focus-of-talks-on-taliban-prisoner-swap.html?_r=1

Idaho Mountain Express

http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005141943

Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network