Good News From the Afghan Hostage Video

By: Tucker Reals
Topics: Afghanistan

(AP Photo/Militant Video)

Jere Van Dyk, an expert on terrorism who has spent months in the villages along the Afghan-Pakistan border researching al Qaeda and the Taliban, says video of a kidnapped U.S. soldier gives reason for hope.

Van Dyk says there are signals being sent by Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl's captors in Afghanistan in the 28 minute video, which was released on various Web sites over the weekend — signals which give him reason to "hope" the 23-year-old may well survive his ordeal.

CBS Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez asked Van Dyk about the general appearance of the captive Army private, who appears in the video in a non-descript but clean Afghan robe, well-fed and generally unharmed.

"They're sending a message to the United States and its allies, and equally they're sending a message to the Afghan public: We can treat soldiers — we can treat prisoners better than the Americans are treating us," said Van Dyk, citing myriad reports of prisoner abuse in U.S.-run prisons for terror suspects in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"What they are saying to the Afghan public is that we can do a better job — Do not be afraid of us."

"He's wearing nice clothes. He's being fed. He has a cup of tea there. This is ancient tribal code that predates Islam," explains Van Dyk, who says local tradition dictates, "We will protect to the death a guest in our home — He is in someone's home right now."

Click below to see Van Dyk on The Early Show:

"My belief is — my hope, of course, is and my cautious feeling is that he will be protected, he will not be harmed," Van Dyk told Rodriguez.

The author said it's important to make a distinction between the Taliban militants holding Pfc. Bergdahl and al Qaeda militants — the ones who kidnapped and then beheaded American journalist Daniel Pearl in neighboring Pakistan, for instance.

"The Taliban and al Qaeda are two different things," he said.

Van Dyk said there have been at least eight kidnappings by Taliban militants along the border in recent years, some made public, others kept secret, and "most of the hostages have been released."

Tucker Reals
Tucker Reals is a senior news editor and overnight site editor for CBSNews.com, based at CBS News' London bureau.

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by gracemyrtle July 21, 2009 11:04 PM EDT: Even I am not as naive as this man shows himself to be. This is a video tape of an orchestrated situation. Does he know for a fact that Pfc Bergdahl was allowed to keep the clothes he was wearing or was this a 'costume' for the film? It wouldn't be the first time a prisoner was dressed appropriately for a special occasion - the Japanese did it in WWII all the time.

And my question to all of those who think we have disgraced ourselves by our treatment of prisoners is this: How many video tapes did we made and send to enemy governments and news agencies? How many prisoners have had bones broken because they were beaten and then denied medical care? How many were starved, some to the point of death? How many were forced to work in conditions that were inhumane and cruel?

My answer to you: Get a text book and educate yourself on the atrocities committed by foreign governments on our soldiers. You disgrace our country by your lack of historical knowledge and it shows in your asinine comments that are simply parodies of our government officials who are only playing to an audience in an effort to keep their over-paid jobs with their over-paid retirement benefits.; Reply to this comment


by MRBOB1234 July 21, 2009 12:47 PM EDT: MY WIFE SAID THAT SHE HAD A VISION ABOUT THIS ABDUCTION AND THAT PFC BOWE IS BEING HELD IN A CAVE ON A MOUNTAIN COVERED WITH TREES. INSIDE THIS CAVE IS A ROOM, BROWN ON THE OUTSIDE AND WHITE ON THE INSIDE WITH FOUR GUARDS OUTSIDE THE ROOM, ONE ON EACH CORNER AND EACH IN A DIFFERENT UNIFORM. SHE SAID THAT PFC BOWE IS HIGHLY DEPRESSED AND ID TRYING TO ESCAPE BUT SHE IS SURE THAT HE WILL NOT SUSCEED BUT WILL BE KILLED.; Reply to this comment


by NotEasilyFooled July 21, 2009 9:58 AM EDT: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you another example of Taliban information warfare. The message was obviously aimed at dissuading the US populace from supporting what this Soldier was coerced into portraying as a failed international effort in Afghanistan. In order to add legitimacy to that which this Soldier was forced to say, he was made to appear relaxed and answer of his own volition. The Taliban is no stranger to carefully crafting messages. It's apalling to see how easily Mr. Van Dyk missed what was happening here.

For my part, I am disappointed in the conduct of this Soldier. No amount of coercion, intimidation, or torture is an excuse for a Soldier to sell out his country for his own safety. In his haste to secure his safety, he has discounted the blood of true heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice to give Afghans a dream better than the nightmare of life offered under the Taliban.

-NEF; Reply to this comment


by John_Merritt July 20, 2009 4:37 PM EDT: My question is: What is it the Taliban want for exchange? Have there been any demands made by them to us? Do they want a prisoner exchange?

I hope and Bowe remains safe and it does appear they are treating him well. It also appears they will try to doctrinate him to there way and make him a spokesman for them to the American public. Stay tuned.

Bowe, be strong. Any young man from Hailey, Idaho knows about being tough. You got what it takes son.; Reply to this comment


by scottryan1 July 20, 2009 12:24 PM EDT: Are you joking or what.
The afghan people have lived with the Taliban for how long?
The Taliban raped them & there kids, took there kids away & forced them to join at 6 years old / 12 years old, & killed & murdered 1,000s of them.
I don?t think for 1 second that they will think, see they are better then Americans.
That is the most Dumas thing I have red.; Reply to this comment

by opedpaulanderson July 20, 2009 10:39 AM EDT

This soldier better pray that he doesnt meet the Dick Cheney of Afganistan.

If they treat this guy well and release him, it would be a propaganda coup for the Taliban.

We have shamed ourselves on prisoner treatment all over the world!

Reply to this comment


by ErrorInUse July 20, 2009 1:25 PM EDT: Yes we have.


by McGowania July 21, 2009 2:59 PM EDT: only question i'd ask is why the US Soldier thinks it's wise to walk out of camp with two local's and not one guard asks what he's doing? thank god i'm British. Mind you, so is God :O) (hope he is found alive though and the afghans get peace)


by speakinup22 July 20, 2009 10:20 AM EDT: Mr Van Dyk is more than a little confused. I would say he has gone as far as giving aid to the enemy. So, tell us Mr. Van Dyk, what you would say about the typical prisoners in Gitmo. They are wearing clean clothes. They are well fed. They are given their Koran, unlike this soldier - who is not provided a bible.

The CIA admits to waterboarding 3 (three) KNOWN terrorists. And, this modern day Jane Fonda says, "What they are saying to the Afghan public is that we can do a better job ? Do not be afraid of us."

Is MR Van Dyk aware of this video, which plainly shows a TALIBAN (note - not Al Qaeda) beheading a pakistani ?
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/197396.php

Or what about this TALIBAN beheading of a Polish Engineer:
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-02/2009-02-08-voa12.cfm?CFID=258097358&CFTOKEN=89023073&jsessionid=88308a751e225bf2ab9d633262633f156a12

Try doing a google on taliban beheading before serving up this steaming pile of treason, will you liberal.; Reply to this comment

by MustangSallyDJ July 20, 2009 10:00 AM EDT

If they say they treat their hostages better then us, why was this solider crying during the video when they showed it on TV this morning. Tears of Joy? Frayed Knot

Reply to this comment


by jsf14 July 20, 2009 4:46 PM EDT: Maybe he's afraid he'll be subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques.


by jsf14 July 20, 2009 5:09 PM EDT: by AwwCmonWhatIsThis July 20, 2009 5:01 PM EDT

Then he shouldn't be afraid, because he knows all those that went through EIT are sitting fat and sassy down at GITMO watching big screen tv, eating healthy food, and plotting their next round of terrorism ...

Having to go through EIT to get to a soft life would still frighten a man.