Captured Soldier Appears in Taliban Video

(CBS)  The nation is learning more about the American soldier captured by the Taliban last month.

Private Bowe Bergdahl, 23, is from a small town in Idaho. Once a ballet dancer, he worked in a coffee shop before joining the Army last year.

On Saturday, the Taliban released a video of him in captivity. And today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates had a message for his captors, reports CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark from Afghanistan.

The images of captured Private Bowe Bergdahl left the Secretary of Defense expressing contempt for Taliban tactics.

"Our commanders are sparing no effort to find this young soldier and I also would say my personal reaction was one of disgust at the exploitation of this young man," Gates said.

In Bergdahl's hometown of Hailey, Idaho, residents showed their support with ribbons and prayers.

"We have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and concern toward Bowe and our family. As you know, this situation is extremely difficult for everyone involved," said Walt Femling, the town's sheriff, speaking for the soldier's family today.

Neighbors and others in the tight knit community have known for weeks that Bergdahl had been captured. But they remained quiet out of respect for his family.

The Taliban video shows the 23-year-old -- clearly under duress -- admonishing the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and becoming noticeably shaken when talking about his girlfriend and family.

"I have a girlfriend I was hoping to marry. I have a very, very good family," Bergdahl says in the video.

The U.S. military has mounted an operation in eastern Afghanistan to find him, led by the 3,000-strong Task Force Yukon, Private Bergdahl's own unit. The soldier went missing last month.

On the video, Bergdahl says he was captured after lagging behind on a patrol. He appears to be in good health and is shown eating. He says he is being "treated like a guest."

CBS News consultant on terrorism, Jere Van Dyk says the appearance of good treatment is the Taliban's way of taunting the U.S.

"It is a message to the United States and its allies and the American public to say that we treat soldiers better than you do," Van Dyk said.

That may be some small comfort to a family still hoping for his safe return.

[newsterl]

"he worked in a coffee shop before joining the Army last year."

Shoulda stayed in the coffe shop

[babooph]

At my advanced age,the US military has been observed fighting all over the globe,why does the propaganda system call it the "DEFENSE DEPT."& not the "OFFENSE DEPT."?The suckers will do nothing about the overstuffed tax $ for it anyway.

[ReallyMeanIt]

As usual, obama provides no war time leadership as CIC.
The libs seems to be OK with the taliban non-complianced of the Geneva convention.....these apologists will come up with some lame excuse for the terrorists action.

[wyodutch]

I hope they don't waterboard him... He'll admit to being part of some secret Al Quaeda cell in Idaho and the Paks will sell him to the CIA... who will rendition him to Syria where they'll pull his fingernails out... all in the name of keeping us Merkuns safe from terrizm.