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| Hagel: Congress not told of Bergdahl release because his life was in danger | Hagel: Congress not told of Bergdahl release because his life was in danger |
| (3 months later) | |
| The defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, said on Sunday the military operation to free Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Guantánamo Bay detainees was not relayed to Congress because officials believed the soldier's life was in danger. | The defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, said on Sunday the military operation to free Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Guantánamo Bay detainees was not relayed to Congress because officials believed the soldier's life was in danger. |
| Bergdahl, who was freed around 6pm local time on Saturday, was subsequently flown from Afghanistan to a military hospital in Germany. The Landstuhl regional medical centre said in a statement that Bergdahl arrived at the facility in south-western Germany on Sunday morning. | |
| The hospital said its staff "will evaluate his condition, begin any necessary medical care and assist in his recovery process." It added that they are "sensitive to what Sgt Bergdahl has been through and will proceed with his reintegration at a pace with which he is comfortable". | |
| The hospital says that there is "no pre-determined amount of time" for the reintegration process. | The hospital says that there is "no pre-determined amount of time" for the reintegration process. |
| The commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, General Joseph Dunford, spoke on Sunday of the sense of excitement that swept the headquarters of the international military force there as news of the successful operation filtered through. | The commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, General Joseph Dunford, spoke on Sunday of the sense of excitement that swept the headquarters of the international military force there as news of the successful operation filtered through. |
| "You almost got choked up," he said. "It was pretty extraordinary. It has been almost five years and he is home." | "You almost got choked up," he said. "It was pretty extraordinary. It has been almost five years and he is home." |
| In his first extensive public comments about Saturday's operation, Hagel said intelligence the US had gathered suggested that Bergdahl's "safety and health were both in jeopardy, and in particular his health was deteriorating". | In his first extensive public comments about Saturday's operation, Hagel said intelligence the US had gathered suggested that Bergdahl's "safety and health were both in jeopardy, and in particular his health was deteriorating". |
| Taliban members handed Bergdahl over to special operations forces in eastern Afghanistan, and later in the day the detainees were flown from Guantánamo to Qatar. | Taliban members handed Bergdahl over to special operations forces in eastern Afghanistan, and later in the day the detainees were flown from Guantánamo to Qatar. |
| The Pentagon did not give Congress the required 30-day notice for the release of detainees, prompting criticism, which is also being levelled at the decision to negotiate with “terrorists”. | The Pentagon did not give Congress the required 30-day notice for the release of detainees, prompting criticism, which is also being levelled at the decision to negotiate with “terrorists”. |
| Hagel said it was the administration's judgment that the military had to move quickly to get Bergdahl out, "essentially to save his life". | Hagel said it was the administration's judgment that the military had to move quickly to get Bergdahl out, "essentially to save his life". |
| He said it was the unanimous consensus of the National Security Council, and the president has the authority to order such a release under article 2 of the Constitution. Only a handful of people knew about the operation and Hagel said "we couldn't afford any leaks anywhere, for obvious reasons”. | He said it was the unanimous consensus of the National Security Council, and the president has the authority to order such a release under article 2 of the Constitution. Only a handful of people knew about the operation and Hagel said "we couldn't afford any leaks anywhere, for obvious reasons”. |
| Speaking to reporters travelling with him just hours after Bergdahl was flown out of Afghanistan, Hagel said the special operations forces conducting the operation took every precaution, using intelligence gathering, surveillance, well-positioned security assets and a lot of helicopters to ensure that things did not go wrong. | Speaking to reporters travelling with him just hours after Bergdahl was flown out of Afghanistan, Hagel said the special operations forces conducting the operation took every precaution, using intelligence gathering, surveillance, well-positioned security assets and a lot of helicopters to ensure that things did not go wrong. |
| "No shots were fired. There was no violence," said Hagel. "It went as well as we not only expected and planned, but I think as well as it could have … the timing was right. The pieces came together." | "No shots were fired. There was no violence," said Hagel. "It went as well as we not only expected and planned, but I think as well as it could have … the timing was right. The pieces came together." |
| At Bagram air base, Hagel met more than a dozen members of the special operations team that participated in the rescue. | |
| Hagel and the special ops team met quietly in a separate part of a hangar where he also spoke to a large group of US troops. According to a US official, Hagel thanked them and told them they represented the true spirit of never leaving a comrade behind. | Hagel and the special ops team met quietly in a separate part of a hangar where he also spoke to a large group of US troops. According to a US official, Hagel thanked them and told them they represented the true spirit of never leaving a comrade behind. |
| They largely kept out of sight. But as the special operations forces walked past their body armour and occasional beards and less clean-cut looks made it evident who they were. | They largely kept out of sight. But as the special operations forces walked past their body armour and occasional beards and less clean-cut looks made it evident who they were. |
| Hagel told them that while they participated in an important mission they do many other jobs that often go unrecognised. | Hagel told them that while they participated in an important mission they do many other jobs that often go unrecognised. |
| Hagel also said he was hopeful the prisoner exchange could lead to a breakthrough with the Taliban. He said the focus of the operation was on the successful return of Bergdahl, but "maybe this could provide some possible new bridge for new negotiations”. | Hagel also said he was hopeful the prisoner exchange could lead to a breakthrough with the Taliban. He said the focus of the operation was on the successful return of Bergdahl, but "maybe this could provide some possible new bridge for new negotiations”. |
| The US has long argued that the best way to a successful outcome in Afghanistan included reconciliation with the Taliban insurgents. | The US has long argued that the best way to a successful outcome in Afghanistan included reconciliation with the Taliban insurgents. |
| Asked if this type of swap might embolden other militants to take hostages, Hagel said that this operation was a prisoner exchange. And he said terrorist groups were already kidnapping young school girls, business people and other innocent people. | Asked if this type of swap might embolden other militants to take hostages, Hagel said that this operation was a prisoner exchange. And he said terrorist groups were already kidnapping young school girls, business people and other innocent people. |
| Hagel declined to say whether he believes Bergdahl was attempting to desert the army or go absent without leave when he walked away from his unit and disappeared nearly five years ago. | Hagel declined to say whether he believes Bergdahl was attempting to desert the army or go absent without leave when he walked away from his unit and disappeared nearly five years ago. |
| "Our first priority is assuring his wellbeing and his health and getting him reunited with his family," Hagel said. "Other circumstances that may develop and questions – those will be dealt with later." | "Our first priority is assuring his wellbeing and his health and getting him reunited with his family," Hagel said. "Other circumstances that may develop and questions – those will be dealt with later." |
| He added that his own time in Vietnam and the fact that he knew people like Senator John McCain of Arizona who was a prisoner of war, gives him a personal connection to such an exchange. | He added that his own time in Vietnam and the fact that he knew people like Senator John McCain of Arizona who was a prisoner of war, gives him a personal connection to such an exchange. |
| "This is a very happy day for the Bergdahl family," Hagel said. "It's a very important day for our troops and our country." | "This is a very happy day for the Bergdahl family," Hagel said. "It's a very important day for our troops and our country." |
| Hagel said he planned to talk to the Bergdahls soon, and will speak with the soldier at the appropriate time, so as not to interfere with his health care needs. | Hagel said he planned to talk to the Bergdahls soon, and will speak with the soldier at the appropriate time, so as not to interfere with his health care needs. |
| "I am particularly happy for the family. What they have had to endure, how they've endured it – it's been remarkable. They have not been bitter. They have adjusted, they never lost hope and faith," Hagel said. | "I am particularly happy for the family. What they have had to endure, how they've endured it – it's been remarkable. They have not been bitter. They have adjusted, they never lost hope and faith," Hagel said. |