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| Defence Secretary Hagel defends deal over Bowe Bergdahl | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says the decision to strike a deal with the Taliban for the release of a US soldier was unanimous in the White House. | |
| Mr Hagel told the BBC the agreement was made because it was believed Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl's life was "in peril". | |
| Barack Obama's administration had to act quickly and without first consulting Congress, he added. | Barack Obama's administration had to act quickly and without first consulting Congress, he added. |
| Sgt Bergdahl was freed after five years in captivity, in exchange for five Taliban figures from Guantanamo Bay. | |
| The White House is required to notify Congress 30 days before transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay but thought waiting was too risky. | |
| "It was our judgement based on the information that we had that his life, his health were in peril," Mr Hagel told the BBC. | |
| "Can you imagine if we would have waited or taken the chance of leaks over a 30 day period? | |
| "I will tell you what I know and I made a judgement on this too - that would have seriously imperilled us ever getting him out." | |
| Mr Hagel was speaking the day after a welcoming party in Sgt Bergdahl's home town of Hailey, Idaho, was cancelled, and amid suspicions that he deserted his post. | |
| Organisers said the event was called off because of a large increase in the number of expected attendees. | |
| Several commentators and soldiers have branded the soldier a deserter and called for him to be punished. |