Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, sparked discussion last Friday among Idaho lawmakers about a possible prisoner exchange to bring Army Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl home to Hailey.
A video released April 7 by the Taliban offered to free Bergdahl in exchange for a limited number of prisoners held by the United States. The U.S. State Department did not respond to the offer for a prisoner swap, but NATO spokesman Rear Adm. Gregory Smith called the continuing use of videos of Bergdahl as a means of propaganda a "deplorable act."
Minnick said on CBS affiliate KIDK News on Friday that he and the Bergdahl family are in favor of a prisoner exchange.
"What both the family and I am hoping for is that we can work out some kind of prisoner trade that down the road might release him," Minnick said. "I think there are some things we could do that would be legitimate and show that we value this young man."
In a statement to the Idaho Mountain Express Monday through Army National Guard Col. Tim Marsono, the Bergdahl family responded to Minnick's statements. They said: "While we are happy to see our son healthy in the latest video, we have no comment about the potential for a prisoner swap."
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, recently spent time with a congressional delegation in Afghanistan and Pakistan speaking with Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who is head of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
"I raised the issue of Bowe Bergdahl to let them know he was important to us in the United States, and I was very pleased to see that at the highest levels, individuals know about Bowe Bergdahl and are familiar with the circumstances of his capture," Crapo said in an interview Monday. "In each case, I found that the identification of his location and his extraction are a significant part of their efforts."
Crapo said he was not sure if a specific U.S. policy exists to prohibit negotiation of a prisoner exchange with Bergdahl's captors.
"It is my understanding that such a decision would be made by military and intelligence leaders on the ground, those who are conducting our national security activities in Afghanistan," he said.
The senator added that pressure from legislators could and should play a part in working to bring military prisoners home.
"I believe the political leadership should be engaged with the military to assure that we don't forget military personnel who are lost or captured," he said. "This is an important role that we play."
Crapo said he heard speculation while in Afghanistan and Pakistan that Bergdhal was held deep in Taliban-controlled areas and that he was possibly being moved from place to place.
"We don't know where Bergdahl is," he said.
Closer to home, Hailey Police Chief Jeff Gunter, a friend of the Bergdahl family, declined to comment specifically on the possibility of a prisoner exchange, but added, "I'd like to see whatever it takes to get him home."
Bergdahl, who was raised in Blaine County near Hailey, disappeared in Afghanistan June 30, 2009. He is the only known U.S. serviceman in captivity.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
Bowe Bergdahl
