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[00:06.10]From VOA Learning English,
[00:09.44]this is In The News.
[00:12.19]Five members of Afghanistan's Taliban
[00:15.25]rejoined their families this week
[00:18.14]after 13 years in detention.
[00:21.59]The United States had been holding the five
[00:24.31]at its prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
[00:27.47]The U.S. government recently sent them to Qatar
[00:31.54]in exchange for the only American soldier
[00:34.88]held in Afghanistan.
[00:36.98]Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was believed
[00:39.90]to have been held prisoner for almost five years.
[00:43.67]U.S. officials believe his captors
[00:46.95]belong to the Haqqani network,
[00:49.92]a group with links to the Taliban.
[00:52.85]Defense Department officials say Sergeant Bergdahl's
[00:57.35]release followed several weeks of secret, indirect talks.
[01:02.21]The government of Qatar reportedly assisted in the negotiations.
[01:07.35]In Washington last Saturday,
[01:09.83]President Barack Obama praised the soldier's release.
[01:14.98]"He wasn't forgotten by his community in Idaho,
[01:17.36]or the military, which rallied to support the Bergdahls
[01:21.27]through thick and thin.
[01:22.65]And he wasn't forgotten by his country
[01:24.73]¨C because the United States of American
[01:27.67]does not ever leave our men and women in uniform behind."
[01:32.01]Republican Party lawmakers welcomed Bowe Bergdahl's release,
[01:36.77]but questioned the prisoner exchange.
[01:39.65]Senator John McCain was himself a prisoner of war
[01:44.10]during the Vietnam War.
[01:46.23]He described the five Afghans as hardened terrorists
[01:50.88]and violent extremists.
[01:53.34]He and other Republicans wanted the Obama administration
[01:58.26]to explain what steps were taken to make sure the five
[02:03.39]never return to fight against the United States.
[02:07.62]The government in Afghanistan was angered
[02:11.49]at President Obama's decision to release the detainees.
[02:15.45]The Afghan foreign ministry said the decision
[02:19.22]was a possible violation of international law.
[02:23.56]U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has defended the agreement
[02:28.84]to exchange the detainees for Sergeant Bergdahl.
[02:33.76]He also defended the decision not to inform Congress
[02:38.38]before the exchange took place, as required by law.
[02:42.54]Secretary Hagel said he does not think the deal
[02:46.70]will endanger U.S. military personnel or civilians
[02:51.27]by inviting future deals with hostage-takers.
[02:55.31]The events leading up to the capture of the American
[02:59.64]in 2009 remain unclear.
[03:03.42]A soldier who served with him said
[03:06.10]the former prisoner is no hero.
[03:09.35]"People calling him a hero or calling him this great soldier?
[03:14.17]It's a spit in the face to all the soldiers who were there."
[03:18.54]That was former Army Sergeant Evan Buetow.
[03:22.12]He was Bowe Bergdahl's team leader in Afghanistan.
[03:25.80]He says he is happy Sergeant Bergdahl is safe.
[03:30.20]But he says he cannot understand celebrating a soldier
[03:34.71]he says just walked away from his base.
[03:38.31]On social media, others accused Bowe Bergdahl of walking away
[03:44.14]and of getting U.S. troops killed as a result of his actions.
[03:49.94]Jonah Blank is with the RAND Corporation policy group.
[03:54.67]He notes the Army recognized the soldier with promotions not once,
[04:00.39]but twice during his captivity.
[04:03.18]He says this suggests his actions were nothing less than honorable.
[04:09.37]Army Secretary John McHugh has made clear the military's first goal
[04:15.21]is to make sure Sergeant Bergdahl regains his health.
[04:19.56]He says once that happens,
[04:22.55]the Army will launch what he called a "comprehensive,
[04:26.00]coordinated" investigation of the soldier's disappearance.
[04:30.67]And that's In The News from VOA Learning English.
[04:36.03]I'm Steve Ember.