Afghan POW Rescue Operation Sped Up to 'Save His Life': Hagel

What's This?

President Barack Obama walks with Jani Bergdahl, left, and her husband Bob Bergdahl, right after he spoke about the release of their son, U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Saturday, May 31, 2014. Bergdahl, 28, had been held prisoner by the Taliban since June 30, 2009.

Image: Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press

By Samantha Murphy Kelly2014-06-01 16:19:39 UTC

Just a day after the White House agreed to release five Taliban prisoners held at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay detention camp in exchange for U.S. prisoner of war Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the operation was quickly done without notifying Congress because Bergdahl's life was in danger.

Hagel told reporters on Sunday that Bergdahl's "safety and health were both in jeopardy, and in particular his health was deteriorating," according to the Associated Press.

See also: Prisoner Swap Frees U.S. Soldier Held by Taliban for 5 Years

The operation, which broke the White House's policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorist organizations, freed Bergdahl, 28, who had been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan since June 30, 2009. The Taliban kidnapped Bergdahl after he walked away from his unit, according to the AP.

The Pentagon is required to give Congress a 30-day notice for releasing detainees, but Bergdahl's rescue operation was significantly sped up to "essentially to save his life," Hagel said. Under Article 2 of the Constitution, the president can issue such an order, which was done with the National Security Council's unanimous consensus, the AP reported.

To keep the operation quiet, only a few people were informed of the operation ahead of time. "We couldn't afford any leaks anywhere, for obvious reasons," Hagel said, adding that it was conducted with great precaution.

Bergdahl was transferred to American special-operations forces in eastern Afghanistan Saturday morning, while the five Taliban detainees were released from Guantanamo Bay, and flown to Qatar.

The transfer, which was was done peacefully, could usher in a new way to negotiate with the Taliban, Hagel said. "Maybe this could provide some possible new bridge for new negotiations."

On Sunday, Hagel met with the special-operations team that rescued Bergdahl, and thanked them for their service on an important mission, according to the AP.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Topics: afghanistan, Politics, Barack Obama, U.S., US & World, World