Posted on 02/27/2014 1:30:19 PM PST by kristinn
As the United States plans for what could be a total military withdrawal from Afghanistan this year, efforts to bring home its sole prisoner of war after nearly five years of captivity are growing increasingly urgent.
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl went missing on June 30, 2009, while deployed to the Paktika province of southeastern Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan and its federally administered tribal areas. He is believed to be held by the Haqqani insurgent group allied with the Taliban, likely in Pakistan.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has appointed a senior deputy from Vista as Pentagon point man to secure Bergdahl’s release, a congressional aide told U-T San Diego. Politico first reported the news Wednesday, citing an unnamed Defense Department official as well as a congressional source.
Michael Lumpkin, a former Navy SEAL and a University of California San Diego graduate, will lead the Pentagon’s efforts – which reportedly include negotiations with intermediaries as well as contingency plans for military operations.
Lumpkin is acting undersecretary of defense for policy as well as assistant secretary for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, a position he was appointed to in 2011. In 2008, he made an unsuccessful run against Rep. Duncan Hunter for East County’s 52nd Congressional District seat.
Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, Pentagon press secretary, said in an email: "Secretary Hagel believes strongly that we should continue to do everything we can to bring Sgt. Bergdahl home safely. His focus on achieving that goal has never wavered. He wants his leadership team, both uniformed and civilian, likewise engaged and involved. (Lumpkin) continues to play a leading role in this effort."
(Excerpt) Read more at utsandiego.com ...
I’m sure we all know just how reassuring Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl finds the knowledge that Obama is in charge of his fate. We were promised that Obama would heal America’s relationships with all countries, and he’s kept that promise as well as he keeps all his promises.
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