Taliban Captures Missing US Soldier

(NEWSER) - The Taliban's capture of an American soldier in Afghanistan is old news for some residents of his hometown, but they kept quiet out of concern for his safety, the AP reports. The family of Bowe R. Bergdahl asked neighbors and other community members in Hailey, Idaho, not to discuss his situation publicly—a request they honored for weeks. The Pentagon released his name over the weekend after a Taliban video surfaced online. More»

Hillary Clinton calls incident possible war crime

(NEWSER) - Investigators have identified the four Marines shown in a video apparently urinating on Taliban corpses, and they could be charged today, CBS News reports. The military has interviewed at least two of the men on the matter as officials scramble to address its fallout. "Anyone, anyone found to have participated or know about it, having engaged in such conduct, must be held fully accountable," said Hillary Clinton yesterday, calling the incident a potential war crime. All four were members of a sniper team in a unit that lost seven members in action last summer in Afghanistan. More»

Former supermodel proposes meditation for imprisoned insurgents

(NEWSER) - A former male supermodel thinks he knows how to heal the rift between Taliban militants and coalition troops in Afghanistan—through yoga and meditation. Cameron Alborzian, who, incidentally, played Madonna's beau in her 1989 music video for "Express Yourself" and has worked as Ellen DeGeneres' private guru, pitched his peace strategy to a British major general in Kabul in July. The 44-year-old explains the process, "American soldiers meditate, Taliban meditate, and, in jails, they meditate together ... and you can find the peace in it together." More»

Officials working to recover every single piece

(NEWSER) - The helicopter that crashed over the weekend in Afghanistan, killing 30 US troops and eight others, was likely shot down by a Taliban rocket, NATO forces said today. Though the Taliban was quick to claim responsibility, Western officials had been tight-lipped until today's announcement, Reuters notes. The Navy SEALs and other service members in the helicopter were on their way to assist other troops from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) when the copter was shot down. More»

They weren't the same men who got bin Laden, however

(AP) - US officials tell the Associated Press that they believe none of the Navy SEALs who died in today's helicopter crash in Afghanistan had participated in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, although they were from the same unit that carried out the bin Laden mission. In all, 30 Americans (the number has come down one since morning) and seven Afghan Army troops were killed in the crash. A source says the victims were thought to include 22 SEALs, three Air Force air controllers, the Afghan Army troops, a dog and his handler, and a civilian interpreter, plus the helicopter crew. More»