Translation: Yes, but we won’t admit it.
WASHINGTON — At a closed door classified briefing Wedneday, senators viewed the “proof of life” video taken of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in captivity and questioned Obama administration officials about the prisoner swap that led to Bergdahl’s release.
But the senators were split leaving the meeting: some felt satisfied that the administration had done the right thing by trading five high-level Taliban prisoners for Bergdahl, and many others said they walked away with more questions than answers.
Senators were also conflicted about the physical state of Bergdahl shown in the video, which was taken sometime last December shortly after Nelson Mandela’s death, according to Republican Sen. Mark Kirk.
“He didn’t look good. I understand the emotional power of that video, what it had on the president,” Kirk, a critic of the deal, said.
Kirk said the officials could not conclusively a question of his, one that focused on the deaths of soldiers who died looking for Bergdahl.
“I asked a direct question: Did six Americans die in Bergdahl-related searches? They said they were running that down,” he said.