Military condemns video of soldier captured in Afghanistan

By Peter Graff

KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. military denounced on Sunday the release of a video showing a soldier captured in Afghanistan, calling the images Taliban propaganda that violated international law.

The video shows the soldier in traditional Afghan dress, being prompted in English by his captors to call for U.S. forces to be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

"The use of the soldier for propaganda purposes we view as against international law," military spokesman Captain Jon Stock said, confirming that the man in the video was the missing soldier, whose name has not been released.

"We are continuing to do whatever possible to recover the soldier safe and unharmed."

The U.S. military has been distributing leaflets this week seeking the release of the soldier, missing since late June.

Military spokeswoman Captain Elizabeth Matthias said it was the first case she was aware of in which a U.S. service member was held captive by the enemy in Afghanistan, although there have been similar cases in Iraq.

The video has not appeared yet on websites regularly used by the Taliban or al Qaeda.

In the video, portions of which were available on the internet video sharing site YouTube (www.YouTube.com), the soldier appeared with his head shaven and a slight beard, wearing traditional gray, loose-fitting Afghan shalwar kameez clothing.

He appears to be in good health and is shown drinking tea and eating bread and rice. When he speaks to the camera, a voice can occasionally be heard prompting him in English.

"Well, I am scared. I'm scared I won't be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner," the soldier says.

"I have my girlfriend who is hoping to marry. I have my grandma and grandpas. I have a very, very good family that I love back home in America."

A voice off camera prompts: "Miss them."

The soldier continues: "And I miss them every day that I'm gone. I miss them and I'm afraid that I might never see them again and that I'll never be able to tell them that I love them again. I'll never be able to hug them."

"BRING US HOME"

At one point the voice prompts: "Any message to your people?"