'American Shalit' came home • Compensation: Taliban seniors

American prisoner Bowe Bergdahl, arrived this morning (Sunday) in the USA, after five years in captivity.

At a press conference at the White House, President Barack Obama presented the released captive "Sergeant Bergdahl missed birthdays and holidays and the simple moments with family and friends," he said, "but he has never forgotten. He was not forgotten by his country since the United States never leaves its men and women in uniform behind."

After Obama, the soldier's parents spoke. His mother Jenny thanked all those who helped in the liberation of her son. The father Bob turned to his son in the language of the Afghans: "I want to say to Bob who has difficulty speaking English – in the name of G-d, the merciful - I'm your father, Bowe. The daunting complexity of this task we will never understand completely. Everyone who influenced in this country, in the military in the state department, governments around the world and Amir of Qatar who brokered, thank you very much. We find it hard to express the words after hearing about the release of our son."

For the release of the prisoner, the U.S. freed Taliban seniors, including those who held close ties with Osama bin Laden, Kheir Allah Valley Hairhava, who served as interior minister during Taliban -controlled Afghanistan. Others released were: Mulla Muhammad Fazi, Taliban deputy defense minister, Mullah Noor - Allah Nouri, a senior commander, Abed Al - Haq Vasik - Deputy Minister of Intelligence in the Taliban and Muhammad Nabi head of the General Security Services of the organization.

The release has been criticized by Republicans: "Terrorists now have a strong incentive to take Americans as captives," stated Chairman of Armed Services Committee in the House Republican Howard McCowen, senior Republican from California and the corresponding committee in the Senate, James Einhoff from Oklahoma.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!