CAPTURED U.S. SOLDIER IN VIDEO - AT 8:59 P.M. ET:  From AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) - The American soldier who went missing June 30 from his base in eastern Afghanistan and was later confirmed captured, appeared on a video posted Saturday to a Web site by the Taliban, two U.S. defense officials confirmed.

The soldier is shown in the 28-minute video with his head shaved and the start of a beard. He is sitting and dressed in a nondescript, gray outfit. Early in the video one of his captors holds the soldier's dog tag up to the camera. His name and ID number are clearly visible. He is shown eating at one point and sitting on a bed.

The soldier, whose identity has not yet been released by the Pentagon pending notification of members of Congress and the soldier's family, says his name, age and hometown on the video, which was released Saturday on a Web site pointed out by the Taliban. Two U.S. defense officials confirmed to The Associated Press that the man in the video is the captured soldier.

COMMENT:  Many Americans are unaware that the Taliban is holding a U.S. Soldier.  We must not forget him.

The key question is what the Tals will want in return for the soldier, and whether they will turn him into a propaganda weapon, as was done by the enemy during the Korean and Vietnam wars.  Stay tuned.  We may get to know this unlucky American very well in the months ahead.

July 18, 2009