Difficult Christmas for Idaho family

For the Bergdahl family in Idaho, it was a bittersweet holiday.

On the positive side, they found out Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan sometime around June 29, is probably still alive. But sadly, they also saw their beloved family member forced to recite propaganda in a Taliban-produced video, which was disgustingly released by the terrorist group on Christmas Day. The U.S. military quickly condemned the release of the tape.

Local station KMVT reports that the Bergdahl family released a statement through the local sheriff in Blaine County, Idaho. It urges the 23-year-old soldier to "stay strong" and begs his abductors to release him.

The media covered this story heavily back in July, but news about the plight of Bergdahl, who is believed to be the only U.S. servicemember being held captive in Afghanistan, largely vanished from the national media soon after. Important news of an attempted terrorist attack on a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines jet quickly knocked the Bergdahl tape off most front pages.

Whether Bergdahl's story stays in the discussion remains to be seen, but of course, the soldier and his family deserve our continued thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.