Barbara starr who has been all over this and giving us the information as it happens and as shes getting it is continuing to do that. Barbara, give us the latest about what youre learning about this absolutely fascinating and dramatic rescue. Reporter very traumatic, dana. Bowe bergdahl having made that helicopter ride to freedom with american commandos who through to eastern afghanistan to pick him up. All indications were getting it was very peaceful. 18 taliban standing there. Bowe bergdahl, the commandos landed, and took him back. Back into american hands. Perhaps the most dramatic moment we are learning is on the helicopter it was so noisy, they couldnt talk. Bergdahl wrote on a paper plate, s. F. . Meaning special forces. The guys on the helicopter said, yes. And weve been looking for you. At that point, bergdahl broke down. He now is at that Forward Operating base, expected, we are told, as soon as doctors clear him to travel on a little bit, he will go to bagram air base, the major u. S. Base in afghanistan. President obama just there a few days ago. Then will be making his way, we are told, to the Medical Center in germany, where they have a great deal of expertise over the years in helping hostages. Make that initial reintegration back into society, and then back to the United States. His parents, not clear whether they will meet up with him in germany, or await his return to the u. S. Not clear how soon hell be making the rest of that journey. Theyre going to be wanting to check him out medically, top to bottom. Make sure he is okay to travel after five years of being in taliban custody. Some of the recent videos did not show him to be in the best physical condition. Had been frail. Deteriorating a bit. So theyre going to want to do everything they can to give him whatever medical attention he needs. The other side of the equation, the five detainees being released from Guantanamo Bay. Were getting a lot of reaction from congress. Perhaps john mccain, republican of arizona, once, of course a p. O. W. Himself for so many years in north vietnam, saying he was very happy that berg drzal was owas bergdahl was out but wants to hear what the security conditions will be in that nation of qatar where those five detainees are going back to. What promises, what guarantees have the qataris made to keep an eye on them . Dana . So many questions, and, against, just we get to the questions i want to underscore, every time you say it and report it, barbara, it gives you the chills. The idea of him having to write s. F. , for special forces, on a paper plate. Just to make sure that what he thought was actually happening to him after nearly five years in captivity was happening. That he was in the hands of reporter dana, if i could interrupt, actually, as you say. The information keeps coming in. A u. S. And you know, im reading it to everyone off my blackberry as cnn gets it. A u. S. Military official is now telling us that a u. S. Military c17, went wheels up, if you will, from Guantanamo Bay just before 2 00. And there is let me rephrase that. Im so sorry. A u. S. Air force c17 went wheels up from quan Guantanamo Bay just before 2 00, and we now believe those Guantanamo Bay detainees have been transferred, and they are making their way back. We have the names. We will get those all to you. Bergdahl at this moment is in a military clinic. We are told now. Being attended by one of those reintegration teams. One of those very specialized military teams that helps people who have been in captivity get reintegrated wack into society. Thats the latest were getting, da dana. And on the whole concept how this happened, the prisoner swap, and as you jeust reported the new breaking information about the fact tiv detainees at guantanamo were wheels up a the 2 00 p. M. At part of the deal to release Bowe Bergdahl, had you mentioned some members of congress, namely the one who knows what its like to be Bowe Bergdahl, john mccain, who was a prisoner of war himself for more than five years in vietnam released a statement saying that he is eager to learn about just why and how these five detainees at guantanamo were actually released. Not explicitly critical, but asking sort of rhetorical questions how this could have happened. I know that youre reporter theres been a lot of controversial in congress. This is not new to them. This proposed deal of an exchange of five detainees for Bowe Bergdahl had been discussed very much for the last several months. They couldnt make it happen for a variety of reasons. They believe it was only in the last several days that it really got rolling. That the taliban were really ready to give bergdahl back. But congress has made it very clear, both democrats and republicans, they had a lot of concern about it. Its a very touchy situation. Theyre concerned about letting understandably, detainees out of Guantanamo Bay, but, of course, everybody wants to see the last american soldier held captive in this war back home with his family. So, you know, its one of those very tough questions about where you come down on this. Absolutely. As we were talking about earlier, its one thing to say in theory that you dont want to negotiate with terrorists that you dont want to do this kind of thing, but its a whole different issue when youre talking about the realities of war. The realities of having a member of the u. S. Military in captivity, and trying to figure out how to get him back. Barbara starr, thank you so much for your excellent reporting, and well be back to you. I know youre continuing to get information minute by minute. A little background on sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, born in idaho, enlisted in 2008. In may 2009, d. C. Ployed to afghanistan. In join of that year he was captured. In july a video of bergdahl was posted on the internet. Two years later, in june of 2011, the army promoted him to sergeant. In may of 2012, the u. S. Government began talks with the taliban about releasing him, and last june his family said they received a letter from their son. In february of this year, diplomatses starts negotiations for his release working with intermediaries overseas, and bringing up to speed on all that i want to bring in cnns erin mcpike, at the white house. Erin, it was the president himself who announced this formally to the world in a written statement by the white house. Reporter dana, thats absolutely right, but we did just get this statement from john mccain. I want to read part of it to you. First, as you mentioned, mccain himself was, of course, a prisoner of war. So we were interested to get this statement, and as ive been reaching out to republicans on capitol hill, theyve been discussing how they want to respond today. Weve been seeing some twitter traffic that, of course, everyone is very pleased that sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has now been returned and is safely with u. S. Military forces, but there is this concern about the exchange with these five taliban detainees. Now, this is what john mccain addresses in that statement and heres what ill read to you. These particular individuals are hardened terrorists who have the blood of americans and countless afghans on their hands. I am eager to learn what precise steps are being taken to ensure that these vicious and violent taliban extremists never return to the fight against the United States and our partners or engage in any activities that can threaten the prospects for peace and security in afghanistan. The American People and our afghan partners deserve nothing less. And the white house addressed that minimally. In a statement, a background statement from a white house official today, they said, we will not transfer any detainee from guantanamo, unless the threat the detainees may pose to the u. S. Can be sufficiently mitigated and only when consistent with our humane treatment policy. Were sure senator mccain would like to hear more, but the would us is aware of addressing that. Fascinating to see it playing out. On the phone we have the anchor of the lead. Jake tapper, in spare time has writ an bestselling book called the out post and is an expert on afghanistan. Youve been covering the Bowe Bergdahl story and captivity for years. Tell me what you make of this. Reporter well, its a great thing, obviously, for his family. Bowe bergdahl finally being released by the Pakistani Taliban after five years in captivity. It is a complicated case and just to help viewers understand why this isnt being treated with the ticker tape one might expect would happen, or why maybe they hadnt heard of Bowe Bergdahl, the case starts in june, 2009 in paktika province in afghanistan. Bergdahl apparently left the base on his own accord, and its not clear why he did so. Bergdahl was later reported in june 2012 by the late michael hastings, had written a number of emails to his parents expressing serious misgivings about what the u. S. Was doing in afghanistan. So there have always been questions among troops and officers about why bergdahl exactly left. Was he leaving well, what the reason was behind his leaving the base. Obviously, he was captured by taliban. Obviously, he became a prisoner. We in varying different ways throughout the years its been relayed to those of us in the media who have been paying attention to his case it might not be a good idea to report on his case, because efforts were being made to get him out. And sometimes those trying to free him, those in the u. S. Government, either with the state department or the military, wereic maing efforts, and they thought that the more attention the case got, especially during sensitive times, the worse and the more difficult it could be for those trying to free him. Finally it looks as though those efforts born fruit. Earlier in this year, i believe in january, when there was a tape that cnns jim shuuto and other the reported on that had been made showing berg doll, and the question is, why was this tape made . It was reported in february, approve of life video. That those in the u. S. Government who wanted him freed and were willing to negotiate with the taliban, an apparent prezzer in exchange, were needed proof that sergeants bergdahl was still alive, and thats why that videotape was made. That was reported in february. Then things went quiet, after efforts were continuing to be made, but it took some time and finally, of course, the good news today that apparently the trade has been made. The exchange has been made. The u. S. Special forces, which would be army either delta force or green berets picked him up and hell be returned to his family in idaho, but i suspect there will be lots of questions for bergdahl. Not just intelligence gathering, in terms of what he saw while in enemy hands, but why exactly had he left the base. One question i was exactly going to ask you, jake, and that is bra czar and i were talking earlier about that. The questions about how this captivity even happened. About the fact he wandered off on his own and now the excellent news is that hes free, now what happens to him . Is he going to you know, go through the obvious recovery and process and then kind of move on . Or is the army going to drill down on the circumstances that led to him wandering off . Thats a question better asked of secretary of defense chuck hagel. I suspect his five years in captivity will speak for itself. Then again, you never know what motivated him leaving that base in paktika province that evening. Look, having covered the war in afghanistan, there were tremendous efforts made to find then private now Sergeant Bergdahl in the summer of 2009, in afghanistan. And in some cases, those efforts hindered the ability of the United States military to do other things. Because they had so much reconnaissance and other efforts and assets devoted to finding him. So if those who use social media and are on facebook or twitter or in the military or part of the military, part of that world, that they hear grumblings from troops, know that thats the reason why. There are questions about why he left the base. And the tremendous efforts made to find him. None of which takes away from the fact that he was a prisoner of war. Exactly. And that everybody is rejoicing that he is safe, and he will get to go back to his loving parents in idaho. But it is a complicated case. Yes. And it will remain so, and i suspect there are many in the military who after bergdahl has gotten his bearings will want to know exactly what happened. No question about it. It is certainly excellent news. Theres no disputing that, but there are a lot of questions. This is not a black and white case. Jake, thank you so much for your insight. We appreciate it, and were going to continue with this breaking news. More information on how this rescue happened. The prisoner swap with five prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, and the followup from that. Stay with us. How much protein does your dog food have . 18 percent . 20 . Purina one true instinct has 30. Active dogs crave nutrientdense food. So we made purina one true instinct. Learn more at purinaone. Com take it on the way you always have. Live healthy and take one a day womens 50 . A complete multivitamin with 7 antioxidants to support cell health. Age . Who cares. Hooking up the country whelping business run trains they haul everything, safely and on time. Tracks they connect the factories built along the lines. And that means jobs, lots of people, making lots and lots of things. Lets get your business rolling now, everybody sing. Norfolk southern whats your function . Helping this big country move ahead as one Norfolk Southern hows that function . Nehey r [squeals] [ewh ] [baby crying] the great thing about a subaru is you dont have to put up with that new car smell for long. The versatile, 2015 subaru forester. Love. Its what makes a subaru, a subaru. We want to welcome back our viewers in the United States and around the world. If youre just tuning in, this dramatic, dramatic information, and that is, sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, the only prisoner of war in the u. S. Has been recovered from, we believe, afghanistan. And theres so many plots and subplots to how this went down, but one of the things we cant forget is that this is a man who was a boy, who grew up in a town where everybody knew him, and that town was hailey, idaho, and we want to go by phone to hailey, idaho, to the police chief there, jeff gunter, and, chief, you know sergeant bu bergdahls parents pretty well, have been around this town the last five years as the town has galvanized to try to make sure that his captivity is not forgotten. Whats the reaction there . Everybody is excited. Ive talked to numerous people. Many of them crying. Many of them two female whose havent been put on their makeup yet this morning because theres a lot of tears of joy. Everybody is extremely happy. Have you had a chance to talk to his parents . Not yet. Weve been giving them personal time, because i know over the five years its been an emotional roller coaster, and for them to actually know theyre going to be able to put their arms around their son again, i cant imagine what theyre feeling right now. Talk about the lengths that his parents went to, to keep the idea, the knowledge of their son being in captivity alive and the lengths that they went to to tripe to reach out to his captors by social media, by the internet . You know, i know they did a lot. I dont know personally exactly what they did. I know this whole town, theres a couple people who have done a lot of stuff in town to bring this, to keep this to the forefront of america, and to bring the knowledge so we could have, a prisoner of war, to keep it in the forefront of america. To the extent bob and jani went to i cant tell you exactly what. News, amazing news coming in for everybody. Particularly in your town of hailey, idaho. How are the plans shaping up, if they are yet, to greet this Army Sergeant when he does, in fact, come home . Well, we had a a couple friends, stephanie and debbie oneil, working on an event to bring bowe back, now its going to be bowe is back 214 event held in hailey, idaho on june 28th. That event is still going on. Bob and jani will be talking. Singing there at the event and this is going to be an incredible day. The emotions of the town are just, you know, a very emotional day when everybody learned bowe was captured back in 2009. The emotions are completely opposite reverse, and its just an incredible feeling. Ive been watching my facebook page, and the people on facebook are just, the posts are just phenomenal. Everybody is changing their profile pictures to bowe and boasting stories about bowe. Its exploding. Theres no personal things about the personal life, everybody im reading on facebook is about bowe being released. Amazing. Listen, its impossible not do get chills listening to the way you describe it and listening to how it feels in your small town where he grew unand where he will be greeted and where his parents have sat vigil and more for the past five years. Thank you for joining us. We appreciate it and will get back to you as we get more information. Thank you, and congratulations. We want to now go to cnns Senior International correspondent Nic Robertson who joins us live from london. Nic shgs talking earlier about your knowledge of afghanistan and just how dangerous the area must have been where he was held captive. Reporter yeah. This is an area thats absolutely hostile for the most part to u. S. Forces. Where the people that picked him up believed to be the Haqqani Network hold sway in a lot of the villages. People certainly in those villages, if they sort of caught an idea Bowe Bergdahl was passing through, they would be unlikely to go to authorities. Very hard to get information out about where he would be being held, very unlikely for anyone close to that compound to even know, and if they did, to give away information. And an area that says, well, hostile to afghan authorities as well. Its not like the afghan officials could have got word where he was being held and then they could have gone in. That just wouldnt happen. So whichever if it came down to going in to get him through force, it was always going to be tough, number one, to know where he was. Number two, to know what you were going in against, in terms of taliban forces, but beyond that, very, very tough terrain. Some of the terrain around there is very mountainous. Some of it, some of the pictures weve seen where Bowe Bergdahl is standing in woods. Some is heavily wooded. Would make it hard to bring in helicopters and Airborne Troops into that kind of envirlonmenen. So a very, very tough terrain to operate militarily and tough to get information where he was being held, dana. You and i talked earlier how this happened, with a prisoner swap. Barbara starr reported about 2 00 p. M. Eastern five prisoners were flown out of Guantanamo Bay as part of the deal to get Bowe Bergdahl back home, and weve gotten a statement from john mccain, who not only is a United States senator, a war veteran, but also a former prisoner of war himself, he is raising concerns and questions about doing that. Saying hes eager to learn whats steps are being taken to ensure what he calls vicious and violent taliban extremists never return to the fight against the United States. Reporter sure. The talk here has been an sending them back to qatar, a deal health brokered by the emirate of qatar. This has been in the works for a number of years and its fallen down as various times. Were talking, the prisoners were talking about are a former interior minister. A former Deputy Defense minister, a former deputy head of intelligence. A former senior taliban figure who was governor of two different provinces in afghanistan, and another senior taliban figure. So these it are significant figures. People the taliban themselves have said that they want back. The essence of agreements and the few details that have come to light about agreements in the past is that these people would operate now at a political level, would be out of the fight. What are the guarantees in that . We have no idea. What is operating any other a political level for the tall boone mean . Does it mean getting financing to help finance the fight . We dont know what theyre intention is, but this hastsch long time. Excellent questions and what john mccain is frying to point out. We dont know what it means to have assurances they wont get back into the fight. Were obviously going to dick dig dick digging in on that. Well continue our breaking news about the only prisoner of war, now not a prisoner of war, on his way home. Army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl is coming home. Thats up next. train horn vo wherever our trains go, the economy comes to life. Norfolk southern. One line, infinite possibilities. And you want to get an mba. But going back to school is hard. Because you work. Now Capella University offers a revolutionary new way to get your degree. Its called flexpath, and its the most direct path, leveraging what youve learned on the job and focusing on what you need to know. So you can get a degree at your pace and graduate at the speed of you. Flexpath from Capella University. Learn about all of our programs at capella. Edu. Captions by vitac www. Vitac. Com welcome back to viewers in the United States and around the world, americas only known current prisoner of war is now in u. S. Custody. Army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was taken into afghanistan in 2009, and now weve learned this special forces picked up bergdahl at 10 30 a. M. Eastern from his captors in afghanistan and in exchange for his release the u. S. Handed over five