Sgt. Bowe Bergdhal is finally in American custody after being imprisoned for nearly five years by the Taliban. (Photo/Wikimedia)

Sgt. Bowe Bergdhal, 28, is finally in American custody after he was captured by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan nearly five year ago. The price tag for Bergdhal's freedom was high; the U.S. exchanged five Guantanamo Bay detainees with deep ties to the Taliban for the soldier's release.

The life of the only American prisoner of war from the 12-year military conflict was in jeopardy — "his health was deteriorating," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the press — forcing U.S. officials to send special forces into a "tense, but uneventful" prisoner exchange on Saturday morning, according to the New York Times.

Two of the detainees were senior commanders, upsetting high-ranking Republicans lawmakers, who accused the administration of violating prison transfer laws. But President Obama claims he has assurances from the Qatari government, where the prisoners will reside, "that it will put in place measures to protect our national security."

You can read more at the New York Times and the Daily Beast.

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