SAN ANTONIO – Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's June 2009 capture by the Taliban captured the world's attention. After five years in captivity, his May 2014 release captured the world's attention.
Until recently he's been silent.
Now, he is opening up and his words are being heard for the first time in the popular podcast 'Serial.' In it, Bergdahl discusses why he left his post in June 2009.
"Release me. Please, I'm begging you," Bergdahl said in the podcast.
Bergdahl, long thought to have been silent regarding his capture and imprisonment by the Taliban, spoke with filmmaker Mark Boal. Boal then shared recordings with a podcast series called "Serial." Bergdahl can be heard explaining his decision to leave his post.
"I'd rather be in Leavenworth than standing over the body of Nascimento or Coe or somebody like that," Bergdahl said. "And understanding that if somebody had done something, they'd be alive."
A St. Mary's School of Law terrorism expert said Bergdahl belongs in prison.
"Bergdahl's a liar," Dr. Jeffrey Addicott said. "He's had a lot of time to develop a self-serving story. The facts are the facts. In time of war, he set down his weapon, took off his uniform and left his comrades, and that is called misbehavior before the enemy."
Bergdahl said had he spoken up, his low rank would have silenced his concerns -- a problem.
So instead, podcast-voice of "Serial" podcaster Sarah Koenig said, "Bowe formulated a plan. He would create a crisis, a dustwun, in order to call attention to another crisis."
Bowe said a dustwun -- the Army's version of man overboard -- would automatically alert all branches of the military. Problem solved.
"What I was seeing from my first unit all the way up into Afghanistan (was) leadership failure to the point that the lives of the guys standing next to me were literally in danger of something seriously going wrong and somebody being killed," Bowe said.
He did indeed create a crisis -- one that put him in the international spotlight.
"It boils down to one issue: did you leave your comrades in time of battle?" Addicott said. "And the answer is yes. And no matter what your excuse may be, and no matter whether its true or not, is irrelevant."
Upon the release of the podcast, Eugene Fidell, Bergdahl's attorney said, "The more information the public has, the better."
General Robert Abrams, a combat officer who is a general court-martial convening authority, holds Bergdahl's fate in his hands.
Bergdahl could be charged with desertion or endangering of troops, He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Abrams must decide whether or not Bergdahl will face a general court-martial.