At the risk of being pummeled for daring to go against the board's PC let me answer your questions by referring you to the Rolling Stone article of 2012 LINK
What's unique about this article is the obvious that it's from two years ago and not subject to the current political spin by either side.

To summarize, Berghdal joined the army believing that he would be helping Afghans rise up from the struggles they've faced aged the Taliban and the war. Wanting to be part of the rebuilding. However that was in 2009 when Obama's surge was about to take place and tens of thousands of troops were being sent in to retake the worst of the country. It was also a time when standards were lowered for recruiting.

Bergdahl was sent to the Desert for a month to undergo intense training. His squad were known as the biggest frickups. Things didn't change when they were sent to Afghanistan. His letters describing the clusterfrick were corroborated by a video report from The Guardian showing how bad things were and that included the officers. Heads rolled but Bergdahl thought the lowly grunts were being blamed for the incompetency of the higher ups.

He thought they were doing anything but winning the hearts and minds of the Afghans. In fact the locals didn't want them there because to associate with them would mean punishment by the Taliban. He wrote his father of the heartless acts of some Americans in running over kids and laughing about it. He grew disillusioned with the mission as did many of his fellow soldiers but the difference was the others commiserated with one another whereas Berdahl pulled away.

There's no indication at all that he was a Taliban sympathizer. If angry he was an Afghan sympathizer. His emails reminds me of the horror stories we hear about atrocities committed in Nam. And we know from the nutjob soldier who mowed down 17 innocent Afghans that there was at least that. But Bergdahl saw it as systemic problem with the military and that we were the enemies of the Afghans in effect. Again, he never gave any inclination that he thought the Taliban was good. Quite the opposite.

So he took a hike, hoping to get to Pakistan. It didn't seem to be a secret. He talked about it go soldiers there. That's how bad morale was that no one really put up much of an objection except to tell him if he leaves with sensitive equipment there will be a problem.

The videos show an emancipated badly treated Bergdahl. There was a report that he attempted to escape and put up a good fight. The Taliban knew of his value and kept him in areas free from drone strikes.

What's interesting is the debate that went on in the WH, Pentagon, state and Congress about his release back in 2012. Reportedly McCain opposed the 5 man Gitmo swap but gave in at least then. Other Reps threatened to make the 5 Obama's Willie Horton of the 2012 election. So because of political pressure and balking from the hardcore Taliban, serious negotiations fell thru.

But there was a faction in the admin who thought such a swap could lead to more talks for the eventual withdrawal.

His fathers weirdness was attempts to reach out to the Taliban to save his son as were Bergdahl's propaganda videos.

My take: if this is an actual war, when does it end? How long do we keep Taliban prisoners? After we leave Afghanistan? How long do we keep Gitmo open? Even Bush agreed it needed to be eventually closed? How long does Congress block it's closing?

This was a prisoner swap. Way way one sided but most are if you look at Israel and Hamas and the US with insurgents in Iraq (the Rolling Stone article brings this up). The Reps knew this would happen so they included that 30 day clause in a much larger bill to give them time to stop it. Obama knew what they were up to and did a signing statement claiming it was an unconstitutional restriction on his power as CIC.

Obama did this because he wanted to bring an American home, even though he was a deserter, and to move towards negotiations with Taliban which will happen with our withdrawal. And he refused to back down from pressure from the Right and probably knew knew that spineless Dems would jump ship.

We have no business in Afghanistan. We have no business leaving Gitmo open. Obama caved to the hawks in his administration and we suffered greater casualties under him than Bush there. He finally grew a spine. He's getting out and frick the political consequences. No more listening to the Hawks (by the way Hillary and Panetta opposed this in 2012.

Frankly his policy in Afghanistan has been my biggest disappointment of his presidency. I'm hopeful I'm right and this is part of our withdrawal, finally.

Now ill let you guys get back to your wild theories and speculation and I'll return to my snarks.

Ps I'm sure I have many typos. I'm on a plane using my phone. And we're about to land.