The U.S. Defense Department wanted five Americans released in exchange for five Taliban terrorists – not just the single American infantryman now accused of desertion – according to a senior congressional aide. And with the Bowe Bergdahl hostage swap now nearly a week old, the State Department is still insisting that it doesn't offer 'concessions' to 'terrorists' or other 'hostage-takers' Joe Kasper, chief of staff to House Armed Services Committee member Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, said late Thursday that the Pentagon aimed to free Caitlan Coleman of York, Pennsylvania and her baby who was born in captivity, along with her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle, as part of a 'broader goal.'
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The Obama administration nixed a  Defense Department request to get five American hostages – not just Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl – in exchange for five Taliban prisoners
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A senior staffer to a Republican congressman said a 'five for five' deal was the Pentagon's goal, including civilian hostages as well
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But the State Dept. insists the 'prisoner of war' exchange for Bergdahl is completely different from negotiating for non-military captives
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'We don’t make concessions to terrorists.' a spokeswoman at State said Wednesday, doubling down a day later and citing 'longstanding U.S. policy not to make concessions to hostage-takers'
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Sen. Dianne Feinstein complained that if Congress had 30 days' notice on Gitmo prisoner transfers – as federal law requires – it could have argued for the release of more Americans
@placeholder videos of Caitlan Coleman and Joshua Boyle have been released
But there was no opportunity to do so,' @placeholder added.