Taliban would have executed US prisoner if word of exchange leaked: report

President Obama offered no apologies Thursday for the polarizing prisoner swap that freed Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Afghanistan.

'I'll repeat what I said two days ago: We have a basic principle, we do not leave anybody wearing the American uniform behind,' Obama told a news conference in Brussels.

The president, addressing the growing controversy that followed last Saturday's trade of five Taliban fighters for Bergdahl, said the decision was made on a personal and political level.

'I think it was important for people to understand this is not some abstraction, this is not a political football,' he said. 'You have a couple of parents, whose kid volunteered to fight in a distant land ... and they hadn't seen (him) in five years.

AP

'As commander in chief of the United States forces, I am responsible for those kids.'

Members of Bergdahl's unit have come forward since his release with their belief that he was a deserter - and possibly provided information to the Taliban.

Military officials have already said Bergdahl, 28, of Hailey, Idaho, could face prosecution when he is returned to the U.S.

AP

Obama, the father of two girls, brushed all the concerns aside.

'I make absolutely no apologies for making sure that we get a young man back to his parents and that the American people understand this is somebody's child,' he said.

lmcshane@nydailynews.com