In an exclusive interview on Meet the Press, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the United States did not negotiate with terrorists during the release of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE DIDN'T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS. AS I SAID AND EXPLAINED BEFORE, SERGEANT BERGDAHL IS A PRISONER OF WAR. THAT'S A NORMAL PROCESS IN GETTING YOUR PRISONERS BACK. THAT'S FIRST. SECOND, AS TO YOUR BIGGER QUESTION, WE ARE DEALING WITH TERRORISM AND HOSTAGE TAKING ALL THE TIME EVERYWHERE. I THINK AMERICA'S RECORD IS PRETTY CLEAR ON GOING AFTER TERRORISTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO TAKE HOSTAGES, AND I DON'T THINK WHAT WE DID IN GETTING OUR PRISONER OF WAR RELEASED IN ANY WAY WOULD SOMEHOW ENCOURAGE TERRORISTS TO TAKE OUR AMERICAN SERVICE MEN PRISONER OR HOSTAGE.
