captured. an american soldier gone missing in afghanistan turns up on tape. who is he? who has him? new information tonight. pressure point. the high stakes fight over health care. president obama pulling out all the stops. taking off. the best deals in more than a decade for americans looking to get away this summer. and one for the ages. turning back the clock at the and one for the ages. turning back the clock at the british open. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

good evening. the escalating war in afghanistan has a new face tonight, an army private captured by the taliban and posted in a video online. his name is bowe bergdahl. 23 years old, a idaho native who has been serving in afghanistan since february, but there are questions about how he was captured and whether the video now marks a turn in the taliban's war strategy. nbc's jim miklaszewski is in washington tonight with the details. >> reporter: good evening. this is the first time we've seen private first class bergdahl since he was captured, and military officials are stressing tonight that much of what you hear him say on this tape was under duress, and that the taliban forced him, in fact, to deliver the message they wanted him to deliver. >> what's your name? >> my name is bow bergdahl. >> reporter: he appeared in the hostage video, head shaven, fresh beard, and out of uniform. a far cry from the young soldier

captured by the taliban three weeks ago. to remove any doubt, one of his captors showed off his army dog tags to the camera. while he may look in good shape physically, emotionally he sounds on the edge. >> well, i'm scared, scared i won't be able to go home. it is very unnerving to be a prisoner. >> reporter:' peered to choke back tears as he talked about his family back home in idaho. >> and i miss them every day that i'm gone. i miss them, and i'm afraid that i might never see them again. >> reporter: the u.s. military immediately condemned the hostage tape as taliban propaganda. >> we condemn the use of this video and the public humiliation of prisoners. it's again international law. >> reporter: the video itself appeared amateurish. at one point you hear children playing in the background. but the message was carefully

choreographed and tightly controlled. throughout the video, bergdahl's captors can be heard prompting him about what to say. >> your message to your people. >> yes. to my fellow americans who have loved ones over here -- >> fire. >> reporter: bergdahl then appears to american airlines to pressure political leaders to end the u.s. war in afghanistan. >> please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here wasting our time and our lives. >> reporter: from the taliban's perspective, this is a minor victory in the battle for hearts and minds. anytime you can put out a video of an american soldier held hostage giving an anti-western diatribe, they believe that helps their uscae. >> reporter: bergdahl myioerlydiioseyereee pd from a remote american base june 30th when he simply walked away without his weapon or body armor

and was quick lly captured by t taliban. an intensive search and rescue operation is still under way. the taliban has made no demands for ransom or anything else for bergdahl's release, raising concerns in the military that the taliban may hang onto bergdahl a while longer for what they see as his propaganda value, carl. >> there are already so many concerns about escalating combat activities in that part of the world. what do pentagon officials believe americans should expect in the weeks and months to come? >> reporter: well, as both the u.s. marines and british forces in southern afghanistan launch new offenses and the u.s. military is pouring additional forces into afghanistan, you can expect the violence and the casualties to rise. military officials say it will, in fact, get worse before it gets better. >> nbc's jim miklaszewski in washington. thank you for that. the oaks today defende its plan to reform health care in this country. republican critics and some

moderate democrats ratcheting up their criticism ahead of congress' august recess. nbc's mike viqueira joins us from the white house with more on that. >> good evening, carl. the stakes couldn't be higher for the president in this fight. one republican senator, an opponent, says if they can defeat the president's health reform effort in congress, then this could be mr. obama's political waterloo. the president back in the white house after an overnight trip to camp david facing more questions in the fight over health care. as he pressures congress for crucial votes before their summer break, he faces a solid wall of republican opposition. >> this is a bill that shouldn't pass at any point, either before the august recess or later in the year. >> reporter: he's also dealing with skittish democrats, sensitive to republican attacks on both a government option in health care and the tax hikes on the wealthy that would pay for it. >> we're talking about more government, more taxes, more spending. you know, tax the rich. >> reporter: today democtic

leaders fought back. >> this is a tax on less than 1% of the wealthiest people in the united states of america. >> reporter: the president's budget director asked for calm. >> hasn't happened in 50 years for a reason. it's complicated. >> reporter: but it's clear the votes aren't yet there for the president, so over the last week he's used his bully pulpit day after day to tell his plan, waging an all-out campaign to gain support, huddling with democratic leaders and undecided senators and after vulnerable democrats raid red flags over the new tax and its impact on small business warning it could kill the goose that will lay the golden eggs of our recovery, the very next day found them all marching into the west wing invited to come vent their concerns to top staff. and today another dramatic push. this time from an ailing ted kennedy, absent from washington but appearing on the cover of "newsweek" and writing, this is the cause of my life. we will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege.

and, carl, in another indication of the high stakes here, the president plans to have a formal prime time news conference in thehite house's east room on wednesday evening. carl? >> nbc's mike viqueira at the white house tonight. mike, thank you for that. john harwood is cnbc's chief washington correspondent. he joins us with some more on this john, democrats and republicans are obviously urging the president to slow down on the issue. is the white house listening? >> well, i don't think they're listening to the calls to slow down. the president realizes that his political capital will only dwindle over time, but i do think they're listening to the calls to ramp up cost controls. that's why you saw the president late last week begin to emphasize more volume ewablely his support for a commission that would trim medicare spending over time. he's going to try to use that to convince moderate democrats and some republicans that he's more serious about cost controls than some democrats have been so far. >> to hammer some of that out, is there any indication that this self-imposed deadline to get the house and senate to pass a bill before the august recess

could be extended in any way? >> the house, i believe, is going to push extremely hard to get this done by the august recess so the president can have at least one bill on the board to begin this process. it's a real long shot that the senate is going to get this done. there's so much disagreement still bipartisan talks going with the senate finance committee chairman and some republicans. i don't think the white house is conceding that point yet, but they recognize it's going to be very, very tough to get action in the senate. >> more broadly, john, on the economy, the budget director saying signs of economic recovery are starting to show some light, but at the same time they admit unemployment will be rising at least through the end of the year. how much confidence can americans take away from that disparity? >> this is going to be a function, carl, of the president's popularity and his credibility. this has always been a timing problem for the white house. they've known unemployment is going to lag in terms of recovering with the rest of the economy. president obama has got to count on other economic data, like growth numbers for the second half of the year, to buttress

his point and make maerchs believe that, in fact, things are turning around. he needs to continue to emphasize the fact that he wants to cut spending, and you will see some of that this week when he renews his attempt to cut the f-22 fighter, which is something democrats and rms are both persisting in pushing even though the pentagon doesn't want it. >> john, appreciate that. john harwood tonight in washington. the ntsb is joining the investigation in san francisco tonight into the cause of a light rail crash that sent 48 people to the hospital. two trains collided as one emerged from a tunnel saturday afternoon. one eyewitness said it sounded like a bomb going off. investigators say they're looking at, quote, mechanical and human issues. >>and we learned more tonight about what the future holds for that family of that murdered pensacola, florida, couple who had adopted so many special needs children. the couple's grown daughter, 26-year-old ashley markham, says she and her husband will move into her parents' home and raise the children saying that was her mother's wish. the nation's unemployment stands at 9.5%, the worst in

years, but many states from one end of the country to the other are struggling with a jobless rate of well over 10% and getting worse. among them, oregon. nbc's miguel almaguer reports. >> reporter: an average morning for this family in an anything but ordinary time no, talk of the mortgage, no discussion of bailey's mounting college tuition, no mention of kelly's continuing unemployment. in just four months this high-tech consultant has gone from power meeting to regular appointments with a career counselor. she's among the 12,000 who rely on these oregon job centers to look for work every month. >> i am very similar to hundreds and hundreds of people that were living our lifestyle and you never saw those people out of work. >> reporter: not far from portland's picturesque waterfront and its quaint downtown, a different view. this one of its crumbling economy. >> electronics engineer. >> i'm a senior procurement professional. >> reporr: at a networking

seminar, many have gone from six figure salaries to cashing unemployment checks. here in oregon the unemployment rate has more than doubled in the last year alone, and every month the state economy continues to shed some 10,000 jobs. >> i don't think that we have hit bottom yet. >> reporter: oregon's governor worries about an exodus outf the state. construction, real estate, and the high-tech fields have all been hit hard. >> some people will move, and i understand that they will probably have to move. >> reporter: in fact,uch of the west has gone from boom to bust. washington, nevada, arizona have all seen unemployment lows turn into historic highs in about two years. oregon's unemployment rate has surged well ahead of the national average, now the third highest in the country just behind rhode island and michigan. >> people make six figures and, you know, they're living the dream, the american dream, and they're all slowly out of work,

and it's sad. >> reporter: out of work in the west where for some the only job left is trying to find one. miguel almaguer, nbc news, portland. arrangements are being made for private funeral services for walter cronkite this thursday here in new york city. he will be buried beside his late wife betsy in his home state of missouri. a public memorial service is planned for a later date at new york's lincoln center. when "nightly news" continues this sunday evening, if you have been putting off a trip or summer vacation, why now may be the best time to fly in years. and the pomp and circumstance of a day some thought would never come for some inspiring students. we've always been alike. we even both have osteoporosis. but we're active. especially when we vacation. so when i heard about reclast, the only once-a-year iv osteoporosis treatment, i called joni. my doctor said reclast helps restrengthen our bones to help make them resistant to fracture for twelve whole months. and reclast is approved to help protect from fracture

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lately has a lot of americans hunkered down at home this summer, saving up instead of spending on a summer vacation. one result, airlines, hotels, d resorts desperate to lure back customers have slashed prices to the bone. nbc's tom costello has more. >> reporter: for the airline and travel industries, summer 2009 is shaping up to be a bit of a washout, and with little optimism that business will pick up in the fall, hotels, resorts, and airlines are discounting prices to levels we haven't seen in 13 years. >> it's going to be a wild and crazy run for the airlines. they're still losing their shirts, and they still got to fill up those planes. >> reporter: if you're traveling between august 18th and november 28th, there are 12 cities with flights to las vegas for just $98 round trip. 11 cities to chicago for $98, and 40 cities to baltimore, washington's bwi for $98. flying to europe? dallas to rome drops from nearly

$1,500 to $740 as of mid-august. chicago to paris drops from $1,150 to $460. and los angeles to barcelona drops from $1,209 to $609. why mid-august? >> that's when everybody in america has to go either back to work, these kids are going back to school, family travel is over, and the only folks out there going to be out there maybe will be some retirees. >> reporter: but already hotels are offering deep discounts now at some of the country's top destinations. among the deals on travelzoo.com, $49 at the n resort in las vegas. $105 at the viceroy in miami and $109 which waikiki. >> with unemployment at 9.5% and its expected to continue to go higher for at least the next six months or so, a lot of people tend to cut first from the vacation fund and, you know, the fun fund, if you will. >> reporter: the great recession

of 2009 also offering unprecedented chances for a great escape. tom costello, nbc news, washington. astronauts aboard the shuttle "endeavour" took a day off between space walks. the crew of seven along with astronauts from russia, europe, japan, and canada add up to 13 people on the international space station, the most ever together in space at one time. the bad news, one of the station's two toilets is out of order. 40 years ago tonight the astronauts of apollo 11 went into orbit around the moon just hours before their historic landing and first steps on the lunar surface. ashe world prepares to mark that milestone, it's worth remembering it all happened in the first place because of a goal set by a young president eight years earlier. it was the height of the cold war, and the united states was in danger of losing the space race to the soviet union. in a speech to congress after just four months in office, president john f. kennedy made an astonishing, unprecedented

proposal. >> i believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. no single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the long-range exploration of space, and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. >> reporter: it was difficult and expensive, and kennedy did not live to see it. but in just eight years, his goal was met by the crew of apollo 11. on july 20th, 1969, 40 years ago tomorrow. >> it's one small step forman, ongiapanlet for mankind. >> we'll be right back. olay professional pro-x wrinkle protocol is as effective as the leading wrinkle prescription brand at reducing the look of wrinkles.

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if we don't act, medical bills will wipe out their savings. if we don't act, she'll be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. and he won't get the chemotherapy he needs. if we don't act, health care costs will rise 70%. and he'll have to cut benefits for his employees. but we can act. the president and congress have a plan to lower your costs and stop denials for pre-existing conditions. it's time to act. not a good day to be outdoors in hong kong today as a fierce tropical storm unleashed heavy winds and drenching rain across southern china after hammering the philippines. flights were canceled or

diverted. thousands of fishermen evacuated, and part of hong kong disneyland was forced to close. to the world of sports now, the british open is the granddaddy of golf tournaments. it's been around since 1860, but for play whose compete in the open, the rule is usually the younger, the better. today long-time golfing legend tom wattson took a shot the breaking that rule. nbc's john yang has that story. >> reporter: it was one for the ages. two months shy of his 60th birthday, tom watson was the leader as he played the final hole of regulation play. on the path to his sixth british open and a place in the record books, the oldest player ever to win a major championship. watson hadn't won a major title since the 1983 british open and hadn't bon won a pga tournament since 1998. most of his play recently has been on the seniors tour. >> for tom watson to have almost won a major championship at 60

years of age, it's inconceivable. the next oldest player to have won a major was 11 years his junior. >> reporter: he was playing on scotland us a famed turnbury golf course the site of his 1977 victory, which watson calls one of the best moments of his career. today on the 18th green, he was an eight-foot putt away from victory and a place in history. and then on a four-hole playoff he lost by six strokes to fellow american stewart cink, who was only 2 years old when watson won his first major championship in 1975. >> my congratulations to tom. my hats off agai i don't even know what to say. turn back the clock. >> i really thought i was playing well, and i knew how to play this golf course, and it was almost. the dream almost came true.

>> reporter: an inspiration to weekend golfers everywhere. >> they go out and see a guy like tom watson at 60 years of age compete with guys that are, you know, half his age, and, you know, they think that, well, maybe i can do something on my level, too. i think it gives hope to a lot of people for a lot of different things. >> reporter: john yang, nbc news, london. the news came late today that the pulitzer prize winner writer frank mccourt has died. mccourt was born in brooklyn, new york, but his best known work "angela's ashes gtion "is an account of his impoverished childhood in ireland. he was in failing health. he w 78 years old. when we continue, all they needed was a chance, and now for some very special kids, it's graduation day. their doctors aboucialis. ask your doctor if a cialis option is right for you because in addition to 36-hour cialis, there's another dosing option: cialis for daily use, a low-dose tablet you take every day so you can be ready anytime the moment is right.

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finally tonight, a follow-up story on a story we told you about two years ago. at the time a group of students with special needs was heading off to college at a ucla extension program called pathway. since then they've worked their way through classes and have been immersed in campus life. now they've reached a major milestone. nbc's peter alexander has their story. >> ladies and gentlemen, the

class of 2008. >> reporter: it's graduation day for a dozen pioneers. here at the university of california-los angeles, they are the first complete a ground breaking new program called pathway that was created to give young adults with special needs a chance at college life. >> i feel like i accomplished a lot during my time here. >> reporter: they're challenged by developmental disabilities like autism that in the past would have excluded students like laura and grant from opportunities. >> i met some cool people. >> they have gained such tremendous confidence and self-you a sur rans and had the chance to live out on their own. >> reporter: this woman was down syndrome. she's packing up, taking with her important lessons about being more independent. this is a proud one for her parents. >> heidi is able to complete

something i didn't think she'd ever do, but it's also the end of an incredible journey. >> reporter: your dream job is what? we first met these students when that journey began in 2007. this was andrew cramer then. >> i just want to be like everyone else. >> reporter: this is him today. >> i really feel i made friendships here. >> reporter: on top of those friendships and the football games, the pathway program offered these undergrads a unique curriculum. >> surprise! >> reporter: that included creative thinking and computer courses. on this day every student presented before the class which have been welcomed with open arms. >> i think you did a great job. i am just so happy from my heart. >> reporter: while there are no guarantees what these young graduates will accomplish in the future, organizers say at least the pathway class of 2009 has been given a chance to achieve. >> one, two, three, pathways! >> reporter: peter alexander, nbc news.