It seems to me that there are two ways of looking at this.

1) Ralph Peters has gotten entirely too comfortable on TV and doesn't feel the need to think before he speaks.

-OR-

2) He assumed that the Taliban were watching and wanted them to get the message that this prisoner is worth more to them alive than dead. That is certainly one message that they could have received. He expressed frustration towards the Soldier and suggested that the Taliban would do us a favor by killing him.

One way or the other, I don't know. But really, who cares? This is just more stuff on cable news. It's about as important as whatever is on the front page of the tabloids at the supermarket checkout.