More Jessica Lynch Drama

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » May 15, 2003, 9:53 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/c ... 028585.stm

Private Jessica Lynch became an icon of the war, and the story of her capture by the Iraqis and her rescue by US special forces became one of the great patriotic moments of the conflict.

But her story is one of the most stunning pieces of news management ever conceived.

Private Lynch, a 19-year-old army clerk from Palestine, West Virginia, was captured when her company took a wrong turning just outside Nasiriya and was ambushed.

Nine of her comrades were killed and Private Lynch was taken to the local hospital, which at the time was swarming with Fedayeen. Eight days later US special forces stormed the hospital, capturing the "dramatic" events on a night vision camera.

They were said to have come under fire from inside and outside the building, but they made it to Lynch and whisked her away by helicopter.

Reports claimed that she had stab and bullet wounds and that she had been slapped about on her hospital bed and interrogated.

But Iraqi doctors in Nasiriya say they provided the best treatment they could for the soldier in the midst of war. She was assigned the only specialist bed in the hospital and one of only two nurses on the floor.

"I examined her, I saw she had a broken arm, a broken thigh and a dislocated ankle," said Dr Harith a-Houssona, who looked after her.

Jessica amnesia

"There was no [sign of] shooting, no bullet inside her body, no stab wound - only road traffic accident. They want to distort the picture. I don't know why they think there is some benefit in saying she has a bullet injury."

Witnesses told us that the special forces knew that the Iraqi military had fled a day before they swooped on the hospital.

"We were surprised. Why do this? There was no military, there were no soldiers in the hospital," said Dr Anmar Uday, who worked at the hospital.

"It was like a Hollywood film. They cried 'go, go, go', with guns and blanks without bullets, blanks and the sound of explosions. They made a show for the American attack on the hospital - action movies like Sylvester Stallone or Jackie Chan."

There was one more twist. Two days before the snatch squad arrived, Harith had arranged to deliver Jessica to the Americans in an ambulance.

But as the ambulance, with Private Lynch inside, approached a checkpoint American troops opened fire, forcing it to flee back to the hospital. The Americans had almost killed their prize catch.

When footage of the rescue was released, General Vincent Brooks, US spokesman in Doha, said: "Some brave souls put their lives on the line to make this happen, loyal to a creed that they know that they'll never leave a fallen comrade."

The American strategy was to ensure the right television footage by using embedded reporters and images from their own cameras, editing the film themselves.

The Pentagon had been influenced by Hollywood producers of reality TV and action movies, notably the man behind Black Hawk Down, Jerry Bruckheimer.

Bruckheimer advised the Pentagon on the primetime television series "Profiles from the Front Line", that followed US forces in Afghanistan in 2001. That approached was taken on and developed on the field of battle in Iraq.

As for Private Lynch, her status as cult hero is stronger than ever. Internet auction sites list Jessica Lynch items, from an oil painting with an opening bid of $200 to a $5 "America Loves Jessica Lynch" fridge magnet.

But doctors now say she has no recollection of the whole episode and probably never will.

I guess the only heroes left are the ones the media and/or government proclaims.

Jaxomer · Post by **Jaxomer** » May 15, 2003, 10:35 pm

That is really fucked up.

Dalmoth · Post by **Dalmoth** » May 16, 2003, 12:17 am

The briefing that Rumsfeld gave said she had only broken bones, from that point on I didn't trust a damn thing the media said.

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » May 16, 2003, 7:47 am

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » May 16, 2003, 9:11 am

Still...who can you trust? The BBC? Some doctor in Iraq? Rumsfeld? Jessica Lynch?

I personally choose to put this whole thing on the back burner. I could give a fuck either way. But I truly will NOT believe that Jerry Bruckheimer took the next flight here to DC and went flying down route 1 to get to the Pentagon in time to help them create that rescue...what a load.

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » May 16, 2003, 11:59 am

I do not think either version is the truth.

I thinkl both sides are self serving in the issue, but I will give more creedance to my government than some putz doctor in Iraq

miir · Post by **miir** » May 16, 2003, 12:37 pm

Don't you find it rather suspicious that Ms Lynch now has amnesia and no recollection of what happened?

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » May 16, 2003, 12:40 pm

I also find it to be an impossibility to think that the allied forces would go *anywhere* in Iraq with their weapons loaded with "blanks".

As to her amnesia...I don't think she talked about it at all since the rescue, so it is possible her mind has shut it out due to trauma...but hey...that's just a guess and the more practical answer is no one wants her too talk.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » May 16, 2003, 12:42 pm

The media definitely added a whole hell of a lot of this. How some scared little girl becomes some kind of "hero" out of this is just a tribute to how easily people are swayed by the media and their sensationalism. I am surprised they didn'thave her as hopping out of bed and killing Saddam with a garrote made from tampon strings.

miir · Post by **miir** » May 16, 2003, 12:48 pm

As to her amnesia...I don't think she talked about it at all since the rescue, so it is possible her mind has shut it out due to trauma...but hey...that's just a guess and the more practical answer is no one wants her too talk.

Pretty fishy if she got trauma from being in a car accident and held in a hospital.

There were 2 guys on Letterman this week who's helicopter was shot down and they were held captive for a few weeks in l'ess than humane conditions'. They were hillarious talking and joking about some of the situations they were in while being chased by 'farmers with AK47s' and their captors calling his 101 Dalmations DVD, 'pornography. They were even fairly nonchalant about getting smacked around.

Did anyone else see those guys?

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » May 16, 2003, 12:53 pm

miir wrote:Don't you find it rather suspicious that Ms Lynch now has amnesia and no recollection of what happened?

Nope!! Not all, That must of been a very forgetful experience. Im sure she was scared, I would be to knowing that I was a POW of a man who likes to fill up underground condos with 11,000 of his own people.

So lets all jump on the Pussy Patrols band wagon and pick on a girl who served her country but lets not say a damn thing about the thousands killed by a ruthless dictator.

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » May 16, 2003, 2:19 pm

Cartalas wrote:
miir wrote:Don't you find it rather suspicious that Ms Lynch now has amnesia and no recollection of what happened?
Nope!! Not all, That must of been a very forgetful experience. Im sure she was scared, I would be to knowing that I was a POW of a man who likes to fill up underground condos with 11,000 of his own people.

So lets all jump on the Pussy Patrols band wagon and pick on a girl who served her country but lets not say a damn thing about the thousands killed by a ruthless dictator.

Lets see the Kurds side with Iran during the war. IF they are "his own people" then wouldn't they be traitors? How does the US treat traitors?

Then Sadam puts down an attempt to overthrow the government. Isn't that the typical reactions from a government?

Brutal yes but calling these "his own people" in such a way as to imply he simply performed these random acts on random Iraqis is misrepresentation. I have heard stories about other singular or smaller atrocities but these two incidents are what constitute the "thousands" figure.

If I called Branch Davidians "your own people" with no context to explain the resulting carnage would that be a fair?

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » May 16, 2003, 2:40 pm

Forthe wrote:
Cartalas wrote:
miir wrote:Don't you find it rather suspicious that Ms Lynch now has amnesia and no recollection of what happened?
Nope!! Not all, That must of been a very forgetful experience. Im sure she was scared, I would be to knowing that I was a POW of a man who likes to fill up underground condos with 11,000 of his own people.

So lets all jump on the Pussy Patrols band wagon and pick on a girl who served her country but lets not say a damn thing about the thousands killed by a ruthless dictator.
Lets see the Kurds side with Iran during the war. IF they are "his own people" then wouldn't they be traitors? How does the US treat traitors?

Then Sadam puts down an attempt to overthrow the government. Isn't that the typical reactions from a government?

Brutal yes but calling these "his own people" in such a way as to imply he simply performed these random acts on random Iraqis is misrepresentation. I have heard stories about other singular or smaller atrocities but these two incidents are what constitute the "thousands" figure.

If I called Branch Davidians "your own people" with no context to explain the resulting carnage would that be a fair?

Come on Forthe you know as well as I do that comparing Branch Davidans to Iraq is stupid.

The ATF had reason to believe that these nut cases were in violation of many laws, they were giving ( In my opinion ), way to much time to surrender. So what do the officials do say " Oh well they wont come out to be arrested,so lets all go home", yeah that works. Im sure Saddam gave those "Traitors" as you call them the same chance.

I can see it now Saddam circled them for weeks on end playing music to get them to surrender. And then they were going to get a fair trial when they surrendered.

:vv_signlol:

They were dead as soon as they revolted but you know what its okay they were traitors. Do you see where your liberal thinking is flawed!!! Its not okay to attempt to help out a country at im sorry to say the expense of a few innocent lives. But it is okay ( If you run the country), To mow down 11,000 traitors.

Mumblefug · Post by **Mumblefug** » May 16, 2003, 2:43 pm

He 'put down' the Kurds by bombing villages with the full intent of killing every single person in them, civilain and combatant, man, woman, and child. I don't trust the government as far as I can spit them, but it doesn't mean I will defend a murderous dictator rather than believe at least some of what they say.
The report above is very fishy. I just don't see it happening that way. One Iraqi doctor (more than likely Moslem and who would love it if America went up in a nuclear fireball tomorrow) says this and we are supposed to believe him over all other evidence? This was a real war, they didn't need to fake footage. The support was overwhelming, they didn't need to falsify anything to garner more support. Fuck look what happened to the Dixie Chicks for one comment. You think they would do this shit when they didn't even need to drum up support?
I also have to wonder why CNN doesn't have anything to say about this?
Also, post-trauma amnesia is certainly not unheard of.
Some people act like patriotism is a crime these days. BLIND patriotism is, but there's surely nothing wrong with supporting your country, or at the very least the soldiers who bear the brunt in times of crisis. If America is such a shithole, at least be glad you have the freedom to say so and to move out when you decide it's unbearable.

Mumble

miir · Post by **miir** » May 16, 2003, 3:09 pm

He 'put down' the Kurds by bombing villages with the full intent of killing every single person in them, civilain and combatant, man, woman, and child.

Can I say that the USA dropped atomic bombs on Hirosima and Nagasaki for the exact same reason?

One Iraqi doctor says this and we are supposed to believe him over all other evidence?

What other evidence?

more than likely Moslem and who would love it if America went up in a nuclear fireball tomorrow

Just like every American would like to see all the 'moslem' sand niggers go up in a NOO-YOU-LER fireball.

Fuck look what happened to the Dixie Chicks for one comment.

Hahahaha....
That has got to be the most idiotic justification for the invasion of Iraq that I have ever seen. Jesus christ, you're starting to make metanis looks like a genius.

Also, post-trauma amnesia is certainly not unheard of.

And what sort of indication that Ms Lynch went through any sort of trauma? Being in a motor vehicle accident, breaking a few bones and being treated in a hospital could hardly be referred to as traumatic.

I think it's rather convenient that the media can meticulously report on how she was treated while in 'captivity' and you have no trouble believing it, yet when told that she had total amnesia of what happened you don't even bother to question the accuracy of the previous reports.

The only people who can give an accurate account of what happened are the doctors... and so far the reports from these 'moslem' doctors have been contradictory.

If America is such a shithole, at least be glad you have the freedom to say so and to move out when you decide it's unbearable.

What the fuck?
Who said anything about the US being a shithole?

This whole thread is about questioning media accuracy and government/military credibility. The USA is a democracy and americans have the freedom to question their goverment.
Using this freedom does not mean they hate their country or that they think it's a shithole... they are just excercising their constutional rights as US citizens.... and if you don't like that, you can move the fuck out.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » May 16, 2003, 3:18 pm

Miir you are an ignorant fool!!! How do you get up in the morning and tie your shoes.

"Can I say that the USA dropped atomic bombs on Hirosima and Nagasaki for the exact same reason? "

There is a huge difference here WE WERE AT WAR WITH JAPAN.

Lets explain this in a way you might be able to understand with your small brain.

The people of Toronto decide that the rest of the Canadians are dumb asses ( which im sure they do), So the Canadian Govt. says ahh what the hell nuke them and get rid of the problem.

You sister fucking POS you seem to turn shit around just like all cock goobling dipshits do.

There is a huge difference between WAR and Civil Uprising

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » May 16, 2003, 3:20 pm

Hmm I am verklempt, talk amongst yourselves, I will give you a topic....

If being captured and only harmed from a wreck was the trauma, and she has trauma produced amnesia, what does this tell us about women in combat areas, or in the military at all?

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » May 16, 2003, 3:22 pm

and to think i was actually thinking of posting on this topic.

thank you Kylere for saving me the time!

miir · Post by **miir** » May 16, 2003, 3:31 pm

I assume your response was to me, Cartalas....
Since I have you on ignore now, your feebleminded one-liners, retard-ramblings and wearisome witticisms are all for naught.

Save your energy for someone who hasn't grown tired of your sophomoric shenanigans.

alliteration > you

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » May 16, 2003, 3:35 pm

miir wrote:I assume your response was to me, Cartalas....
Since I have you on ignore now, your feebleminded one-liners, retard-ramblings and wearisome witticisms are all for naught.

Save your energy for someone who hasn't grown tired of your sophomoric shenanigans.

alliteration > you

You read it you know you did, You reached over and hit that F5 key between head bobs.

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » May 16, 2003, 3:53 pm

Cartalas wrote:
Forthe wrote:If I called Branch Davidians "your own people" with no context to explain the resulting carnage would that be a fair?
Come on Forthe you know as well as I do that comparing Branch Davidans to Iraq is stupid.

It wasn't a direct comparison. It was an example of using a similar *term* without any context. And you answered my question when you were compelled to put my comment in context. Get the point yet?

Cartalas wrote:They were dead as soon as they revolted but you know what its okay they were traitors. Do you see where your liberal thinking is flawed!!! Its not okay to attempt to help out a country at im sorry to say the expense of a few innocent lives. But it is okay ( If you run the country), To mow down 11,000 traitors.

I have stated my views on this several times:
- If the country requests help then feel free otherwise mind your own business.
- Who gave us the authority to *spend* that "expense" of a few (thousand) innocent lives?
- Civil wars are an internal problem.

Your comments about saving the poor people is a much more liberal position than mine of non-interference.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » May 16, 2003, 3:59 pm

Forthe wrote:
Cartalas wrote:
Forthe wrote:If I called Branch Davidians "your own people" with no context to explain the resulting carnage would that be a fair?
Come on Forthe you know as well as I do that comparing Branch Davidans to Iraq is stupid.
It wasn't a direct comparison. It was an example of using a similar *term* without any context. And you answered my question when you were compelled to put my comment in context. Get the point yet?

Cartalas wrote:They were dead as soon as they revolted but you know what its okay they were traitors. Do you see where your liberal thinking is flawed!!! Its not okay to attempt to help out a country at im sorry to say the expense of a few innocent lives. But it is okay ( If you run the country), To mow down 11,000 traitors.
I have stated my views on this several times:
- If the country requests help then feel free otherwise mind your own business.
- Who gave us the authority to *spend* that "expense" of a few (thousand) innocent lives?
- Civil wars are an internal problem.

Your comments about saving the poor people is a much more liberal position than mine of non-interference.

So we agree to disagree?

Just curious though would you condone the action if the UN said it was okay?

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » May 16, 2003, 4:00 pm

Cartalas wrote:The people of Toronto decide that the rest of the Canadians are dumb asses ( which im sure they do), So the Canadian Govt. says ahh what the hell nuke them and get rid of the problem.

You sister fucking POS you seem to turn shit around just like all cock goobling dipshits do.

There is a huge difference between WAR and Civil Uprising

What if Toronto wanted to have slaves and the rest of Canada didn't agree with it. So we shoot all the torontonians.

The difference isn't so huge...it is called Civil War.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » May 16, 2003, 4:03 pm

Forthe wrote:
Cartalas wrote:The people of Toronto decide that the rest of the Canadians are dumb asses ( which im sure they do), So the Canadian Govt. says ahh what the hell nuke them and get rid of the problem.

You sister fucking POS you seem to turn shit around just like all cock goobling dipshits do.

There is a huge difference between WAR and Civil Uprising
What if Toronto wanted to have slaves and the rest of Canada didn't agree with it. So we shoot all the torontonians.

The difference isn't so huge...it is called Civil War.

Do you Kill thousands and thousands to squash the war. But I was comparing WW2 to a country killing their own people because of a political uprising.

miir · Post by **miir** » May 16, 2003, 4:16 pm

There are a possibly more similarities between the US bombing Japan and Iraq bombing the Kurds than you might think.

At the time, Iraq was facing violent uprisings from the Kurds in the north and the Shiites in the south. I suppose it would have been more humane to quell the resistance by partaking in tank battles and firefights... but with a military split on two fronts, Saddam would have been at a tremendous disadvantage.
I assume he believed that if he took out the Kurdish resistance in one fell swoop and destroyed their morale he would win on both fronts with a minimum loss of his troops and a minimum capital expenditure. Wars aren't cheap, y'know.

Of course I could be totally wrong.... but you cant make a blanket statement about Saddam 'killing his own people' without taking into consideration the circumstances surrounding the event/situation, and expect to be taken seriously.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » May 16, 2003, 4:27 pm

miir wrote:There are a possibly more similarities between the US bombing Japan and Iraq bombing the Kurds than you might think.

At the time, Iraq was facing violent uprisings from the Kurds in the north and the Shiites in the south. I suppose it would have been more humane to quell the resistance by partaking in tank battles and firefights... but with a military split on two fronts, Saddam would have been at a tremendous disadvantage.
I assume he believed that if he took out the Kurdish resistance in one fell swoop and destroyed their morale he would win on both fronts with a minimum loss of his troops and a minimum capital expenditure. Wars aren't cheap, y'know.

Of course I could be totally wrong.... but you cant make a blanket statement about Saddam 'killing his own people' without taking into consideration the circumstances surrounding the event/situation, and expect to be taken seriously.

The only similarities I see is the death of thousands of lives. Now this is a question Why didnt Saddam sit down and try to negotiate with both groups? These were his people the ones he has the responsibility to protect. That would be like saying the Blacks and Mexicans in the US are going to revolt so what does the Govt. do they thry to work out the problems and yes force might be a solution but not gassing thousands of people.

The Japan think is, Hey Japan attacked soil that does not belong to them I.E. pearl Harbour, the Kurds and Shities and as much right to partake in the rulling of the country as the Baaths.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » May 16, 2003, 4:29 pm

The Japan/Kurdish bombings definitely have one thing in common: quality, AMERICAN explosives!

Post by **Sylvus** » May 16, 2003, 5:39 pm

Pardon me if I'm being naive, but didn't they also find the bodies of like 7-10 of her fellow soldiers that were MIA with her buried in the yard around the hospital? I thought I heard something like that when this story came out. Granted, it all could have been part of "Blackhawk Down II: Baghdad Boogaloo", but I don't really believe they'd fabricate that much of it. Especially, as someone already said, going as far as to load their guns with blanks.

Metanis · Post by **Metanis** » May 16, 2003, 6:12 pm

Kluden wrote:I also find it to be an impossibility to think that the allied forces would go *anywhere* in Iraq with their weapons loaded with "blanks".

As to her amnesia...I don't think she talked about it at all since the rescue, so it is possible her mind has shut it out due to trauma...but hey...that's just a guess and the more practical answer is no one wants her too talk.

Stop guy, you are thinking way too logically for this board. How can we have our pre-conceived notions if someone keeps presenting logical arguments?

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » May 16, 2003, 6:27 pm

You wouldn't know logic if it was black and moved next door to you.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » May 16, 2003, 6:40 pm

kyoukan wrote:You wouldn't know logic if it was black and moved next door to you.

We might not know him, but we'd sure as fuck burn his house down! Yee-haw, throw me another PBR, bitch!

Metanis · Post by **Metanis** » May 16, 2003, 6:49 pm

masteen wrote:
kyoukan wrote:You wouldn't know logic if it was black and moved next door to you.
We might not know him, but we'd sure as fuck burn his house down! Yee-haw, throw me another PBR, bitch!

I'm bummed man.

Doc said I can't drink any more PBR.

Life sucks.

Mumblefug · Post by **Mumblefug** » May 17, 2003, 1:07 pm

Miir, really dude, get some fucking glasses or try the Hooked on Phonics thing. Reading comprehension seems to be > you. Either that or you enjoy taking everything someone you disagree with says competely out of context, and then asking for a cookie for it.
I would do a point by point dissection of your post like you attempted to do mine, but gee, you have no points to dissect...

Mumble

Metanis · Post by **Metanis** » May 17, 2003, 3:37 pm

Mumblefug wrote:Miir, ... I would do a point by point dissection of your post like you attempted to do mine, but gee, you have no points to dissect...
Mumble

I see those long posts by Miir where he inserts multiple quotes and I just scroll on past... life is too short. It would be different if he could actually debate something. Carry on Mumblefug, you're obviously a person with some perceptiveness!

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » May 17, 2003, 3:43 pm

Metanis wrote:
Mumblefug wrote:Miir, ... I would do a point by point dissection of your post like you attempted to do mine, but gee, you have no points to dissect...
Mumble
I see those long posts by Miir where he inserts multiple quotes and I just scroll on past... life is too short. It would be different if he could actually debate something. Carry on Mumblefug, you're obviously a person with some perceptiveness!

Im starting to think Miir is a member of NOW.

Avestan · Post by **Avestan** » May 17, 2003, 4:01 pm

Honestly, drawing similarities beteen WW2 and Iraq should not be made in anything less than a 30 page paper.

Trying to just say Japan in WW2 = Iraq now in a message board post is both ignorant and foolish.

You have too look at each case separately and decide if what happened was justified.

1. Was the bombing of the kurds justified?

2. Was the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified?

the answer to 1 is obvious.

The answer to 2 is a debate that will never end.

If you answer no to 2, how does that make 1 any better? It is a moronic argument, stick to what is relavant, and don't try to impose your view of what happened 50 years ago onto today's politics.

Would anyone see the complete annihilation and torture of Palastinian villages, cities, and groups with chemical and other weapons by Israel as justified?

I don't think so, and that is a MUCH more relavant comparison than Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Mumblefug · Post by **Mumblefug** » May 18, 2003, 7:07 am

Whether you supported the war or not is irrelevant. If you believe this conspiracy theory garbage lock stock and barrel, then you are blindly following left wing propaganda just like left wingers accuse the right wingers of doing. Maybe some of it is true, but on the whole it's simply unbelievable.
At no point did I ever say the war was justified or not, just that support for it in the US was overwhelming, and the government didn't need a 'Wag the Tail' scenario to get more support. Life isn't a movie, sometimes things really ARE as simple as they appear.
Oh, and if you don't think getting ambushed, shot at, and in the process breaking some bones is traumatic, damn you are a big hard mofo! Easy to say when the closest you come to true danger daily is when you almost spill Dr. Pepper on the keyboard.

Mumble

miir · Post by **miir** » May 18, 2003, 11:10 am

If you believe this conspiracy theory garbage lock stock and barrel, then you are blindly following left wing propaganda just like left wingers accuse the right wingers of doing.

If 'left wing propaganda' requires me to question the media and government when it feeds me questionable information, then I guess I'm guilty.

Avestan · Post by **Avestan** » May 18, 2003, 3:28 pm

The fact of the matter is you have to choose what to trust as an individual. Miir and others don't trust anything that the US government says (at least when Bush is President). That is their right and quite honestly it is an exercise in futility to argue against anyone using that logic because it is 100% impossible to prove otherwise if they simply throw all evidence out the window as propaganda if it refutes their point.

I am not saying all information from the government is true. But I do believe the vast majority of it is. You have to believe something, and your own convoluted, home-cooked theories are useless because then you are relying on nothing but what you would like to be true.

I believe you have to disect what information is available and make your decision from there and I get very tired of people throwing legitimate information out the window because it disagrees with their point of view.

miir · Post by **miir** » May 18, 2003, 5:35 pm

Miir and others don't trust anything that the US government says (at least when Bush is President).

My default reaction is not to mistrust everything the american press and government says.
But when what they say is contradicted by other sources or is easily refuted, it's a no brainer.

am not saying all information from the government is true. But I do believe the vast majority of it is.

As do I, but anything regarding the invasion of Iraq should be scrutinized. There was so much focus shifting and backpedalling done by the Bush administration in an effort to justify the invasion that I am very skeptical when a situation like the Jessica Lynch story is given such overwhelming media and government exposure.
There are likely dozens of stories of american prisoners that were rescued in Iraq. Why was this specific story given such elaborate coverage? Why did the media and military find such a need to create a hero out of this girl?

There was virtually no media coverage given to the 2 fellows who were on letterman this week but thier story was much more compelling. They handled themselves with intelligence and poise after their helicoper was shot out of the fucking sky and they were chased by armed Iraqi through fields, marshes and ditches. They were prisoners for weeks and were rescued in a similar fashion as Ms Lynch.

Those two are bigger heroes than this little amnesiac who was in an automobile accident.

get very tired of people throwing legitimate information out the window because it disagrees with their point of view

How can you differentiate between what is ligitimate and illegitimate information in this case. You have 2 Iraqis giving radically different accounts of the 'daring hospital resuce of Jessica Lynch' that was staged for the imbedded reporters.

Who's opinion is more valid?
Looking at the available information, I suspect there are elements of truth in both stories but the circumstantial evidence and unsubtantiated claims (bullet wounds, beatings etc) must be taken into account.... and the fact that she, all of a sudden, is suffering from amnesia and has not been permitted to speak to the media leads me to question the accuarcy of the story.

Avestan · Post by **Avestan** » May 18, 2003, 6:02 pm

for the record,

the US government was VERY careful not to say she had bullet wounds etc. My recollection was that it was doctors who said those things and the government repeatedly would not confirm them. Maybe I am wrong, but that is how I remembered it.

I wish I had heard the two on letterman, would have been nice to see. I am not tremendously moved by Lynch's story either. Every war has stories, some true, some not. It is nice to hear the good ones, but in the end, war is not about the stories of heroes as much as it is about the people who are directly affected by actions of heroes and non-heroes alike.

I supported the war, but I have never had any grand illusions that this would be a problem free conflict without casualties on both sides. To this day, I believe it was the right thing to do regardless of weather or not Lynch was in a 4 post bed the entire time with a team of doctors carrying out her every whim.

I hope the US government comes out of this with a sense of accomplishment, but also with a sense of how far we have alienated ourselves from the rest of the world. It was the right thing to do, but now we have a lot of clean up and asskissing that we need to do to restore relations with the international community (ally and non-ally).

I think you are seeing some of this in our stance to try to have China and South Korea and Russia take the lead in the North Korea issue. I feel that the US takes tougher stances internationally now because no one else is willing to do so. Our enemies have to know that if they make overt moves against our domestic and international interests, we are going to react in a way that will make life more difficult for them. Saddam supported terrorism, even if it was only in the form of giving money to bombers' families. It is clear to me that he was smuggling oil and weapons into and out of his country despite all resolutions passed making it illegal, and I believe that if left unchecked, his existence would have eventually led to a much bigger disaster than 9/11.

It is for those reasons that I support the action fully and completely. Before 9/11 and now, there is a huge target on the US by a lot of crazy people. I believe we gave ample opportunites for these people to cease their actions and I was tired of rolling with the punches.

Our next goal as a country should be to mend bridges and to solve the Israel / Palastine problem as best we can. I think it is clear to most people in the US that there needs to be a palastinian state, but in order to get it, the government needs to be reformed. That is happening now and I hope very much that this time around, we can do what could not be done 10 years ago due to Arafat's complete lunacy.

Despite International (and some deomestic) belief that our president is a moron, I believe he has handled this situation briliantly and I am seeing progress in leaps and bounds. I hope that we can continue to improve the situation in Iraq and hand the reigns over in a reasonable amount of time. I also hope this leads to a strong, and friendly relationship to Iraq as a country in the long term.

Clearly there is a lot of work to be done, and Jessica Lynch is such a small part of all of this, but at the heart of the matter (I believe) is that there are a huge number of people who give zero creedence to anything stemming from the government that would suggest they are doing anything right. While it is fine to question that, I would like to see more qualitative thinking with regards to the information that comes out.

The article that spawned this thread just does not seem very credible to me. It seems like a doctor trying to cover his own ass, but anything is possible and in the long run, what happened there is fairly insignificant.

Stan