Jessica: Army used me

NY Daily News ^ | November 7, 2003 | CORKY SIEMASZKO

[AmishDude]

including conservative t.v. networks like FOX

I won't quibble with your characterization of FNC as conservative. But where's the other one?

[honeygrl]

Well, i guess I'll have to read the book to see how things are put together and what is said about who.

[HairOfTheDog]

You have the media invade your lawn and live there for weeks interested in your daughter who you are terribly worried about and interested in. And you handle it better.

[presidio9]

Relax. I simply replied to post 1. That's you. And pinged some other people who haven't even been on the thread.

Since you were fooling around in the in box, would it have killed you to remove my name?

[AMNZ]

You are right. Now you gotta wonder, what did she say and what did they say she said. She is either being missled or she's an ingrate.

[Coop]

JESSICA LYNCH HAS WON MY RESPECT.

Then I guess that makes up for her losing mine.

[TheCrusader]

"I see that on FR, there really is no way for this girl to be right. FR can bash her no matter what she does."

You are right, sir. Thise nitwits are pissed off at Jessica Lynch because she refused to play their game and dance for them. I'm a staunch conservative and I fully back President Bush. But this does it for me. I don't think I can come back in here and make another post. These folks are like vicious dogs, so highly trained in one way of thinking that even when their "side" is wrong they just make up some stupid excuse for overlooking the truth and keep right on rolling merrily along. I'm outta here.

[honeygrl]

Face the facts, the Pentagon had the film rolling and the special effects sparkling, (the Marines firing into the night at nothing). They gave the media the film footage of the "rescue", replete with a staged "battle" of tracers slicing through the night air. I am a STAUNCH conservative and Bush supporter, but for chrisakes give this girl some credit for telling the truth.

Well, without the last sentence, that paragraph sounds like it came straight from DU.

[HamiltonJay]

Nasty? By telling the truth? That she can't understand why she's being portrayed as a hero, when in fact she merely survived? When all of her comrades died, and other came in gun blazing to rescue her?

You think Humility and Honesty are nasty traits?

There is no doubt propoganda was used around her rescue, and I personally am glad to see she is not letting all this hoopla go to her head, and is showing true respect for her fallen comrades. (I do have to question her $1MM book deal) But that's the only thing I can complain about.

Just imagine if she had been someone like a Bubba, or a Dachle or a Gore... and came back that way... she'd have spun her own press into that she single handedly won the war by now.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sorry I pinged you so rudely.... I really am.

[NetValue]

Oh dear me. How disappointing that this American hero would make such a shabby charge. Our government has not "used' her in any way. The print and broadcast media did though. They used her, badly, in my opinion. Especially, the British wire-services.

[AmishDude]

The military is not going to say "The Washington Post is wrong." without conducting their own investigation to determine exactly what happened.

They are also not going to do a line-by-line refutation of every news story in America: "This was wrong." "This was right." "We don't know about this." "This is partially true, but we can't reveal any more until we can declassify the intel." . . .

[Coop]

Face the facts, the Pentagon had the film rolling and the special effects sparkling, (the Marines firing into the night at nothing).

Oh, I see. So not only was it staged, but the "Marines" were stupid enough to draw attention to themselves by firing at nothing? It's amazing anyone made it out of there alive.

[The Westerner]

And thanks to the press, our sixties dinner hours were filled with body bags on t.v. This Jessica Lynch just lost my sympathy. Why the heck shouldn't the army do some p.r. while carrying out a heroic task? It's a win/win. And yes, that film made her a star, so suck it up, Private Lynch.

[presidio9]

No problem. Just a simple request, that's all.

[honeygrl]

"this is going to cost her book sales, and I for one won't be watching her movie now. "

I thought the movie was an unauthorized one? Did she change her mind or did they use the book to make the movie? (is the book even out yet?)

[mattdono]

The military provided a clear admonision that they hadn't verified exactly what happened.

It was the mass media that ran with this angle.

Look at the situation again:

Initial Report: The military said they believed she attempted to resist capture. The media follows up with various questions about the details of her capture. The Army spokesman said they don't know the details, but that all Army personnel are trained to fight the enemy (duh!).

Five minutes after that, the media splash screen is "SAVING PRIVATE LYNCH" and equally-overdramatic graphics.

Two days later, the Army briefs the press that her injuries may have been sustained during the vehicle accident.

Go back and review the military briefings. You will find that the Army tried to provide accurate information throughout. The hype that came from the story became a life of its own, period.

Further, I am not really sure what you want? Did you want the army to come out and say, "Our soldiers are cowards; Pvt. Lynch couldn't even get a shot off because the weapons we use jammed?"

Is Jessica Lynch a coward? I don't think so.
Did she get a shot off? Apparently not.
Did her weapon jam? According to her, but we didn't find out about that until 9 months later.

So, I am not really sure how you wanted this to go down, but that's the way it went down.

So when you say that "let it stand" just because it was "good PR" is really not intellectually honest.

It was/is good PR that she was rescued. She was rescued by brave men of the Special Forces and Marines. She tried to fight, but her weapon jammed.

All of that's true. All of that's good PR. All of which the Army should let stand.

Was she Rambo? No, but the Army never portrayed her as such. The only people that let the "Rambo" image stand was the mass media, because that image was getting veiwership.

[Coop]

this one thread based on shoddy reporting gets all the bashers to flock to it so they can bash this POW some more.

Put me down as a first-time basher, please.

[biffalobull]

I am sorry that people on all sides of this story want to use for their personal gain, or to trash you for not being what they want you to be, and for not saying what they want you to say. You are indeed brave, and you are in my prayers.

Very well said, Crusader, I am with you.

[Coop]

I don't think I can come back in here and make another post. These folks are like vicious dogs, so highly trained in one way of thinking that even when their "side" is wrong they just make up some stupid excuse for overlooking the truth and keep right on rolling merrily along. I'm outta here.

Later, Dude. Your six months here was a joy.