Jessica Lynch condemns Pentagon

BBC ^ | Friday, 7 November, 2003, 18:11 GMT | BBC

[KQQL]

US woman soldier who shot to fame after being taken prisoner during the Iraq war has accused the military of using her for propaganda purposes.

A video of US commandos carrying a badly injured Private Jessica Lynch from a Nasiriya hospital was released at the height of the conflict.

But the 20-year-old criticised the release of false information about her capture by Iraqi forces.

She also said there was no reason for her rescue to be filmed.

In her first interview about what happened to her, the former prisoner-of-war told ABC television that medical reports indicated that she had been raped.

They used me as a way to symbolise all this stuff. It's wrong.

She said she had no recollection of the attack. "Even just the thinking about that, that's too painful," she told interviewer Diane Sawyer.

Miss Lynch, who was serving as an Army supply clerk, suffered broken bones and other injuries when her convoy was ambushed after taking a wrong turn near the Iraqi town of Nasiriya on 23 March.

The Pentagon initially put out the story that Private Lynch - a slight woman who was just 19 at the time - had been wounded by Iraqi gunfire but had kept fighting until her ammunition ran out.

But she told Sawyer that she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that her gun had jammed during the chaos.

"I'm not about to take credit for something I didn't do," she said.

"I did not shoot - not a round, nothing. I went down praying to my knees - that's the last thing I remember."

Initial reports also suggested that Miss Lynch had been abused after she came round in the hospital. She says that again was untrue - there was no mistreatment, and one nurse used to sing to her.

She said she was grateful to the American special forces team which rescued her but, asked whether the Pentagon's subsequent portrayal of her rescue bothered her, she said: "Yes, it does. They used me as a way to symbolise all this stuff. It's wrong."

Injuries

Miss Lynch was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medals while still in hospital in Washington DC.

Months later, she is receiving treatment for her extensive injuries.

Earlier this week, it emerged that medical evidence suggested that Miss Lynch had been raped during her capture.

The assault was revealed in extracts from Miss Lynch's authorised biography - I am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story - to be released by publisher Alfred A Knopf on Tuesday.

[mass55th]

"Why would the author of her book lie about this?"

Sounds plausible to me too.

[Dane]

OK then champ - you hold this girl's feet to the fire then... I hope you find it satisfying

I ain't the one getting a million bucks from ABC. If it is too hot then get out of the kitchen.

[arete]

So, they take it out on Lynch, who is honest and naive enough to tell the truth.

Yep, they seem really PO'd that Lynch had the personal integrity to tell the truth. These are the same people that a couple of years ago were all yelling, "character counts". Tough posting around here for many who have to keep doing 180's on priciple and core beliefs -- but I have a feeling that they never had any to begin with.

Richard W.

[Dane]

Yep, they seem really PO'd that Lynch had the personal integrity to tell the truth. These are the same people that a couple of years ago were all yelling, "character counts". Tough posting around here for many who have to keep doing 180's on priciple and core beliefs -- but I have a feeling that they never had any to begin with

A question arete, how much did it cost ABC to buy Jessica's "integrity" in your eyes?

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[jethropalerobber]

Will you ever call the media on their lies, Katie?

i realize you might find this odd, but expect honesty from all quarters, Dick.

[PeyersPatches]

are you suggesting that the money she receives to cover the cost of injuries sustained in service to country is also intended to buy her silence?

---

Aren't her injuries covered for life by the U.S. Military as she suffered them during active duty and confict?

[jethropalerobber]

thanks for the info.

[WackyKat]

If it is too hot then get out of the kitchen.

I thought you were in Goose Creek, SC, helping the SWAT team bulletheads terrify those high school kids.

[HairOfTheDog]

She is just a soldier that ended up in a huge event. I don't think that means we HAVE to make sure she endures any intense heat from us. We could just read her story, and the stories of the others who will write them, and place them wherever we want in the big scheme of things.

[Dane]

i realize you might find this odd, but expect honesty from all quarters, Dick

Whatever you think your "truth" is, Katie.

[mass55th]

Sorry about the posting that started out with: "Why would the author of her book lie about this?"

I had cut and thought I'd pasted part of your comment about your theory on the accident and her injuries, but my stupid computer instead pasted the previous line I had used in another reply and I never noticed the error before I clicked on the post button.

[Dane]

I thought you were in Goose Creek, SC, helping the SWAT team bulletheads terrify those high school kids

That's it?? Oh I have so much to be afraid about in the ways of verbal jousting in the future, WK.

< /sarcasm >

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Placemarker. : ) (Just watching this now...all very interesting.)

[VOA]

And now for a break from the very few mouthy, whining soldiers:

NOW HEAR THIS ALL LURKERS/POSTERS:

THIS WEEKEND (November 8 and 9) is the LAST SHOPPING WEEKEND for Parcel Post mailing
of care packages to our BEST AND BRIGHTEST who will be stationed far from home for the holidays
(deadline for this inexpensive mailing route is November 13th).

TIME to:
SHOP
BOX
and
MAIL

THAT IS ALL!

till next time...

[Dane]

She is just a soldier that ended up in a huge event. I don't think that means we HAVE to make sure she endures any intense heat from us. We could just read her story, and the stories of the others who will write them, and place them wherever we want in the big scheme of things

And pissed on a number of people in the process. Why should I be surprised she grew up during the Clinton years.

[HairOfTheDog]

She has not.... Lets not over dramatize here eh?

[jethropalerobber]

Jessica Lynch is seriously affecting the soldiers in the field who are risking their lives and dying everyday!

really? in what way is she "seriously affecting" them?

do they now worry that if they come home and tell the truth about what they experienced, they will be publicly slandered?

[Ima Lurker]

The military films many operations to use as a propaganda tool. I see nothing wrong with that. I've supported Jessica Lynch all along, but the rescue is as much the rescuers story as it is her story. I think she is in way over her head and does not understand what her handlers are doing to her.

[HairOfTheDog]

I am not able to spend the rest of my Saturday here...

Good day to you!