Piestewa Family Slams Airing of POW Video

Associated Press ^ | Jan 01, 2004 | ANANDA SHOREY

[optimistically_conservative]

PHOENIX - The family of a soldier killed in Iraq (news - web sites) had harsh words Wednesday for the network that aired footage of her, bloody and bruised, in an Iraqi hospital bed shortly before she died.

AP Photo

The footage, aired Tuesday on "NBC Nightly News," shows Lori Piestewa and Jessica Lynch — Army privates and best friends — at a hospital where they were taken after a March 23 ambush. Lynch was rescued April 1.

Airing the tape — which NBC said was filmed but never broadcast by Iraqi television — created a sense of fear, anxiety and hurt, Piestewa's family said in a statement.

"This terrorism was not from any foreign group wishing to harm the United States, but from our own people wanting to make a quick buck off the misfortune of two beautiful young women," the family said.

Wayland Piestewa, brother of the fallen soldier, released the statement but declined to answer questions.

NBC spokeswoman Barbara Levin said the network contacted the Pentagon (news - web sites) so the families of Piestewa and Lynch would know about the footage.

"Undeniably there's news value in it," Levin said, because it bolsters Lynch's statements that she did not remember what happened after her unit was attacked, and because it shows Piestewa was alive for a time after the ambush.

"It gave some clarity to the situation," Levin said.

On the tape, Piestewa's face is swollen, bloody and bruised and her head loosely bandaged. Her lip is shown curling back in an apparent grimace.

Lynch, 20, is also shown bandaged, her lip cut. Neither appears awake or alert.

The footage was somewhat comforting for fellow former POW Spc. Shoshana Johnson, who verified Lynch's and Piestewa's identities for NBC.

"It was a little shocking to see Lori, but it also gave me a little peace to know that they tried, they did their best for her," Johnson, 30, told the network. "I mean, it was obvious they tried to bandage her up and give her medical care."

Iraqi doctors have previously said the women were brought to a private clinic after the ambush, and that Piestewa, a 23-year-old mother of two from Tuba City, Ariz., died half an hour later of severe head injuries.

Although they disagreed with NBC's decision to air the footage, Piestewa's family said some people definitely should see it.

"Let us make sure that both President Bush (news - web sites), his father and each of his aides and advisers get a copy of Lori dying in agony so that they realize, from the comfort of their homes, that war should be the last option," the family said in the statement.

[marvlus]

"Let us make sure that both President Bush (news - web sites), his father and each of his aides and advisers get a copy of Lori dying in agony so that they realize, from the comfort of their homes, that war should be the last option," the family said in the statement.

I feel terrible for all families that have lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I do believe that in these cases, war was the last option.

[americafirst]

I was OK with this until the last paragraph. To her family: to paraphrase an old military saying, shut up and let her die like a soldier.

[cars for sale]

put Mr Piestewa and Brokaw in a death match,
I'd pay tripe. Any Freepercussions planned against NBC
ya'll ?

[thathamiltonwoman]

So, Lori did not die in the crash but in Iraqi custody. What did she endure before her death? I supsect we'll never know. As for her family, they are grieving. I'll give them a pass.

[thathamiltonwoman]

So, Lori did not die in the crash but in Iraqi custody. What did she endure before her death? I supsect we'll never know. As for her family, they are grieving. I'll give them a pass.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

It sure as hell wasn't President Bush's decision to allow women into combat. I respect their grieving, but they cross a line when they strike out at the President.

[veronica]

On the tape, Piestewa's face is swollen, bloody and bruised and her head loosely bandaged. Her lip is shown curling back in an apparent grimace.

As her hair is yanked by an Iraqi "caregiver" to position her face so that her "pose" for the camera would be improved.

Disgusting, grisy display by savages who should be tried for war crimes.

[jonboy]

There is no draft and President Bush did not make this young woman join the military. The possibilities of death and the risk of injury are the realities of being a soldier. I'm sorry for this girl and her family, but it's a shame to see them dishonor her so.

[zerosix]

The Center for Military Readiness, headed by Elaine Donnelly, has fought for years to prevent just what NBC chose to air, women, and especially young mothers such as Lori, from ever being placed in the danger that the Libs have demanded.

Weak-spined pols rolled combined with corrupt military commanders brought us Lori, Jessica and Shoshaunna, as well as the other females who are in harm's way and their male counterparts, many of whom lost their lives protecting the females in their units.

[breakem]

I wish those liberals would stop forcing women to join the military.

[weegee]

Has NBC aired ANY footage of a dead body from 9.11.2001 yet? I would say THAT is footage that the next sitting president should be shown.

[Guenevere]

Elaine Donnelly begged and beseeched for YEARS not to let women in combat situations....

..yeah, a president should be forced to watch this video, but it should be Clinton, not Bush!!!!

But what's the use, X-42 would not be moved to tears or anything else....

Forgive me, as I know this family is hurting, but if they want to direct their anger at someone, including NBC News, they should direct it at the president they probably voted for, and I suspect I know who it is. ....and it wasn't Bush!----OK, my opinion)

Also, this woman was not forced to join the military....but she was surely propagandized by the women's movement who said she too had the right to be part of combat!!!

We have brave men fighting and dying every day over there......I'm tired of what the feminist movement has done and continues to do to our military!

[Guenevere]

#10...well said!

Unfortunately, your average voter won't take time to research or ever listen to an Elaine Donnelly and will simply take the word of the grieving Piestawa family.

Always....George Bush's fault...sigh

[Valin]

that war should be the last option

Should it? If we had gone to war in Afghanistan earlier 3,000+ people might be alive today. Not to mention the WTC might still be standing.

[gcruse]

I wish those liberals would stop forcing women to join the military.

There is no draft.  What are you talking about 'forced?'

[breakem]

context, context, context................it was a sarcastic reply to another poster.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Please Sign This Petition to President George W. Bush on Women in Combat

[jaykay]

"It sure as hell wasn't President Bush's decision to allow women into combat. I respect their grieving, but they cross a line when they strike out at the President."

The buck stops at the President's desk. It wasn't his decision to allow women into combat, but it was his decision to maintain the status quo after he took office.

[jaykay]

"this woman was not forced to join the military....but she was surely propagandized by the women's movement who said she too had the right to be part of combat!!!"

I suspect that Lori and Jessica were made to beleive that as supply clerks, they would not be part of combat. Elaine Donnelly and others have said that recruiters don't inform female prospects about Clinton's changes in the risk rule. According to Donnelly, most female recruits do not want to be combat soldiers and if informed that they may face the situation that Lori, Jessica and Shoshanna faced, they would not consider the military as a career option.