Fleischer: Rape of POWs 'not worth mentioning'

WorldNetDaily ^ | March 25, 2003 | Les Kinsolving

[Dajjal]

Fleischer: Rape of POWs 'not worth mentioning'

Spokesman fails to address issue of U.S. women held by enemy

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Posted: March 25, 2003
7:10 p.m. Eastern

Editor's note: Each week, WorldNetDaily White House correspondent Les Kinsolving asks the tough questions no one else will ask. And each week, WorldNetDaily brings you the transcripts of those dialogues with the president and his spokesman. If you'd like to suggest a question for the White House, submit it to WorldNetDaily's exclusive interactive forum MR. PRESIDENT!

By Les Kinsolving
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

At today's White House news briefing, WND asked presidential press secretary Ari Fleischer about the Iraqis' holding of a female United States soldier as a prisoner of war and how it relates to the issue of women in combat.

WND: Ari, one of the U.S. POWs in Iraq is Shoshana Johnson of Texas, while The New York Times this morning reports that Pfc. Jessica Lynch of West Virginia is missing or captured. And during Desert Storm, Maj. Rhonda Cornum was captured and gang-raped, while the other U.S. female prisoner of war would neither confirm or deny that she, too, was gang-raped. And my question, does the president think that the Iraqi army has somehow changed to avoid the raping of female prisoners?

FLEISCHER: Lester –

WND: Or does he believe that it would be wise –

FLEISCHER: Lester –

WND: – to keep the women out of combat areas?

FLEISCHER: The history of our military is that men and women have served this nation honorably and with distinction. The treatment of prisoners by Saddam Hussein is the only point worth mentioning here. It's a given that men and women serve our country with dignity, that Saddam Hussein's regime had better not harm our prisoners. The president has made that clear. … Lester, no follow-up.

The Washington Times reported yesterday that Johnson was the first U.S. female held as a POW since the Clinton administration's military leaders repealed a rule barring servicewomen from positions with a high risk of encountering enemy fire or capture.

"It's bad when a man is captured. But if a woman is captured, she doesn't have the same chance [to defend herself] that a man does," Elaine Donnelly, president of the Military Readiness Center, told the paper.

Said retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, "You must consider that women in every society are preyed upon if they are overtaken. ... Now that women are closer to the front lines, they are more subject to becoming captives and being manipulated."

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Submit a question to the MR. PRESIDENT! forum.

Les Kinsolving is WorldNetDaily’s White House correspondent and a talk-show host for WCBM in Baltimore.

[Dajjal]

And my question, does the president think that the Iraqi army has somehow changed to avoid the raping of female prisoners? Or does he believe that it would be wise to keep the women out of combat areas?

[Maedhros]

Grist for your mill.

[Illbay]

Shut up.

I support Ari and the President. There is no point in going over this. It does no one any good.

We're about to have control over this country. We are going to try a lot of people for war crimes, and you can bet that this includes crimes that may have been committed in Gulf War I.

In the civilian world you don't drag a woman's name through the mud, who has been the victim of rape. The reporters attempt to sensationalize this issue is disgraceful, as is your attempt to wave the bloody shirt.

[Illbay]

True, but I don't want to go there. This is disgusting.

[Catspaw]

This is a truly tasteless question. What if the family of the woman POW heard this and are now torturing themselves wondering what's happening to their daughter and sister?

[Howlin]

This is a stupid article, but then it's from Les, so what would you expect.

The title is MADE UP from whole cloth.

[Howlin]

Les Kinsolving is WorldNetDaily’s White House correspondent

*Snicker*

[proud American in Canada]

Shut up.

I support Ari and the President. There is no point in going over this. It does no one any good.

We're about to have control over this country. We are going to try a lot of people for war crimes, and you can bet that this includes crimes that may have been committed in Gulf War I.

In the civilian world you don't drag a woman's name through the mud, who has been the victim of rape. The reporters attempt to sensationalize this issue is disgraceful, as is your attempt to wave the bloody shirt.


I could NOT agree more, Illbay.

[timydnuc]

Big bad Bump!

We don't need this kind of thing now. Respect the family of this woman, and don't do this!

[Political Junkie Too]

Kinsolving also filled in often for Michael Savage on his radio show.

-PJ

[TADSLOS]

What's the point of this reporter's question other than to sensationalize the issue? Rape of an American female POW is a distinct probability considering the brutality of the Iraqi regime. There is nothing the President or anyone else except the Iraqis holding a female captive can do to prevent it.

[aruanan]

Fleischer: Rape of POWs 'not worth mentioning'

Deliberate misquote.

[AAABEST]

torturing themselves wondering what's happening to their daughter and sister?

It's not the reporters fault for asking the question, it's our idiot pol's fault for allowing this insane policy to exist.

The families torturing themselves wondering what's happening anyway. Not everyone needs Ari Fleischer to figure help them figure the world out for them.

Women should be NOWHERE near a combat situation. Though we now live in PC world, with PC jackasses who are afraid to rock the boat. Even if it means the degradation of our military and women suffering permanent and immeasurable harm.

[jeeperz]

Thank you for your thoughtful post on this situation. May God bless every soldier male or female - and protect those women captured from this terror.

[AdamSelene235]

Disgraceful.

[AAABEST]

I support Ari and the President.

We're supporting "Ari" now. Gosh almighty, you people are even more far gone than I thought.

But then again, you support the Palestinians so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[cynwoody]

Rhonda Cornum

[holyscroller]

Les Kinsolving: Helen Thomas's kindred spirit. Both pure loons! This idiot takes all credibility away from WND.

[AdamSelene235]

You can let Les Kinsolving let him know what you think of him at les@wcbm.com

[yonif]

bump for a coming flame war.