Lynch Shot Iraqi Soldiers

The Washington Post ^ | April 3, 2003 | Susan Schmidt and Vernon Loeb

[John H K]

Pfc. Jessica Lynch, rescued Tuesday from an Iraqi hospital, fought fiercely and shot several enemy soldiers after Iraqi forces ambushed the Army's 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, firing her weapon until she ran out of ammunition, U.S. officials said yesterday.

[Arkinsaw]

Some of these folks bear a resemblance to "the taliban", only they're Americans.

Being opposed to women in combat positions is not Taliban. Having no decorum and pursuing that agenda by throwing grenades in a thread about an individual POW and disparaging that POW REGARDLESS of their individual story is quite Taliban-like.

[LenS]

this is an issue I feel strongly about,

Gosh, you "feel strongly" -- I guess the rest of us should just shut up. Your feelings are stronger than our views. You sound like a PC Democrat.

I know that women are a hinderance in the military

Gee, you're all knowing. I didn't realize that you're omnipotent. How dare the rest of us challenge you when you "know" it all? I must bow before you because I'm not worthy.

They even get a break when it comes to their hair length.

Well, that trumps all arguments about whether women should be in the service. I'm so glad that's you're biggest point of argument. Of course, last I checked, Delta Force has longer hair so they can do undercover operations. But thanks to you, I'm writing Sec. Rumsfeld and telling him that he needs to give Delta crew cuts so they can fight better (and not like wussy girls).

I will not compromise my values by flinging accolades at a person that in my view didn't belong on the battlefield to begin with.

Gosh. That's impressive how you won't praise anyone if they don't meet your narrow specifications. Like a Democrat, you only care what a person is to start with, not what they actually do.

Anyone ever tell you that you sound a lot like the Taliban? Do you wear a veil? Or, let me guess, some female soldier stole your man from you? You probably blame rape victims for dressing improperly and deserving it.

[Bella_Bru]

So, where is Shoshauna? Wrong color? Not a picture perfect blonde, suitable for national media exposure?

Al? Jesse? Which one? I had no idea one of you took time from race baiting and doing the financial shakedown dance to log onto FR.

[ApesForEvolution]

Not even close. Whether you believe that God created men and women to fulfill precisely different roles, be it mind, body and spirit or any other way, women are not what a society should send to fight in wars, to be put in harm's way. If a woman wants to fight and maybe even die for her country, the battlefield is not where civilized nations allow them to.

[seeker41]

You appearently missed post 427.

[wardaddy]

That is not a comparable equivocation. The military is not a petrie dish for social engineering.

[LPStar]

I hope Jessica doesn't get on the computer in a couple of weeks and read some of these nasty comments about her. (Egads!) She needs support right now. But I have no doubt - most Americans support Jessica and are thrilled to have her back.

Everyone who has concerns about women in the line of fire (including me) can address these at some other time and place. Jessica survived despite a harrowing experience that most of us will never imagine and that's something to be grateful and happy for.

I also notice some people who say they'd rather be dead than fall into enemy hands. The thing is while there is life, there is hope. Think of all the anti-communist dissidents who for some reason were released from prison rather than executed. I was and I still am very worried about the POWs, especially the women, but I realized that to wish for them to be dead rather than suffering is WRONG.

I hope for a long and happy life in the future for Private First Class Jessica Lynch and a quick and complete recovery.

[LonghornFreeper]

I love how you continue to say "she got lost" without even the slightest evidence that it was her fault. She is a private, I seriously doubt she was controling the convoy's direction. According to the story, she got captured because she was too wounded to continue fighting, would you prefer she just shot herself in the head and ended it all. I don't believe our troops should have ever been in Somalia, that doesn't mean I don't acknowledge the bravery of the men who died fighting there. Even if I agreed with your "women should be home with their daddy" attitude, that would not change the fact that Jessica WAS there, her convoy got ambushed, probably due to someone elses mistake, and she fought bravely before being wounded to badly to continue. Compared to the average American sitting on his butt on the couch and complaining about stuff, I would say that makes her a hero, along with all of our soldiers. Also, why do you assume the rescue was just for her? They would have gone in anyway hoping other Americans were alive, and if no one was alive, then to recover their bodies. We leave no one behind, male or female.

[stands2reason]

A good friend of mine's mom was a nurse in World War II. So what? That is a much different scenario.

Wait a minute. You said "No women in the military." *Now* you make an exception? What makes you think nurses couldn't be captured?

[Bella_Bru]

Seeker41 was refering to the comment made earlier by someone that a 19 year old girl should still be in her daddy's house.

[wardaddy]

In the minds of many here...yes.

[patriciaruth]

So its a control issue with you.

TalibanTomato wants to keep "little girls" of 19 home with their Daddy, and she then jumps into the feminazi line of "control issue with you."

Fascinating. I don't think she has synchronized her belief system. Or maybe she doesn't like the competition of another female being honored.

[blastbaby]

Actually, the got lost theory was started by someone here. Said in an off the cuff manner. Now it is fact by some.

[seeker41]

Thanks for clarifying;)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

What are you talking about?

"Wishful thinking?" We've fought successful wars for two centuries without putting teenaged girls on the front line.

Yes, the world is filled with evil people. Grow up.

[stands2reason]

The support for "babes in battle" is about 75% here amongst posters.

What? You have poll results?

[ApesForEvolution]

By all means, resume. I simply won't stand by while people insist that women should be in combat as was done early on in this thread. That's the lie of the enemy.

[wardaddy]

Rumsfeld claimed early on in 2001 that they were not going along with Clinton's grand view on that. I guess I didn't hear him right.

[FirstTomato]

I heard on the cable news the other day that our special ops guys were "listening" to her for at least a day, and all they heard was whimpering and crying. She sounds like she was a wreck! That's when I got the initial impression that she was just a scared little girl.

[seeker41]

If your daughter were being raped, would you mind if she blew the attackers head off? Is that unacceptable to you or would you prefer she had no choice in the matter?