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.

[FirstTomato]

You are really obtuse if you think a person lying in a hospital with multiple injuries is anything but a victim. You are getting angrier and angrier that someone dares disagrees with you! You have a real problem.

[ApesForEvolution]

Call'em as I see 'em. Those afraid to speak their mind for fear of offending someone with the truth need not apply.

[wardaddy]

We're dealing with savages here.....sort of like the Congo of the early 60s stuff. They kept her alive for terrible reasons I fear...and yes I'd guess her beauty and exotic(to them) looks was part of it...or maybe they figured she'd be good ransom for a trade down the road. The others ...well...it doesn't look good with all these graves popping up. We already saw several who had been executed. Horrible.

[FirstTomato]

Reread my post. I said that when I heard she was whimpering and crying that is when I got the impression that she was just a scared little girl. What's wrong with that?

I felt sorry for her. And still do. But damned if that makes her a hero. I think all you folks that want to make her into a hero are nuts. Just nuts.

[buickmackane]

I was so happy to see Jessica's picture as the entire front page of yesterday's Boston Herald. I don't understand why this thread needs to be a forum about the combat-worthiness of women in the military. Can't we just be glad that she was rescued? And yes, I do agree that the people who participated in the rescue operations are heroes, too. Most of all, I concur with those who state that Jessica was over there fighting for ME. All the Monday-morning quarterbacking in the world doesn't change the fact that tonight we are mostly a group of armchair critics who were not walking that perilous mile in Jessica's boots on the day of her capture. Who are we to judge?

I know that it will be a long time before Jessica will be ready to speak about her ordeal, because she will be up to her ears in treatment for "decompression" and for any lingering "survivor guilt." If perchance she does have any feelings of ambivalence, then I only wish I could just have sixty seconds at her bedside to tell her how personally thankful I am that she was there defending MY family and country. I'd set her straight with a show of heartfelt gratitude, though I suspect it really won't be necessary. If I were captured and tortured, my only regret would be not having shot more of my tormentors.

Just quit bellyaching and be glad she's safe already!!

[wardaddy]

Hey...I'm on diaper/feeding duty. Mom's snoozing and yes I still have to be in my office at the crack of 10...lol. I'm self employed and well trained at home.

[patriciaruth]

Those afraid to speak their mind for fear of offending someone with the truth need not apply.

Oh, I'm generally first in line. Still, if I can cut down on the profanity, I'm sure you can manage.

[freepersup]

You said: My hero isn't the helpless victim.

May I suggest a better description of Jessica ?

Jessica wasn't helpless until she gave up or gave in- mentally. I see no evidence to believe she did so.

Nor was she a victim. She is a soldier and found herself in circumstamces that soldiers find themselves in occasionally.

She is a tough cookie and has 'true grit'.

[wardaddy]

Yep...and how else did modern liberalism take root in this country nearly 100 years ago?....SSSHHHH!!!...don't tell anyone.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

They're the same group that makes Oprah a hero and forgets Martin Luther King.

[LonghornFreeper]

I am glad to know I have been brainwashed by Hillary Clinton. You might want to tell that to the people who were with me at UT when we protested Clinton's speech. Also, I hate to tell you this, but many of the most liberal people here at UT came from private schools, and many of the smartest and most conservative came from public schools. I also said nothing about women having a right to be on the front lines. In fact, I really don't like the idea of women on the front lines, but Jessica wasn't on the front lines, she was ambushed behind our lines. And I am not insulting firsttomato because of her opinion on women on the front lines, I insulted her because she continues to degrade a person who has sacrificed more than most of us can imagine for her country. Calling Jessica a "little girl who should be home with her daddy" and a "helpless victim" and claiming that the ambush was somehow her fault rather than that of the officer in charge is just not called for, in fact it is wrong.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

My hero isn't the helpless victim.

I don't think it's necessary that she be your "hero". It would just be kind of cool if it didn't seem like you were disparaging her.

[FirstTomato]

You are obviously not in the service, or if you were, you don't know the meaning of what you were doing.

If you don't want any dissenting opinion I suggest that your butt belongs in North Korea. They do a good job there of making everyone afraid to voice any opinion at all.

My opinion: I think the little girl is a victim and shouldn't have been in theater. So sue me.

My opinion is just as valid as yours.

[patriciaruth]

Can't we just be glad that she was rescued?

I am, even though she is young and blonde and I am neither.

And with that, I am going to peruse elsewhere.

P.S. This is why we lost more people in the Civil War than all the other wars since combined. We Americans are all killers at heart. Be afraid, Saddam. Be very afraid.

[Waywardson]

I think all you folks that want to make her into a hero are nuts. Just nuts.

And I still think you are French. Or worse.

Heroism is not what we make it. It is, self evident. And the evidence supports the conclusion.

You are the one who is sitting up on a message board thinking your rant's can alter reality.

[LonghornFreeper]

I am not a woman either, even though I am under 25 (as should be obvious from my screenname).

[seeker41]

I know they are savages, I just don't want people taking anything away from the PFC's ordeal. She has served honorably and so did her rescuers. Believe me I know how the middle-east is, been there a couple of times.

[Ajnin]

Although I'm extremely proud of her I still don't think women should be allowed in combat units.

[seeker41]

Then you must know where SWTSU is, went there in the 80's.

[FirstTomato]

They're the same group that makes Oprah a hero and forgets Martin Luther King.

good point.