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POW Jessica was tortured
New York Daily News ^ | 4/03/02 | MAKI BECKER

Posted on 04/03/2003 1:34:43 AM PST by kattracks

Tip from Iraqi led to hospital room

Jessica was being tortured.

That was the urgent word from an Iraqi man who alerted U.S. troops where to find Pfc. Jessica Lynch - and her injuries seem to bear out the allegation.

Lynch, who was flown to a military hospital in Germany yesterday, had her legs broken, one arm broken and at least one bullet wound, officials said.

The 19-year-old West Virginia private was able to call her parents yesterday for the first time since her rescue Tuesday. She was in good spirits but very hungry, her parents told CNN.

The rescue of Lynch, who was driving a water truck when she went missing after a March 23 ambush in Nassiriya, had added urgency when one of two tips to Americans said she was in danger.

One tip came when an English-speaking Iraqi man approached NBC reporter Kerry Sanders to tell him about the soldier being held captive.

"Please make sure the people in charge know that she's being tortured," he told Sanders.

Belying her country-girl smile and petite 5-foot-5 frame, Lynch put up a Rambo-worthy fight when her unit, the Army's 507th Ordnance Maintenance Co., came under attack, according to a new report.

Lynch opened fire on the Iraqi assailants, picking them off one by one until she ran out of ammunition, according to today's Washington Post.

She continued shooting - even after she was shot and stabbed and her unit members were killed all around her.

"She was fighting to the death," a U.S. official told The Post. "She did not want to be taken alive."

Yesterday, when Lynch was plucked from Saddam Hospital, Special Forces troops found a soldier in pain.

Her broken bones are a sure sign of torture, said Amy Waters Yarsinske, an ex-Navy intelligence officer and an expert on POW treatment.

"It's awfully hard to break both legs and an arm in a truck accident," Yarsinske said.

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's thugs are known to use steel bars to bash their prisoners' limbs, she said.

"In the first gulf action, they tried breaking their [captured U.S. airmen's] legs with steel bars," Yarsinske said.

Another clue that Lynch and other POWs were being tortured came Friday, when Marines raided a hospital near Nassiriya where other members of Lynch's unit were videotaped and later shown on Iraqi TV. Marines found at least one shredded woman's uniform spattered with blood and the name patch torn off. In addition to Lynch, two other female soldiers went missing after the ambush.

In one hospital room, Marines discovered a car battery next to a bed - a possible electrical shock torture chamber.

During the last Persian Gulf War, Iraqis attached wires to one American POW's jaw and shocked him, Yarsinske said.

An Iraqi pharmacist who works at Saddam Hospital told Britain's Sky TV he treated Lynch's leg injuries. He added: "Every day I saw her crying about wanting to go home."

The pharmacist, who gave his name only as Imad, said Lynch knew U.S. troops were on the other side of the Euphrates River, and "kept wondering if the American Army were coming to save her."

Lynch's hometown of Palestine, W.Va., continued its celebration of her recovery yesterday.

Her brother, Gregory Jr., who is also in the Army, told CNN his sister sounded "disoriented" when she phoned home. "Her voice was crackly and low. She sounded like she was sick."

West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise stopped by the Lynch's home yesterday and told her parents that their daughter, who had joined the Army to pay for college so she could become a kindergarten teacher, would not have to worry about tuition.

"There will be a full scholarship for her whenever she wants to go for college," he promised.

With News Wire Services



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraqifreedom; jessicalynch; nbc; torture; warcrimes
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To: conservababeJen
I'm sorry Jen, but I've got to completely disagree with you here.

If this young woman was Raped by these blood-thirsty animals, why should she be forced to carry their child.

If it's so important to you to see that child carried to term, step up to the plate and ask that the embryo be removed and inserted in your own womb.

Problem solved.

Besides, all this speculation about whether of not Jessica MIGHT have been impregnated is Worthless. It ammounts to nothing more than trying to insert a political debate into the Horror Jessica Lynch endured, and those that are trying to do it should be ashamed of themselves.

141 posted on 04/03/2003 10:03:13 AM PST by Lord_Baltar (God Speed to the Men and Women of the Armed Forces!)
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This is the most embarrasing thread I have ever read at FR.
142 posted on 04/03/2003 10:06:43 AM PST by HairOfTheDog (May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.)
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To: InvisibleChurch
Reminds me of the St. Crispin Day speech in Henry V, Act IV, scene iii:

"O! do not wish one more:
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us."

Compare and contrast this weenie with PFC Lynch (DSC at the least)!
143 posted on 04/03/2003 10:08:49 AM PST by tomswiftjr
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To: HairOfTheDog
I agree with you on that 100%.

For people to feel so little about the REALITY of what this Heroic Young Lady endured, WHILE SERVING THIS COUNTRY, to sit there in their comfy little homes, and try to insert their Political/Ideological agendas, made me sick.

Not only does it cheapen and degrade that Reality, but it makes me so less inclined to back them when the topic does come up legitimatly.

144 posted on 04/03/2003 10:10:55 AM PST by Lord_Baltar (God Speed to the Men and Women of the Armed Forces!)
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To: Lord_Baltar
Can't be said better than that.
145 posted on 04/03/2003 10:18:41 AM PST by HairOfTheDog (May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.)
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To: far sider
By all means, if you have any other etiquette lessons, let me know.

I don't have any "other" lessons, but you didn't get the first, so here it is again: If you have a problem with a post, refute it. Don’t run to the moderator or call names (like newbie, for instance). The “newbie” argument doesn’t work, ‘cuz there’s always someone who has been here longer.

146 posted on 04/03/2003 10:24:14 AM PST by TankerKC
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To: TankerKC; unaffiliated1
By all means, if you have any other etiquette lessons, let me know.

I don't have any "other" lessons, but you didn't get the first, so here it is again: If you have a problem with a post, refute it. Don’t run to the moderator or call names (like newbie, for instance). The “newbie” argument doesn’t work, ‘cuz there’s always someone who has been here longer.

OK. I guess I overreacted. Next time I'll restrain myself. Thanks for the feedback.

147 posted on 04/03/2003 10:34:05 AM PST by far sider
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To: Chancellor Palpatine; unaffiliated1
CP,

Meet your long lost son.


LOL...couldn't help myself.
148 posted on 04/03/2003 10:40:51 AM PST by wardaddy (G-d speed our fighters!)
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To: wardaddy
LOL - you're bad.
149 posted on 04/03/2003 10:41:32 AM PST by Chancellor Palpatine (Paleocons, the French and the UN - Excusing corrupt power mad dictators for decades)
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To: kattracks
This must not be forgotten!
150 posted on 04/03/2003 10:43:48 AM PST by timestax
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To: kattracks
Yesterday I heard a truly idiotic person call up some radio talk show and say something to the effect of, "Maybe Jessica's being a woman was to her advantage. Maybe that's why they allowed her to live."
151 posted on 04/03/2003 10:47:36 AM PST by k2blader ("Mercy, detached from Justice, grows unmerciful." - C. S. Lewis)
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To: Alouette
Who gets to play her in the movie?

Sarah Michelle Geller? I hear she's somewhat 'conservative'. At least from a hollywood standpoint.

152 posted on 04/03/2003 10:54:00 AM PST by asformeandformyhouse
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
I'm "nationwide"....aren't we all?

Did you know that reporter blueblood chick released the other day? Publishing folks aren't they?
153 posted on 04/03/2003 11:03:36 AM PST by wardaddy (G-d speed our fighters!)
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To: wardaddy
I had a relative who wrote for them for much of his turfwriting career, and saw some of them at his funeral, but am not close to them.

Big money blueblood. Private schools, ivy leagues. Way out of my class. I'm given to understand that even though they're a bunch of dems, they are pretty nice.

154 posted on 04/03/2003 11:10:43 AM PST by Chancellor Palpatine (going into an election campaign without the paleocons is like going to war without the French)
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To: kattracks
I read this entire thread, and I am truly saddened by the discourse from Jessica'a heroics to hypothetical of Jessica being raped and impregnated.

It is obvious that Jessica was tortured (the two broken legs) any other therorizing on what else may have happened to her during her captivity is, in my opinion, furthering the torture started by the Iraqis. She is 19 years old. There is a reason news outlets do not publish the names of rape victims...yet here we sit, safe and sound at our keyboards, taking the horror Jessica (and other American POWs) face and contorting them to our own political agendas. Let it go folks...say a prayer for her recovery (physical as well as emotional), and let her heal. Let her family heal. She (again) is only 19--last year her biggest problem was maybe finding a dress for her prom, and now she is the flashpoint for women in the military, enlisting for college money, and (now) even abortion. All of that and the emotional (being ready to die at 19) and physical (two broken legs, at broken, arm, gun shot wounds) trauma, and now a nation theorizes of what 'else' may have happened. Post traumatic stress is very real--adding additional problems (in the public forum) does her no good.

God bless Jessica, and all the young women and men serving our Country.

155 posted on 04/03/2003 11:14:02 AM PST by PennsylvaniaMom
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To: kattracks
Hmmmm? Today on FOX, Bill Kristol nuked Eleanor Clift. She was so stunned by what he said, that she was stammering and stuttering to try to regain herself. It was priceless. After she had her say, Kristol's comment was "pathetic" and the session ended with his final statement; to which Eleanor shouted over the host - well, I hope Bill is right". Just another CYA attempt.

After seeing the picture of Jessica - I just hope all those stupid women who supported Saddam and his govt. suddenly realize they were duped - but ... I'm not holding my breath.
156 posted on 04/03/2003 11:17:13 AM PST by CyberAnt
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
They've had their share of family problems and tragedy as I recall.
157 posted on 04/03/2003 11:19:06 AM PST by wardaddy (G-d speed our fighters!)
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To: wardaddy
Yeah - I'm trying to remember it. Of course, with wealthy, high profile families, there will always be some, er, eccentrics (translation - fruitcakes) to go out and do odd things. I got the feeling that this girl really does enjoy the whole field photographer thing. Of course, what person with no kids wouldn't enjoy going out for adventure shoots, especially if they were very wealthy themselves.
158 posted on 04/03/2003 11:22:40 AM PST by Chancellor Palpatine (going into an election campaign without the paleocons is like going to war without the French)
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To: SarahW
I disagree.

With which part of my comment?

159 posted on 04/03/2003 12:08:21 PM PST by conservababeJen
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To: Lord_Baltar
Besides, all this speculation about whether of not Jessica MIGHT have been impregnated is Worthless. It ammounts to nothing more than trying to insert a political debate into the Horror Jessica Lynch endured, and those that are trying to do it should be ashamed of themselves.

Look, I'm not out to be disrespectful to Jessica. I admire her strength and courage. This topic was already brought up and I added my 2 cents. This IS a DISCUSSION forum, right? isn't that the entire point of posting articles? ......to stimulate conversation and discussion? Am I confused? I'm here (like everyone else) to share my OPINION....Do with it what you wish but how dare you condemn me and suggest I feel shame for expressing one on a DISCUSSION forum. It's on topic.... If the moderator or anyone else has a problem with that, I hope they let me know because I'm really interested in knowing if I'm doing something wrong here.

160 posted on 04/03/2003 12:26:09 PM PST by conservababeJen
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