ISRAELI TIP HELPED GIS RESCUE POW JESSICA

The New York Post ^ | 4/29/2003 | Uri Dan

[LuisBasco]

April 29, 2003 -- JERUSALEM - Israeli intelligence tipped off U.S. forces to the location of American POWs at an Iraqi hospital, leading to the surprise Marine rescue of Pfc. Jessica Lynch, it was revealed yesterday. The Israeli role in Lynch's escape from Nasiriyah last month surfaced yesterday when Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), on a Mideast tour, told reporters he had been briefed about it by Israeli officials. Sources said he was told that Israeli intelligence provided the first information that Lynch and her comrades were in the hospital.

The information was specific enough so that Marines knew where in the hospital she could be found during the April 1 rescue, sources said.

Until now, an Iraqi lawyer, identified only as Mohammed, was credited with providing the U.S.-led coalition with information about Lynch's whereabouts.

Published reports earlier this month said Mohammed was visiting his wife, a nurse in the Nasiriyah hospital, when he saw a black-clad Iraqi slapping the bandaged Lynch.

Mohammed reportedly tipped off U.S. Marines about her plight and directed them to Lynch with hand-drawn maps.

Lynch was taken prisoner with five other soldiers.

[LuisBasco]

The reports published earlier this month alleging that "Mohammed" saved Jessica now seem false.

[EternalVigilance]

Leave it to a Dem to blow the intelligence source. Sheesh.

[xJones]

The reports published earlier this month alleging that "Mohammed" saved Jessica now seem false.

I'm not so sure about that. Frankly, the lawyer, Mohammed, having a wife as a nurse in the hospital sounds more creditable than an unnamed Israeli source.

[cynicom]

Me too.

[TaxRelief]

Both stories are probably true. Mohammed was able to get an instant reaction, while Israeli intelligence was still "in the works". Besides, two sources are better than one.

[grobdriver]

Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), on a Mideast tour, told reporters

These SOBs just can't keep their mouths shut.
Always gotta grandstand. "Look how important I am".
Sheeesh.

[JustAnAmerican]

"I'm not so sure about that. Frankly, the lawyer, Mohammed, having a wife as a nurse in the hospital sounds more creditable than an unnamed Israeli source."

There is one thing about this story that has bothered me from day one. If the "Lawyer" was actually the one who reported this, why did he wait until Lynch to tell anyone? Logic says that since his wife works as a nurse in the hospital she also saw other American Prisoners being mistreated. Was there some reason he and his wife decided that only Lynch was worth reporting? I am of two minds on this.

Either the Lawyer does not exist(or did not actually relay any info), and Israeli Intel were the ones who passed on the info. Or the Lawyer decided that he did not want to see a pretty female get tortured. Because it's obvious him or his wife had no qualms about American men being tortured/Mistreated.

[widowithfoursons]

If Lantos is the source for this, it's probably false.

[GreyWolf]

Both stories are probably true. Mohammed was able to get an instant reaction, while Israeli intelligence was still "in the works". Besides, two sources are better than one.

Who's to say Mohammed is not Mossad (or is connected to them). Also, this story has been around the block several times. It was first reported that an embedded reporter from PMSNBC gave the rescuers the info. The fog of war thickens, I suppose. In any event, Lantos should have kept his mouth shut regarding the briefing. As someone said, Dems tend to leak all over everything. I suppose it's a side effect of their insignificance.

[Gunrunner2]

Yes, he was reported to have said he couldn't stand seeing abuse heeped on the young female (she looks all but 12-yrs old).
Torture and killing of men is something one may never accept, but at the same time expect.
Torture, rape and killing of young females is something awful that cuts across nearly all cultural lines and prompted the lawyers action.
The Israeli connection is nonsense.
Lantos should stop babbling because a) he is wrong, and b) this rumor will only hurt our presence in Iraq by feeding Arab paranoia.

[dark_lord]

Logic says that since his wife works as a nurse in the hospital she also saw other American Prisoners being mistreated. Was there some reason he and his wife decided that only Lynch was worth reporting?

Because we know that the other prisoners were not as badly injured as Lynch -- thus they did not remain in the hospital but were moved on. Therefore only Lynch remained there, therefore he only reported on her to the marines. And we know that he did report this, since we know it went up the Marine change of command.

[dark_lord]

change chain of command.

[ken5050]

Just goes to prove that Mohammed is Jewish.......

[tiki]

Maybe the lawyer was associated with Israel.

[TaxRelief]

Mohammed and his wife and his 5-yr-old daughter have been granted asylum and have already arrived in the US.

[milemark]

So far the following have been credited with providing info on Private Lynch's location:

The lawyer, Mohammad, who was sent back to the hospital to count guards and draw maps.

An annonymous Iraqi who passed a note to an MSNBC reporter.

An Iraqi CIA agent who videotaped the hospital with a concealed camera.

And now this Israeli source.

And those are just what has been reported or leaked. The most likely explanation is that U.S. intelligence developed multiple sources of information. Given the number of special ops who took part in the rescue, it seems to me that our people were just covering every possible angle in the gathering of the intel, the planning of the rescue and the final carrying out of the mission. This attention to detail and preparation is no doubt the reason that operation and the entire war effort was such a succcess.

[Jeremiah Jr]

And Mohammed gets the credit???

[Chipata]

"The most likely explanation is that U.S. intelligence developed multiple sources of information."

I agree.