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This is all very bad journalism. It takes a position, then finds facts that supposedly back it up. It's very much more appropriate for the sniveling lawyer trying to get $10 million for a hangnail than a true pursuit of the facts.

In addition, it treats as absolute fact reports from journalists. Speaking as a 30 year experienced reporter, we were and are wrong all the time.

Was she possibly/probably raped & tortured. It is entirely within the Arabic culture to do so, to debase one's enemies. Is it our business? Not unless Ms Lynch says it is.

Nothing personal, but if it were your daughter, would it be my business?

Be well.

>>Was she possibly/probably raped & tortured. It is entirely within the Arabic culture to do so, to debase one's enemies. Is it our business? Not unless Ms Lynch says it is.<<

Actually, it is the business of the military and all those who enter a combat theater.

SERE courses are based entirely upon first-hand knowledge of what to expect, and the training you receive is to prepare you for what is likely abuse. Therefore, if you are a woman, then the chances are 100% that you will be raped as a POW. We should not lie to ourselves or to those that serve. However, the "rape scenario" is toned down to the point of almost being non-existent at SERE training---all because of sensitivity training and charges of "sexism."

For those women who are thinking of enlisting, they should know the risks involved. And no matter how many Reebok-kick-boxing-I am-woman-here-me-roar-Lifetime-empowerment piffle they watch on TV, they are victims when they are captured and they face an entirely different set of challenges than what a) men face, and b) what they are led to believe.

Hmmm. I don't know exactly how to respond. A police officer or a military person or a spy is under different sets of rules when it comes to reporting to superiors on their activities. I agree this doesn't necessarily need to be made public, and in many cases shouldn't. But that doesn't change the fact that Lynch---provided she actually can remember---has a duty to explain in full what happened, for better or worse. Again, there is not necessarily a reason this needs to be made public, but the command structure should have that info.

No surprise you say you're a "journalist."

Real jobs are hard to get for folks handicapped by the moral and intellectual bankrupcy and illogic demonstrated in your # 6.

PS -- And Donelley's column, although morally and intellectually sound -- and logical -- isn't "journalism," either -- and doesn't pretend to be.

It's an opinion piece.