Saving Jessica Lynch

[Raiders Army]

Did anyone see the Diane Sawyer interview last night? I thought she was doped up like crazy from some of her one word responses "wow" and "yeah". It probably was edited heavily, however. Anyhow, what was everyone's take on it? CPT King, who lives down the street from me, was portrayed in a bad light I thought. He just took command in January, and his First Sergeant was brand new (not even from their battalion). His battalion commander and brigade commander should've helped out more. Just my 2 cents.

[Sloan]

Larry Flynt buys Lynch Nude Photos (http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/11/11/lynch.photos.ap/index.html)

[Fritz]

It is too bad that the media reaches so far down the chain of command. In a country that is obsessed with destroying myths and tearing everyone down to their basest level all it serves to do is destroy lives.

[NoMyths]

The media didn't force her to write a book, nor do any publicity. They didn't force her to appear at the Glamour awards.

I have a deep respect for what Jessica Lynch went through (so much so that I wrote briefly about her in the introduction to my Master of Fine Arts thesis). On the other hand, once you make yourself a public figure--and I mean beyond the temporary fame of being a POW (after all, how many folks can name the other POWs from Iraq?)--you are opening yourself up for the good as well as the bad.

I think it's poor form for the media to be too hard on the soldiers who fought the war--by and large, a young and inexperienced group--poor decision making or no.

[clintl]

I didn't see the interview, so I can't comment on the specifics. But I think people should remember that she's only 20, and has been thrust into into the public spotlight by an accident of history. It wasn't something she planned or could have prepared for. Plus, she probably really is drugged up on painkillers all of the time.

This is just my opinion, but her willingness to contradict the military propaganda machine on selling her as a hero to market the war makes me respect her more as person than if she just willingly went along with their exploitation of her ordeal.

[Ksyrup]

During the 6:30 NBC News, they had a feature on how she was getting credit for doing things that some of her fellow soldiers actually did, and how the rescuers weren't getting as much attention for being the true "heros" as she was getting for essentially being the victim. Then, as they went to commercial, they had a big splash touting the Today Show's "exclusive" interview with her, as if the report that had just aired 10 seconds earlier didn't even exist.

I think that about sums up the media for me.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Let's also not forget who shoved what down whose throat here... The military and administration made the show of all this. The dramatic rescue, the endless footage, the endless stories, the endless promotion, etc., etc. The military needed a "feel good" story and a "hero" so they pushed this story for all it was worth and then some.

If, at the end of the day, someone in the military ends up looking bad because of this, I don't think it's right to blame the media. That being said, it had to have been (and continues to be) nearly impossible to be a soldier over there. Definitely have sympathies for the Cpt.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally posted by clintl
I didn't see the interview, so I can't comment on the specifics. But I think people should remember that she's only 20, and has been thrust into into the public spotlight by an accident of history. It wasn't something she planned or could have prepared for. Plus, she probably really is drugged up on painkillers all of the time.

This is just my opinion, but her willingness to contradict the military propaganda machine on selling her as a hero to market the war makes me respect her more as person than if she just willingly went along with their exploitation of her ordeal.

I agree. I've been very impressed with the way she's handled the situation for the most part.

[bbor]

Holy propoganda batman.

[Suicane75]

Sometimes you wag the dog,
Sometimes the dog wags you.

It makes me a bit sick to my stomach knowing that in the end, some guy in a board room somewhere Say's to himself "Ya know, if we get her to talk about being raped and sexually tortured, we can charge through the roof for those microwaved pop corn ads".

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Suicane75
Sometimes you wag the dog,
Sometimes the dog wags you.

I think there should be a tail in there somewhere.

[rhinoruss]

The heros of the war in Iraq are those who are not coming home.

[Joe Canadian]

Originally posted by Suicane75
Sometimes you wag the dog,
Sometimes the dog wags you.

It makes me a bit sick to my stomach knowing that in the end, some guy in a board room somewhere Say's to himself "Ya know, if we get her to talk about being raped and sexually tortured, we can charge through the roof for those microwaved pop corn ads".

I don't really think thats sick... what IS sick is that the only way people will watch things now is if the include things like rape and violent crimes. The media only feeds our wants, the public are the one's fasinated with blood and gore, the media are just trying to make a buck off our sick minds.

Pretty smart if you ask me.

[sabotai]

"how many folks can name the other POWs from Iraq?"

I know I can't. I also know that I can't remember the name of the man who played the largest role, imo, in her rescue. The Iraqi man who risked his life several times to collect information for the military so that a rescue was even possible.

But I guess making a hero out of an Iraqi would be bad for the war effort...

[EagleFan]

It's the same anywhere though. Was she any more of a hero than the other soldiers? No. Does she have a compelling story to tell from her experiences? To some, yes. Add the fact that she's a cute young girl and you've got instant media darling.

She went through hell (and is still going through it) so I say more power to her for getting something out of it.

[MizzouRah]

Being in Iraq in Desert Storm years ago, I couldn't imagine the fear she must have felt when she woke up in that Iraqi hospital. She is a very lucky person to have those doctors and nurses take care of her.



Todd

[Raiders Army]

There's much to do down here about Shoshanna Johnson, who only got 30% disability compared to Lynch's 100% disability, but regardless, after being over there and watching this on FOX (only thing we could get) (it was pretty surreal), she deserves everything she gets. From the interview, and Katie Couric's interview this morning, I have the feeling she's still doped up on drugs just to make it through the day. Her past is her past, and I would gather that it isn't any different from any other female soldier at Ft. Bliss (hell, if I was an Army chick and single, I'd definitely be a ho). The thing that I can't stomach is what people around her (the media, other soldiers, etc.) are doing and saying.

[sabotai]

"after being over there and watching this on FOX (only thing we could get) "

Why does that not surprise me. ;)

[Raiders Army]

Sab,

Some guys could get CNN off their satellite, but we could only get FOX and some nudie Arabian channels (of course, I had to pull rank and kick everyone out of the command post to properly evaluate what channels we could watch) :)

[clintl]

Originally posted by Raiders Army
Sab,

Some guys could get CNN off their satellite, but we could only get FOX and some nudie Arabian channels (of course, I had to pull rank and kick everyone out of the command post to properly evaluate what channels we could watch) :)


There are nudie Arabian channels?

[Raiders Army]

Yep...as a matter of fact, in 1999, when I was in Saudi Arabia, while waiting for a Lieutenant to come in on a rotator, I popped in at the customs inspectors' trailer, and they were sitting there watching porn. Kind hypocritical, huh?

[sabotai]

Why would it be hypocritical?

[Raiders Army]

Although the women are supposed to wear their veils and abiyahs (spelling?) I haven't seen many in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, nor Iraq. Regardless, their women aren't supposed to show skin. The most you might see in public is their faces (although that may not be true anymore, due to the "western" influence). I believe that Islamic culture is against porn, alcohol, and all things that make the United States great. :)

[sabotai]

If you read the Bible a certain way, you might read it to be against porn, alcohol and all things that make the US great. Remember, the "Jerry Falwell"s of the muslim world are in charge over there, so I'm not so sure I'd trust those laws to be consistent with what most muslims beleive and practice.

But getting back to the porn. I support it. :)

To quote Dave Atell, "What a man and a woman and another woman with a penis and a midget do to a donkey is their own damn business." :D

[stkelly52]

Originally posted by sabotai
"how many folks can name the other POWs from Iraq?"

I know I can't. I also know that I can't remember the name of the man who played the largest role, imo, in her rescue. The Iraqi man who risked his life several times to collect information for the military so that a rescue was even possible.

But I guess making a hero out of an Iraqi would be bad for the war effort...

I thought that his story was well covered in the movie about saving her this past weekend. The movie was more about what the Iraqi man did than Lynch's experiances in captivity.

[sabotai]

I didn't watch the movie so I wouldn't know...but then again, if that part was in the movie, they certainly didn't advertise that it was.