Lynch's Iraqi rescuer wraps visit to her hometown (Lynch too busy to meet this guy!?)

CNN / AP ^ | Tuesday, October 28, 2003

[FreedomPoster]

PALESTINE, West Virginia (AP) -- An Iraqi lawyer who helped U.S. forces in the rescue of Jessica Lynch wrapped up a tour of the soldier's hometown Monday with a trip to a garden planted in his honor.

"I will not forget. It will stay with me, in my mind, in my heart," Mohammed al-Rehaief said as a ceremonial yellow mum was planted.

[FreedomPoster]

Why in the world couldn't this gal take the time to meet this guy? I guess "still too traumatized from the event" might work as an excuse, but that doesn't wash with her "commitments related to next month's release of her book".

Really poor show.

[pgyanke]

*speechless*...!

[tsmith130]

Rude...very, very rude!

[OldFriend]

Too busy becoming an 'activist'!!! A little celebrity goes to the head pretty quickly.

[TomGuy]

was too busy with five-day-a-week rehabilitation from her injuries and commitments related to next month's release of her book

Even the Fox and Friends crew this morning were obviously miffed at Lynch's rebuff of the man greatly responsible for her rescue.

Maybe there is a reasonable explanation, but being too busy with the book and movie deals sounds too much like Chief Moose who was too busy lining up fame to apprehend the WDC snipers.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Consider the source. There is more to this than CNN/AP has told us. This is out of character for her, so there is more to it.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

five-day-a- week rehabilitation from her injuries

You know, as much as some people around here hate her, having both your legs and arms broken and being horribly beaten and shot does require a bit more than a few months to recover from. If she is going to meet with this guy in private instead of some big publicity tour, I think that is acceptable.

[Hacksaw]

Why in the world couldn't this gal take the time to meet this guy? I guess "still too traumatized from the event" might work as an excuse, but that doesn't wash with her "commitments related to next month's release of her book".

Had to wash her hair, I guess. Me, I'd be buying the guy dinner and driving him around everywhere.

[FreedomPoster]

Yes, I should have added a "if this is truly as reported" CNN/AP disclaimer in my initial comments.

[sandlady]

I'm sure they have communicated in some way. Maybe Lynch didn't want a rushed visit-it's unfair to draw conclusions from this article.

[FreedomPoster]

See my #9.

[TomServo]

I noticed your other comments, and thought you might find this interesting.

[TomServo]

FYI Ping.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Yes, I should have added a "if this is truly as reported" CNN/AP disclaimer in my initial comments.

No need to. To put CNN/AP with a disclaimer would be an oxymoron since they are not credible to begin with.

Thank you for your comment.

[TheCrusader]

"Goodwin said the 20-year-old former Army supply clerk was too busy with five-day-a-week rehabilitation from her injuries and commitments related to next month's release of her book, "I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story."

IMHO the book should be named "Pretending To Be a Soldier". I wonder if her book will even mention the names of the real heros who saved her life?

[CSM]

I am shocked and awed that the news didn't arrange the perfect photo op! They could have had them meet at the hospital during Jessica's therapy session! What a media gold mine, just tossed in the garbage can!

[TomServo]

Check this out...ping..

[#3Fan]

CNN Liberals hate the rescue story and are trying to cut it down any way they can.

[G.Mason]

It's rewarding to read that some Freepers actually aren't out to lynch Lynch over this CNN article.

There is hope!

[#3Fan]

Only infantry should be referred to as soldiers?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thought you might want a break from being battered around on the SoCal Fire thread, so I pinged ya to this one instead ;0)

[ClintonBeGone]

Maybe there is a reasonable explanation, but being too busy with the book and movie deals sounds too much like Chief Moose who was too busy lining up fame to apprehend the WDC snipers.

Agreed. Very sad.

[#3Fan]

Are you picking up some allies from returning banees? lol Might want to be careful who you lay with, you could get fleas.

[sandlady]

Oh Tom Servo just pinged the gang-let the lynching begin--pun intended.

[TomServo]

Are you picking up some allies from returning banees? lol Might want to be careful who you lay with, you could get fleas.

Naw. Just pinging persons interested in this story, while watching terrible movies. ;-)

[#3Fan]

Thought you might want a break from being battered around on the SoCal Fire thread, so I pinged ya to this one instead ;0)

I should've learned a lesson from you, don't post on fire threads. Well, at least mine wasn't jokes and I did apologize to the good people I offended. Notice I said "good" people. Many were just Howlin's playground pals that follw her around and do whatever she does. But I did make a mistake to post a political post on an emotional thread and some were genuinely offended.

[proud American in Canada]

This is shocking. Kind of tarnishes the "heroine" image just a bit...

This man put his life on the line for her and she's too d*mn busy to meet him in her home state?

I'm ashamed of her.

[sandlady]

I'm ashamed of her.

Pretty harsh considering the source of the article.

[ought-six]

This is just unreal. If she dissed this guy, she is a great disappointment to millions of Americans. What next? Is she going to pose nude for Hustler?

[#3Fan]

Oh Tom Servo just pinged the gang-let the lynching begin--pun intended.

It's their favorite sport: Put down those that have sacrificed for their country.

[AAABEST]

Thanks for the ping. I'll buy you a ticket to the next circus for thinking about me. :)

[TomServo]

lol!!

[sandlady]

I know what your talking about. Pretty sad.

[GoGophers]

This is out of character for her, so there is more to it.

What do we know about her character?

[Consort]

"She looks forward to a private meeting with him in the near future."

That's how I would do it, as well. She could have used the photo op/media event to promote her book, but she didn't.

[JohnnyZ]

A little celebrity goes to the head pretty quickly.

That should be: "A little celebrity goes to the pretty head quickly."

[sandlady]

....used the photo op/media event to promote her book...

Can you just imagine the comments from "the gang" for that one? She will never do anything right in their eyes.

[helen crump]

This is hard to believe! I hope there is more to this story than we know. If she found time to write a book about her rescue surely she could carve out a few minutes for the real hero here.
Does anyone know if any of her family met with him?
I wonder if he thought he was going to get to meet her. If so, what a slap in the face.

[CWOJackson]

His book is ALREADY out. No mention of that though.

[cookcounty]

Something strange here.

If her publisher had any sense, the best thing they could have done is invited this guy to a BBQ in the back yard, make that the front yard, with the press taking a thousand photos

[PigRigger]

Pathetic. This guy probably saved her life. Maybe she should take sometime and visit the graves of her fallen comrades who weren't as fortunate.

Words escape me. How selfish can one be.

[TheCrusader]

"Only infantry should be referred to as soldiers?"

Not at all. But in Lynch's case, the infantry and marines were the heros, not her. Any book interested in highliting true heroism in this story would have to be written primarily about the rescuers, with Lynch as an afterthought. Lynch's companions who died in battle, or were captured and later killed by the Iraqis, should also be a bigger story than her own. Of the many hundreds of dead and wounded American heros who shed their blood for us in Iraq while fighting the enemy, why do we only know the name of Jessica Lynch? That was essentially my point. The whole picture is out of balance.

[Sci Fi Guy]

Quick let's all condemn her before we learn her side of the story.

[Consort]

She wants to meet with him privately.

[meenie]

Maybe she didn't feel that he saved her life. There were a good many that she could probably feel more responsible. That is for her to sort out. I seriously doubt that she is unappreciative of her true rescuers.

[PigRigger]

Maybe I'm being to harsh. However, if I were in a similar position I would find the time to personaly thank him - face-to-face.

The man risked his life, as well as his wife's, to let the US Military know where she was. She can't find the time to meet him?

Again, maybe it was not possible to meet with him. I'm just wondering what could so important.

[#3Fan]

Not at all. But in Lynch's case, the infantry and marines were the heros, not her.

You didn't use the word "hero" though, you said she wasn't a "soldier".

Any book interested in highliting true heroism in this story would have to be written primarily about the rescuers, with Lynch as an afterthought.

Maybe there are people that would rather read about her and that's what will sell any book written by her.

Lynch's companions who died in battle, or were captured and later killed by the Iraqis, should also be a bigger story than her own.

Does she know enough about that to write a book about it?

Of the many hundreds of dead and wounded American heros who shed their blood for us in Iraq while fighting the enemy, why do we only know the name of Jessica Lynch?

Because she was the first rescuee in a successful rescue mission since WW2. Them's the breaks. Some people want to hear her story. Do you think that those people should be denied? If so, who should be allowed to write books, just those that have killed the enemy? Should O'Reilly or Rush be allowed to write books? They're not war heros.

That was essentially my point. The whole picture is out of balance.

It's simple then, don't buy the book since you're not interested. I'm not interested enough to buy the book, or O'Reilly's book, or Rush's book, or any book really. The only books I read are historical type books, not people books. But I understand that there are people different than me that are interested in people's stories. A lot of Jessica's fellow soldiers will write books when they're discharged. Should they not be allowed to?

[OldFriend]

Jessica spoke up on behalf of Shoshana, saying the government should give her more disability but I have seen no mention of one of the soldiers who rescued her being killed while here in the US.

We all made Jessica part of our family but to be fair, she didn't ask for that affection and has no obligation to repay it in any way.

[cars for sale]

and look it took 6 posts til a clear head didn't attack Jessica.....and from CNN and AP as a source
COME ON FREEPERS don't start out bitchin til ya got a proveable reason

[sandlady]

His book is ALREADY out. No mention of that though.

Exactly. He was at the Wirt County Library-I'm sure promoting his book. There may have been scheduling conflicts between the two of them. I don't know yet...I have no problem, by the way, with him promoting his book. It was perchance that he was in the position to aid in the rescue of Pvt Lynch and he made desicions that put his life in danger. His life is an inspiration to some people. Just the same, PVT Lynch volunteered in the armed forces of my country(PC aside-she did what she did.) She was attacked, injured, held captive and survived. She is an inspiration to some as well. I can't believe the contempt some on this board display against Lynch. Sad.