Jessica Lynch Book Cites Records Suggesting Rape

[Seoulstriker]

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,102364,00.html

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Lynch Book Cites Records Suggesting Rape

Thursday, November 06, 2003



NEW YORK — The authorized biography of former prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch (search) reportedly says she was raped by her Iraqi captors.

A spokeswoman for Lynch's family, while not directly confirming the report, said Thursday it was unfortunate attention was being focused on one incident.

"The complete story of her capture is a very painful one for Jessica," spokeswoman Aly Goodwin Gregg said. "However, she felt it was important to tell her story so that people fully understand the atrocities of war. But her story is more than just one incident."

"I am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story" is being released by Knopf publishing Tuesday, which is Veterans Day. Reporter Rick Bragg (search), who wrote the book, tells Lynch's story.

Medical records cited in the book indicate that she was raped, the Daily News of New York said. Officials have said Lynch has no memory of her ordeal.

"Jessi lost three hours. She lost them in the snapping bones, in the crash of the Humvee, in the torment her enemies inflicted on her after she was pulled from it," writes Bragg, according to a report in Thursday's Daily News, which obtained a copy of the book.

"The records do not tell whether her captors assaulted her almost lifeless, broken body after she was lifted from the wreckage, or if they assaulted her and then broke her bones into splinters until she was almost dead," Bragg continues.

Separately, ABC's "Good Morning America" host Diane Sawyer confirmed Thursday on the air that the book says Lynch was raped.

"The book does indeed cite some intelligence reports that she was treated brutally and a medical record which says, in the book, that she was a victim of a sodomizing rape," Sawyer said.

"I talked to both her and her parents about this, and asked them about the decision to put it in the book, and they told me that it was a decision to tell the reality, not selective parts of a story of going to war," Sawyer said.

Knopf spokesman Paul Bogaards would not elaborate on the reports, telling The Associated Press that it was "just one chapter in a vivid story of a soldier's life."

Bragg declined to comment to the AP.

Sawyer also addressed reports that Lynch's book casts doubt on the claim of an Iraqi lawyer, Muhammad al-Rehaief (search), that he helped U.S. Marines rescue Lynch.

"She says that he may indeed have helped her," Sawyer said. "If he did, she's grateful, but she simply does not remember him and she remembers most everybody that she spent time with during her hospital captivity."

Lynch, 20, was shipped to Kuwait in January with the 507th Maintenance Company. She was captured March 23 after her convoy was ambushed in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. She was rescued from an Iraqi hospital April 1 by U.S. forces.

She plans to marry Army Sgt. Ruben Contreras in June.

Bragg has written several books, including the memoir "All Over but the Shoutin'," and won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1996 while at The New York Times. He resigned from the Times in May after the newspaper suspended him over a story that carried his byline but was reported largely by a freelancer.

[aktarian]

Those Iraqis must have been pretty< desperate to have *** with woman who was bleeding and had several broken bones. :roll:

I wonder if it is coincidence this came out just days before book is to come out.

[NcDeuce]

Sick bastards.

I hope justice prevails and those people are hunted down and killed.

[Argyll]

I hate to say it TF .but that's like pissin in the wind,they'll never find them.

They never caught those who abused the Females Captured in 91,the one who was in the UH60,she was a Major I think,and a Doctor too,and the other captured in the 1ts few days
I also think there is certain PR thing here,as this info has NEVER been dislosed,but was thought it may have happened,but dismissed out of hand at the time,I think this writer is using peoples emotions to sell this book,and that is shamefull too.

[Dalleer]

Right...this info was just something I wasn't too interested of hearing. I mean, if it's the truth then I have just discovered a new way to hate Mr. Hussein's soldiers and the whole damn Iraqi army or then Jessica Lynch is lying just for more money and glory.

Either way, these are serious charges.

[Jack Mehoff]

I'm not surprise if she was raped. Especially to a semi-attractive, blond western girl.

[Nawlins]

Because of the terrible stigma attached to it, I think that very few women lie about being raped. I tend to believe claims until they are proved otherwise.

What a terrible thing for her to have to go through. Just one more reason I don't believe women belong at the front.

[Argyll]

I'm surprised at this just being released,just a few days before the launch of the book though Nawlins,it appears to be the thing to tug the heart strings,and I doubt that she'll ever get over that trauma if it were to be true.
I agree that war is sadly no place for a woman,think of the impact that would have on the rest of the POW's,it also leads to serius questions over the treatment of her fellow POW's,such as Johnson and Pestewa,are we so sure that Pestewa died as a result from her injuries now?

There were serious allegation made by the Bush administration that members of the 507th appeared to have been "executed",what were the results of the Post Mortems?Were these claims to act as spurring moment for the rest of the ground troops.

It took almost 12 years for the GW1 female to come forward about her ordeal,I think that this was carefully leaked to add credence to the book.
I wish her well in her future marraige,she's been through a lot,but so have may other POW's

[Nawlins]

I'm surprised at this just being released,just a few days before the launch of the book though Nawlins,it appears to be the thing to tug the heart strings,and I doubt that she'll ever get over that trauma if it were to be true.


I realize the timing of the info is fishy, I was referring to the person who suggested that she might have lied about the rape.

[WARPIG]

It doesn't really sound like she is claiming rape at all. The writers are just taking reports and info that shows "signs" of rape. If Jessi wanted she could really milk Uncle Suger for something like that. As far as I know.. she isn't. Leads me to agree with Nawlins even though accusations of rape and ****** assault accusations are frequent with military women. My take on her accounts is that she remembers very little. She could easily embellished it and made things more sensational but doesn't seem to have done that so far.

[jlanni]

wait .... i thought they said she had amnesia (think i spelled that right) and couldt remember anything about her captivity... so i wanna know where the hell they are getting all this info

[usa320]

I believe medical information suggested that she could have been assaulted ******ly.

:(

[California Joe]

These are the guys that rape brides at their wedding receptions and throw people into wood chippers. Not a real leap to believe her fellas. The reason the information is out now is not fishy or coincidental in the least. There is a book to sell, pure and simple. It's huge amounts of free publicity.

[Red]

When i read she was sodomised, i threw up my food.Those Iraqi or Fadayeen guys are just plian nasty baggars.but now that abortion is Ilegal,what happens to the baby?Oops sorry dumb question

[Aussie2093]

Yeah male POWs are also subject to rape. Probably not as likely as a female POW, but are definitely still at risk. Just like Tane was saying, its a power thing, not ******.

[Argyll]

Actually I think male POW's are more likely to be raped,especially in interrogation aspects,I can imagine nothing more horrific in having to watch a fellow POW raped,knowing that you may have information that could stop it,a total nightmare scenario!!

If these allegations,and I do realise that they are unfounded at the moment are true,then Jessica Lynch would've been in so much pain from her injuries that she may well have not felt the assault,and hence the reason for amnesia,If they are true then she's got real guts to tell the world all the sordid details.

Nawlins I agree with your take on women in the frontline.

Soon after her release there were stories that were circulating that she had in fact been ******ly assaulted,but these were quickly denied by the Military ,her family,and also the doctors who examined her,both in Kuwait,and also Ramstein,why would they go back on all these now,it is indeed very disturbing,as any *** crime is!

[mocking_loudly_died]

Sorry, but I can't believe anything to do with this chick.

No offence.

Their so so much bollocks being said in the media that I think it's all to do with one thing "money!".

They want to sell books and frankly a car crash isn't to exciting.

[Argyll]

Any *** offence is punishable in the Muslim world I gather Jack,whether it be male or female rape,but I guess their religion is like ours it suits us in somethings and not others!

[Red]

infact most of the gay guys i know,are practising Arab muslims :|

[Jack Mehoff]

Any *** offence is punishable in the Muslim world I gather Jack,whether it be male or female rape,but I guess their religion is like ours it suits us in somethings and not others!

i wasn't talking about *** offense. I'm talking about homo****** acts. .

Anyway, i'm a male and i'm more worry about my enemy beat the crap out of me and cut me to pieces if i fall in their hand. Rape? I don't think that never cross my mind. :lol:

[Argyll]

I hear ya Jack!! :lol:

[marktigger]

had actually heard she'd been raped in theatre and was wondering how long it was going to take to hit the media

[aktarian]

Yeah male POWs are also subject to rape. Probably not as likely as a female POW, but are definitely still at risk. Just like Tane was saying, its a power thing, not ******.

I don't know about you but homo****** act is punishable by death in the muslim world. Heck!! homo****** act is even punishable by getting your ass whop in U.S. military. But i'm all for it if a GI Jane Russian wants to rape me :D

Not in all Muslim countries. People should refrain from such generalisations.

[StarvingStudent47]

Any *** offence is punishable in the Muslim world I gather Jack,whether it be male or female rape,but I guess their religion is like ours it suits us in somethings and not others!

Actually, in Taliban Afghanistan, male rapists were rarely punished (because there had to be "multiple eye-witnesses of good character" to convict, and by definition people of good character don't sit and watch a rape), but women who came forward alleging they were raped were stoned to death for adultery.

So no, not all *** offences are punished in the Muslim world. They may be "punishable," but that does not mean that they are in fact punished.

It's also worth noting that when arranged child marriage is legal, the term "*** offense" loses a lot of its weight. I mean, to put it bluntly, that's state-sanctioned child molestation.

[Royal]

Actually I think male POW's are more likely to be raped,especially in interrogation aspects,I can imagine nothing more horrific in having to watch a fellow POW raped,knowing that you may have information that could stop it,a total nightmare scenario!!

As anyone who's been involved in the SERE world will tell you, true.


I don't know about you but homo****** act is punishable by death in the muslim world.

Didn't stop a significant proportion of the male PW's in GWI being raped.

[parker82nd]

IM new to the website so I'll put in my opions. Lynch shouldn't get bashed for doing her part over there, she is a soldier and was fighting for America, however she shoudlnt get all the praise that she is like she actully had done something worth gettin a medal of honor or something. One thing I cant understand and maybe you all can answer it for me is why in the world does she get all the praise for being rescued as a POW but there were what 6 or 7 others and they didnt get any praise(as much) and even the men that were POWs in WWII and 'Nam didnt get any praise. Just wondering...

[StarvingStudent47]

IM new to the website so I'll put in my opions. Lynch shouldn't get bashed for doing her part over there, she is a soldier and was fighting for America, however she shoudlnt get all the praise that she is like she actully had done something worth gettin a medal of honor or something. One thing I cant understand and maybe you all can answer it for me is why in the world does she get all the praise for being rescued as a POW but there were what 6 or 7 others and they didnt get any praise(as much) and even the men that were POWs in WWII and 'Nam didnt get any praise. Just wondering...

I think Lynch said that she considers her a "survivor" instead of a "hero." I think that is a more accurate label, and I wish the media would use it as well. There is still much pride in the term "survivor," and it's best to save the label "hero" for people who really go out and do something.

[Argyll]

Steady these SS,it was also the DOD who were calling her a hero,so lets stay off this anti media ****,by all aconts she's real upset because she feels that the DOD Hyped this up..........now there's a surprise eh?

[California Joe]

She's engaged to be married. To another GI. She's got to have scars that money won't fix and I really think she's being raped all over again. She's not a hero. So what. She didn't put that label on herself. I'm sure the renovations to her parent's house and all the money don't make her feel better when she can't sleep at night. But maybe I'm looking at this through the eyes of someone who has a daughter.

[Scrim]

Not just raped by a human, how about having a night stick or plunger hammered into your ass, if the torturer is worried about homo******ity? Im sure it happens all the time.

[California Joe]

Sometimes in New York City.

[marktigger]

I feel sorry for Lynch she endured a hell of alot in her capture her recovery from her Injuries etc. Now she will be splashed acrocss the media what ever she does good or not. She is still a teenage american girl who has a life to lead. And I hope the media don't set her up to knock her down she will not at times behave in a way that any young person of her age will and this may not be up to the impossibly high standards set by the media. She should be allowed to be normal and the USA should support her and help her have a normal life and accept she is a human being with all the failings and weaknessess that go with that.