[pyritechips]

I have seen much discussion here about which news company leans which way when reporting news event, especially controversial ones. I even posted a link to a long report on how the media handled the Iraq/WMD/Terrorist stories.

I recently posted the following quote from a Washington Times story in response to a comment made about Jessica lynch (emphasis and italics are mine - Jim):

The Army will release a report tomorrow on the ambush of the 507th Maintenance Company in Iraq that will show Pfc. Jessica Lynch and another female soldier suffered extensive injuries in a vehicle accident, but not from Iraqi fighters...The Army's 15-page report officially will debunk accounts that Pfc. Lynch emptied two revolvers at her attackers and was shot and stabbed before being taken prisoner of war. In fact, she was riding in a Humvee that was struck by a projectile during a frantic attempt to escape the ambush..."Lynch survived principally because of the medical attention she received from the Iraqis," one source said... U.S. commandos rescued Pfc. Lynch, 19, on April 1 after her captives had fled the hospital.

Then yesterday in the Calgary Sun there was a story titled Daughters of War, Army girls bring delight and dishonour home to West Virginia. The story is credited to Associated Press (AP). In it they state:

Ten months ago, Americans celebrated the return of former POW Jessica Lynch, who was feared dead, then rescued by U.S. special forces.

Part of the U.S. march toward Baghdad in March 2003, Lynch's 507th Maintenance Company convoy was ambushed near the Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. Eleven soldiers died. Lynch was taken prisoner and assaulted. She suffered spinal fractures, other broken bones and nerve damage and continues to struggle with her injuries, walking with a cane. Her dramatic rescue from a Nasiriyah hospital on April 1, 2003, captured worldwide headlines and transformed the soft-spoken woman into an instant hero and media celebrity.

As you can see, the story of Lynch's "heroics" was debunked last July yet ten months later AP uses a proven falsity to write a story to compare Lynch to England? There is no mention of Lynch being assaulted yet the structure of the AP story implies her extensive injuries were a result of assault; they make no mention of the vehicle crash.

They also claim that Lynch's "rescue" was "dramatic"? After her captors had "fled"?

You American members have much better and frequent access to domestic stories and reporting than I do. What do you think of this? Which story is more accurate? And in light of so much recent conflicting reporting on many important issues, who am I to believe? Who does Americans believe? Who should the rest of the watching world believe?

[oldie]

Reuters

[AcaCandy]

Unless you've seen it with your own eyes, believe nothing

Thread title changed as requested.

[pyritechips]

Ah! Thank you Candy, darling. Well, I haven't "seen" it but I believe you enjoy Champagne? Care for a glass? (I owe you one from my scanner thread!)

Speaking of belief, who believes that Lynch "emptied two revolvers" at her attackers? I don't. Not only do I not believe she emptied them, I also do not believe she had them. To the best of my knowledge, the American army replaced the old Colt model 1911A .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol some years ago (with a 9mm I believe, in order to make them compatible with other NATO and UN forces). I once heard that the only U.S. military branch that actually used revolvers in modern times were Air Force officers - I hope somebody will correct me on this if I am wrong. I also doubt she had "two" revolvers. I hate to say it but that sounds a bit like an old Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western: quick-drawing two "six-shooters" and having at the bad guys!

[AcaCandy]

LOL, PC, Always on the champagne, and as in the movies, can't you keep firing a 6 shooter until you get tired

On topic, I didn't believe that story from the inception.....but then again, some would have called me 'unpatriotic' had I posted that back then

Side note, I'm sure you saw her interview on tv, right?

[pyritechips]

Actually I didn't see her interview. This is Canada, remember!

But seriously: WE get a wide range of American TV channels here but I don't watch any except PBS. Did she say anything interesting or revealing? Did she comment about the attempt to "manage" her hero status?

The reason I brought the Lynch story up is because it neatly parallels the situation wherein a significant percentage of Americans still believe Saddam was somehow responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. I shall not mince words by using euphamisms. In my opinion, both stories are nothing more than perpetuated lies.

[AcaCandy]

Yes, pretty much she denied most of the press reports claiming that she wasn't a hero.

[DNeurococo]

The Jessica Lynch incident is a laugh.

When asked about the incident, she claimed to have "amnesia".
Later, she wrote a book about it and sold her story. How can you sell your story when you yourself claim that you can't even remember it?

There are so many questionable and outright phony things about this story that it shouldn't be taken seriously by anyone.

[AcaCandy]

Originally Posted by pyritechips

The reason I brought the Lynch story up is because it neatly parallels the situation wherein a significant percentage of Americans still believe Saddam was somehow responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. I shall not mince words by using euphamisms. In my opinion, both stories are nothing more than perpetuated lies.

The American public isn't ready for the real answer as to who was behind the World Trade Center (U.S. spelling ) attacks...........


DN, agree completely with your assessment of the JL phoney story. Someone who rescued her probably assisted her in the book writing

[philip1519]

I would try not to get too hot about anything that is printed though it may all have a grain of truth in it. For the most part, they aretrying to sell papers here. Who doesn't have an axe to grind, an elixer to promote? I have heard thaat people in other countries are more knowledgeable about what goes on in our country than we are. BORING countries. Honestly, don't all Canadians get their news from "Access Hollywood" like we do?

[eggplant43]

Lynch: Pray for families of mistreated Iraqi inmates



MONTGOMERY, West Virginia (AP) -- Former POW Jessica Lynch said prayers should go out to the families of Iraqi prisoners who have been mistreated by American military prison guards.

Lynch's comments came after she addressed about 150 graduating students Saturday at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

When asked her opinion of news reports of the mistreatment of prisoners, Lynch told reporters, "Pray for their families and keep up hope."

Lynch declined to comment on Army Pfc. Lynndie England of Fort Ashby, who is one of seven soldiers from the 372nd Military Police Company charged with mistreating Iraqi prisoners.

Lynch, a 21-year-old former Army supply clerk, became one of the most visible faces of the war when she was rescued from an Iraqi hospital on April 1, 2003.

Her convoy was attacked after taking a wrong turn in the Iraqi town of Nasiriyah. Eleven American soldiers were killed and six, including Lynch, were captured.

Lynch, who is still recovering from injuries sustained when her Humvee crashed during the March 23, 2003, firefight, told the graduates she envied them because they were ending a process she has yet to start.

Lynch joined the military to earn money for college so she could become a kindergarten teacher, but is waiting until she finishes therapy before beginning classes.

[AcaCandy]

Originally Posted by philip1519

I have heard thaat people in other countries are more knowledgeable about what goes on in our country than we are. BORING countries.

That is because we have access to more than just the U.S. controlled press

[oldie]

Reuters Buy now - shares that is

[Pacalis]

As you can see, the story of Lynch's "heroics" was debunked last July yet ten months later AP uses a proven falsity to write a story to compare Lynch to England? There is no mention of Lynch being assaulted yet the structure of the AP story implies her extensive injuries were a result of assault; they make no mention of the vehicle crash.

They also claim that Lynch's "rescue" was "dramatic"? After her captors had "fled"?

You American members have much better and frequent access to domestic stories and reporting than I do. What do you think of this? Which story is more accurate? And in light of so much recent conflicting reporting on many important issues, who am I to believe? Who does Americans believe? Who should the rest of the watching world believe?[/quote]



This appears to be a clear attempt to divert attention away from the physical and sexual abuse charges made against England and her cohorts by reverting back and falsely reporting the Lynch story. Typical of a mostly conservative news organizations . They have a war to support, and wouldn't want the people to be losing it's ( now somewhat diminished ) support of the war in Iraq.
I myself tend to watch CNN, I think Lou Dobbs is as fair as any American reporter. I read Time and Aljazeera, to get both aspects , and believe something that I consider half of each.
I have a good friend were I work , whose son is in the 3rd Cal very in Baghdad.
From what his father tells me, the Iraqi people hate the Americans passionately. And the prison abuse has been known widely in Iraq for several months.
Just a insight of my own here.... We as Americans do not understand that we are not fighting a Nation or a People but a Religion. A religion that is their law, their Government ,their every form of existence. We cannot change that, and shouldn't even try. These people hate us more for the fact that we are considered infidels than anything else. We can't win over in the Mid East.

[lighthouse]

Probably not THEROACH - this isn't like throwing Millions of $s Marshall Aid at 1945 Europe - including former Axis countries - because the entire culture is totally different. I suppose the only way would be to help facilitate what is already there, but only those in the decision making process in Washington, London, and Baghdad really know what's planned. The thing is, does that culture (or people in it) see even the slightest assistance from the west as a form of intolerable interference? The biggest headache facing the Polititians is preventing the country from descending into chaos and/or fundamentalism. Your friend out there at the moment has an unenviable task of living with the daily realities of it all!