I was wrong about Jessica Lynch

[Zero]

How could you have not known it was not a lie or exaggerated at least? I dont know any details about the incident, but I would have guessed the story was somewhat bloated even before I read your post (which is pretty much my first time hearing the details)

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Q Cubed

Dissident, the boat for Cuba sails in a half hour.

sloww, i never thought i'd see you stoop as low as the worst of the talk show hacks out here.

What do you mean? He had made similar statements about sending people with dissenting politcal views to Camp X-Ray at least 6 times. Very probably more.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by gunkulator
Yes, Wag the Dog. Again who's ultimately to blame here? A lazy press corps that repeats half-told rumors from any source without checking the facts. Whether its 130,000 Iraqi artifacts or Pvt. Lynch's firefight, getting the scoop first seems to be the highest priority. Truth runs a distant second.

The media reported the Centcom general's comments about the firefight. They didn't make up those comments.

When the story broke, the media did not have access to the hospital. When they were able to get there, they reported the other side of the story.

The fault lies with the government.

[Proteus_MST]

Originally posted by Tingkai


The media reported the Centcom general's comments about the firefight. They didn't make up those comments.

When the story broke, the media did not have access to the hospital. When they were able to get there, they reported the other side of the story.

The fault lies with the government.

Or the General Staff.

It would be very interesting to find out, who gave the orders to tell the lie.
Was it Donald Rumsfeld, was it someone even higher within the government,
or was it just one member of the PR Department who thought it would a wise idea to create a new american hero (and neglecting the fact that the truth could eventually be discovered )

[Q Classic]

What do you mean? He had made similar statements about sending people with dissenting politcal views to Camp X-Ray at least 6 times. Very probably more.

i haven't seen them yet.

oh well.

[Dis]

Okay I want to create another thread, but I can't.

This doesn't deal with Lynch directly, but the other POW's. Apparantly they decided to surrender whan all 3 of their M-16 A2's jammed. WTF!

I wanted to ask MTG why the new M-16's are jamming? Didn't they fix the problem they had in Vietnam? Why is the U.S. using such crappy weapons?

if someone else wants to make a thread about the lack of quality of the M-16 feel free to.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Since they're from the same unit, and failure rates of the M16A2 and M4A1 are low, my first reaction is they had slack training on desert maintenance, slack inspections, and/or some kind of FNG or sad sack armorer.

Any piece can jam if you don't properly maintain it, especially in desert conditions - and apparently smallarms maintenance would seem to have been too low on their priority list.*

* = That is because I haven't heard any reports that their rifles were damaged by RPG blast or other effects.

[mrmitchell]

Didn't all the Iraqi doctors say none of the heroic stuff really happened?

Anyways ,

Now that there is some semi-serious doubt on the whole story (instead of a few paragraphs in the Guardian) apparently, I hope Disney went ahead and bought the movie rights so they can find out whoever started it and sue them.

Don't blame me, I voted Gore

Blame me, I voted Nader j/k

[Dis]

yeah, but you can't constantly be cleaning your weapons. And they are a maintenance unit, so I would suspect they are a little more lax on cleaning their weapons.

But still. You would think we would have a weapon that can handle harsh environments.

I think the U.S. should use AK-47's

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Sikander


My thoughts exactly at the time. She didn't exactly inspire me with confidence in her Iraqi slaying capabilities. She looked like someone who gets by with a little help from her friends.

It doesn't take much to form a sight picture, track the target, and gently squeeze of a three round burst. I've seen a lot of squiddies down by 32nd St. Naval Station in San Diego, and a lot of Army company clerk types (male) who looked no more nor less impressive than Lynch, or any other average civvie.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Dissident
yeah, but you can't constantly be cleaning your weapons.

You sure as **** can - it's sort of a religious mantra.

And they are a maintenance unit, so I would suspect they are a little more lax on cleaning their weapons.

I was trying to be nice, in memory of the dead, and not call them what I usually call those types of units, but it should be Army-wide practice to insist on competence in armorers and in maintaining basic combat proficiency in all units.

But still. You would think we would have a weapon that can handle harsh environments.

Sandstorms are pretty harsh, and Kalashnikov's require periodic maintenance, too. The older ones (-47, -74 series) traded off firepower and accuracy for their ability to be operated under a poor maintenance regime. The -100+ series are more "modern" designs that are pretty cool, but much more maintenance intensive.

I think the U.S. should use AK-47's

Too heavy, for the accuracy and hitting power. M14's rock, though.

[uh Clem]

Audie Murphy probably didn't look like a guy who'd wind up winning a bucketful of medals, either. There's no physiological 'type' for heroism, AFAIK. Under other circumstances, like better training & preparation, for instance, Lynch might well have proved to be the soldier she was originally said to be. There's no way to tell.

And M-14s rock, all right. The first one I ever fired damn near took my shoulder off.

[Dis]

never fired either one.

but I like M-14's better than m-16's in the fallout computer games though

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by uh Clem
Under other circumstances, like better training & preparation, for instance, Lynch might well have proved to be the soldier she was originally said to be. There's no way to tell.

And if my Aunty had balls she MIGHT be my uncle.

Achillies wasn't even the soldier Lynch was said to be!!!

[Berzerker]

So you guys think GW Bush thought up this lie and fed it to us?
Repeating a falsehood doesn't make the messenger a liar unless they know it to be false.