<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">How much do you want to bet that the Hollywood version will have Lynch fighting fiercely in a scene that surpasses the Alamo before being captured.</font>

[ 08-07-2003, 09:46 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

When I read this I thought it was going to be a movie about a lynching!

Interesting, you guys may be interested in this article. Be surprised to see that on CNN.

Ridiculous yes. Suprising no.

It is the right of Hollywood to rewrite history in the manner that will make the most money. The true story would be guaranteed to flop.

"See Jessica Lynch as she is captured without firing a shot"
"See how her unit took a wrong turning"
"Watch how Iraqi Doctors trated her injuries"
"Marvel at the cameraman who filmed her rescue"
"Watch how she receives her medals"


(I'm still glad she survived though) [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-07-2003, 06:31 AM: Message edited by: Donut ]

She lost her memory ? Kinda convenient, isn't it ?

It's quite sad that this movie is how the world will remember the Lynch story and not the actual events. Nothing wrong with 'spicing up' a story a wee bit, but it's has to be done with a certain flair and not common Hollywood style.

She lost her memory ? Kinda convenient, isn't it ? </font>[/QUOTE]Call me Cynical but I bet it all comes flooding back the day after she leaves the military [img]tongue.gif[/img]


But while most of us are still pi$$ed off at the bull that the US gave out over this story, please let us remember that PVT Lynch was <font color =red> NOT </font> at fault and like many others put her life on the line for what she belived in. I hope that this does not get lost sight of. :(

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">I would lose my memory to just to get rid of the hassle of dealing with pestering reporters and people. I could see me chocking a few in your face reporters.</font>

[ 08-07-2003, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

Oh, don't get me wrong, she defenitely deserves credit for putting her life on the line, simply by doing her job. It's just that this whole hype makes no sense to me, i can hardly imagine that this is something she actually wants herself. I don't know who's blowing this whole case up to extreme proportions, but i guess it's Hollywood and/or certain elements in the Pentagon, who might see this as good propaganda.

Yup, seen an item on tv on this - they also showed some surveillance camera shots of the Americans grandstandingly (though rather awkwardly) barging into the hospital, IIRC.

If they indeed decide to go with the urban legend-version of Private Lynch's "adventures", then the keywords popping in my mind are embarrassing, awkward, controversial, propaganda and BS. Let's hope it won't inspire a whole new generation of propagandic over the top let's-celebrate-our-moral-superiority-movies, though. FOX News has done enough harm already to the collective American minds with its distorted take on the truth.

[ 08-07-2003, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

This reminds me of the movie "Wag The Dog" by Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman. The created phony war and war hero just to cover up the mess made by some politician.

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">I think there have always been propaganda like this during wars. It sort of reminds me of the stories of Billy Bishop.

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/heirloom...ume4/50-53.htm

Some of his exploits seem exaggerated at the least and historians debate but who really knows now.</font>

[ 08-07-2003, 11:07 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">I would lose my memory to just to get rid of the hassle of dealing with pestering reporters and people. I could see me chocking a few in your face reporters.</font> </font>[/QUOTE]Well she *is* in a difficult situation.
Her commander-in-chief has conspired to lie about her war record - so she can't contradict him. On the other hand, if she publicly goes along with it, the media will rip her apart.

Still, I have no sympathy for her - she accepted a medal that she didn't earn and therefore cheapened it for those who had earned it - and that makes her a rat in my opinion

All you armchair commanders and high-horse moralists are really entertaining.

There are parts of the article that I will discredit in my mind until I see more proof -- such as the ambulance trying to get her to the U.S. being shot at. Just because some doctor in Iraq (named Uday, coincidentally) says something is so doesn't make it so -- not any more than the military saying something is so, anyway.

We know certain things were somewhat staged, but some things were reasonable. Even if the Feyadden had pulled out the day before, you still treat an incursion into hostile territory as if it's, well... hostile. As for the shootings, blastings, and "hollywood effects" they were not ONLY for the TV cameras, they were also something called a diversion to divert any remaining Iraqi forces. Maybe you armchair commanders have heard of this.

Finding one US Special Forces incursion to pick apart doesn't change the fact that the vast majority of the war was won in "secret" missions we never saw on TV performed by special forces. While we were watching a ton of troops drive across a sandy landscape, missions we didn't see were winning the war everywhere.

Yeah yeah, i think most of us know that already. But that wasn't the issue here, the issue was the ridiculous circus that's going on around private Lynch.

"Armchair commanders"? I thought we'd already reserved that title exclusively for those brave, brave men who have no qualms about sending off others to wage a war in their name? ;)
And apart from your uncharacteristically patronizing tone, I think you're missing the point, Timber. I don't think any of us will automatically assume that the ambulance bit took place, nor do we think it's strange that the rescue team took the case more seriously than turned out to be necessary afterwards; after all, the US Military couldn't have anticipated the exact amount of resistance beforehand.

But back to what this topic was actually about ;) - you can't blame us for being skeptical about the prospect of the events around private Lynch's "capture" being turned into a movie, especially since most of the initial reports have been descredited (by the Army itself, nonetheless); and like I said myself above, if NBC actually decides to stick to the original reports, it's bound to leave a very sour taste in many people's mouths - mostly because of its both controversial and suspiciously propagandic nature over the past few months.

Fair enough, Groj. I was just interjecting the simple point that it's easy to poo-poo a mission when we weren't there. I promise you, I won't be avidly awaiting the movie any more than you will.

However, the Dateline interview with all the other members of the 507 (is that the right number?) who actually stayed conscious during the battle that day (and were shown on Iraqi TV) was VERY interesting. ;)

IIRC the medal she got was a standard medal for those injured on active duty? Or is there a claim now that she was not injured?

Timber is right when we look at the troops who were sent in to rescue her. It was a war zone, there could have been a trap ECT. Let us keep focused on the real problems. The bull by high command and the fact that they sent video cameras in on the operation. If the rescue had gone wrong would the presence of cameras instead of extra recon and firepower been to blame.


As mentioned further up the thread please show respect for Lynch. She is in a terrible position.

I'm not disputing the Purple Heart for the car crash - it's the Bronze Star that I take issue with. And again, I can't find any respect for someone who hasn't enough honour to refuse a medal that they didn't earn - because in doing so she dishonoured all those who had won the medal legitimately.

Indeed, in accepting the medal, she took credit for the actions and bravery of her company 11 of whom died and nine of whom were injured in the fighting that she was not a part of. How can anyone respect someone like that?

So the question I must ask is why were cameras present for this specific mission?

I stand corrected [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

However a true soldier stands by orders, if she has been orderd to stay quite and to accept the medal she is doing what she must. Lets focus our attentions on to those in charge.

What about focussing on the 11 soldiers in her company that died in action?
What are their names?
Anyone know?

Not first-hand, but here is a list of all coaltion casualties at this site:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/ira...es/casualties/


I totally agree that Lynch shouldn't be the focus of the movie. From what I recall of the events portrayed leading to her capture, after the 507th got lost and doubled back there was a big fight and at one point an American commander made the decision to surrender his unit because of low ammo/weapon malfunctions. A tough, but heroic decision that may have saved all the lives of the other POWS that were later rescued.

I dunno if I have all the facts straight, but my point is that focusing on the Lynch's already played out and exagerated drama seems contrived compared to the larger less-reported story.

Anyway I think the movie is off know that Lynch has declined NBC's offer to advise. I guess they could still do the movie without her input.

So the question I must ask is why were cameras present for this specific mission? </font>[/QUOTE]I would say the answer can be reasonably deduced. They likely knew the mission was a lower probability of threat. Besides, the other "war winning" missions were very probably quite unsavory things to see -- not good press. As well, weren't those military cameramen? I mean, maybe they *did* film other missions, and simply did not release them. [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]

Yes, the Sergeant was trapped under a vehicle with three wounded (one of whom was the female cook you may remember) and ALL the weapons were jammed. One of the soldiers had gotten away from the vehicle to recon new weapons. He found a spot overlooking a mortar aimed at the Sergeant, etc. trapped under the vehicle. One by one he shot 7 Iraqis who tried to load the mortar. He also capped off 2-4 others while moving about trying to get weapons or ammo. He got a silver star, IIRC.

Having no ammo and wounded soldiers, Sarge surrendered, clambering out from under the vehicle with arms raised and hoping not to get shot. He played it text book -- you surrender when you have lost all means of resistance.

Lynch's Humvee crashed into the back of one of the utility vehicles in trying to escape. One of the 507 interviewed says she looked dead -- her leg was twitching, though. The other female in the Humvee with Lynch, her best friend, died on impact.

The silver star guy let slip during the interview that he laid down his weapons and the Iraqis came up and punched him. The other 507 members quickly shut him up, telling him not to mention that. Stone Phillips later explained that charges of POW abuse were still under investigation by the military.

Just read this on IMDB:
Lynch Turns Away NBC Deal

The family of Army PFC Jessica Lynch has scotched reports that she was close to signing a deal with NBC to provide details of her ordeal as a POW in Iraq for a movie of the week, the Associated Press reported today (Friday). The family said that it wanted the story to be told first in book form. The book will reportedly be written by former New York Times national correspondent Rick Bragg, who resigned in May after it was reported that a story that bore his byline was actually mostly the work of an unpaid intern. NBC is planning to start shooting the film about her capture in two weeks.

Erm... Okay. Probably a good candidate for that "thinnest books ever" joke-list that's been going around on the Internet the last couple of years. http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...ons/icon37.gif

<h3>Jessica Lynch to tell story in book</h3>
CHARLESTON, West Virginia (AP) -- Former prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch will tell her story in a book, a family spokesman said Thursday.
"The Lynch family has received many offers from people interested in bringing Jessica's story to life," spokesman Randy Coleman said. "Jessica and her family have concluded that the most appropriate and complete telling of this story will be in a book, which they will have more to say about soon."
Coleman would not discuss specifics of the book deal.
He said that Lynch was not granting interviews.
Lynch, a 20-year-old Army supply clerk from Palestine, W.Va., was captured March 23 after her 507th Maintenance Company convoy was ambushed in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. She was rescued from a hospital in the city on April 1.
Lynch, who returned home last month from a long hospitalization in Washington, D.C., has yet to talk publicly about her experience.
NBC said Wednesday that it had cast the role of Lynch in a TV movie scheduled to go into production this month. The movie has been developed without Lynch's authorization. But the network has said it was in talks with her to participate.
CBS abandoned its plans for a Lynch movie. CBS News had come under scrutiny after sending Lynch a letter that highlighted the prospect of a TV movie and other opportunities at sister companies while CBS was seeking a news interview.
<h6>Source: CNN</h6>

[ 08-08-2003, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

<font color="#EAEAFF">Now poor little Lynch is about to write a book (with the help of a dodgy journalist). Should be a very short book if she really couldn't remember anything! One wonders if the families of her 11 dead comrades will see a cent from deal...</font>

[ 09-03-2003, 03:56 AM: Message edited by: Skunk ]

Perhaps she's waiting for the book deal first.

I thought she had no memory of the affair.


Private Lynch signs $1m book deal


The American soldier Jessica Lynch, who was rescued by US special forces after being taken prisoner in Iraq, has signed a $1m book deal with publisher Alfred A Knopf.

I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story will be co-written by former New York Times reporter Rick Bragg and detail her journey from rural West Virginia to becoming a national hero.

"Many folks have written, expressing their support for me and for the thousands of other soldiers who serve their country," Lynch said in a statement issued by the publishers.

"I feel I owe them all this story, which will be about more than a girl going off to war and fighting alongside her fellow soldiers. It will be a story about growing up in America."

The book will have an initial print run of 500,000 and is due to be published in November.

I am walking with crutches, but my doctors tell me that as I gain strength I will be able to walk on my own again soon. I am looking forward to those first steps
Private Lynch, 20, was captured along with six other soldiers when her convoy was ambushed by Iraqi troops near the city of Nasiriya in March.

Controversial footage of her subsequent rescue turned her into a national hero and the incident became a vital morale boost for the American people and US troops in the midst of the Iraq conflict.

Private Lynch was subsequently awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious combat service, a Prisoner of War medal and the Purple Heart medal, which is usually awarded to those wounded in combat.

Ambush inconsistencies

Following her return to the US every major news outlet and publisher was vying for her exclusive story - despite the fact that she is said to remember little about her capture.

Initial reports that she had been shot and stabbed as she fought fiercely against her attackers later turned out to be untrue.

A US army investigation concluded that Private Lynch's convoy had stumbled into enemy territory after their severely fatigued commander misread a map and that she was injured when her vehicle crashed into another in the convoy after being hit by a rocket propelled grenade.

An investigation by the BBC's Correspondent programme said the story of the rescue was "one of the most stunning pieces of news management ever conceived".

But Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said any claims that the facts of Private Lynch's rescue were misrepresented by the US military were "void of all facts and absolutely ridiculous".

Private Lynch, who sustained multiple broken bones in the ambush, was granted an honourable discharge from the army last week due to her injuries.

"I am feeling better every day, and all the good wishes of the many who have written have certainly kept my spirits up," Private Lynch said in her statement.

"I am walking with crutches, but my doctors tell me that as I gain strength I will be able to walk on my own again soon. I am looking forward to those first steps."

Sources at the publishing company said that the $1m advance will be split between the Lynch family and Mr Bragg - a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who resigned from the New York Times earlier this year amid a row over him relying too heavily on the contributions of a freelancer.

"I feel a kinship with Jessica and her family, and am thrilled at the prospect of bringing this story to the wider world," Mr Bragg said in a statement.

Story from BBC NEWS: