I’m aware that the details of the Jessica Lynch rescue are contentious but it came to mind again yesterday and, aware that those who rescued her had had some inside help, I googled to see what the current take on that story is. Some of the language of current commentary contains phrases like “official account” and words like claims and allegedly, so it is difficult for a non-American to sift out and suss.
The young Iraqi lawyer, Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief, who provided details of her location, was given asylum in the United States, together with his family in April 2003. At some point prior to the event, while taking information to her rescuers, he received a shrapnel injury which permanently damaged his vision. Although physically safe, in an undisclosed location in the US, and with his immediate family, he has suffered because of his role in her rescue in that he now has a physical handicap, and is living with the accompanying stress of a life in exile.
I’ve read neither al-Rehaief’s autobiography, Because Each Life Is Precious, not Lynch’s I’m a Soldier too.
Copious use of Google’s link command, over the past hour, has left me little wiser.
It does seem clear also (from the ‘kindness to enemies’ angle) that Private Lynch’s medical treatment and the nursing care from staff at the no doubt under-resourced hospital from which she was rescued, was as good as they could provide.
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