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Subscribe to RSSJessica Lynch. Tommy Franks. 'Chemical Ali.' Tony Blair. Hans Blix. Ten years ago, as the war in Iraq began, these were names on front pages everywhere. Find out what has happened to them – and 10 other headliners associated with the conflict – since.
Mohammed Al-Rehaief
(aided Jessica Lynch)
(aided Jessica Lynch)
Alex Wong/Getty Images file
Iraqi attorney Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief, who lost vision in his left eye when he helped rescue former POW U.S. Army Private Jessica Lynch, addresses the media at the National Press Club on Nov. 10, 2003 in Washington.
THEN
When Jessica Lynch was rescued from an Iraqi hospital by Army Rangers in early April 2003, much of the credit went to a 32-year-old local lawyer, Mohammed al-Rehaief, who was reported to have walked six miles to a United States Marine checkpoint to tell where Lynch was being held. Al-Rehaief -- whose wife, a nurse, had seen Lynch being mistreated in the hospital -- was then, according to news reports, sent back to the hospital to gather information that was used to plan Lynch’s rescue.
When Jessica Lynch was rescued from an Iraqi hospital by Army Rangers in early April 2003, much of the credit went to a 32-year-old local lawyer, Mohammed al-Rehaief, who was reported to have walked six miles to a United States Marine checkpoint to tell where Lynch was being held. Al-Rehaief -- whose wife, a nurse, had seen Lynch being mistreated in the hospital -- was then, according to news reports, sent back to the hospital to gather information that was used to plan Lynch’s rescue.
Though U.S. military was later reported to have learned of Lynch’s location from several informants — and his exact role in the rescue was much disputed — Al-Rehaief was immediately labeled as a hero and was soon granted, along with his wife and child, asylum in the United States.
NOW
After arriving in the U.S. in April 2003, al-Rehaief immediately joined The Livingston Group, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm run by former U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston, according to Fox News. In recognition of his assistance, the U.S. government granted him humanitarian parole immediately after his arrival in America.
Apart from working at the Livingston Group, al-Rehaief also found time to write a book about his experiences, “Because Each Life Is Precious,” for which he reportedly was paid $300,000. He also was a consultant to “Saving Private Lynch,” a 2003 TV movie made about the incident. A biography released by the Livingston Group said that Al-Rehaief also is a black-belt practitioner of Kung Fu
In addition, he served for several years on the advisory board of Terror Free Tomorrow, a non-partisan group based in Washington, D.C., that describes its mission to “empower public opinion against authoritarian dictatorships and terrorist minorities.” Sen. John McCain is listed as being a member of its advisory board; however, al-Rehaief’s involvement with the organization ended “several years ago,” according to its president and founder, Kenneth Ballen.
Overall, though, Al-Rehaief has generally adopted a low profile in recent years, cutting back on giving speeches about his experiences.
However, in 2008, Al-Rehaief was the subject of a resolution by his home state’s Virginia General Assembly, honoring his “selfless act in helping United States forces come to the aid of Jessica Lynch.” The resolution also noted “his passion for kung fu, in which he holds a black belt, and he opened a martial arts school in Nasiriyah, where he taught for several years.”
IRAQ TEN YEARS LATER: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
- Jessica Lynch
- Hans Blix (UN arms inspector)
- Colin Powell
- Tariq Aziz (Saddam Hussein’s foreign minister)
- Ahmed Chalabi (Iraqi exile leader)
- Tony Blair
- Gen. Tommy Franks
- Josh Rushing (Marines spokesman)
- Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks (Army spokesman)
- Paul Bremer (Iraq administrator)
- Farris Hassan (teen journalist)
- Lynndie England (Abu Ghraib)
- Mohammed Al-Rehaief (aided Jessica Lynch)
- Ali Hassan Al-Majid (‘Chemical Ali’)
- Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf (‘Baghdad Bob’)
Leave a Comment:
where is WMD?
Good question!!
Why ask a man who risked his life to help save an American?
Why post the same thing over and over?
Chicago, USA compared to Iraq
Body count: In the last six months 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago
compared to 221 killed in Iraq , and Chicago has one of the strictest gun laws in the entire US.
President: Barack Hussein Obama
Senator: Dick Durbin
House Representative: Jesse Jackson Jr.
Governor: Pat Quinn
House leader: Mike Madigan
Atty. Gen.: Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike)
Mayor: Rahm Emanuel
The leadership in Illinois - all Democrats .
Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago .
Of course, they're all blaming each other.
Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country.
Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
State pension fund $78 Billion in debt, worst in country.
Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
Cook County ( Chicago ) sales tax 10.25% highest in country.
Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois .
And he is going to "fix" Washington politics for us?
George Ryan is no longer governor, he is in the big house.
Of course he was replaced by Rob Blagojevich who is...
that's right, also in the big house.
And Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned a couple of weeks ago.
That's because he is fighting being sent to...right again, the big house!
The Land of Lincoln, where governors make our license plates!!!!