Dig this Colo. Prings Gazette story about a
13-year-old Iraqi boy who defected to the U.S. side, was virtually adopted by the Army unit to whom he betrayed an "insurgent group" that included his father, then literally adopted by one of the U.S. sergeants, who got him out of Iraq. The teen, now 16, apparently lives in the Colo. Springs area and plays fullback for a local high school.
Gee, isn't that a nice story? And it even has a tragic element: the boy's mother was shot in reprisal for his betrayal -- not that he sounds like he misses her.
The made-for-TV quality of this whole thing smells. Just a hunch, but something makes me think that within a few months, or maybe a couple years from now, we're going to find out a lot more about this story that conflicts with the pretty picture. Consider:
The kid lived with the army unit for several months, the story says. Really? -- is that how we do it? Find a local and make him the unit mascot, so he can go out on patrol with the unit so he can "point out where weapons are hidden"?
The kid was "left in care of the Marines" when the Army unit went home. Wouldn't you like to know how that conversation went?
Nothing except the phrase "reams of red tape" to explain just how this kid was allowed into the country. Was it a quid pro quo? Who was involved? Whose idea was it? Who paid for the trip? (The latter question is especially relevant in light of reports from Lebanon that the U.S. government intends to bill evacuees for the trip -- low in story.)
Update: Turns out the sergeant has a book out; he's even doing a book tour. Hmm, well, maybe this is for real. But don't forget, James Frey had a book tour too.
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