Man, this guy fits the bill for superhero in my book:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/04/sprj.irq.pow.informer/index.html
Besides the final approval for casting when the movie comes out, what sort of reward would be compensation enough for the risks and effort he went to in order to get Jessica Lynch rescued? A medal might be a good start, along with the ensured safety of his family. Anything else come to mind?
Makes you reevaluate the old lawyer stereotype, doesn’t it? 
Beyond a medal, since he is a lawyer, maybe he should be considered for a position in the post-Saddam government.
Wow. The events outlined in that article are amazing. Simply amazing!
I’d say, INSTANT AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.
Do not leave this hero out to dry in post-war Iraq. The man went to extrordinary effort in saving this woman’s life. He may well have prevented the Iraqi doctors from amputating her leg. That easily could have killed her. He detailed and mapped her location and even scouted the hospital roof for a helo landing.
This is the sort of person who makes a fine American. I never thought I’d say that this country needs one more lawyer, but I’ll shout it from the rooftops for this excellent specimen of humanity. The remote chance that he or his family might suffer retaliation or death demands their immediate transport to the United States. I’m fairly sure there’s a whole boatload of our troops who would agree.
I would imagine a suitable reward for him would be if we all would remember that no group of people can be judged by the actions of only a few. A suitable reward would be if people names Mohammed didn’t get their job applications passed straight into the round file, if people who look like they might be named Mohammed didn’t get abuse shouted at them in the street.
I think that would be a nice reward, if I were him.
</wishful thinking>
He is a hero. But his motives are unclear from the cited story, so it is hard to say what he deserves beyond a medal and safety for him and his family. There is a lot not said in the article (for quite obvious reasons) it would be good after the war to get the full story.
Thanks davesink for bringing that to our attention.
Cheers, Bippy
A nice house in an American suburb. A nice tall flag pole. Perhaps a job teaching ethics at a San Francisco college.
Bippy, even if this guys motives were financially motivated, I’d say give it up for the guy. He took risks and probably saved her life. So what if he saw the writing on the wall and tried to further his status in life by sucking up to the USA? Whatever his reasons, thank god he did it. She’s alive, his family is alive, and the troops had their morale boosted (although sticking a flag on her cot while she was rescued seemed a bit over-the-top to me). Give the man a few million $ so he can live his life out in comfort, he deserves it. And besides that, I’d like to shake his hand and say ‘thank you’.
-Tcat
Sorry, that looks bordeline snippy on re-read. Really didn’t mean it to be, Bippy! Just stating my position.
Take care-
-Tcat
I find it interesting that some people think the Best Possible Reward for this guy would be American citizenship, or to even live in the U.S. In the articles I’ve read, he’s stated he looks forward to moving back to his home in a post-Saddam Iraq. Sure, I think he deserves some financial remuneration; but I get the feeling that living freely, and financially securely, in his homeland will be the best reward he could get.
I also don’t think this heroic act should automatically land him a seat in a future Iraqi government. In fact, if he were given one many Iraqis would likely protest that the new government has zero chance of ever being independent of the United States.
Well then, peepthis, I think the proper and appropriate reward would be for the town of Palestine to take up a collection (anyone in the USA can contribute) and give it to this guy and his family, tax free, to use as he sees fit (short of bying WoMD) with A book of signitures from every american who appreciates his heroic deed (I’d sign that book) and an open invitation to visit Jessica and Disneyland anytime he wishes, as many times as he wishes.
… :dubious:
Hmmm… what was that line about the eternal pleasures of 70 virgins in paradise?
Yeah, I thought the same. Unless he actually expressed a desire to live here, why would that be any kind of reward? I have no doubt England is a wonderful country, but I wouldn’t consider it a wonderful reward to be offered British citizenship for saving the queen’s life.
Tomcat no worries, yes I think he deserves money if he wants it, I was more concerned about giving him pollitical position in the post war government. A hero even for money is still a hero (though probably a lesser one).
Cheers, Bippy
Personally, i think he deserves a reward, not a punishment.
But seriously, you assume that this guy wants to leave his homeland for a country that is currently bombing the crap out of it, and that his idea of paradise is a picket fence and a house in the American suburbs.
Maybe what he wants is to stay in his country and help in its post-war recovery. He seems to be no fan of Saddam, which is good. And if the Iraqi people are as happy with the American war of “liberation” as President Bush claims, then they will welcome Mohammed into their brave new post-war world.
I’m afraid that the notion of US citizenship being the ultimate reward that anyone could be offered represents exactly the sort of hubris that so many people worldwide find offensive about some Americans.
Whatever he wants. He risked his life, his wife risked hers, and the both of them risked their daughter’s life. Give him money, offer him and his family citizenship if they want it. At the very least, let him and his family come to the US to visit. I’m sure there’s a few communities that’d like to give them a tickertape parade.
No matter his motivations, he went to considerable effort (and risk) to assist a fellow human being who needed help very badly. It would have been very easy for him to just pretend not to see, keep his head down and go on his own way. For some reason the fact that he took the risks he did anyway, even with a wife and child to care for, in a war zone, really punches home with me. IMO what he did exemplifies the best in humanity. *
His reward? Any and all protections we can offer him and his family, at the very least. Financial/material reward? Sure, why not? Beyond that, well, I’d guess a lot would depend on what he wants. If he wants U.S. citizenship, he’s certainly earned a guaranteed fast track toward it. If he wants a role in a future Iraqi government, well, I don’t think that’s ours to give. I can certainly see him prefering to stay in his homeland to help rebuild it. It’s just far too early days for anybody to have a realistic idea of what the risks/benefits/nature of post-war Iraqui society will be.
Veb
[sub]* Though I’m sure many Iraquis would consider him little better than a collaborator. I refuse to be that cynical about it. Genuine goodness DOES exist. [/sub]
A peaceful, stable Iraq where he can live fairly contentedly to the end of his days.
I agree with **mhendo[/]b about the idea of American citizenship as a reward, and what that represents.
Well said. By their deeds, not their name, religion or pigment should we judge all people.