The Washington Post has been digging into the story of Private Jessica Lynch's capture by Iraqis and rescue by Americans. Here's some of what they found:

The Ambush:

Lynch was riding in a Humvee when it plowed into a jacknifed U.S. truck -- a precarious position that led to major injuries, including multiple fractures and compression to her spine, that knocked her unconscious, military sources said. The collision killed or gravely injured the Humvee's four other passengers.

....Lynch tried to fire her weapon, but it jammed, according to military officials familiar with the Army investigation. She did not kill any Iraqis. She was neither shot nor stabbed, they said.

The U.S. says Lynch was abused by her captors, but no details have been released, and witnesses detailed in the article say she was not--both believe her most severe injuries are from the car crash.

The Rescue:

Days later, tipped that Lynch was inside Saddam Hussein General Hospital in Nasiriyah, the CIA, fearing a trap, sent an agent into the facility with a hidden camera to confirm she was there and help draw a blueprint for her rescue, intelligence sources said.

The Special Operations unit's full-scale rescue of the private, while justified given the uncertainty confronting the U.S. forces as they entered the compound, ultimately was proven unnecessary. Iraqi combatants had left the hospital almost a day earlier, leaving Lynch in the hands of doctors and nurses who said they were eager to turn her over to Americans.

Lynch's doctors say she has no memory of the ambush, her capture or her treatment during her captivity. This is a very long, detailed article of her capture, condition, treatment and rescue, compiled by many sources.

Booth reported from Nasiriyah, interviewing Iraqi doctors and nurses in the hospitals where Lynch was treated, and Iraqi citizens who witnessed elements of the initial capture. Priest and Schmidt reported from Washington, interviewing military and intelligence officials with detailed knowledge of Lynch's capture and rescue, as well as officials close to the Lynch family.

It will be interesting to see how accurate the article is when more details emerge.

Update: An astute reader noticed that our subtitle"the capture" should have said "the rescue" - we've edited accordingly.

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