Not Your Sweetie

U.S. Fights Verdict Backing Ex-P.O.W.'s
By ADAM LIPTAK

hen 21 freed American P.O.W.'s returned home from the Persian Gulf war in March 1991, Dick
Cheney, then secretary of defense, welcomed them at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

"Every man and woman who cares for freedom," Mr. Cheney said, "owes you a very special
measure of gratitude."

Of those 21 former prisoners of war, 17, who had been tortured by their Iraqi captors, would like
something more tangible. This month they won a court award of almost $1 billion against Iraq,
and a federal law says they may be paid from frozen Iraqi funds.

The Bush administration has expressed sympathy for the plaintiffs over what they endured but
is fighting them about the money, saying it is urgently needed to rebuild Iraq.