Why not Iraq

Last night I watched the news and was absolutely shocked by what is on TV. Nicole, the "rape victim" of a US Army Smith, a much sensational case, fired her lawyer, and fled to the US for she wanted to for get her past and that she was "disappointed with the case". Very novel and patriotic. Which gave me a two questions I want to ask.

1. Of all places, why fled to the US knowing the person who "abused" her is after all, a US citizen. ( If I were her, I would go to Iraq, or North Korea.)
2. How did she get her US visa?

Now how would the world believe us when we cried wolf after all that happened.