Tillman: Administration lied to distract from Abu Ghraib.
In “explosive testimony” today, Kevin Tillman, brother of Cpl. Pat Tillman, the former NFL player who was killed in action in Afghanistan, “accused the Bush administration of twisting the facts of his brother’s death to distract public attention from the prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib.”
The U.S. Army fabricated a story of his brother’s heroism in action, knowing he was killed by friendly fire, Tillman said. They constructed not only a story of combat action — accompanied by a silver medal — but lied about his medical care… “These are deliberate and calculated lies” and “a deliberate act of deceit,” Tillman said.
With his voice shaking, Tillman, who also served in the Army, said the official account of his brother’s death in 2004 was “utter fiction…intended to deceive the family and more importantly the American people.”
Watch Tillman’s testimony:
More videos at The Gavel.
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66 Responses to “Tillman: Administration lied to distract from Abu Ghraib.”
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“Where Men Build on False Grounds, the more they build the greater is the ruin”….Thomas Hobbes
April 24th, 2007 at 1:20 pmAt least Pat Tillman got flags lowered to half-mast.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:20 pmWatch your back, Kevin.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:20 pmWhat?!?!?!!?
The administration lied? What a scoop!!
April 24th, 2007 at 1:22 pmThe propaganda machine is crumbling down.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:23 pmA “silver medal?” It’s not the Olympics– the decoration he improperly received was a Silver Star (for valor).
April 24th, 2007 at 1:27 pmWhat?!?!?!!? The administration lied? What a scoop!!
Comment by Crump’s Brother — April 24, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
Crump has scandal fatigue. Can’t blame him. So far, this is the most corrupt, dishonest and inept government IN OUR HISTORY! What a bunch of useless schmucks!
April 24th, 2007 at 1:27 pmI keep wondering what it’s going to finally take to bring these bastards down. Every day there is something else, and something more disgusting than the last. How long are the dems going to come up with “non-binding” resolutions? Does anyone really care?
April 24th, 2007 at 1:28 pmCue the Swiftboat attacks and Right-Wing smear machine, who will all suddenly forget about “supporting the troops.”
April 24th, 2007 at 1:28 pmWhat do yo expect with yellow-bellied Chickenhawks in charge?
What f*cking pigs, who treat our enlisted men and women like lower forms of life than themselves.
Politicizing one of our own’s death, a military man at that, is sickeningly DISGUSTING.
Boy George W(wussy) Botch, the most reprehensible person to ever hold the highest elected position in this once great country, you sir, are a f*cking detestable moron of the highest proportions.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:29 pmI blogged it as it was given.
Republicans attacked the Tillman family and insinuated that it was just an inadequecy. totally disgusting behavior by the republican members on the panel.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:30 pmTell me again how the Neosluts support American troops.
-By lying to their families?
-By ignoring upkeep of medical facilities
-By automatically rejecting any claims of disability?
-By allowing soldiers to torture people who are not convicted?
-By escalating an invasion by extending tours of duty and calling up Reservists?
-By having a ex-soldier removed from a hearing for standing up?
-By lying to Americans about the Lynche story?
-By lowering the standards for enlistment?
-By not including any children of those clamoring for the invasion?
Tell me. As a veteran, I’d really like to know.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:34 pmI, for one, stand up and applaud Mr. Tillman’s testimony!!!
April 24th, 2007 at 1:37 pmThis is so awful and so criminal that it makes me ashamed of our country.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:38 pmTP, Don’t forget Jessica Lynch’s testimony that was right after Kevin Tillman’s. Her story was also fabricated and she spoke out also to set the record straight.
I saw both before heading to work this morning. The lies told by the Army chain of command a disgusting and have tarnished the honor of the organization.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:40 pmThat takes an honest to God man to go up and say those things. Man, what an incredible family. I don’t know if they have other children but the Tillman boys’ mom and dad raised two of the most stand up, courageous guys you can imagine.
Trying not to make a political thing because we can’t just keep taking people from each side to make political points, but why don’t the men that drove this war and the loudmouths that support it get in there and fight too?
Good luck Tillman.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:42 pmSubpoena Rumsfeld.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:44 pm#13…michael, since you always tow the republican party line you must mean that you are ashamed of Kevin Tillman and Jessica Lynch and that what’s awful and criminal is that they are standing up to the Bush administration.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:45 pmNo, that’s me, saying that what the military has done to the Tillman and Lynch families is awful and criminal. I should have been clearer.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:56 pmWell, Jessica Lynch DID pose for nude photos and had a child out of wedlock.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:56 pmThe flag was only lowered for Pat Tillman at Arizona State University. That is it, nowhere else.
I know, I am 1) a huge football fan and 2) I am in charge of letting my company know when to lower and raise flags and it was never lowered for Pat Tillman.
Nice try jake.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:04 pmKUCINICH STARTING IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS ON CHENEY TODAY!!
http://www.thismodernworld.com
April 24th, 2007 at 2:08 pmKucinich to introduce articles of impeachment for Cheney tomorrow
From Dennis Kucinich’s press secretary:
Congressman Kucinich Will Hold Press Conference to Announce Introduction of Articles of Impeachment Relating To Vice President Richard Cheney
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) will hold a news conference tomorrow afternoon to announce the introduction of articles of impeachment relating to the Vice President of the United States Richard B. Cheney.
Where: Cannon Terrace (intersection of Independence Avenue and New Jersey Avenue)
When: Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Time: 12 p.m.
I think we can expect more news about this soon.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:09 pmWell, Jessica Lynch DID pose for nude photos and had a child out of wedlock.
Comment by Jimmy Wales
Explain how either one make her less of an American hero for her service to her country, Jake-a$$
Explain also why this makes the Army chain of command right to lie about the facts and dishonor the military by putting suchlies foreward.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:12 pm#20: “Well, Jessica Lynch DID pose for nude photos and had a child out of wedlock.”
The democRAT way of treating a female war hero. Shame on you.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:13 pmso will Kevin Tillman end up on O’Reilly or Hannity? Will Coulter start talking about how he’s a faggot and lies about his brother or what do you think, eh? Or will KT largely be ignored by Fox News? Called “emotional” maybe?
April 24th, 2007 at 2:14 pmI voted for Kucinich in the 2004 primaries. I knew he wouldn’t win but I wanted to vote for man of strong decency and integrity. (Trolls: Before you comment, Kerry was also a man of strong decency and integrity.)
April 24th, 2007 at 2:17 pmThe democRAT way of treating a female war hero. Shame on you.
Comment by Frank Matthews
Frank, that was Jake, the current name changing troll that supports the Bushco neocons even at the expense of the men and women serving our countries armed forces. He is no liberal or progressive. He like the Bush (mis)administration will smear anyone who speaks out against the wrongs done by Bushco and cohorts.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:19 pmI think Tom DeLay will accuse Kevin Tillman of treason by no later than tomorow morning.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:21 pmThe shame and dishonor that the US government has showed in it’s dealings with this family is beyond imagination. The shame and dishonor that the US government has wrongfully and heinously draped across the coffin of Mr. Pat Tillman is not just a disgrace of unimaginable proportions, but it becomes a pox on each and every person who is serving or has ever served in the US military.
This administration and its enablers and coconspirators are so vile and disgusting that it is beyond words. For those who have and still support them, shame on you.
For Mr. Kevin Tillman and his family, I offer my sincerest apologies for the acts of these cowardly criminals (including all “officers†and personnel in the chain of command) and I offer my most heartfelt condolences. For Mr. Pat Tillman I offer my appreciation and respect, and congratulations on the pride that he would/does have in the courage and poise shown by his brother and family in this matter.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:22 pmThis feels like a Schiavo moment—when the public sees through the BS and is revolted. The administration and brass amplified these families’ pain many times by hijacking their lives and legacies. It ought to be criminal, if it isn’t already.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:32 pmWayne: Yes. I will support the President who has proven himself capable of defending this nation FORCEFULLY against a foreign threat - no questions asked, no task too dirty.
The real question is: where’s your patriotism?
April 24th, 2007 at 2:37 pmNow, I dont want to miss this opportunity to point what REAL PATRIOTISM should be about: defending the people from the government.
Tillman´s case is embarrasing for the military, it makes a bad impression in the general population and it must be really, really painful for Tillman´s family to find out that he was killed by “friendly” fire, but nonetheless they went all the way in order to find it and BRING JUSTICE to the memory of Tillman. This is true PATRIOTISM, Exley and all others that dont want to investigate 9/11 events cuz IT COULD BE REALLY SHOCKING to find out that the government could have pulled that out, or becuz it is a disrespectful sign towards the memory of 3000 people and their families. This not only applies to 9/11 but to other illegal actions of this administration.
F*ck the appearance, f*ck the bad propaganda…people that has suffered too much deserve the truth.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:37 pmI eat Jews for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
You guys are fags.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:40 pmJessica Lynch was a admirable person, who stood up for the truth after the US administration tried to turn her into something she was not - a war hero.
Though her recollections of her period of captivity are fuzzy, the accusations of rape and mistreatment which Rick Bragg so brazenly lied about in his book, were contradicted by Ms Lynch herself, and later by a leaked army medical report which confirmed the Iraqi version of events.
She objected to being turned into a propaganda figure by the right, and Tillman seems to be objecting to the same thing with his brother. Perhaps it is time the rightwing learned that people do not like being used.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:48 pmFrank, let’s go hunting buddy!
April 24th, 2007 at 2:49 pmTell me again how the Neosluts support American troops.
Comment by Zimzone — April 24, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Give me a break. Haven’t you seen those yellow magnets you put on your Hummer?
April 24th, 2007 at 2:52 pm“The bottom line is the American people are capable of determining their own ideals of heroes and they don’t need to be told elaborate tales.”
- Jessica Lynch
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ ap/ 20070424/ ap_on_go_co/ tillman_friendly_fire
Nothing more needs to be said.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:53 pmJake“Jimmy Wales” sez:Sorry I’m late…had RL issues to attend to. I see Jake has a new nom du jour.
I also see that Shakey is still repeating his Tillman-half-mast canard, despite repeated requests from me that he substantiate it.
Soooo, Shakey,
Still waiting for proof of your assertion that Chimpy ordered flags flown at half-mast in honor of Tillman’s death.
How’s that search coming? When can we expect results?
April 24th, 2007 at 2:54 pmSo what else is news?
April 24th, 2007 at 2:56 pmAnd only stuck up, prude, conservative a$$holes like you have a problem with that.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:58 pmOur resident troll is NOT a Democrat.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:59 pmHere’s an excerpt from an article in The Nation:
“…former NFL star and Army Ranger war hero Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan last year, believed the US war on Iraq was “f***ing illegal” and counted Noam Chomsky among his favorite authors”…The source of this information was his mother Mary Tillman.
“The very private Tillmans have revealed a picture of Pat profoundly at odds with the GI Joe image created by Pentagon spinmeisters and their media stenographers. As the Chronicle put it, family and friends are now unveiling “a side of Pat Tillman not widely known–a fiercely independent thinker who enlisted, fought and died in service to his country yet was critical of President Bush and opposed the war in Iraq, where he served a tour of duty.”
“He was an avid reader whose interests ranged from history books…to works of leftist Noam Chomsky, a favorite author.” Tillman had very unembedded feelings about the Iraq War. His close friend Army Spec. Russell Baer remembered…We were talking…and Pat said, ‘You know, this war is so f***ing illegal.’ And we all said, ‘Yeah.’ That’s who he was. He totally was against Bush.” With these revelations, Pat Tillman the PR icon joins WMD and Al Qaeda connections on the heap of lies used to sell the Iraq War.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:03 pmNow that you read both Jimmy Wales and Frank Matthews posts, it is clear that jake is posting garbage, then responding to his own posts to try and make liberals look bad.
Fu*king useless troll.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:04 pmWOW! What an indictment of the Administration. Let’s hear it as it was and still is five years later.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:05 pmLynch wasn’t a war hero. She was a soldier that was captured. This administration attempted to make her a hero. Lynch is an American hero for standing up to the Bush machine and wanting the truth to come out and not the Rovian slant of the truth.
Thanks to Jessica Lynch and Kevin Tillman for speaking out.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:08 pmWayne: Yes. I will support the President who has proven himself capable of defending this nation FORCEFULLY against a foreign threat - no questions asked, no task too dirty.
The real question is: where’s your patriotism?
Comment by Frank Matthews
I am a veteran, with a 20% disability from a leg injury. I served in Iraq 1, nicargua, haiti, and a few mission that are not public knowlwdge.
I was stationed at Fort Brag. 82nd airborne. My MOS was 18b (Special Operations Weapons Sergeant ) before my injury and reconstruction of my ankle, then I was assigned to military police, 31b untill my exit 9mo later.
I served my country for 12 years, and fought for the right of every American to speak truth to power and tospeak out against the abuses of power by the fascist Bush administration.
back at you asshole, where is your patriotism?
April 24th, 2007 at 3:09 pmComment by Spudge_Boy — April 24, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Yet another compelling argument for registration here at TP.
One can’t help but wonder why improvements like registration haven’t been made yet. Perhaps TP depends upon its troll contingent to liven up the threads.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:11 pmThe latest:
AP
Ranger alleges cover-up in Tillman case
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ ap/ 20070424/ ap_on_go_co/ tillman_friendly_fire;_ylt=AiG55c6hTZS_QW8MTUv5LH_MWM0F
Lying for political/partison reasons, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. Anything to give the false impression that the “war” is/was necessary and succeeding.
Pathetic, incompotent little Shrub.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:13 pmIt is a question I ask myself all of the time. A freshman computer science major could set it up in a couple of hours, the software is just as free as the WordPress software TP uses and we would all be happy to do it.
I believe you got it right when you say that TP wants the trolls to make the threads more entertaining.
I think it is bullshit.
TP is trying to be “fair and balanced” like Fox News. But, they haven’t figured out that the other side has nothing to offer. Zero. They have no debate, everything is lies. Why do we have to give equal time to trolls.
Conservatives? Bring them on. We haven’t had one of those in ages. Why? Because they have all wised up to the NeoCon cabal.
Everybody doesn’t need an equal say. Trolls don’t want debate, they want to stop debate, but TP can’t figure that out, so they let it continue.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:21 pmNeo-CONS don’t care about the service of anyone except the brownshirts who kiss Bush’s ass. Disgusting human beings.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:24 pmSpeaking of lies your government told you, don’t miss Bill Moyers Journal tomorrow night:
BILL MOYERS JOURNAL - “Buying the War”
April 24th, 2007 at 3:33 pmOn Wednesday, April 25 at 9 p.m. [EDT] on PBS, a new PBS series BILL MOYERS JOURNAL premieres at a special time with “Buying the War,” a 90-minute documentary that explores the role of the press in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq.
Frank Matthews is a pansy hiding from the war in his basement. Got that foxhole dug in your front yard yet p*ssy boy.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:33 pmI just watched the video of the testimony. I watched a younger brother courageously plead to members of congress to restore the honor and dignity that has been stolen from his older brother.
That video should be broadcast on all the network news so that the public can see real American courage displayed. I am saddened beyond description, as any sane human would be. But I am also appalled at a level I would not have thought possible.
Watch the video. Send your good thoughts and/or prayers to the family. And then call your fcuking congressperson and tell them “It stops here!” Please.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:42 pm#32 Frank Matthews
Yes. I will support the President who has proven himself capable of defending this nation FORCEFULLY against a foreign threat - no questions asked, no task too dirty.
“proven himself capable of defending this nation”? Not really. He chickened out when he had the chance during the Vietnam War. In fact, he deserted. And now, he’s f*cked up everything he’s touched with regard to Iraq and Afghanistan. He hasn’t made one right decision, especially the one to invade Iraq in the first place. He’s the ultimate f*ck-up. And, if he’s allowed to go on too much longer, he’ll f*ck up our military so bad that we won’t be able to defend ourselves from a REAL threat.
Frank, what special kind of an idiot do you have to be to idolize an idiot like Bush? You righties have got to be brain-damaged.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:43 pmback at you asshole, where is your patriotism? Comment by Wayne
**crickets chirping***
no response Frank? what a wuss….
Trolls don’t want debate, they want to stop debate, but TP can’t figure that out, so they let it continue.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
Yeah Frank is a prime example of that.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:45 pmWhat a wuss chickenhawk that troll is.
Watch the video. Send your good thoughts and/or prayers to the family. And then call your fcuking congressperson and tell them “It stops here!†Please.
Comment by Fed the Fcuk Up!
I watched it and wrote an email this morning to my rep and Senators demanding action.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:48 pmThe Army’s actions in these cases are reprehensable. The officers that ordered this have no honor and should be stripped of rank and courtmarshalled.
ok, one of my posts got deleted, but the troll’s posts are still here, nice work TP, NOT….
April 24th, 2007 at 3:52 pmExactly my point. If somebody is moderating here, why do they let the troll garbage stay on this site. It is not debate, it is not “another opinion” it is outright slanderous lies.
And yet it stays.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:59 pm#55,
I will not pretend to speak for the Tillman family, but as a fellow American I thank you.
It stops here.
April 24th, 2007 at 4:07 pmWhat bothers me is this; If they had to make up hero’s, then that would mean that there were no real hero’s out there to showcase.
In WWII we had REAL Hero’s. The USA didn’t need to make them up. There were lots of them and what they did was REAL! But today, the current administration had to make up some hero’s for propaganda’s sake because there were NO hero’s available. What a crying shame!
April 24th, 2007 at 4:48 pmBut today, the current administration had to make up some hero’s for propaganda’s sake because there were NO hero’s available. What a crying shame!
Comment by Burning Crosses
There are heros every day in Iraq that are comming home in a box or injured. How does the administration repay them? By not allowing pictures of the homecomming coffins,as if they are ashamed of those who died. By redeploying the injured that have no business being sent back to the front. By treating them like crap with the subpar treatment of the wounded, housing them with rat infested and blackmold infected quarters. By treating them like they are sub-human when they can get away with it.
The Republican lead congress refused to hold the anual meetings and testimony by veteran groups about veteran issues to cover up these abuses by the Bush administration.
No one can support this administration and truthfully state they support the troops
April 24th, 2007 at 5:20 pmThis whole Republican lead administration makes me sick.
Kudos to Waxman again. This story will capture the Attention of the American Voters. They will be left asking themselves “What else has the Bush Administration Lied to them about.??”
April 24th, 2007 at 5:56 pmIs it possible there is more to this than just distracting from Abu Ghraib? I read in an article that Tillman had become disillusioned and had arranged to meet with Noam Chomsky when he returned. What if what happened was more about preventing him from speaking out. He would have drawn attention because of his popularity. It would explain why they destroyed his clothing by burning it so quickly after his death to prevent questions in an investigation. Someone suggested that if in fact someone shot him from closer range than they said, there would have been evidence of powder burns on his uniform. Perhaps that is why they burned it. I could never understand why they did that.
April 25th, 2007 at 12:05 pmThe lengths this administration has gone to to and lines they have crossed in order to get us into this war, to sell the war, to expand the war, to smear or destroy anyone who gets in their way, nothing would surprise me. Tragic..
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1007-22.htm
I wish people like Frank Matthews would wake up and stop acting like lemmings. Blindly following a President & administration who manufactures up falsehoods to justify a war against Iraq and cloaks it in patriotism. The real threat was in Afghanistan and he let the biggest terrorist escape just because there was nothing worth the almighty $ to fight for in Afghanistan.
I think the President must be living in a bubble when he makes numerous pronouncements that the world is safer now that Saddam is gone. What world is he living in? The terrorist threats have increased as a result of the misadventures in Iraq.
It’s surprising the congress isn’t impeaching the President & his VP. Someone remind me what was Clinton being impeached for? I wonder what it takes to have Bush impeached in congress nowadays. The bar must be really high.
April 25th, 2007 at 1:31 pmFinally, the country is learning what Nazism in america is all about.
America - make you sure you have suffient weapons at hand (and know how to use them) and an updated passport at all times.
In the end, you will be rquired to fight (and for many to die) for this country
April 25th, 2007 at 10:43 pm