Top general warned Bush on Tillman death.
Top general warned Bush on Tillman death.
The AP reports that one day after approving a medal claiming former NFL player Pat Tillman had been cut down by “devastating enemy fire” in Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal tried to warn President Bush that the story might not be true.
In a sometimes contentious November interview under oath and via videoconference, Pentagon investigators sharply questioned McChrystal about the conflicting accounts, according to the testimony obtained by the AP under the Freedom of Information Act.
McChrystal acknowledged he had suspected several days prior to approving the Silver Star citation on April 28, 2004, that Tillman may have died by fratricide.
He said that suspicion led him to send a memo to top generals imploring “our nation’s leaders,” specifically “POTUS” — the acronym for the president — to avoid cribbing the “devastating enemy fire” explanation from the award citation for their speeches.
“Why did you recommend the Silver Star one day and then the next day send a secret back-channel message warning the country’s leaders about using information from the Silver Star in public speeches because they might be embarrassed if they do?” an investigator asked McChrystal.
Despite numerous questions, the general never directly explained the discrepancies.
Despite this apparent contradiction, Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal was spared punishment in the latest review of Tillman’s shooting.
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I would like to here what Tillman’s fellow soldiers that were on the scene have to say.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:02 pmAt least someone in the media is using the term “fratricide” as opposed to “friendly fire.”
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:04 pmI would like to here what Tillman’s fellow soldiers that were on the scene have to say.
Comment by Yikes — August 3, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
________________
What you would like and what you get are two completely different things with this Administration.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:06 pmWhat you would like and what you get are two completely different things with this Administration.
Comment by Typical Defeatest Democrat — August 3, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Very true but perhaps one of them will not be able to live without telling some of the story of what happened. Honestly, I can wait for 18 months for when Bush is gone to get to the bottom of this one.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:09 pm> I can wait for 18 months
That’s 18 months during which Hitler, injected with Jesus DNA, may still be successfully cloned in a secret GOP Rocky Mountains underground base and let loose on the unsuspecting world.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:16 pmHonestly, I can wait for 18 months for when Bush is gone to get to the bottom of this one.
Comment by Yikes — August 3, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Don’t make it any worst then it seems. The count is down to 17 months and 15 days.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:19 pmWhy do we need to wait 18 months, or even 18 days, to learn what this is all about?
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:20 pmThe records are out there. Who the hell is afraid of the truth?
No-one except the fool-in-the-whitehouse, his friends, his buddies, his fellow corksoakers, all those who stand to profit enormously from this debacle, these debacles.
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — August 3, 2007 @ 6:04 pm
Exactly! The straw man argument is a jump from not believing “friendly fire” arguments directly to Bush sending Blackwater snipers with orders to kill.
The crime and the scandal is what happened afterward.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:20 pmWhy was his uniform and personal belongings (including his diary) burned in the field?
Why claim executive privilege over an incident of fratricide?
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:21 pmWhat is Bush trying to hide?
Why does Newt Gingrich hate America?
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:23 pm“Who knows?” - to quote a famous liar…
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:23 pmWhat is Bush trying to hide?
Comment by robbez_92107 — August 3, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Rove’s butt.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:23 pmWhy does Newt Gingrich hate America?
Comment by Typical Defeatest Democrat — August 3, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
It seems more like Newtie is more interested in saving his party by throwing Bush under the bus.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:28 pmI don’t know what Bush is trying to hide, or prove here. The longer this gets dragged out the worse it will be.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:29 pmIt’s very hard to understand how “executive privelege” has anything to do with this. What honest counsel is Bush protecting by not disclosing what they knew about Tillman’s death? What issue of national security is at work here?
Remember, these are the same people who said “if you’re not talking to al Qaeda, you’ve got nothin’ to worry about!” What do they have to hide regarding the alleged murder of Pat Tillman? I think one of his fellow rangers killed him and I want an investigation. If what I think is true, I want to know if Tillman was killed on orders. If on orders, I want to know who gave the orders. Enough is enough.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:31 pmLet’s subpoena the troops in the field at the time Tillman was shot.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:32 pmThey’ll know the story, and tell it under immunity. Can Congress grant immunity that supercedes the UCMJ?
I doubt that executive privy applies to testimony from the troops in the field, just sayin…
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:33 pmThe Tillmans want, and deserve, the truth about what happened to their son. Politics aside, all our military families have the right to know the truth. Friendly fire in the military happens…..and those who enlist are well aware of this…but the families deserve an administration that is truthful (however painful that it is.) Pat Tillman should never have been used as a poster boy for Cheney’s war .. . . oooppss Bush’s war.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:35 pmComment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — August 3, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
Again, I’m in 100% agreement. This stinks worse than all the rest of Bush’s scandals put together. It is also something every football fan will understand, and I think that scares the feces out of the Bushies.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:40 pm“I would like to here what Tillman’s fellow soldiers that were on the scene have to say.”
The problem with this is, at this point in time, they will have to lie to cover their asses. Because, by not coming forward and telling the truth, they have become accessories to murder. There are very severe criminal penalties for being an accessory to murder. And then there is the problem that some of them are still in the military. So if they come forward and tell the truth about what happened on that day, they will kiss their military lives goodby and maybe even their lives. Just think about it. If you suspect that your government had Pat Tillman murdered, would you go public with that suspicion, there by laying yourself open to retribution (possibly another murder)?
The big hole still in this story is who shot Pat Tillman. Don’t they know? With forensic science today, they could have easily found out who shot him. I’m willing to bet that the gun that was used to shoot Pat Tillman is buried deep in the desert somewhere.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:43 pmSo Pat Tillman receives the Silver Star for being killed by friendly fire. Either give it back or all of our fallen soldiers should receive the Silver Star. I also have issue of why Pat Tillman was given the position of Army Ranger. It takes years of training to be an adequate member of an elite force like the Army Rangers. This should have never happened if proper military protocol would have been followed.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:45 pmAccording to the Ranger website training lasts 8 weeks 5 days.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:47 pmmichael, why are you such an ignorant chickenhawk??
This whole thing stinks. If it truly was a horrible accident, then why the elaborate coverup? Why Bush claiming executive privilege to stop Congress from getting Pat Tillman’s records? Why, when the doctor said he suspected foul play did the military ignore him and continue with the coverup. The only answer to all these whys is that Pat Tillman was murdered.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:49 pmComment by michael
You have just given a perfect example of “Attack the Victim”. Thank you very much. Hope you are proud of yourself. I’m sure you are a better person than Tillman (sarcasm).
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:53 pmSo now the truth comes out. Are we at all surprised? Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and all the other thugs knew the truth about Tillman early on.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:55 pmYesterday the trolls were calling us conspiracy nuts for the Tillman story—and at the same time, the trolls’ webpage was saying the Minneapolis bridge was destroyed by America Votes organization fronting for Hillary Clinton!
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:56 pm#26, Trolls’ site:
americaphile.blogspot.com
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:58 pmAnyone else ever notice that the Tillman threads are about the only TP threads where the trolls don’t shit all over everything?
Gee….I wonder why? Maybe because they have to chhose between supporting the troops and supporting the Chimperor? Why does the Chimperor hate our troops? Why does he keep extending their tours? Why does he keep playing toy soldier with real American lives?
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:58 pmmichael: “I also have issue of why Pat Tillman was given the position of Army Ranger. It takes years of training to be an adequate member of an elite force like the Army Rangers.”
Excuse me? Tillman was not only a hunter and expert marksman but a starting safety in the NFL. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed this, but the worst athelete on any NFL team is probably the best athelete ever to come out of a given town. He was also a very smart guy. He went through Ranger training and passed with flying colors.
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:03 pma href>americaphile.blogspot.com
Comment by Keith — August 3, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
The site is good for a laugh, but I think he needs some serious medication and therapy, before joining society.
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:06 pmExcuse me? Tillman was not only a hunter and expert marksman but a starting safety in the NFL. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed this, but the worst athelete on any NFL team is probably the best athelete ever to come out of a given town. He was also a very smart guy. He went through Ranger training and passed with flying colors.
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper
Someone posted his college GPA recently, and it was something like a 3.86. Smart and in superb physical condition. Given the proper training, any elite military unit would have been ecstatic to have him.
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:07 pmHis GPA was 3.84 at Arizona State Univ. and he got his degree in 3 1/2 years –even though football requires a large number of hours per week (all this according to Sports Illustrated).
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:18 pmI hate this criminal admin. with a passion, but Im not prepared to say this was a hit that came from the WH. I am prepared to say what I heard in the hearings, that he was shot by his own men, 3 shots to the head from close range.
Any decent person, president or not, would be doing ALL POSSIBLE to get ALL the facts as to why the scene was compromised, why the witness’ account was altered, no enemy was anywhere near the area so it wasn’t “friendly fire” or a mistaken target situation and a whole lotta other questions like WHO SHOT HIM?
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:23 pmWas it that one of the men in his unit was a gungho Bushie evangelist who saw Tillman’s forthright defense of his atheism and asserting his right to speak out about the Iraq war as a violation of God and country and therefore a deranged zealot might have been responsible?
Reportedly he was due to go home ( and had a prearrangement to meet with Chomsky and discuss his anti Iraq attack position and he had a lot of info to back himself up with) and planned on going public with his views on Bush going into Iraq while our boys were needing support in Afganistan.
Then the Bushies in the WH pull a top down coverup and try to CONTINUE to use him as a propaganda tool, even after his tragic death. These people are beneath contempt, it’s sickening how low they are.
How dare he do this to one of our soldiers, how dare he now stand in the way of the truth. How dare he disrespect our country this way.
You can’t believe a word this administration puts out, and for the military cover up, what a shame they don’t have the guts to stand up and tell the truth.
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:32 pmAs an American, I will do all I can to help the Tillman family get the truth they so rightly deserve and hold all those involved accountable.
ALL Americans, regardless of party should agree.
Bush supporters, if the Tillman tragedy doesn’t make you stop supporting this criminal Bush, you are completely deluded.
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:51 pm1. Rumsfeld Denies Cover Up
yet this story was already out there:
Soldier: Army ordered me not to tell truth about Tillman
Then, Lieutenant General Philip R. Kensinger Jr., Commander U.S. Army Special Operations Command avoided a Congressional subpoena to testify under oath even though the congressional inquiry was only a day after the Army laid most of the blame for the response to Tillman’s death on Philip Kensinger, a retired three-star general who led Army special operations forces after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Rummy sez “No Cover Up”, yet the Army censured Kensinger for “a failure of leadership” and accused him of lying to investigators probing the aftermath of Tillman’s death.
Even though O’Neal DIRECTLY testified
…and yet
sheesh. Just why WOULDN’T GIMBLE have attempted to examine the document’s electronic history UNLESS HE NEEDED TO COVER FOR SOMEONE?
And why would they have they censured Kensinger but not this “acting Inspector General” GIMBLE for “failure of leadership in matters relating to the investigation and reporting of the death of Cpl. Pat Tillman?” considering HIS shoddy and extremely narrow investigation?
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:20 pmAmericans are furious about Pat Tillman and Bush covering it up!
by Jay Randal
Most Americans are becoming infuriated at Pentagon, for massively lying about everything related to Iraq and Afghanistan, so finding out Pat Tillman was murdered in some kind of warped conspiracy is ultimate outrage.
Then to have the Bush Regime trying to cover it all up steams up the entire nation, so the Congress better do their duty in investigating this crime, so not whitewash it in any way and not pull Warren Commission stunt.
Do not bring out those clowns who did the 9/11 report either, because we the people are not going to be fooled again by baloney, nor are we going to accept bogus hearings to slap the wrists of a couple of old Generals.
We want justice for the murder of Pat Tillman, for his family to have closure and for our nation to have honor again, and no more dishonor heaped upon US by thug Blackwater mercenary assassins killing for pleasure.
NOTE: The entire membership of the House and Senate, of both political parties, must demand the Pentagon-Brass and Pres. Bush come clean on Pat Tillman.
(Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:07 pmAnyone else ever notice that the Tillman threads are about the only TP threads where the trolls don’t shit all over everything?
Comment by robbez_92107 — August 3, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
You haven’t seen the right Tillamn threads. Were you here the day some trolls mocked Tillmna’s death over and over? Incredibly tasteless performance. Makes you realize what you’re dealing w/ here.
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:34 pmWho believes it is standard operating procedure to burn a soldier’s diary when he dies?
Isn’t this proof they wanted to silence him?
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:51 pmIsn’t this proof they wanted to silence him?
Comment by Keith — August 3, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
The fatal error — beside the murder itself.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:06 pmKeith > Pentagon claims the diary was soaked in blood, so it was destroyed with Pat’s clothing in an incinerator. His death was never treated as a murder, so they did not keep any evidence.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:07 pmPentagon never did ballistics test of the bullets in Tillman’s body to match it to any soldier’s gun either. Ends up being the perfect crime. Just claim Pat Tillman was accidentally shot dead and do no investigation to determine it otherwise.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:10 pmWho believes it is standard operating procedure to burn a soldier’s diary when he dies?
Isn’t this proof they wanted to silence him?
Comment by Keith — August 3, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
I regret that I haven’t been keeping up with developments as well as I should, but wasn’t this alone “tampering with evidence”? It certainly appears, if nothing else, like they didn’t want some kind of information to get out. But why? And what was that information?
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:13 pmWhen you sign up for military service, under Bush as Commander in Chief, then realize that he can have you iced and nothing done about it either.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:14 pmYa gotta hand it to the Bush Crime Family… they know how to cover their tracks… sometimes.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:20 pmThis makes me remember when I almost joined Coast Guard and the first form I had to sign was death waiver > that CG would not be held responsible if I died for any reason.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:27 pmRet. Col. Jack Ripper,
Sir, if that is your actual name—then I owe you an apology for the “Purity Of Essence” crack the other week. I thought you were taking the name from the character in the film “Dr. Strangelove”.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:55 pmLeave it to michael, bigtime loser, to insult Pat Tillman’s memory. Then he runs off before he gets smacked down. We won’t forget though, michael.
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:28 pmThe lack of accountability in all aspects of this government is becoming a trite adjectival phrase. So sad.
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:45 pmA soldier is dead - a national hero, a person Bush&Co would not hesitate to exploit for their own agenda, yet, with the grim account of his fratricide, (friendly fire being highly suspect), one after another person of authority has rejected accountablility, all the way up toBush an Rumsfeld.
For every family, their loved one is also a hero. At the least,
they all deserve to know how their loved one died.
Leave it to michael, bigtime loser, to insult Pat Tillman’s memory. Then he runs off before he gets smacked down. We won’t forget though, michael.
Comment by shane — August 3, 2007 @ 11:28 pm
Hey shane,
That’s a different michael. I think of him as “daytime michael.” the really stupid one is “nighttime michael.”
Lucky us, huh?
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:54 pmeach and every single occifer ( active duty and retired ) that lied, covered up or bullshitted about the Tillman murder should be shot 3 times in the forehead as punishment.
bastards all.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:47 amThe question was presented that Pat Tillman received the Silver Star for obvious PR for this administration. Does anyone know if the family gave it back? It should be given to those who serve above and beyond the call of duty.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:10 amHave they no sense? The Army used the term “fratricide” knowing that Tillman’s brother was serving in the same platoon.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:24 am“Why did you recommend the Silver Star one day and then the next day send a secret back-channel message warning the country’s leaders…
Despite numerous questions, the general never directly explained the discrepancies.
Despite this apparent contradiction…
Yes, despite this apparent contradiction (Gonzales would love some of this treatment) you chose to run this headline….
Top general warned Bush on Tillman death.
…instead of this one….
Guy in hot seat covers arse
August 4th, 2007 at 12:37 pmYes, despite this apparent contradiction (Gonzales would love some of this treatment) you chose to run this headline….
Top general warned Bush on Tillman death.
…instead of this one….
Guy in hot seat covers arse
Comment by Kilo — August 4, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
—————————————
You forgot that “fair and balanced” has a different meaning for Liberals.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:51 pmEven if you believe in the official statements that are coming out now (and apparently believe in the Easter Bunny), it is clear that the stink goes to very high levels in the military. These were not actions of clueless privates but of Generals.
Anyone still need to ask if we can trust the military ?
August 4th, 2007 at 6:21 pmWhat military ? This story is about Bush.
This story here tells you that a general who knew that the story was covered up from day 1 still kept that coverup going to the point where he was recommending medals based on a lie……
….. and the only angle that matters is how this can be pinned on Bush.
So no, nobody’s asking anything about the military nimrod. They’ll get a free pass as long as there’s even a flimsy Bush angle to follow here.
And the most culpable, deceptive military figure you know about so far is TP’s “whistleblower”. You fkn idiots.
August 5th, 2007 at 1:13 amBush “warned”? I’ll go you one better. bush, or someone in the White House ORDERED the murder of Pat Tillman.
August 5th, 2007 at 9:31 amThe liberal propaganda apparatus in microcosm:
“Top general warned Bush on Tillman death” is the headline. The actual text?
“Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal tried to warn President Bush that the story might not be true.”
I just love it when Think Progress removes all caveats and sexes up stories. The irony of it all.
August 5th, 2007 at 11:48 amSlimeball politics has folks do dumb things when they know its wrong. “playing politics at work”. Lt Gen. Stanley McChrystal had his head up his ass because he didn’t have any nuts to just say. “We are totally full of shit: Dumbass”. Tilman Had “Nuts” galore and is a true hero no matter how he died. He was a great American and a great person. Bush and any one who supports him should be looked upon as an enemy of America. Pat Tilman and folks like him who fight for this country because their duty are the great ones.
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:49 am