Jon Krakauer: McChrystal's Explanation For Pat Tillman Cover-up Is "Preposterous"

Little attention has been paid to Gen. Stanley McChrystal's back-story and his rise to the height of military command of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Before becoming the voice of gravity and a champion of higher troop levels in the eight-year long war, McChrystal's resume was sullied by a controversy in that same theater: the misclassified death of Pat Tillman.

McChrystal was the head of Special Operations command in Afghanistan during Army Ranger (and former football star) Pat Tillman's death. McChrystal was the one who approved paperwork awarding Tillman a Silver Star despite knowing (or at least suspecting) that he had died in fratricide and not, as originally determined, enemy fire.

This was once a big embarrassment for the army and, to a lesser extent, McChrystal himself (though he has copped to making an innocent mistake). But when the general was elevated to top spot in Afghanistan this past spring, relatively few publications revisited the affair.

That may change. On Sunday, journalist Jon Krakauer joined the Meet the Press panel to discuss his new book on Tillman's death called Where Men Win Glory. Krakauer offered a harsh assessment of McChrystal's conduct during that period and even stressed that the General's explanations upon reflection were "preposterous" and "unbelievable."

Watch:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

From the transcript:

MR. KRAKAUER: After Tillman died, the most important thing to know is that within--instantly, within 24 hours certainly, everybody on the ground, everyone intimately involved knew it was friendly fire. There's never any doubt it was friendly fire. McChrystal was told within 24 hours it was friendly fire. Also, immediately they started this paperwork to give Tillman a Silver Star. And the Silver Star ended up being at the center of the cover-up. So McChrystal--Tillman faced this devastating fire from his own guys, and he tried to protect a young private by exposing himself to this, this fire. That's why he was killed and the private wasn't. Without friendly fire there's no valor, there's no Silver Star. There was no enemy fire, yet McChrystal authored, he closely supervised over a number of days this fraudulent medal recommendation that talked about devastating enemy fire.

GREGORY: And that's the important piece of it. And, and he actually testified earlier this year before the Senate, and this is what he said about it.

(Videotape, June 2, 2009)

LT. GEN. STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Now, what happens, in retrospect, is--and I would do this differently if I had the chance again--in retrospect they look contradictory, because we sent a Silver Star that was not well-written. And although I went through the process, I will tell you now I didn't review the citation well enough to capture--or I didn't catch that if you read it you could imply that it was not friendly fire.

(End videotape)

GREGORY: Even those who were critical of him and the Army say they don't think he willfully deceived anyone.

MR. KRAKAUER: That's correct. He, he just said now he didn't read this hugely important document about the most famous soldier in the military. He didn't read it carefully enough to notice that it talked about enemy fire instead of friendly fire? That's preposterous. That, that's not believable.

Krakauer is a widely read and respected writer and biographer. And because his book has been released just at the apex of McChrystal's status in American politics, his writing has become all the more significant and newsworthy. As such, expect more than a few interviewers and outlets to revisit this obviously difficult period in recent army history and one of the few clear dark spots on McChrystal's resume.

Comments

[mdargo]

I love Jon Krakauer. I hope he is all over the Ft. Hood story. It looks like Walter Reed and the Army generally dropped the ball. And we do not want any more cover ups. And, also, the stories Salon.com is reporting about Arlington Cemetery. The Army appears to need some serious chain of command and accountability reforms.

[Lynda Smith]

Jon Krakauer is my hero. Go Jon go! Do it so Pat Tillman didn't die in vain.

[edgarcaycedoc]

Didn't read it well enough? When I was in the Army (2 years) and the Air Force (4 years), the brass tried to turn down every doubtful Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. I do not believe the General.

[dr-steve-pesyk]

What can I say ? Jon Krakauer’s latest book, “Where Men Win Glory, The Odyssey of Pat Tillman”, is already on the NY Times Bestseller list. Release date was Sept 15, 2009. Krakauer is one of the great modern true-story writers. His book, “Under the Banner of Heaven”, 2003, caused a great stir within the LDS church in Utah, although the mitigating Mormon Fundamentalism tie-ins were amply made in the book. The church multifariously and vociferously denounced Krakauer’s book and urged members not to read it. I went out, bought it, read it, showed it around, and gave it as a gift. Banner describes how the financial underpinnings of both branches of the Mormon churches were funded by the blood-money proceeds of the Mountain Meadows massacre in Sept 1857. 120 people heading west from Arkansas in the Baker-Francher wagon train were stalked, ambushed and killed in Utah, and their million-dollar possessions were looted. A must-read, especially for those copious many “folks” in denial . Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air”, 1997, is another rivetingly true story about a 1996 commercial expedition up the south face of Everest, and how the cruelty of man, weather and circumstance led to the deaths of more than five climbers. Unbelievable. But true! Also read, “Great Exploration Hoaxes”, by David Roberts, edited by Jon Krakauer, 2001. And “Into The Wild”, 1997, and “Eiger Dreams”, 2000. Mr. Krakauer documents every iota of info given in his books. You know it’s quality, because it’s true.

[Lynda Smith]

Great commentary. i have read all Krakauer's books except Eiger Dreams. He is very brave and true documentarian.

[DovS]

How do we know that McChrystal even knows how to read? I challenge him to prove it by reading aloud, on air, the original report of Tillman's death by friendly fire.

[VitriolAndAngst]

I think McChrystal is a killer. He is the guy they task when they want someone killed in the area -- and his willingness to do whatever it takes is part of why he is promoted. It's not about strategy, or having a positive effect.

Tillman was likely going to come back to the states and denounce the whole war. It was a pivotal time just before the elections. The really telling part in this intrigue is that Pat Tillman's personal effects went missing and his diary. Up until that point, we'd only heard from about a dozen old Generals who'd done nothing in their lives but riding a desk and promoted for saying yes. They endorsed the war and talked in grave terms about security -- ALL terrorist threats have come from countries that we OCCUPY.

McChrystal is likely involved not just in a coverup, but making sure Tillman didn't make it back.

Our puppet leader in Afghanistan's brother, is head of the drug trade and a CIA asset. So, in the theory of keeping conspiracies small, it's likely this guy is the liaison for much of the black market in drugs coming out of Afghanistan -- just like CIA spook pappy Bush worked with Panama's leader who now sits in prison. The war ends and so does the gravy train.

Obama is still surrounded by people like McChrystal, Paulson, and Rom Emmanuel -- we aren't going to see a retreat from all the problems that make these men

[Pennsanic]

Tillman's family has struggled mightily to get straight answers from the US Military about what actually happened. It's a sad story. I admire Tillman for joining up, giving up a prosperous career.

Off topic: Everyone should read "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Krakauer which is about Mormon fundamentalism in the US. It really provides good insights about what lies beneath all religious fundamentalism, I think.

[arlandbaee]

Why should we believe he has taken the time now? Should we believe he has been thorough this time? Is there a question of misinterpretation with his current opinion?

[westcoastsc]

There were many, many victims of the Bush administration taken down simply because of their operation to the war.

[blueskybigstar]

opposition to the war

[OscarthePug]

I was in the military during Viet Nam and served from 1964 to 1970 and all I can say is that if this "war" is justified and President Obama and the JCS believe that it is necessary to send more American youngsters to Afghanistan or Pakistan, then man up and impose a draft. The entire country should be involved rather than the select few, who for whatever personal reasons, decided to join the National Guard. It's disgraceful that we continue to rotate men and women to four and five tours. Rumsfeld was out of his mind when he stated and the country bought it that "you go to war with the Army you have."

If Congress will not authorize a national draft, then this is not a "justifiable war" and the BS is over. Bring them all home and honor the sacrifice of all who served by saving their lives.

[westcoastsc]

fanned. A draft is the only way that we can make the public engaged enough to make sure that we do not do war crimes all over this earth.

[MaryIndy]

I agree and have thought we should bring back the draft for some time, to engage the entire country. Males and females should be drafted.

[edgarcaycedoc]

We have huge numbers of mercenaries (operating as "contractors) doing the fighting for us. In this manner the "country" has credible deniability when they say that "we" are not doing things contrary to the Geneva Convention--like torture. We farm out the distasteful stuff and can opt out of "responsibility" this way.

[Mildmannered]

The problem with a draft these days is that the military would probably be constitutionally required to draft women too. And the public might not go for that.

[Mark Twaine]

Did the General have his embassy style party yet??

[Rumplestiltskin]

You run boats on the Mississippi?

[firedbanker2008]

I am sorry Tillman is dead and I am sorry for the family's loss. One needs to remember that infantry officers in Vietnam were sometimes killed by their own troops if their lifes were in constant jeapordy by the leadership or lack of leadership were in question. I hope this is not the case; however, if you were betting your life on one guy, cock smart, just coming off the grid-iron, gung ho exponentially, compressed time for training and then plopped down in the Kyber Pass................??

[madisonhack]

You're reading something into this that didn't exist....not at all.

[zach4500]

If you read the facts about Tillman, you'll see that this was not the case.

He did not fit that profile. He was very competent and had proven that... but was also a stand-out because of his intelligence and integrity.

[Sunnyhorse]

You need to read Krakauer's book (which is fantastic) ... that's not Tillman you're describing.

[Pilatunes]

Your statement is preposterous and enormously disrespectful of the late Mr Tillman.

[wonkguy]

The disappointing thing is that McChrystal is going to be the public face of this cover up (deservedly) but the two people most responsible will never be asked one question about this. Truthfully, we as citizens are really responsible. We totally let our armed forces down when we allowed Bush-Cheney to divert troops and resources from Afghanistan to the needless farce in Iraq.

[TheLar]

Well said wonk guy. Can we get Bush and Cheney under this microscope?

[cadawa]

Cover ups and torture aside
http://www.esquire.com/the-side/feature/who-is-stanley-mcchrystal-051909-22)
Scott Ritter's scathing commentary of McChystal calls him the wrong man for the job.
He rightly accuses McChystal of insubordination and of having no respect for the rule of law.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/page3/20091029_mcchrystal_doesnt_get_it_does_obama/
It is the decision of the President whether or not to deploy troops. McChystal has gone over Obama's head in selling his relentless militarism to congress.
The question is why did such a "smart president" make such a stupid choice? Why hasn't he fired him for failure, if nothing else? Is he just another flannel mouthed politician out for political gain at the expense of everything else? Stay tuned.

[joebaggadonuts]

I don't know why Obama has some of the advisers he does. Geithner seems suspect and the fact that Krugman wasn't asked and that Volker isn't more central are also suspect. Gates as SecDef is a risk as is McChrystal. Karzai as president of Afghanistan is a risk too.

On the one hand, he didn't come into this job with a clean slate. He also had to pacify the dangers to his administration and to his person. These are excuses for a lot of it. But, as you say, stay tuned.

[Colin111]

Obama really has only two alternatives due to the disasterous first election and events now.
Tell Karzai that he must do a, b, and c and if he does then the USA will support him.
If he baulks and does not do it exactly as needed, then the USA make a strategic withdrawall and leave him and his cronies to their fate. He is a very intelligent man, but corrupted by power.
Sorry folks, I never take prisoners.