Tillman Family Still Waiting for Answers: Will Congress Act?

I remember where I was when I found out that American hero Pat Tillman had been killed in Afghanistan. The football star, who gave up his career to join the Army Rangers, was an inspirational story of American patriotism, and his untimely death shook the country.

I also remember where I was when I first heard that his death had been the result of friendly fire, not a firefight with the enemy, as the American people and the Tillman family had been led to believe.

And so I find it totally implausible that anyone at the DOD or the White House would have trouble recounting when they first learned that the Army's favorite son was killed by friendly fire, or what they did with that information. And yet, when they're not expanding the definition of executive privilege, administration officials seem to suffer selective amnesia:

According to former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, "I don't recall when I was told and I don't recall who told me."

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers testified, "I knew right at the end of April, that there was a possibility of fratricide in the Corporal Tillman death." And despite it being "logical" for him to pass this news on to Rumsfeld, Myers said, "I just don't recall whether I did it or not."

Thanks to this "near universal lack of recall" by top White House officials and military brass, Congress is not even close to being able to answer the question of who was responsible for the web of misinformation surrounding the friendly fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman.

The few details that are clear about the Tillman cover-up are almost as awful as the cover-up itself. While General Myers can't remember if he notified Secretary Rumsfeld, he made sure his Public Affairs advisor was up to date on the investigation. I guess a PR nightmare in-waiting deserved more attention than fulfilling his most basic responsibilities to the family of the deceased. And insult was added to injury as the White House mismanaged its response, by rushing to put its press release out before the 24-hour grieving period mandated by the DOD was complete, and neglecting to find out whether information about his death was classified. Apparently, White House press releases can operate independently of OPSEC.

But what is worst, to me, is that all these years later, no one is willing to admit, "Yes. I was informed it might be friendly fire. I should have stopped the press release. I should have called up the chain of command. I should have spoken to the president. And I didn't."

The profound cowardice of some top brass stands in such marked contrast to the bravery of the men and women they commanded. These officials felt brave enough to send our military into battle, and yet not one of them has the strength of character to look Pat's mother, Mary Tillman, in the face, and say they are sorry. This is unconscionable.

After seven separate military investigations, numerous congressional hearings, and one exhaustive (if inconclusive) report from Congress, the Tillman family is still looking for answers. While we may never know what really happened on that fateful day in April 2004, we do know that Pat Tillman was an honorable and courageous American -- one that we will continue to mourn and honor.

For all those who want to do more, visit the Pat Tillman Foundation website here.

Follow Paul Rieckhoff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulRieckhoff

Comments

[ICanHasDemocracy]

"I don't recall" is selective amnesia- somehow those troggs in power find it convenient to not out and out lie by hiding behind the veil of failed memory. Doesn't really work for petty thieves either. Tillman's death was a result of sending untested,hyped-up soldiers into a hot zone with minimum intel (did no one say there might be friendlies operating in the area?) This is a benchmark of the shoot first point fingers later operating style of mismanagement. I really feel bad for the troops and hope they get a better boss soon.
Thanks for fighting the good fight Paul, and speaking for those voices that have been silenced.

[NoMercy]

I Imagine it has something to do with K R ove's involvement in spinning it. He probably intercepted Myers' note to Rumsfeld, and thought "hmm, we can do something with this. Don't worry D ick, I'll take care of it from here."

[aznurse]

I thougt that Pat Tillman was considered a "Hero" here in AZ, however, not one letter was written to the local paper when the story (on page 6, I thnk) was written.
A pox upon those who know what happened and haven't said.

[Okieborn]

This whole murder episode smells like week old tr ash.
This is a cover-up and someone is guilty of murder !!
I have never seen a country that is fickle in holding up for our brave troops.
PaT Tillman was murdered ,don't let this slip into the cold files !!!r

[dr4Will]

Dem's who have served should be leading this fight--it is a bipartisan fight for the truth--we can not trust the military and bush to do the right thing--I guess we can't trust Congress either-how sad

[terramartom]

The military and politicians are always brown nosing to climb the chain of Wealth. They say anything, they do anything to get there!
What's new Paul?
I agree that I am sickened at the cowardice you talk about with the military high command and politicians in general. Their mantra is always to pass the buck!
Look at our President, he makes excuses for absolutely everything that happens.
Look into the mirror Mr. President, the guy you see in the mirror, he messed up badly!!!

[syllepsis]

The Democrats are complicit in Bush's obscene actions. they will not do anything to extract truth from any of them, because it easily expose them to damaging revelations of their own shameful conduct.
This is why I was so irate at Sen. Clinton's feigned outrage in her HuffPo blog yesterday. She is fine with being lied into war, but once Bush starts messing with 'women's issues'- The hypocrisy is galling. A shame it will take time to vote all incumbents out.

[Destin]

Awesome post, and I agree, something needs to be done once and for all. There was a deliberate coverup. And deliberate lying after the coverup was revealed. And it all adds up to a criminal conspiracy, whether or not it was some "lone gunman" theory of someone who might not have liked Pat. To keep that covered up, even if it did turn out to be true, IS the conspiracy that makes all responsible parties to a crime.

It's a shame, that while military service has always been about honor and integrity, there is sadly very little of it left anymore. Generals routinely sell themselves to the highest political bidder. The code of silence wouldn't have been tolerated in my day in the military and I got many stories I could tell many stories about that, and other form of personal conduct, honor, integrity, etc.

Here's one I had to endure. A group of individuals in the barracks committed a violation. ALL of us were forced to stand out in the weather outside the barracks for HOURS one night, until someone either fessed up the perps, or the perps themselves came forward. After about 4 hours of standing at attention in the dark of night, one of the perps finally went forward, admitted his guilty and started confessing the others. In the end, he did the right thing, but he waited 4 hours too long.

[josephjsalas]

Browse up "Who Ownes Iraq". The war was designed on behalf of the IMF. They own the
US Treasury, US courts, US roads and so on (94-564). The President of the US answers
to IMF officials...just ask the DC Madam.

[Mr Grey]

We are no longer are waiting for answers from the White House. The only answers we get from the Congress are wrong answers. The pandering politicians in Congress are so self absorbed they can't get any real work done. They speak as an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, and that is what I expect from the current leadership ... nothing.

[Jazzylady26]

Cowards never act.

[insanityfollows]

I weep every day for the fallen and injured in this total disaster that is the war in Iraq. Of course I mourn those in Afghanistan as well, though that action was totally justified. I remain astounded that this whole series of events even happened. Pat Tillman was just a pawn in the game, and the administration used his patriotism and service for their own political agenda, and it is just so un-American. It sounds like a story from the Soviet Union or some other radical government. Mrs. Tillman and the whole Tillman family deserves our undying respect, and truly, an apology from the Army and those in the government who failed Pat Tillman and all of us.

[lisakaz2]

My first message went bye-bye and I have no idea what I said that was so horrible. I hope you continue to help the Tillman family can provide a conduit for the truth to come out. It is just shameful what has occurred to date and unbelievable that career military figures would lie and engage in a cover up for those who have nothing but jaudiced contempt for the actual values of service -- including honor and dignity.

My condolences for this continued outrage to the Tillmans.

[gde]

"...unbelievable that career military figures would lie and engage in a cover up ..."

It is time you woke up and smelled the BS. Lying has been a key component of US military participation in war, at least since Vietnam. Every recruiter lies. How many spokesman have said "We do everything we can to prevent innocent civilian casualties" when the truth was "Our 'brave' troops are ordered to pass risk of deadly harm to civilians rather than themselves, so it is no surprise a lot of civilians have been killed."

I note in WW2 it was worse toward the end of the war. Civilians were the primary target of the USAAF, and a number of times were killed in the tens of thousands in a single attack.

[Bluebloodsbastardson]

Senator Songbird from Arizona, where Pat played ball, did virtually nothing to to help the Tillman family with their quest....just like he did with the POW-MIA groups that begged him for his assisstance. I'll bet he is feeling very proud today......

[ld]

Paul - In answer to your question: "Will congress act?" No.



There's no courage and less decency there. They might if Obama gets elected.

[mosh]

Obama '08. Since he's the only 'progressive' who can possibly get elected I say Obama all the way.

Whaddya think of Obama as Commander in Chief, Paul? Too bad Webb won't be his running mate, but we do need him in the Senate.