The NFL Draft

Well, given Mr. Tillman's experience, let's just hope that the NFL Draft remains just that, a draft to bring prospective football players into the NFL to play football (not to create specimens to go off to fight unjust wars).

On the other hand, and not to trivialize any of this, our team, the 49er's could stand to send a few of our players away to serve their country.

Hmm!!

It was not "friendly fire". Don't say it, write it or think it before first knowing three bullet holes in the head from close range is not friendly. Assassination? Murder? These terms are much closer to the truth.
This case was no more "bungled" than the NORAD system was bungled on 9/11/01. Both these acts were calibrated, deliberate, and cold blooded. They both reflect the psychopathy of the sick agenda of the hidden government.

It was not "friendly fire". Don't say it, write it or think it before first knowing three bullet holes in the head from close range is not friendly. Assassination? Murder? These terms are much closer to the truth.
This case was no more "bungled" than the NORAD system was bungled on 9/11/01. Both these acts were calibrated, deliberate, and cold blooded. They both reflect the psychopathy of the sick agenda of the hidden government.

Another nail in the Bush War in Iraq...Here is a man who wasn't going to "Speak the Party Line" like others have at Abu Ghraib and the like. Guess where it got him? DEAD. This incident should be fully investigated, but it won't. The current administration wants to keep troops in IRAQ and Afghanistan for as long as possible. I put blame on press for failing on this. They should not let this issue rest! They (The Press) have failed investigating 9/11 and will white wash this one too. TOO many people are getting rich over this WAR. Kind of like good old Vietnam!

You can't make this stuff up!!

Tillman was murdered by one of our own. Our "poster boy" was making a 180 degree turn around in regard to his views on Afghanistan and Iraq-nam. He was killed to prevent him from joining Cindy Sheehan, et al.

Old Coyote Knose that Tillman's diary disappeared after his killing. It was too dangerous for the media to see. But Old Coyote Knose! The Knose knows that the means justify the ends for the Bush Administration. It is the mindset of murderous mobsters and $ociopaths. Wake up! See it. That's who's running the country!

The life of every Amerikan soldier lost in Afghanistan and Iraq-nam is a life wasted. These damn wars are doing exactly what the enemy had hoped: weaken and destroy the U.$. military; divide the Amerikan people; bankrupt the country.

And we do mean bankrupt! Amerikans should prepare for a major economic depression, the legacy of George W. Bush (our mobster president). It is also the karma of our arrogant and profligate excess. One cannot act as we do... and not suffer the consequences.

Politicians are not allowed to say...

that a life was wasted. But ministers can say it, Pat Tillman's life was wasted (in my opinion). How tragic, that this young man was used as a poster child in order to solicit others to go and fight in an unjust war, only to have his own life snuffed out by American friendly fire!

Someday, Americans will learn to celebrate the heroes in America that stand up and speak out against injustice, and unjust wars.

They are the real heroes in the Rev's opinion!

i don't understand the tone of this article. Are you saying there is no point in overseeing and investigating a corrupt inempt administration? That they are powerful enough to get away with it? Hey, you may be right but let's go down swinging. Impeach now!!!

Fratricide or homicide; at a minimum only the trigger puller knows the truth and not you or I.
***************************************
Posted by: Thomas Silverstein

All this said, Pat Tillman was a hero and he volunteered to risk his life as a soldier; part of that risk (even with today's superb American military) is the risk of "friendly fire". I don't think his death should be a political football, or an anti-war rallying cry. I doubt he would have wanted his brave sacrifice to be taken that way.
***************************************
Robynn,

Pat Tillman believed what he was told by his government and the press at large, but found a different reality. For having the courage to speak out, in stead of covering up, he did what any man would do that loved his country. He went to fight for the country he loved and not out of xenophobia like many did. It doesn't matter what religion or no religion, parents still love their children. Far more criminal and genocidal acts have been committed in all of history from religious people than non-religious people. Only Liz would carring on this attack on Tillman and his parents; are you liz?

Posted by: robynn
Well, if you are an atheist and you don't believe in anything, if you die, what is there to go to? Nothing. You are worm dirt. So for their son to die for nothing and now he is no more... I don't know how an atheist thinks, I can only imagine that would be pretty tough."
Talk about a witch hunt.

Come on Bill, don't give up now. Stay with it. You are the one we are counting on to dig up the truth. To Liz above. Pat was E4, but Rummie took a personal interest in him and understood the propaganda value of his committment. Stay with it Arkin.

I think responsibility for the miscommunication lies with Tillman's specific unit commander. If soldiers under his direct command made mistakes (and I'm not saying that they weren't understandable mistakes), then the specific unit commander needs to take command responsibility, and should have (at the least) reported the mistakes up the chain of command.

That said, how many of us haven't played the childhood game of "telephone"? When ambiguous facts about a confused, anarchic combat situation get mis-reported up a long chain of responsible, but fallible human beings, should we really be surprised? At least the mis-reporting was eventually corrected, thanks to proper public media scrutiny and attention.

All this said, Pat Tillman was a hero and he volunteered to risk his life as a soldier; part of that risk (even with today's superb American military) is the risk of "friendly fire". I don't think his death should be a political football, or an anti-war rallying cry. I doubt he would have wanted his brave sacrifice to be taken that way.

Not only was there a cover up about the truth behind Tillman's death, but officers under which Tillman was serving at the time of his death, criticised his greiving parents because they choose to be nontheistic.

Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Kauzlarich, Regimental Executive Officer at Forward Operating Base Salerno on Khowst, Afghanistan under which Tillman was serving at the time of his death, and who led the second investigation in to Tillman's death, has made controversial statements about the Tillman family's search for the truth based on Tillman's apparent agnosticism. In comments to ESPN, Kauzlarich said: "These people have a hard time letting it go. It may be because of their religious beliefs" and "When you die, I mean, there is supposedly a better life, right? Well, if you are an atheist and you don't believe in anything, if you die, what is there to go to? Nothing. You are worm dirt. So for their son to die for nothing and now he is no more... I don't know how an atheist thinks, I can only imagine that would be pretty tough."

Talk about a witch hunt.

The Bush-lovers burglarized Tillman's possessions and diary after his death. This is consistent with other reports of Bush-sponsored burglaries of evidence.

Pat Tillman had turned strongly against the war in Iraq as early as late 2003, and was telling his platoon to vote against Bush. There are reports too that he was contacting war critics like Noam Chomsky from Afghanistan about coming out as a war critic in 2004--a prospect which must have terrified the White House.

The military initially claimed Tillman had been killed in combat, then later claimed his death was from friendly fire. It is now known that an investigation at the time found no evidence of any enemy fire at all, and Tillman's death came from three close shots in the forehead. Memos have been found from Pentagon lawyers congratulating each other for having buried a doctor's report on the possibility of murder.

Regardless of whether Pat Tillman was killed by the Afghan Taliban or some other mafia, the people who know the truth, the people who hide behind a veil of secrecy, the people who put loyalty above country, can be sure, Pat Tillman hates you.

I can find no evidence that Tillman was against the war nor ready to return home and become an anti-war protester.

Anyone remember in the Matrix when Neo's reality starts glitching and starts questioning what is real and what is not? People here too are waking up from their dream and seeing the glitches, or rather, the inconsistencies of this war, the stories being told, and the patterns appearing before them. You can only fool a society for so long before a few being to realize what has happened. Then as a set of domino's the effect spreads and moves on it's own energy. Is that not the reason why Iraq has fallen to shambles? They were not succeptable to mind control as they do not have the exposure to media as most western countries do. They lack the tv's, the Fox, Washington Post, CNN, etc. Then again, I'm just a Simpson's character and I love my ankle bar! ;)

Wow! I've been depressed recently thinking our country was lost; but reading these posts, I can see there is still hope. In spite of disinformation from the press and illuminati lackies like Lizzy Blackman, people are finding the truth.
So now I'm not quite so depressed.

I see you left out the fact that Gen. Philip Kensinger, head of the Army's special operations forces, refused to meet with congress and avoided service of the subpoena.

Um, you don't even mention his name. What, that's not relevant? What kind of crappy journalist are you? What rubbish this is. The founding fathers must be weeping in their graves over the state of journalism today.

You know what you are doing. It's shameful. Do you wish to be counted amongst the fascist when the time comes for accounting? I think the answer is yes.

I never stated that Rumsfeld was or was not involved. However if an American soldier was able to aim three shots into the forehead of Pat Tillman in broad day light, then that "shooter" new damn well he was firing into an Americans face, not to mention an American uniform. That in itself was grounds to investigate for homicide, not fratricide. Fratricide happens in war, but cold blooded murder is another issue. As for coving up, I wouldn't bat an eye if Rumsfeld was involved or had knowledge.

But mike, after all that has been revealed on Iraq from cradle to undetermined grave you have defended all the moves of the Bush Administration, perhaps it's you who should see the psychiatrist.

Posted by: Mike

"Not everything is a conspiracy. If you really think Bush and Rumsfeld and every Republican are part of some evil cabal, then you may want to see a psychiatrist."

Arkin, what you call a witch hunt is the scapegoating that will by used to placate public anger and conceal the war criminals like Rumsfeld who should be charged with mass murder in NYC for intiating a falseflag war on terror, genocide in Iraq, and torture as defined in the US Code. Your flagship paper has been implicated in covering up the JFK assassination more than forty years ago. Will my children discover you and your paper are guilty of aiding and abetting mass murder in 2001? Pat Tillman may have seen war crimes committed by his fellow soldiers and hero that he thought he was,he probably threatened to expose what he saw in Afganistan, and a special forces enforcer put three bullets through his brain. We need criminal investigations of the conspiracy to launch a "preventive" war and trials of these psychopaths, not the diversion of Pat Tillman's death, which one in a million untimely deaths in this brutal war.

in reply to:
"Lizzy Blackney: Tillman was no celebrity in the United States Army. He was an E4. And he was treated like an E4. He volunteered to go. The idea that Rumsfeld would know about anything occurring to an E4 is preposterous."
Lizzy, you obviously did not watch or read the transcript of Rummy's testimony. If you did you wouldn't make such a preposterous claim. Rummy wrote a "snowflake" memo to others in the Defense Dept and/or the Pentagon basically saying how great it was to get a person of Tillman's stature to sign up for the military. Do a small amount of research and you will find this to be true. For you to assume it is prepsoterous for Rummy to know what's going on with an "E4" is preposterous in itself. Of course, these guys were keeping apprised of Tillman's situation. You are delusional to think otherwise. Look it up Lizzy. You go girl.

Not everything is a conspiracy. If you really think Bush and Rumsfeld and every Republican are part of some evil cabal, then you may want to see a psychiatrist.

"mishandled" is a weak description of "destroying evidence" and "fabricating events"

there's more to this... the three shots to the frorehead, etc.

Rummy + crew tried putting up the pre-emptive wall. I don't think it will work.

This was not a case of an errant artillery shell. It's a case of three rounds shot into the forehead at close range. So if you agree with how it was handled are you also stating that in 1966 you took the soldier you're referring to, stripped his cloths, took his diary, and personal belongings, then burned them, and then reposted he was killed by the enemy in the line of duty? It sounds like in 1966 you were protecting the Army and not the family. If my son were killed by friendly fire, I would want to know and so would you!

I don't know how you handled this in the army, but this should have been investigated as a murder, especially when crucial evidence was destroyed at the scene.

Posted by: Bill Boettcher:

"In 1966 I was assigned as a survivors assistance officer for a family whose son had been killed by friendly fire.
The Father asked me how his son died? I told him he was killed by an artillary round, choosing to omit the artillary was a short round fired by US troops.
To this day, I don't know if the family knows that their son and brother was killed by friendly fire.
I do know that I thought then and I still believe that there was no need to add to the family's tragedy.
I was a lieutenant then and made the call on my own, thinking that I was doing the right thing.
I wouldn't doubt that after Pat Tillman's death, there was great angst by his friends and fellow soldiers as to the effect Pat's death would have on his family if they knew he was killed by friendly fire.
Is it possible that the initial decision was made in what some low level officer (like myself) thought was in the best interest of the family?"

Tillman certainly would have wanted to be treated as just an E4. But if he was just an E4, the headline of the American Forces Press Service article about his death should not have been titled "Former football star killed in Afghanistan." His comrades knew immediately after his death that it was likely friendly fire yet their commanders proceeded with a cover-up, including the commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Gold Star families may not want to see a full report but they deserve the truth, not lies. The Tillmans only went public once it was apparent something was wrong. They do not deserve to be compared to Cindy Sheehan.

Rumsfeld knew who he was, because when he joined up and left his NFL career it was a war propaganda bonanza for Bush, Rumsfeld, and the neocons. But when he turned against the war before he was shot, he became a propaganda nightmare for Bush, Rumsfeld, and the neocons. If Joe Wilson was ambassador to Afghanistan when he proved there was no nuclear connection to Iraq; a misfired American rocket into the embassy would have taken him out. In the end Pat Tillman is an American hero because he stood up for his beliefs and had the courage to change course when he saw that his original belief was a mistake. His death should and may still be investigated as a murder if only by the soldier that shot him. Does anyone know the name of the trooper who pulled the trigger?

You must not be a fan of the NFL, because any football fan knew who this E4 was, it was headline news in when he joined up or you live in a cave. Give me a break."

Posted by: Lizzy Blackney
"Ah, so easy for those who have never served to claim infinite knowledge of the process managed by the Casualty Affairs folks. Tillman was no celebrity in the United States Army. He was an E4. And he was treated like an E4. He volunteered to go. The idea that Rumsfeld would know about anything occurring to an E4 is preposterous. The SecDef is responsible for 3 million people and their families. Give me a break."

Agree with others: THREE SHOTS TO THE HEAD AT CLOSE RANGE. This was concealed for years. The big WaPo story last year quoted numerous "eye-witnesses" who described friendly fire coming from significant distances.

We are now told that a medical examiner called for a criminal investigation, and was refused.

This is a far more serious matter than a cover-up of a friendly fire death (which as Bill B. states, is routine in the armed forces).

Unfortunately, this story is now being cast as a "Pro-Bush" vs. "Anti-Bush" story, which I suppose accounts for Lizzy B's urging that we forget about Tillman; the reticence in the media at large to the uglier facts of the gunshot wounds to the head. Perhaps to Arkin's reference to a feared "witch hunt" reflects his own anxiety about being perceived as other than "fair and balanced" by brining up the Tillman story.

The real fact is that all Americans should be concerned about the duplicity and corruption in the US Army that the facts of this case appear to illuminate.

The strength of our Army has always rested on the moral integrity of our servicemen/women. The same is true of our police, our prisons, our Congress. Rooting out corruption should be seen as an all-American goal.

I'm sure Pat Tillman would see it that way.

How many were injured in the firefight besides Tillman?

Same Players. Different Scandal.

Statements Rumsfeld did not say on Camera.

http://newssophisticate.blogspot.com/2007/08/statements-don-rumsfeld-did-not-say-on.htmlh

Pat Tillman was assassinated because he posed a threat the the Bush junta's plans to re-install their man in the White House in 2004.

We know that Tillman was planning on returning home after the war to become an anti-war advocate. We also know he had tremendous name recognition due to his celebrity status prior to enlisting.

We know that Rumsfeld sent a "snowflake" memo to former Army Secretary Thomas White in 2002 saying that they ought to keep on eye on Tillman, ostensibly for propaganda purposes.

We know there was zero evidence of enemy fire at the scene of the alleged ambush: no spent shell casings, no bullet holes, and no injured Rangers. Sounds like a set up to me.

We know that Tillman was an atheist, which could easily have rubbed some true-believer type in his Ranger unit the wrong way. We know they burned his uniform and body armor and that his journal went missing.

Knowing all this, it's clear to anyone who's not a brainwashed zombie that Tillman was assassinated for his political views and the damage they could have done to Bush's "re-election" bid in 2004.

Book: The Lucifer Effect

It is interesting to read, on the other hand, how the author Phillip Zimbardo and other domestic and international viewed Mr. Rumsfeld, in a book that I just completed.

Clearly, he created the environment for all of what went on in Iraq, including, tormenting detainees, coverups, renditions, ghost detainees...!

With regard, posthumously, to Mr. Tillman, he bought the president's and Rumsfeld hype. With regard to Mr. Rumsfeld, he ought to be in prison.

Lizzy Blackney: Tillman was no celebrity in the United States Army. He was an E4. And he was treated like an E4. He volunteered to go. The idea that Rumsfeld would know about anything occurring to an E4 is preposterous.

William M. Arkin: On April 22, 2004, he was killed in a friendly fire incident while operating in the mountain of eastern Afghanistan. His family and the nation were told he was killed by enemy fire. On May 1, 2004, President Bush mentioned Tillman in a speech to the White House Correspondents Association annual dinner. America had a hero

Tillman was shot three times in the head at close range, AFTER he was shot in the chest, leg and hand, and after he was standing up screaming "I'm Pat Tillman don't shoot me" or something to that effect.

Unlike his uniform and body armor, which were burnt, it is believed his diary is being held by the Pentagon.

Before the 2004 election, Pat Tillman was turning from the administration's poster boy, into a staunch anti-war activist. Ordinarily, I'm not prone to conspiracy theories, but I think Tillman's death may not have been an accident, and instead was a murder. Tillman was a threat to the 2004 election and the whole Iraqi war effort. The military either set up his execution or a gung ho member of his unit did it, "for his country."

In 1966 I was assigned as a survivors assistance officer for a family whose son had been killed by friendly fire.

The Father asked me how his son died? I told him he was killed by an artillary round, choosing to omit the artillary was a short round fired by US troops.

To this day, I don't know if the family knows that their son and brother was killed by friendly fire.

I do know that I thought then and I still believe that there was no need to add to the family's tragedy.

I was a lieutenant then and made the call on my own, thinking that I was doing the right thing.

I wouldn't doubt that after Pat Tillman's death, there was great angst by his friends and fellow soldiers as to the effect Pat's death would have on his family if they knew he was killed by friendly fire.

Is it possible that the initial decision was made in what some low level officer (like myself) thought was in the best interest of the family?

Ah, so easy for those who have never served to claim infinite knowledge of the process managed by the Casualty Affairs folks. Tillman was no celebrity in the United States Army. He was an E4. And he was treated like an E4. He volunteered to go. The idea that Rumsfeld would know about anything occurring to an E4 is preposterous. The SecDef is responsible for 3 million people and their families. Give me a break.

Furthermore, why is Tillman worth so much more than all the other soldiers, sailors, airmen & Marines to you people? There are hundreds of "unwitnessed events" and other active duty deaths in the line of duty - and yet, no public outcry. Has even ONE of you actually seen the casualty report? the autopsy? NO.

The only reason you anti-Bush folks seize onto Tillman is because his family is Sheehan 2.0. You like the wealthy, well-spoken folks. Save your self-righteousness. There are hundreds of Gold Star families who will never expect to see a tidy report with every detail. And not one of you anti-Bush / anti-Iraq folks has EVER been there for those families.

The officers & non-coms who botched the Tillman Casualty Affairs process SHOULD be thrown out of the military on their arse. But to assume the WH or SecDef had a clue about an E4s death - in real time - is ridiculous.

Great another reporter who's slammed by his readers. Where do these writers learn their craft? Nearly all articles are the same, follow the same layout and even use the same keywords. Could it be that our media has been bought out by special interests and all we see now is the script?

Gotta love O'Reilly and the "no" spin zone. Who owns the Washington Post BTW? Maybe we should go down to spin alley and ask the bums

The Bush administration simply has no credibility left. And who knows how much further from the truth the Republican would have left America if we hadn't voted to return Democrats to the Congressional job of oversight. Remember how shocked we were when Reagan implemented his mantra of "I do not recall" during the Iran - Contra scandal: it was unbelievable. Now, the phrase is more common for Republicans under oath than genuine answers. What I would like to hear is Rumsfeld answering questions about what was exchanged when he visited Saddam Hussein during the Reagan administration. In his book, "Losing America," Senator Byrd tells about seeing the paperwork for the transfer of Chemical weapons to Iraq (and this happened). If he was involved, wouldn't that make Rumsfeld himself a war criminal? The Republican leadership comprises not only liars and criminals, but liars and WAR criminals. We need the truth.

The characterization of a coming "Witch Hunt on Iraq" is inept and worse, irresponsible. A "witch hunt" by its historical example implies tribunals rely on hidden evidence based on unsubstantiated accusations and testimony (including "naming of names" by the accused - sine qua non), coerced testimony obtained through fear tactics and torture, the suspension of habeas corpus, and the imposition of severe and unappealable punishments. More apt examples I may remind you would be the McCarthy era persecutions of suspected communist sympathizers and the more recent administration's no-holds-barred, this-is-post-9-11 pursuit of terrorists. The latter I propose is a far closer representation of the historical example of a witch-hunt than McCarthy's pursuit of communists.

You provide the reader with a jaded prediction; one unfortunately often proves true; that the fix is in, senior officials will of course remain insulated, and decision making which lead to United States war on Iraq and the subsequent occupation will remain as you well-term, an enigma.

I welcome the upcoming investigation, as its time is overripe. I do hope that such investigation is flensing in scope.

Evidence!!!!!

Tillman was MURDERED, plain and simple, and anyone who is blocking that murder investigation is an accessory after the fact to that murder, bogus "executive privilege" claims or not. Seems to me to be yet another reason to impeach Bush, Cheney, and the rest of their incompetent lawbreaking flunkies.

Natural Selection, Corporate Treason and "Executive Oil"

How can you lead a corporation, let alone a nation and not no anything. Not recall anything. I seem to realize if any one of us gives our supervisors or bosses that answer as much as our "pre-selected leaders" we would be fired. From the slime bag Alberto Gonzalez to the grease pit of Donald Rumsfield these persons have no value for human life unless you are willing to back it up with some sort of contribution, politically that is. Invoking Executive Power does what in this case? As in the case of Alberto Gonzales that makes sense, seeing how President Post Turtle promised to fire and prosecute those who were responsible (which he actually PARDONED). Why? Because when the public you swindled realizes that you sold them gold painted rocks and not the gold you promised you will have some pretty pissed off people. No wonder Bush does not want even his own NSA Chairman to see his Martial Law authority. He's planning it, it's coming, unless you speak up and spread the word. This is OUR Nation, not the dollars, not the corporation and sure as hell not these inhuman greedy monsters. May the laws of the universe give all of them what they sorely deserve!

Right. Not ONE mention of Pat Tillman being shot 3 times in the head. The M16 shoots in 3 shot burts. The cororner has said that he was shot from about 10 meters. How can an event like this go from an ambush, to friendly fire, to what looks like an executiion? How is it that the Army's poster child for patriotism had his belongings BURNED such as his diary, bullet proof vest and uniform. Why? Because if you put the pieces together the picture becomes clear and your intuition was right.

When the trained killers kill, why is anyone surprised?

this war is wrong

this was is wrong

Why does no one mention that Tillman was shot three times in the forehead?

Why does no one mention that Tillman was shot three times in the forehead?