Saturday, July 28, 2007

Pat Tillman and Conspiracy

Pat Tillman was an NFL football player who walked away from a lucrative contract to serve his country after 9/11. An Army Ranger, he expected to be sent to Afghanistan, but his first deployment was to Iraq. Apparently at some point Tillman, an educated and thoughtful guy, came to the conclusion that the invasion of Iraq was "fucking illegal," in his words. He was re-deployed to Afghanistan (any connection to the fact that he was a well-known guy and had some strong opinions?)and while there, he was killed.

The first story that was presented to the public was that he had died as a hero in combat against the enemy. He was awarded a Silver Star and a Purple Heart and a story was created to support the belief that he had died from enemy fire That story was a fabrication. Within a few weeks, it was revealed that in fact he had died in a "friendly fire accident," caused by the fog of war. However, his own family did not believe that it was an accident, and continued to push for answers. The President claimed "executive privilege" on further details of the incident, which is surpassing strange if it was simply an accident.

Now more details have been released. The AP is reporting that he was killed by 3 bullets to the forehead, and that Army medical examiners believed that it appeared to be a crime rather than an accident since the bullets were fired from as close as 10 yards. They also reveal that there is no evidence that there was any enemy fire at all in connection with his death, and that the Lt. General who was questioned about the incident contradicted himself and others as well as claiming to have "no recollection" more than 70 times.

It has also been revealed that Tillman was opposed to the Iraq war and opposed to Bush, urging comrades to vote for Kerry. He also was an admirer of Noam Chomsky, who opposes U. S. Imperialism, and had made plans to meet with Chomsky when he returned home. (Chomsky has confirmed this, as has Tillman's mother.) He never did return home for that meeting.

So questions have been raised, questions I am inclined to credit, as to whether there could have been an order from above to silence this guy. We know for absolute sure that there was a conspiracy involved in covering up the actual facts of his death. Would military leaders risk their own careers in order to cover up their men's mistakes? Or is there something far more sinister here? If it is simply a mistake that is being covered up, why would the president need "executive privilege"?

This is a very disturbing story.

AP report.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, disturbing indeed. I hadn't heard it yet. Good blog, I always enjoy reading your opinions.

Lily said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lily said...

Lily said...
Who will raise a call that will be heard and responded to?
Elected officals have all disillusioned us.
Celebrities are less and less reliable in there moral fiber and fortitude to be reliable representatives.
Neighbors are all but totally uniformed and lathargic in responding to their democratic privilege to bring their elected bodies to task in so many serious matters.
Whose sense of democracy is worthy to die for?
Whose leadership ennobles our causes?
I think of the Ancient Greeks and the brave men and women who stood for democracy and battled the Persians in their time.
...Individuals locked horns with the governing bodies and proud majorities and were clever and dedicated enough to make their insights and ideals work for the good of all.
We must work with what we have to bring justice and freedom for all about.
Sometimes, I think that means being a saint and a pirate, a poet and an artist all at the same time.

If we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.

I am sick of death and war and rubble and no real understanding of what the issues are or who the enemy is!