General tried to warn Bush on Tillman

SF18C · 03-31-2007, 06:00

General tried to warn Bush on Tillman

Memo shows suspicions on soldier’s death weeks before family was told

AP Associated Press Updated: 8:42 p.m. ET March 30, 2007

Quote:

"IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT A 15-6 INVESTIGATION NEARING COMPLETION WILL FIND THAT IT IS HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT CORPORAL TILLMAN WAS KILLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE. THIS POTENTIAL FINDING IS EXACERBATED BY THE UNCONFIRMED BUT SUSPECTED REPORTS THAT POTUS AND THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY MIGHT INCLUDE COMMENTS ABOUT CORPORAL TILLMAN'S HEROISM AND HIS APPROVED SILVER STAR MEDAL IN SPEECHES CURRENTLY BEING PREPARED, NOT KNOWING THE SPECIFICS SURROUNDING HIS DEATH. ...
I FELT THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION AS SOON AS WE DETECTED IT IN ORDER TO PRECLUDE ANY UNKNOWING STATEMENTS BY OUR COUNTRY'S LEADERS WHICH MIGHT CAUSE PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF CORPORAL TILLMAN'S DEATH BECOME PUBLIC."
In a memo sent to Gen. John Abizaid on April 29, 2004, Gen. Stan McChrystal warns him that the possibility that Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire could be embarrassing for President Bush and the secretary of the Army.

Can someone please explain to me the never-ending fascination with the Tillman death? I got it…he was killed in a friendly fire action. That has got to be the worst situation ever…I am sure that if I were ever the cause of a friendly fire death it would take 100 years of therapy to just stop me from be catatonic! But why is everyone out to pin this on Bush, Rumsfield, Brownlee and now LTG McCrystal? This was a mistake by troops in a combat zone…who were under fire!!! Do I think there was a cover up…NO! Do I think officials realized this was bad…YES! Do I think that all these investigations are dragging the name of a good Ranger down…YES! Tillman is still a hero in the eyes of many; he turned down fame and fortune to serve his county and he took a hard road to fulfill that duty - Ranger Batt. He was killed in action, and although tragic this does happen in the fog of war.

Why is it that every FF incident doesn't receives this much coverage? I think the Tillman family must be hanging out with Cindy Sheehan!

If I am wrong on this let me know!!

**The Reaper** · 03-31-2007, 06:58

He was a celebrity, worth a lot of money, and the family will not let it go.

It would appear that they are opposed to the war, and the POTUS, and are being encouraged to keep up the fire.

This has already cost two good SF Generals their careers, it would appear that even that was not enough.

TR

Warrior-Mentor · 03-31-2007, 07:05

My take is that the biggest complaint/issue isn't that it was friendly fire...
it is that they feel they've been deceived in the failure to accurately report the truth surrounding the death.

QRQ 30 · 04-01-2007, 06:13

I was hoping this would go to bed. It probably will be around until after the next election.

I don't remember names well but one of the Generals said he delayed the report waiting for the proper timr. That is a decision I never want to make. When is the proper time got the good news bad news report? The good news is that the enemy didn't kill your son. The bad news is that we did.

Rather than Sheehan I think of Jessica Lynch. The MEDIA grabbed and ran with a story then when it fell through they blamed it on the government. SOS.

One thing is certain, Cpl Tillman doesn't give a crap.

Five-O · 04-01-2007, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by QRQ 30

When is the proper time got the good news bad news report?

In an effort not to get blind sided at the worst possible time, a battalion commander of mine always said "Bad news does not get any better with time."

QRQ 30 · 04-01-2007, 06:24

I totally agree! It may have been a CYV attempt at an excuse,

NousDefionsDoc · 04-01-2007, 07:38

Quote:

White House spokesman Blain Rethmeier said Friday that a review of records turned up no indication that the president had received McChrystal's warning.

The article is deceiving as far as I'm concerned. It makes it sound (to me) that the POTUS ignored a warning while there was no evidence given that he ever received it at all.

The issue, like always, is not what happened - it's that they covered it up. I would like to believe they did it to protect the living rather than profit from the dead, but the net result is the same.

QRQ 30 · 04-01-2007, 07:54

Quote:

The issue, like always, is not what happened - it's that they covered it up.

I don't think there was a cover up, at least at the troop level. Pat's brother was in the same unit and knew what happened. There was an interview on the History Channel given by members of the unit who had completed their service. I thought it was very informative and believeable. They were caught in a narrow and steep pass that would give me the willies even now as a civilian.

Dozer523 · 08-13-2010, 09:34

Cpl Tillman and his family are back in the news. A movie in the making . . . interesting letters released by Cpl Tillman's father.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_680128.html

Utah Bob · 08-13-2010, 12:43

Oh what a tangled web we weave.....

Tatonka316 · 08-13-2010, 13:06

Oh what a tangled web we weave -- Sir Walter Scott and Gomer Pyle ... this mess is more in keeping with Gomer!!! MG Jones (Ret) is a GREAT man and this will NEVER diminish his service and professionalism in my eyes!

molon labe

alright4u · 08-13-2010, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

He was a celebrity, worth a lot of money, and the family will not let it go.

It would appear that they are opposed to the war, and the POTUS, and are being encouraged to keep up the fire.

This has already cost two good SF Generals their careers, it would appear that even that was not enough.

TR

The problem always starts with the first damn lie/falsehood. The platoon leader and/ or company CO knew the damn truth. No way do you write a SS up for any FF incident. Somewhere there are eye witness statements for the SS. Maybe not. A Division CG could issue a SS back in 68. The paperwork for the SS tells who the frauds are and/or leads to a serious problem higher up.

This family is a real problem. I had men like many of us have had who died doing serious valorous actions, and; they got/received zip.

Big Money · 08-15-2010, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tatonka316

... MG Jones (Ret) is a GREAT man and this will NEVER diminish his service and professionalism in my eyes!

molon labe

I don't know the facts and I've been out too long to have a meaningful opinion; but I will concur 100% and then some that the (then) Lt. Col Jones I knew was an outstanding leader and professional who's committment to his soldiers came before politics and could be counted on to do what was right.

mcarey · 08-15-2010, 11:55

His family are totally out of touch with reality. They are angnostic and athesists and lean politically left, so they are at a loss of how to explain the senseless death that happens in warfare and obviously don't deal well with greif. I pity them.

As for the SS citation, CPL Tillman did manuever under fire to close with the enemy across and up rough terrain with lack of cover. Had he and the members of his squad suppressed and killed the enemy, his actions are in keeping with a silver star, I just think that the immediate unit leaders wanted to honor him and his actions. No cover up, just trying to do what they thought would bring solace to his family and reflect his selfless sacrifice! They may have wanted to make themselves feel a bit better about a tragedy too.