What they knew about Army Ranger Cpl. Pat Tillman's death by friendly fire -- and when they knew it. Two key questions a House panel is asking former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and three retired Army generals on Capital Hill today.
In his opening statement, Rumsfeld quoted from a letter he had sent the House committee last year saying " I do not recall when I first learned about the possibility that Cpl. Tillman's death might have resulted from fratricide."
Rumsfeld was joined by Gen. Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. John Abizaid, former chief of U.S. Central Command; and Gen. Bryan Douglas Brown, former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. All of the generals are now retired.
Rep. Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the panel also wanted to question Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger, whom the secretary of the Army censured Tuesday for his handling of the military's investigation into Tillman's death. Kensinger refused to appear even though he was subpoenaed. Now a review is underway to see if Kensinger should be stripped of a star.
On Tuesday, the Army found the retired three-star general "guilty of deception" after reviewing recommendations from the Pentagon's inspector general and Gen. William Wallace, a four-star general who investigated the death and its aftermath.
Army Secretary Pete Geren testified "When you look at all of the events that led to where we are today ... and you look at what Gen. Kensinger's role was, had he performed his duty, we wouldn't be standing here today."
Tillman turned down a contract offer from the NFL Arizona Cardinals to join the military after the September 11, 2001, attacks. He was killed by members of his own platoon in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. For five weeks, his family was not told that the death was a result of friendly fire.
General Kensinger failed to notify Tillman's family in a timely manner of the friendly-fire investigation, failed to notify then-Acting Secretary of the probe and failed to launch a safety board to investigate the incident, Geren also testified.
Seven months later the Army started its investigation into Tillman's death. Geren also stating that Kensinger "provided false official statements in order to protect himself from criticism."
So Gather Members... Do you think the truth will come out at this hearing? Do you believe it was one General's decision to cover up the incident? Please comment on the Army's handling of the death of Pat Tillman.
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Comments: 23
"I know nothing-nothing !".
The root question.
I cannot be hopeful that the truth will out considering the administration's mystifying history of circling wagons and remaining mum on almost anything and everything.
First, I have to consider what I think are the facts. If I am wrong or there are others please let me know.
On Wikipedia it is said that experts believe because of the close proximity of three bullet holes in Pat Tillman's forehead that he was shot at relatively close range, about 30 feet.
Tillman's uniform and body armor were subsequently burned?
For what possible purpose could all of this have happened? I have a pretty good imagination and I'm at a total loss as to what kind of a story could explain the wounds, the burning of body-armor, the scrambling, bumbling and buck-passing of the administration, or the lack of will to really punish those involved - AGAIN!
Unless an airtight story comes out that explains all of this weirdness how can we have confidence that we have heard the truth. Further, the growth of questionable behavior and judgement from the executive core of this is government is creating a crisis of leadership in the country that is starting to turn even die-hard loyal Republicans away from unquestioning loyalty and obedience to the head of their party.
Just where is the buck is supposed to stop again?
What else are they lying to us about?
The pretend swords are falling -- oh, I don't know -- like domino's.
Cheney said to Larry King, "We don't do torture." Wonder what he would have said had Larry asked him about 'fragging.'
Just to make sure we are all on the same page, the truth is not what you want it to be. The truth never changes, what is what you want it to be is up for grabs. The truth can be what someone wants it to be at any given time but the sheer willpower of wanting it to be a certain way does not make it so. If you think that the truth is the truth simply because you it to be that way, that is called a delusion.
// sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. //
Apparently his family doesn't think so. Nothing freudian about this -- just a cover up all the way up the chain of command. Perhaps you think Abu Ghraib was 'staged' just to get some juicy stuff on tape for the gang. . .
I asked what was the story explaining what has been published as evidence,
Pat Tillman did die of 3 shots from an M16 to the head, and his uniform and body armor were burned. I just asked what would account for that?
I also don't expect any of this to make a great story.
I also did not trash Rumsfeld, Kay, nor did I praise him as being a great patriot.
I also did not defend the Army in trying to explain this mess.
Also Kay, it does not logically follow that just because you think the Army hated Rumsfeld that any cover up would be uncovered, or that a lack of attorneys aside Rumsfeld has any relationship to the truth or falsity of his testimony.
I think you are missing on all cylinders here Kay in your over-exuberence to appear patriotic and defend Rumsfeld. No one needs to defend themselves, what needs to happen so that the Tillman family can know, the US people can know, and the Army can perhaps learn something to prevent this happening again is ... what happened?
> And Bruce, I don't "think" the army hated Rumsfeld
You said right above my post the "army reviles don rumsfeld"
Kate, again you accuse me of wild speculation .. I did not at all. Then you cleverly work in a little comment about a therapist. If you want me to converse with you, you better start taking responsiblity for what you say, and who you trash because you are not talking in any linear logical fashion that makes it productive to spend my time trying to understand you.
I will continue to attack our bad thinking though because it is not right what you are saying and doing.
You say, //Missy, what is family "thinks" is irrelevant//
Is it? A good proportion of the population share their concern. As for Rummy being a patriot -- when hell freezes over. I'll bet you believe there are tax fairies too, to pay for all the 'stuff' Rummy and his patriot friends still dreams about.