Tillman Family Slams Pentagon Probe
Calls Report On Death Of Pat Tillman "Unsatisfactory," Urges Congressional Investigation
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No Negligence In Tillman Death
Army investigators probing the friendly-fire death of former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman in Afghanistan found no criminal negligence. David Martin reports.
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Army Deceived Tillman Family
A Pentagon investigation found top army officers were responsible for covering up the truth about former NFL star Pat Tillman's death in a friendly fire incident. David Martin reports.
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Tillman Findings Debated
Retired Army col. Mitch Mitchell and the San Francisco Chronicle's Robert Collier speak with Harry Smith about the fallout in the handling the friendly-fire death of Pat Tillman.
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Pat Tillman watches practice during Arizona Cardinals summer camp in Flagstaff, Ariz., in this July 30, 2001, file photo. (AP)
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Pat Tillman Sr., father of former Arizona Cardinals football player Pat Tillman, speaks during a memorial service for his son May 3, 2004 in San Jose, California. Tillman was killed on patrol in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. A military investigation's findings released Monday March 26, 2007 said there was no criminal negligence in Tillman's friendly-fire death. (Getty Images)
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Photo Essay
Pat Tillman
A look at the former NFL player who died fighting as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan.
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"Perhaps subpoenas are necessary to elicit candor and accuracy from the military," his family said in a statement Monday night, after hearing the results of the latest probes.
The men who shot Tillman have always claimed the April 22, 2004, incident was a terrible mistake in the fog of war, and the Army officially agreed Monday, declining to press charges.
But possible punishments still hang over several high-ranking officers who allegedly botched the investigations and key administrative tasks.
"There's still actions that have to be taken," CBS News military analyst Ret. Army Col. Mitch Mitchell told CBS' The Early Show.
Nine Army officers, including four generals, made errors in reporting the friendly fire death to their superiors and to the Tillman family, the Pentagon said. Defense officials said one or more of those officers who provided misleading information as the military investigated could be charged with a crime.
A central issue in the case is why the Army waited about five weeks from the time it suspected Tillman's death was friendly fire until it told his family. Several officers have testified they wanted to wait until the early investigations were complete, but regulations required the Army to notify family members if friendly fire was even suspected.
Calling the government's findings "unsatisfactory," the family said in a statement: "The characterization of criminal negligence, professional misconduct, battlefield incompetence, concealment and destruction of evidence, deliberate deception, and conspiracy to deceive are not 'missteps.' These actions are malfeasance."
The latest investigation reserves its strongest criticism for Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger, the now-retired three-star general who was in charge of Army special operations.
"We found compelling evidence that Kensinger learned of suspected fratricide well before the memorial service and provided misleading testimony" on that issue, the report said. That misrepresentation, the report said, could constitute a "false official statement," a violation of the Military Code of Justice.
Because Kensinger is out of the military, it would be difficult to charge him criminally, however.
Referring to Kensinger, Tillman's family said, "While he is not blameless, we believe he is the pawn being sacrificed to protect the king, that king being secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld."
Mitchell said it was likely discussions on how to handle Tillman's situation reached Rumsfeld. "I absolutely believe it did," he said. "Because with a figure as important as Pat Tillman — granted, he's a soldier — but he's a soldier with some notoriety."
Acting Army Secretary Peter Geren asked Gen. William Wallace, who oversees training for the Army, to review the actions of the officers and to provide a progress report on possible punishments in 30 days.
"We as an Army failed in our duty to the Tillman family, the duty we owe to all the families of our fallen soldiers: Give them the truth, the best we know it, as fast as we can," Geren told reporters at the Pentagon. "Our failure in fulfilling this duty brought discredit to the Army and compounded the grief suffered by the Tillman family. For that, on behalf of the Army, I apologize to the Tillman family."
"The briefing we just received was shamefully unacceptable," the family said in a statement issued from their home in San Jose, where Pat Tillman grew up. "Our family is therefore compelled to continue our (pursuit of) the full truth about the circumstances of Pat Tillman's death and the so-called 'missteps' and 'deficiencies' of Pat's unit, the Army, the Department of Defense, and this administration."
In its rush to honor the high profile NFL hero, the Army failed miserably in telling Tillman's family the truth, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. The Army waited 35 days to tell the family the truth, leaving Tillman's father in the dark at a nationally televised memorial service.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 89 CommentsClearly, if I was his father, I'd feel so betrayed by the U.S. that it would no longer be worth supporting, either from tax money collected or through blood. My (hypothetical) son was used from the very beginning as a 'hero' figure in order to further whatever goals the Bush Administration had in mind. My (hypothetical) son died in vain.
....
Now as an individual, I can clearly see why Pat's parents are outraged. As usual, those in this Administration who are clearly responsible are let off the hook... again... always.
It's obvious to me that there was a coverup to keep military recruitment numbers up as this guy originally made the supreme sacrifice by giving up a lucrative NFL contract to serve his country. Sadly, in the end, it seems that his country sacrificed him for an unjust cause...our government never ceases to amaze me!
Why? If he did wrong, he should be punished. I mean, what, if he killed someone and then retired, the Army would just say "oh well, he's retired" and drop the matter?
It's sad to see someone who served their country and reached Lt General to fall down from grace like this, but if he didn't have stars on his collar, you know the Army would not drop it. And it would be disrespectgful to the memory of Pat Tilman, who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Especially a guy like him who didn't have to do it. Though he did play for Arizona, a fate worst than death. Sorry, couldn't resist a Cardinals joke (God help Matt Leinart).
Posted by Musty2U at 08:39 AM : Mar 27, 2007"
Yet another thoughtless pre-teen with a computer heard from. If this had been YOUR brother, there might be a small bit of anguish and frustration in your heart and soul. Instead you spout your incredible wisdom on the internet, then go eat dinner with your family...
1. Users - like dad said they killed their poster boy.
2. Liars - this is the initial report.
U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Matthew Beevers said Saturday that Tillman was killed Thursday night in a firefight at about 7 p.m. on a road near Sperah, about 25 miles southwest of a U.S. base at Khost.
After coming under fire, Tillman%u2019s patrol got out of their vehicles and gave chase, moving toward the spot of the ambush. Beevers said the fighting was %u201Csustained%u201D and lasted 15-20 minutes
Beevers said Tillman was killed by enemy fire, but he had no information about what type of weapons were involved in the assault, or whether he died instantly.
An Afghan militiaman fighting alongside Tillman also was killed, and two other U.S. soldiers were wounded.
A local Afghan commander, Gen. Khial Bas, told The Associated Press that nine enemy fighters were killed in the confrontation.
Bas said six other enemy fighters were believed to have escaped. Beevers said he had no information about any enemy fighters killed.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4815441/
When he gave up the bucks and glamour of the NFL to fight in Iraq, he was the darling of the right, a poster boy for obedient patriotism. Now that his family questions his death, he's of no use and they should just shut up and go away...
It may have just been an accident that was covered up (but why?) OR it may have been deliberate. After all, in the heat of a fire fight how hard is it to 'frag' someone and then say OOPs? This conjecture is made possible by the cover up of the military and it WAS a coverup. If it had not been, then after the army suspected friendly fire, they would have informed the family--not over a month later. Instead they had to learn about it from another source before the Military came forth.
Dishonest doings in the Bush Administration, in the DOJ, in the FBI, in FISA,in the Congress, in the military. Bush taints everything he presides over
And yes the Pentagon covered up certain aspects of Tillman's death - they had a 'star' athlete who was probably a darned good recruiting poster - and with recruitment down and Bush Administration's ever-increasing unpopularity they needed a 'hero' - and Tillman was the very picture of a 'hero'. And he's still a hero - he was a brave American who after 9-11 sacrificed a great deal to join the forces and serve his country - and there is no greater sacrifice than his life.
I understand the family wants things to be different - and what they really want is their son back - not going to happen and now its time they grieved and stopped fighting over his tragic death.
Was Cheney on patrol with Tillman?
Or maybe in the words of a former political figure, 'You can't handle the truth'. Maybe this incident was planned by those who killed him?
Pat Tillman was gifted in a way that precluded his exposure to the narratives of the left (as we are all insulated from those narratives); and he went to war. But while he was in Iraq, he concluded from his own experience, %u201CThis war is so f~cking illegal.%u201D
Pat, like 95 percent of the rest of us lesser beings in the heart of Empire, was not a fully-formed anti-imperialist. He was, however, extremely well read and a diligent student of history. He did not deserve to be used as a posthumous recruiting poster by Donald Rumsfeld%u2019s ministry
If Pat had survived, he would have been a powerful voice against the war.
The fact is, Pat Tillman%u2019s family has not rested in its struggle to hold the military to account for covering up how Pat Tillman died; and they have done so because they believe without exception that that is exactly what Pat would have wanted.
Truthdig -
actually an anti-LEFT rant by a friend of Tillmans. Regardless it is very obvious that Mr. Tillman was not "going along" with the screenplay and was not the ideal "poster boy" after all.
We are "liberating" - REMEMBER
There should be congressional investigations - but not about the Tillman Friendly Fire death - there should be congressional investigations into the debacle Bush has made of Iraq and of Afghanistan. Under Bush's control Afghans have become the largest provider of the world's heroin - can't even begin to imagine how much weaponry that kind of cash crop buys for al queda.
I see no "left/libreal/democrat" influence as far as "letting it lie".
Your book doesn't count - whatever putrid party you inflame. Obviously THAT is up to the Tillmans and which "star" they want plastered to his name. I'm betting on them NOT choosing the "let it lay poster boy image" - and apparently doing what their son would have wished - that "star" of justice.
we create our own war - and appropriately too.
more islamophobia to the masses.....
Sides -- I wasn't the one who proclaimed ourselves the "great liberators" -- dropped pamphlets saying "come out to the streets of democracy" - and follwed up with MASS destruction. Tillman and many other military and civilians knew about "the lie" -
Prior to Mr. Bushes war for oil, the greatest terrorist threats to our country were from right wing radical groups HERE in the country - statistically verifiable.
War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.
~General Smedley Butler
However, when did the Congress change from a Legislative Branch to a Judicial one?? It seems for the last 10+ years they have spent more time investigating and judging than legislating. It's time to put the powers back into their own branches and get on with the business of running our country instead of judicating everything!!!
Posted by xsoldier2 at 09:58 AM : Mar 27, 2007
We are at war with whom?
What about OSAMA BEEN-FORGOTTEN?
Weren't we supposed to capture him DEAD OR ALIVE?How come we got stucked in Iraq?
Do you think we can capture OSAMA BEEN-FORGOTTEN from Iraq?
Why didn't we send enough troops to Afghanistan to capture BEEN-FORGOTTEN who was in TORA BORA?
Why were we supposed to save troops for IRAQ DEPLOYEMENT which had nothing to do with 9/11?
Why American money and lives were spent in removing a SECULAR GUY from power who was fighting our war against Islamic Radicals of his country and Iran?
Why is BUSH giving our TAX PAYED MONEY on the name of REBUILDING IRAQ and our WEAPONS on the name of ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES to an ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI" for the killing of our troops in IRAQ?
Iraqis,the most extremist SHIA MUSLIMS in the world where two HOLIEST PLACES of SHIA ISLAM namely NAJAF and KARBALA are located,were supposed to vote the MOST EXTREMIST,ANTI-AMERICAN MULLAH.This was the main reason why FRANCE and GERMANY opposed this war.
Why did we help ISLAMIC RADICALS to achieve their goal by US TAX DOLLARS and US Soldiers' lives?
"what they (Tillman family) see as broad malfeasance and a coverup."
HELLO!!!
That describes George Bush and his entire administration.
Why would they expect anything different from his "commanders on the ground"?
He fires or forces resignations of anyone who is competent or qualified.
George Bush is the worst president in US history and is surrounded by likewise incompetent or corrupt people.
Including his General Officers.
HELLO!!!
That describes George Bush and his entire administration.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 10:31 AM : Mar 27, 2007
Don't forget the statement issued by Bush's mother about Katrina victims
"Those people were underpriviliged anyway"
It seems like his selfishness and careless ness has GENETIC PREDISPOSITION.
Posted by pghlady3 at 09:47 AM : Mar 27, 2007"
Shut the *** up, you retarded dingbat.
That is the most intelligent response your post deserves.
Sacrificing anything on behalf of George Bush and his warmongering, war profiteering cronies is stupidity.
But, Tillman wanted to be a "hero," so he got his wish.
The blood of Pat Tillman asks us to stop theives like Cheney from their agression against US, her people and her economy.
I can't think of a better qualified soul to haunt the incompetence of the administration and their disregard for the sacrifice of over 3000 American soldiers.
I'm not a family spokesperson but I stand 100% with them.
"We found compelling evidence that Kensinger learned of suspected fratricide well before the memorial service and provided misleading testimony" on that issue, the report said. That misrepresentation, the report said, could constitute a "false official statement," a violation of the Military Code of Justice.
Because Kensinger is out of the military, it would be difficult to charge him criminally, however.
Why? Because he's somehow "out" of military jurisdiction?
So if I rob a bank in Missouri and move to Iowa it would be "difficult to charge criminally"?
Put the SOB on trial. Yes, he's a puppet for Rummie, Dickless, and Bushit. so what? follow the strings back to the masters and try them also!
Hopefully, the little boys and girls will learn something from this - but obviously they won't, they're always around to volunteer for the next war.
Personally I believe it was a tragic incident of 'friendly fire' - the miliary officers didn't want to admit that a national hero figure was killed by one of their own - they NEEDED heros - they NEEDED recruits - cause by that time Bush's invasion/occupation of Iraq was obviously falling apart - the lies and deceptions and incompetence was becoming clear to America - and the last thing Bush or the Pentagon needed was the loss of Tillman by Friendly Fire - they needed the nationt to think that the 'bad guys' did it.
The Bush Administration and the Pentagon leaders should be punished for once more putting their political agenda ahead of the nation -- but there is no criminal misdeeds - and in fact my heart goes out to the poor soldier who accidently killed Tillman - what a heavy heart this poor guy must have.
I have read some unbelievably ignorant *** on this blog(mostly from 7 pesos and xsoldier) but you take the cake.
Regardless of how one feels about the immoral and cowardly leadership of the political class, those who choose to serve and risk their lives in doing so are honorable even if the cause is not totally honorable.
No, I don't mean the ones who go off the reservation and brutalize others. I mean the vast majority who serve honorably under the most stressful of circumstances. I don't know if you're American or Canadien, but I'm talking about all soldiers.
Pat Tillman gave up a cushy life to slog through the mud to protect others. Who didn't believe that Afghanistan was a nobile cause at the time? The Taliban?
I despise Bush as well - but come on now - being poorly informed is supposed to be a purely Bushie Trait.
Posted by drewworth at 12:51 PM : Mar 27, 2007
Totally agree with you.
UAE is the Switzerland of Middle East.They don't check and care who from what source got money from and how some body's money is increasing and there is no tax at all in that country.The country is predominantly Muslim but they have kept religion completely out of politics and the city DUBAI is the CENTER OF INTERNATIONAL PROSTITUTION.
Anybody who has worked with DoD inspector generals knows that the explanation and recommendations given are riddled with hidden culpability and accountability. Inspectors, when they're not under pressure to hide something and have an investigation closed without further pursuance, are usually far more candid [ultimate and irrefutable credibility is a fundamental is a requirement of their job]about giving details of culpability when important figures in the government or military are not involved.
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