Gen. Tried To Warn Bush On Tillman Death

Memo Written 1 Month Before Friendly Fire Disclosure Tried To Prevent Public Comments On Death

(AP)  Just seven days after Pat Tillman's death, a top general warned there were strong indications that it was friendly fire and President Bush might embarrass himself if he said the NFL star-turned-soldier died in an ambush, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press.

It was not until a month afterward that the Pentagon told the public and grieving family members the truth — that Tillman was mistakenly killed in Afghanistan by his comrades.

The memo reinforces suspicions that the Pentagon was more concerned with sparing officials from embarrassment than with leveling with Tillman's family.

In a memo sent to a four-star general a week after Tillman's April 22, 2004, death, then-Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal warned that it was "highly possible" the Army Ranger was killed by friendly fire. McChrystal made it clear his warning should be conveyed to the president.

"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 Cpl. Tillman's death become public," McChrystal wrote on April 29, 2004, to Gen. John Abizaid, head of Central Command.

White House spokesman Blain Rethmeier said Friday that a review of records turned up no indication that the president had received McChrystal's warning. Bush made no reference to the way Tillman died in a speech delivered two days after the memo was written. But Rethmeier emphasized that the president often pays tribute to fallen soldiers without mentioning the exact circumstances of their deaths.

The family was not told until May 29, 2004, what really happened. In the intervening weeks, the military continued to say Tillman died under enemy fire, and even awarded him the Silver Star, which is given for heroic battlefield action.

The Tillman family has charged that the military and the Bush administration deliberately deceived his relatives and the nation to avoid turning public opinion against the war.

Tillman's mother, Mary, had no immediate comment Friday on the newly disclosed memo.

The memo was provided to the AP by a government official who requested anonymity because the document was not released as part of the Pentagon's official report into the way the Army brass withheld the truth. McChrystal was the highest-ranking officer accused of wrongdoing in the report, issued earlier this week.

In the memo, McChrystal expressed concern that Bush and acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee might give speeches in which they misstated the facts about Tillman's death.

A former spokesman for Abizaid did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages.

As for Brownlee, he told investigators he did not recall learning Tillman was killed by his fellow Rangers until several weeks after the fact. He did not discuss the matter with the White House, he told investigators.

A spokesman for McChrystal said he had no comment.

McChrystal was, and still is, commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, head of "black ops" forces. He has since been promoted to lieutenant general. Abizaid was in charge of American forces in the Middle East and Central Asia.

In his memo, McChrystal said he had heard Bush and Brownlee "might include comments about Cpl. Tillman's heroism and his approved Silver Star medal in speeches currently being prepared, not knowing the specifics surrounding his death."

McChrystal said he expected an investigation under way "will find that it is highly possible Cpl. Tillman was killed by friendly fire."

At the same time, McChrystal said: "The potential that he might have been killed by friendly fire in no way detracts from his witnessed heroism or the recommended personal decoration for valor in the face of the enemy."

On Monday, the Pentagon released the findings of an investigation into the circumstances of Tillman's death, and into whether the military covered them up.

The investigators recommended that nine Army officers, including McChrystal, be held accountable for errors in reporting the friendly fire death to their superiors and to Tillman's family. McChrystal was found "accountable for the inaccurate and misleading assertions" contained in papers recommending Tillman get the Silver Star.

Some of the officers involved said they wanted to wait until the investigations were complete before informing the Tillman family.

The latest document obtained by the AP suggests that officials at least as high as Abizaid knew the truth weeks before the family.

Tillman was killed after his Army Ranger comrades were ambushed in eastern Afghanistan. Rangers in a convoy trailing Tillman's group had just emerged from a canyon where they had been fired upon. They saw Tillman and mistaken fired on him.

The White House has been careful not to wade into the circumstances of Tillman's death. The day after Tillman died, a spokesman said Tillman "was an inspiration on and off the football field," but made no reference to the specifics of the episode.

In a speech given two days after McChrystal's memo, Bush made no mention of how Tillman died.

"The loss of Army Cpl. Pat Tillman last week in Afghanistan brought home the sorrow that comes with every loss, and reminds us of the character of the men and women who serve on our behalf," Bush said at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

[neoconslayer]

This administration has a serious issue with the truth. It is as if they think of the American people as a mob of idiots to whom they can say anything, secure in the knowledge that our short attention span will preclude us from noticing how often they get it wrong.
They needed a hero story, they created one. Whether it is that female soldier from the beginning of the war or Pat Tillman, they simply have no honor.
Pat Tillman is probably the only person in this country earning more than $100,000 a year who volunteered when this country was attacked. He is a hero to me just for that fact.
That his death was abused by cowards who refused to serve this country in their day is, well, it's what we have come to expect of this administration.

[bigsk8fan]

Bush had no record of the high probability that Tillman was killed by Friendly Fire. Just like they had no warning that intelligence might not actually show any WMD's in Iraq. Serious credibility issues nothing new to Bush White House.

[crater7]

No big deal, just another cover up by this Cowboy Administration. Stay The Course.

[seven-pesos]

never met a southerner i liked.

southerners love to talk big and start wars.

southerners think whoever kills the most on the other side wins.

only thing is... killing is only part of war, the bigger part is negotiation and diplomacy.

this is where the southerners get stumped.

southerners know nothing of negotiation, diplomacy and tolerance.

the south knows nothing of idealism.

southerners know only force.

that's why the south has lost every war they ever started.

bush's iraq war will be no different.

ha,ha,ha.

rednecks, republican snakes, phony christian creeps...

nothing good comes out of the south!

[shedhouserob-2009]

seven pesos-
Think about it! you could be a islamic- why do you hate southerner's? Whats the matter with you?

[randalds]

Time after time after time this administration has shown that they'll never tell the truth when a lie will do. Even if they technically weren't doing anything illegal, like firing US Attorneys (looks bad politically, true, but not technically illegal) yet they chose to lie and it's come crashing down around them. There seems to be a genuine culture of secrecy, cover-ups and lying from this group of clowns. It seems they lie and cover up just for the sake of lying and covering up. Maybe they just never learned HOW to tell the truth about anything?

[jebby_one]

never met a southerner i liked.
southerners love to talk big and start wars.
southerners think whoever kills the most on the other side wins.

------

ha haaa ... reminds me of those history stories about how the Democrats kept undermining Abe Lincoln during the Civil War and insisted he strike a compromise deal.

They was called Copperheads because Northern Democrats were to America what Coperhead snakes were to farm animals.

[jebby_one]

Pat Tillman is probably the only person in this country earning more than $100,000 a year who volunteered when this country was attacked. He is a hero to me just for that fact.

------------------------

Lots of airline pilots who earn $100,000+ also belonged to the Guard or Reserves and volunteered to go full time military.

The ones who died from friendly fire are just as honored as the ones who died from hostile enemy fire.

I'm sure that if Liberals knew which died from friendly fire they's do their best to exploit these deaths. Liberals either hate the people who fight for America or they think they are stupid. They will do whatever they can to undermine our missions and aid the success of America's enemies.




Liberals

[tom_gwynn]

RandalDS, just for the record, obstruction of justice is a crime. If you fire a federal attorney because you don't like who she is procecuting (ie, your crony friends) that is obstruction of justice. That seems very clearly the case with at least two of the fired prosecutors.

That said, I think the coverup of the circumstances regarding Tillman's death is one of the few things Bush can't be blamed for. It's clear that what coverup there was entirely at the pentagon. But I'm not sure how much malice there was in that. How many of us have gotten lost when driving around a strange city for the first time? Well that's a piece of cake next to landing in a strange country you've never seen before and trying to find your way around while people are shooting at you, people who know every track and boulder. Mistakes happen under circumstances like that, and sorting out what happened afterwards is not easy. In the meantime, there are those who clearly thought that it was kinder to tell the Tillmans that their son died heroicly facing the enemy rather than tragically as the hands of his comrades.

[jebby_one]

I can think of 1,000 reasons why I'd cover up tillman's death.

When I was in the AIr Force I left a letter for my parents that in the event of my service related death it was my desire to presume that the accuracy of what the military reported was correct and my remains were to be cremated and only my ashes were to be delivered to my family.

[mcvet]

can think of 1,000 reasons why I'd cover up tillman's death.

When I was in the AIr Force I left a letter for my parents that in the event of my service related death it was my desire to presume that the accuracy of what the military reported was correct and my remains were to be cremated and only my ashes were to be delivered to my family.



Posted by Jebby_One at 09:31 PM : Mar 30, 2007

God but you Nazi's get more sleazy by the minute!! This is by far the most disgusting thing this piece of Human Slime you call a President has ever done. There is NO and I repeat this as a Combat Veteran myself, NO REASON for what Bush did.... NONE!! Sieg Heil Y'all.

[mcvet]

I'm sure that if Liberals knew which died from friendly fire they's do their best to exploit these deaths. Liberals either hate the people who fight for America or they think they are stupid. They will do whatever they can to undermine our missions and aid the success of America's enemies.




Liberals

Posted by Jebby_One at 09:20 PM : Mar 30, 2007

Blab, blab, blab Liberals are to blame, blab, blab, blab. Now take your magic Swastika off into a corner and whine some more. You pathetic MORON in the days of the Civil War and for some time afterward the Republican Party had a very STRONG LIBERAL Wing, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and others. The Democrats you refer to were CONSERVERATIVES, which the Democrat Party had a wing of as well. You see the parties were NOT what they are today UNTIL the Souther Nazi's allied themselves with the Republican Party. By the way ALL our great leaders were LIBERAL, the SAME LIBERAL you spew so much hate at... MORON!! Sieg Heil Y'all.

[mcvet]

Mistakes happen under circumstances like that, and sorting out what happened afterwards is not easy. In the meantime, there are those who clearly thought that it was kinder to tell the Tillmans that their son died heroicly facing the enemy rather than tragically as the hands of his comrades.
Posted by tom_gwynn at 09:22 PM : Mar 30, 2007


Any Veteran will tell you there is NO justification in the death of another Vet at the hands of their own by trying to hide. That in NO WAY lessens the death of the vet but it DOES assist the SLIME DOG you losers call a President to sell a War that neigher WE nor TILMAN agreed with. Now go lick some more Fascist boots!!

[retmilspouse]

nothing good comes out of the south!
Posted by seven-pesos

You are an ignorant prejudiced individual. First of all Texans are not technically considered Southern, so learn something about how the US considers itself divided. Texans are Texans, thats it. Then when you get your facts straight go on your insane rants!!!!

[bm6005]

I'm not making excuses but I'd personally have a hard time with running around after this accident and yelling that it was "friendly fire, friendly fire". It's unfortunate, it's heartbreaking and it's unavoidable! This is one of the saddest types of all battlefield deaths.

[retmilspouse]

MCVet,
Wow you are just mad at the world, huh? Did someone take your marbles away on the play ground? Get a life, you couldn't cut it in the military and have a miserable existence for a life, so you have to find fault in everyone that you see as a threat. Tillman knew what he signed up for good, bad or indifferent. The families of these brave soldiers (ie Cindy Sheehan included) need to let their valiant volunteers die in peace.

[besscannon-2009]

Typical. Bush lives in a dream world and tries to paint everything like a rose garden. Somehow, he has the delusion that , if he says it, we will believe it. Also, it seems ingenuious for him to praise the soldiers and how much he appreciates them. This is from a coward that got daddy to save him from possible conflict. I can't help it, but, when I see Bush giving one of his flowery speeches, I hear the rattlings of a fool.

[retmilspouse]

Hey Besscannon,
How long was your military duty to this country?

[iceman_1960]

"First of all Texans are not technically considered Southern, so learn something about how the US considers itself divided." retmilspouse

That's right. Texas is considered part of the Southwestern culture, along with New Mexico and Arizona.

Texas did join the Confederacy, however, and boasts about being the last Confederate state to hold out during the Civil War.

The last battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Ranch, was fought in Texas on May 12, 1865, well after Robert E. Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865, at the Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

Ironically, Palmito Ranch was a Confederate victory.

[waynabq]

"...Then when you get your facts straight go on your insane rants!!!!


Posted by retmilspouse at 09:47 PM : Mar 30, 2007
+ report abuse"

You should follow your own advice, you're definitely a kool-aid drinking idiot, friendly fire death's are unavoidable...? This whole freakin' travesty of a war was avoidable except for the fact there were and still are an army of monkey worshipping morons who'll believe anything and everything they're told, "Iraq has WMDs and is a threat to the United States", "Mission Accomplished", "Al Quaeda is in its last Throes", "Iraq is at a turning point" uttered 9 or 10 time over the last four years by the Chimp.
"The U.S. does not torture" another horrendous lie. Just because you enjoy keeping your head up Bush's anal *** doesn't mean the rest of this country should follow suit.

[iceman_1960]

RE: "How long was your military duty to this country?"

Fascinating video: Top Gun

http://www.ericblumrich.com/topgun.html

[waynabq]

Any one who uses the term "Liberal" as a derogotory term is a freakin' dumb*ss, too much Limbaugh and Fox News and not enough thinking. Whether you label yourself a Republican, Democrat, Liberal or Conservative, you're getting screwed at the gas pump, your tax dollars are being flushed down the toilet in Iraq, your basic rights, warrantless wiretaps, legalized torture, secret prisons, suspension of habeas corpus, a corrupt government chock full of political cronies. Stop with the "Liberal" BS and pull your head out.

[waynabq]

Its beyond incredible what this administration has gotten away with, lying to start the war in Iraq, billions given away to Halliburton in no-bid, no oversight contracts, creating an atmosphere that promoted torture, Abu Graib, legalizing torture, building secret prisons, legalizing warrantless wiretaps, the Walter Reed hospital scandal, outting a covert CIA agent, adding over 3 trillion dollars, rigging Diebold voting machines in 2004 and using his brother's influence and a Republican leaning supreme court to basically steal two elections, lying about the demise of Pat Tillman, falsely setting up Capt. Yee an Army chaplain as a "Al Quaeda" spy, Scooter Libby convicted of obstructing justice, Attorney General Gonzalez more concerned with doing Bush's bidding then enforcing the law, the handling of Katrina making New Orleans look like a third world country, record gas prices, record oil profits, instilling fear and terrorizing this country with "terror alert" warnings, scare tactics only a witless fool would believe...Bush and his supporters are the slime of this earth.

[iceman_1960]

"nothing good comes out of the south!"
Posted by seven-pesos

Tell that to Sandy Koufax.

[retmilspouse]

waynabq,
Oh please excuse me for using the wrong political term to describe you. So in fareness don't assume that you know to what political party you think I subscribe to or what flavor kool-aid you think I am drinking. I am here to comment on the article to which these comments are in reference to. I believe most of the comments made by people such as yourself are made out of hate for the current political administration and not from any experience or personal knowledge of the military or its policies. The military is under the control of the Commander in Chief, no matter what political party he or she belongs to.

[retmilspouse]

waynabq,
friendly fire death's are unavoidable...?

Those are your words not mine.

[iceman_1960]

The problems in Iraq largely stem from the fact that the US Commander-in-Chief, George W. Bush, has less knowledge of military matters than Paris Hilton does.

[retmilspouse]

Iceman_1960,

Let's add Ty Cobb to the list.

[iceman_1960]

Bush is a complete disgrace, as are the Bushiites and their kneejerk defense of him.

It was Hitler and Field Marshall Goering who always said that only combat veterans had any right to speak about war, so you can blow that line out your barracks bag.

Bush, the President of the United States, can't even use the phrase "State of the Union" without a verbal struggle.

[iceman_1960]

"so you can blow that line out your barracks bag."

That was not directed at you, retmilspouse.

[iceman_1960]

"nothing good comes out of the south!"
Posted by seven-pesos

Tell that to Sandy Koufax."
----------------------------------

Koufax was a lefthanded pitcher; i.e. a "southpaw."

[barbaraf4]

I can't believe that Tillman is still in the headlines. This man is no more special than any other soldier killed by friendly fire. They are all special to their friends, families and for their willingness to give their lives for their country. Most do not have a mother demanding a Congressional Investigation and apologies from Generals.

We seem to spend a lot of time demanding closure and justice when a loved one is killed. Well, no matter how much dust you stir up, you can't bring them back to life. So, get over it and get on with your life. At least Tillman's mother was able to bury him - many other families do not get the opportunity to do so.

[retmilspouse]

Barbaraf4,
Watch out, they will be saying you think friendly fire deaths are unavoidable?

[down-ndirty]

"The families of these brave soldiers (ie Cindy Sheehan included) need to let their valiant volunteers die in peace." Posted by retmilspouse

If there's a possibility that the Cindy Sheehan's of the world can prevent this unnecessary killing of young American men and women then more power to them.

[dirtydog55]

retmilspouse wrote: "MCVet, Wow you are just mad at the world, huh? Did someone take your marbles away on the play ground? Get a life, you couldn't cut it in the military and have a miserable existence for a life, so you have to find fault in everyone that you see as a threat."

Wow!! For someone associated with the military you sure are insulting a veteran you don't even know simply because he disagrees with you. You should be ashamed; you know nothing about him.

Have you ever served? I didn't think so. Serving in uniform turns you off; not your thing. Why should you when you can get your "military perks" by marrying someone in the military.

LOL!

[barbaraf4]

retmilspouse

Unavoidable? No, but it is one of the facts of war, and it is probably more common than realized.

The first casualty of war is innocence.

[torocaca]

"Hey Besscannon, How long was your military duty to this country?" Posted by retmilspouse

retired military spouse: You never did say how long you served--in uniform. Just how long was it?

[torocaca]

"Lots of airline pilots who earn $100,000+ also belonged to the Guard or Reserves and volunteered to go full time military." Posted by Jebby_One

Actually, having served in the 'guard' with airline pilots who were former military pilots, I know that members of the guard have NO CHOICE but to go on active duty when called. Except, of course, those lucky ones who who used their "daddy's influence" and "jumped the waiting list" for the elite Texas Air National Guard. They had a tough life protecting Texas during the Vietnam war.


Ill-informed wackos!! LOL!!

[retmilspouse]

You are all right, you've got me I am down and crying uncle, I am confessing that I never served a day as active duty military. Wow how smart you all are to figure that out.

Now that is out in the open, I will never turn my back on all of my family members and friends that have served and are continuing to serve our country in the military. What ever they volunteer for I will support them. Not stab them in the back especially after they are dead. That would be to denegrate the oath that they took for this country and to God.

[retmilspouse]

Have you ever served? I didn't think so. Serving in uniform turns you off; not your thing. Why should you when you can get your "military perks" by marrying someone in the military.


Yes I am living the high life on all those "perks". Love to share them with you but they are so good, think I'll keep them all for myself. Especially that life insurance, man what a bargain.

[nynative1340]

" Hey Besscannon, How long was your military duty to this country?" Posted by retmilspouse
-------------------

Oh? Only Texans, military, and military spouses can post here?

retmilspouse, you remind me of that other spiteful, hateful bittch, Ann Coulter. ROFLMMFAO!!

[waynabq]

can't believe anyone is stupid (the term stupid would be a supreme understatement) enough to still be supporting Bush. Pat Tillman and over 3200 dead and 26,000 permanently maimed U.S. service men/women would have never been an issue if Bush hadn't lied about Iraq having WMDs and lied about Iraq's non-existent nuclear weapons program nor had he lied about the circumstances behind Pat Tillman's death. The only reason why this is still an issue is because Pat Tillman's mother didn't want her son's death to be used a propoganda tool for this sick, vile disgusting, corrupt Bush administration.

[retmilspouse]

nynative1340,

When you run out of so called facts for your comments, out comes the vulgar language. Always a good one to fall back on when you have nothing to say.

[retmilspouse]

Supporting your family and friends who are serving in the military does not mean you support the political administration of this country. Get a grip everyting that goes on in the US is not a government conspiracy.

[nynative1340]

"He is certainly the devil with Cheney and Rove. The Three Stooges have brought the world to its knees. Maybe Dems will figure it out. They never were the greatest chess players. They've silently watched our country go to hell without a whimper. And there isn't much going on now except trophy wins that don't make any difference." Posted by billysmith6

I tend to agree with you all you said. The Dems do seem to be weak teated compared to the agressive and greedy repugnicans. However, in my mind, the voters in 2000 and 2004 carry much of the blame. Had they done their homework, they would have known, as I did, exactly what kind of person Bush43 was.

His dyslexia of the mouth should have turned most voters off.

The fact that he was an alcoholic for the first 20 years of his adult life turned me off. The next was that he never ran a successful business; yeah, that qualifies to be the leader of the free world.

So why did people vote for him? Twice??

[nynative1340]

"When you run out of so called facts for your comments, out comes the vulgar language. Always a good one to fall back on when you have nothing to say." Posted by retmilspouse

Oh? You think the "b" word is vulgar? Stick around, or check out some of the other posts. 7-pisos is pretty calm tonight; he can get pretty sick. So can some of the others.

For someone who attacks people like BessCannon for simply posting her thoughts, you seem pretty thin-skinned. And then you attacked that vet, MCvet, without even engaging him in dialog.

OBTW: I do support the troops; they are doing a great job, considering the leadership at the top. I too, am a veteran; from long before Vietman to long after, from before the Cuba Crisis to after the first Gulf War. So I've got lots to say, and lots of facts to back it up.

Oh, and I apologise for the comparison to Coulter. No one deserves that, especially a military wife.

[retmilspouse]

Oh, and I apologise for the comparison to Coulter. No one deserves that, especially a military wife.

Apology accepted.

[waynabq]

Now Democrats and "Liberals" are being accused of being weak and not dealing with Bush's corrupt administration? There is some truth to that, but who is really to blame? Most of the blame should go to the tens of millions of monkey worshipping morons who not only voted for Bush once but twice and especially the numbskulls still supporting a monkey and his trainer, Karl Rove, who've basically hijacked the Whitehouse and this country.

[waynabq]

Now Democrats and "Liberals" are being accused of being weak and not dealing with Bush's corrupt administration? There is some truth to that, but who is really to blame? Most of the blame should go to the tens of millions of monkey worshipping morons who not only voted for Bush once but twice and especially the numbskulls still supporting a monkey and his trainer, Karl Rove, who've basically hijacked the Whitehouse and this country.

[waynabq]

Its all too easy for someone to tell a mother, like Mrs. Tillman, who's lost her son because of Bush's lies. Now if only that person could trade places with Ms. Tillman and have to live with the heartache and agony of losing a loved one. Bush and his mindless zombie army of supporters are missing the "sympathy" gene. Pat Tillman and his mother and the 3200 soldiers killed and 23,000 maimed, not to speak of the estimated 600,000 to 800,000 Iraqi civilians casualties are nothing but numbers and statistics. If there truly were a god, he/she/it would turn Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, O'Reilly, Rove into civilian Iraqis or Americans who've suffered lost of loved ones and limbs as a direct consequence of Bush's lies.