Retired Gen. Censured In Tillman Cover-Up

Gen. Philip Kensinger May Also Face Demotion For Errors Following Ex-NFL Player's Friendly-Fire Death

(CBS/AP)  The Army on Tuesday censured a retired three-star general for the chain of errors that followed the friendly-fire death in 2004 of Army Ranger Pat Tillman.

Army Secretary Pete Geren told a Pentagon news conference that Kensinger was "guilty of deception" and had deceived investigators.

"It's a perfect storm of mistakes, misjudgments and a failure of leadership," said Geren in announcing his decision after an investigation into the death of the former pro football player.

Kensinger headed Army special operations.

The general bore the brunt of the punishment. Nine other officers were criticized but not punished.

The panel will decide whether Kensinger should be stripped of his third star.

Kensinger denies he lied to investigators, but the Army is likely to demote him, which would cost him $900 a month in retirement pay, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

Geren said he considered recommending a court-martial but ruled it out. "I looked at many factors," he said. Kensinger, he said, "compromised his duty."

"He failed to provide proper leadership to the soldiers under his administrative control. ... He let his soldiers down," Geren said. "General Kensinger was the captain of that ship, and his ship ran aground."

Geren said that investigations have conclusively shown that accidental fire from U.S. troops was responsible for the death in Afghanistan of Tillman, who had walked away from a $3.6 million pro football contract to become an Army Ranger.

The Army initially suggested that Tillman, who was 27, had been killed in a firefight with enemy militia forces. The Army then arranged a ceremony to award Tillman a Silver Star for bravery.

Geren said the death "was a tragedy ... this was an accident."

The Army says Tillman still deserves the Silver Star because he was rushing to aid his fellow soldiers, but that medal now comes with an apology for compounding the family's grief, reports Martin.

Geren said he could understand how the Tillman family and other Americans might reach the conclusion that there was a cover-up.

"The facts just don't support this conclusion," he said. "There was no cover-up."

Still, he said, "We have made mistakes over and over and over, an incredible number of mistakes in handling this. We have destroyed our credibility in their eyes as well as in the eyes of others."

Geren cited "multiple actions on the part of multiple soldiers" in compounding the confusion that surrounded the death.

"There was never any effort to mislead or hide" or keep embarrassing information from the public, the Army official said.

Aside from his decision to censure Kensinger, Geren said that he was accepting recommendations by Gen. William Wallace, who conducted the investigation, for nine other officers.

These other officers included Brig. Gen. Gina Farrisee, director of military personnel management at the Pentagon, and Lt. Col. Jeff Bailey, the battalion commander who oversaw Tillman's platoon and played a role in the recommendation for his Silver Star. Both will receive memoranda of concern, Geren said.

Escaping any blame was Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, head of the military's Joint Special Operations Command. He oversees the military's most sensitive counterterrorism operations.

[cbs_oliver]

The cover up continues.

Demotion is not a suitable consequence for conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury.

[bombadil4]

It does seem like a possible scape-goating situation to dish out some largely symbolic penalty to an obscure already retired general. What's troubling--and more than wild compiracy theory--is the possibility Tilman was fragged. The initial doctor who examined his body was troubled that the bullets that had entered Tilman's head were like ducks in a row. This would be highly unusual for a man supposedly killled by random "friendly fire." When the doctor attempted to pass on his concerns, he was more or less instructed to shut up.

[slim1h2o]

Oh,... I meant to say I'm 47 also,... in my earlier post
and retired

[slim1h2o]

Posted by skyk at 07:40 AM : Aug 01, 2007
I agree with you! most of us has been taking off the employment rolls and no longer count toward the bottom line on the employment stats.

I have been retired for 2 yrs now, not my idea though, doctors refused to treat my medical condition,now I can't work. This country is in alot of trouble! Parents killing thier kids,etc,..etc Bush,..Cheny,...etc,...etc

[funktowne]

All I have to say is: "SkyK cleanly takes that point to the end-zone." If you seriously think this country is the innocent bystander in any a matter when it comes to world affairs, then you either have a mighty hedge fund, way too much money in government bonds, have a brick in your brain, or believe that Bush is your God.

[skyk-2009]

This country has not been attacked since 9/11, has had a steadily growing economy, steadily growing stock market and a low rate of unemployment. Yet, I get on this site and listen to liberals cry about everything. Amazing.

Posted by mpville72 at 08:42 PM : Jul 31, 2007
+ report abuse

You don't get out of the Bunker much do you? We have the LOWEST Standard of Living of all the G-7 nations, a National Debt our kids will NEVER be able to pay, the Worst Health Care System in the Free World, our Jobs have been shipped to Third World Countries, our Kids are dying in a War started on Lies in a country that had Nothing to do with any attack on us and YOU think everything is just fine? That's increditable!!

[brianbwb-2009]

Army Secretary Pete Geren told a Pentagon news conference that Kensinger was "guilty of deception" and had deceived investigators.

If that is true, it is accomplice to murder, by way of obstruction of the investigation, and he only gets demoted?

Funny how the elite claim "loss of face" as valid punishment for their own crimes (see Libby), but will not hesitate to jail some middle class, or poor schmuck for years, and totally ruin his or her life and family for the crime of enjoying a joint.

[robertr121]

Okay the regime has their scapegoat, now let's move on to the next scandal.

[seven-pesos]

not one southern state will vote for hillary...

guaranteed,
warranteed,
money back guarantee,
double your money back guarantee,
will kizz yo' azz guarantee,
bet my life on it guarantee,
bet my wife on it guarantee,
bet my daughter's virginity on it guarantee.

ha,ha,ha.

bush loving, southern, republican christian snakes...

nothing good comes out of the south.

[endofempire]

To shed some light on what seems to be a little ignorance about the M-16, some versions were designed to fire three-shot bursts as a selectable mode of fire. How do I know? I was a unit armorer when they started to be deployed. As for three rounds close together, I once saw a proper Kentuckyan put 10 rounds within the size of a fist at 300 yards with an M-16 A2. Officers getting shot by their NCOs? Happens all the time in wars... Look it up. It usually follows what NCOs perceive is a suicidal order that is being issued by a young officer straight from the manual. Bush ordered a soldier killed from the White House? Get real! You give him way too much credit. He barely knows how to tie his shoes, let alone the names of company-level officers in the field.

[tuckerndfw]

"Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger"
Posted by tuckerndfw

Ooh, sounds like a Jewish name, eh **********? Another Zionist at work, polluting the Master Race's gene pool.

How blue are your eyes, a$$hole?

Posted by gkc99 at 07:42 PM : Jul 31, 2007

Someone apparently spiked your kool-aid.

Perhaps you should seek professional help before it's too late.

[seven-pesos]

everybody except bush gets punished...

bush and his slave state republican christian snakes, that is.

if that's up to me.

i'd get rid of those idiot slave states...

i'd let the mexicans have them.

the south never does good for america.

white trash, reborns, republican snakes, christian creeps.

anybody got a confederate flag so i can wipe my azz?

[jonesforch]

jeff92706

He was murdered to keep him from complaining

Why on earth when they have "YOU"?

[roger_inkart]

With three rounds from an M-16 Pat Tillman was turned from Iraq war critic and Bush administration PR nightmare into an amazing pro-war piece of propaganda.

There is no level of H3ll deep or hot enough for the SOBs who did this. I hope the truth will come out, but I doubt it ever will. Some retired general gets a slap on the wrist (wink, wink) and somehow we're supposed to be satisfied justice was done?

Pat Tillman was a free-thinker and an opponent to the war in Iraq. It's little wonder he had to die. Not for his nation. Not to help stop al-Qaeda. But, sadly, to help the insane neo-con agenda of the Bush administration.

[jonesforch]

IMNHO

The truth ALWAYS comes out regradless of who you back

Jonesforch

[imnho]

It certainy possible for someone to have three close shots in the forehead. It is however very unlikely and makes me wonder if there is something more going on that has been hidden. It seems to me that deception of the voters has become a way of life with the people who started the war.

A retired three star general losing a star is not adequate for what has happened. I think they removed one of the generals star's so that the public would be satisfied that justice had been done. He's in retirement with an adequate pension and happy that he is not going to jail. What really happen might never be known.

The whole think was a big long mistake and no coverup. By the way I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I am trying to sell. Is anyone interested?

[jonesforch]

The truth ALWAYS comes out regradless of who you back.

[fascistusa]

ZEITGEISTmovie.com.

It was a Dark Time for The Rebellion.
The Empire had just killed a potential Anti-War Hero...

America is FASCIST. The Elite RULE us.

[seven-pesos]

five years in afghanistan and that idiot, bush, hasn't captured osama,

hasn't won the fight against the taliban.

hasn't won the fight in iraq.

actually, that creep, bush, hasn't accomplished one thing in his eight year presidency.

but they still love that idiot, bush, in the south.

"bush is a good christian"...they say in dixie.

"so we support him."

can you believe that *****?

war, hate, reborns, rednecks...

never a war the south couldn't lose.

nothing good comes out of the south.

[mpville72]

war, hate, christian creeps, republican snakes...

that's the south for you, folks!
Posted by seven-pesos at 08:52 PM : Jul 31, 2007

7 TACOS I was also wondering....
Do you think Speedy Gonzalez is faster than Mighty Mouse? I think it would be a good race.