"Tillman was killed saving comrades" (NYDN, May 1, 2004)

[Paragon]

Down the memory hole... :mad:

NOTE: Not questioning Tillman's efforts in any way, but rather the "official" description of events after the news of his death.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/189104p-163619c.html

...Pat Tillman, the NFL-star-turned-G.I., was awarded a Silver Star yesterday for saving fellow Special Operations soldiers last month from a sneak attack by heavily armed militants in Afghanistan, the military disclosed yesterday.

As a team of Army Rangers was trapped in cavernous terrain and warding off incoming mortars and gunfire, Tillman, 27, led a team up a hill close to a position held by enemy fighters, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said.

Tillman's team had already made it out of the area but returned when an Army squad trailing them was ambushed.

"As they crested the hill, Tillman directed his team into firing positions and personally provided suppressive fire" with a machine gun to help the other unit, command officials said.

As the battle ensued, "Tillman's voice was heard issuing commands to take the fight to the enemy forces."

The firing soon stopped and the second Ranger team moved to safety - but Tillman was fatally wounded...

[oneighty]

1. The fog of war?

Not at all, it is bullshitting the public. Why? Darned if I know.

180

[Eric J in MN]

2. Today's account of what happened

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040529/ap_on_re_us/tillman_investigation_13

The Afghan official gave the AP a differing account, based on his conversation with an Afghan fighter from the group that was separated from Tillman's. The Afghan soldier said the two groups drifted apart during the operation in the remote Spera district of Khost province, close to the Pakistani border.

"Suddenly the sound of a mine explosion was heard somewhere between the two groups and the Americans in one group started firing," the official said.

"Nobody knew what it was — a mine, a remote-controlled bomb — or what was going on, or if enemy forces were firing. The situation was very confusing," the official said.

"As the result of this firing, that American was killed and three Afghan soldiers were injured. It was a misunderstanding and afterwards they realized that it was a mine that had exploded and there were no enemy forces."

[Nlighten1]

4. It sounds like to me that Mr. Rambo

got out ahead of the rest of his platoon and got fragged.

[democrank]

3. The Tillman story bothered me from day one

because I found the media hype way over the top. Yes, Mr. Tillman sacrificed mega bucks to join up and serve. If money is everything I guess he deserved the 24/7 "news" coverage. The way I look at it, he was no more of a hero than the soldier next to him who was also sacrificing.... by missing his child`s first steps or his mother`s funeral.

The Tillman story must have been narrated by the same person who developed the Jessica Lynch story.

I`ve supported veteran`s issues for decades. What I don`t support is trying to maufacture a John Wayne war script for casual amusement.

[maggrwaggr]

5. I knew they were lying about Tillman somehow

I suspected maybe he wasn't dead but agreed to go undercover and have his death faked so they could have a big hero on their hands to hype.

Nope, turns out it was just another pathetic piece of propaganda about one more tragic death. More blood on the hands of George Bush, and we're told it's a hero's blood.

Bullshit. Bush is responsible for this man's death just as he's responsible for thousands of others.

[Wind Dancer]

6. Well said!

The propaganda never ends, we need the truth from journalists and not the ongoing political BS this admin. spoon-feeds the country.

[maggrwaggr]

7. there's little that they haven't lied about

so pretty much everything they say is more than likely a lie.

It's just plain statistics and probability.