Pat Tillman Was Killed in Friendly Fire

Forums: News
Email this Topic • Print this Page

Army finds Tillman probably killed by friendly fire.

Former pro football player killed in Afghanistan

Saturday, May 29, 2004 Posted: 1:15 PM EDT (1715 GMT)

(CNN) -- U.S. Army Cpl. Pat Tillman, the former professional football player killed last month in Afghanistan, was probably killed by gunfire from his own unit during an intense firefight, the U.S. Army said Saturday.

"While there was no one specific finding of fault, the investigation indicated that Cpl. Tillman probably died of friendly fire while his unit was in combat with enemy forces," Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger Jr., of the Army's Special Operations Command ,said at a news conference at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

"The results of this investigation in no way diminish the bravery and sacrifice of Cpl. Tillman," Kensinger said. "Cpl. Tillman was shot and killed while responding to enemy fire without regard to his personal safety."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/05/29/tillman.report/index.html

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 1,708 • Replies: 20

No top replies

Is it not the ULTIMATE irony of this silly and unwanted war on Iraq?

0 Replies

This crap happens all the time, it's just not generally reported.

0 Replies

cavfancier, yes. In this war, Bush administration jumps into all things, read it conclusions, too early like Berg's beheading, Jessica Lynch story etc., and try to turn these serious events to their advantage.

0 Replies

War and propaganda always go hand in hand, sadly. It's been that way since time immemorial.

0 Replies

Yes. You have a point. Its public opinion. Hopefully, this time around, it will change so much that Pres.Bush is sent packing.

0 Replies

The public face of war really changed with Vietnam, because it was the first American war to be televised, and people were horrified. Let's hope the media attention given to this current war is enough to get Bush booted.

0 Replies

What astonishes me most, is what kind of human being it would take to kill so many without a valid reason and still defend the mass murders with a smile on their faces. Did you see Sec.Rumsfeld yesterday? These people have no conscience at all.
Frankly speaking, the line that showed some difference in between Hitler and Bush cabal, is becoming finer with each passing day.

0 Replies

I am lucky to be Canadian, so I don't generally watch American politics as it disgusts me. You will probably find many allies here who also hate Bush. Wink

0 Replies

I don't hate him or any human being for that matter. I just happen to despise him because of the fact that he was THE most undeserving individual ever to disgrace the Oval Office. He was not qualified, he was not even elected fairly, he had criminal record, he did not serve in armed forces, he was a failed businessman, his brain was probably deranged with alcohol and substance abuse, he probably raped a woman (this I am not sure but there are links available to the story).....and so on.

0 Replies

I should rephrase then...there are a lot of people here who would be happy to see Bush go away, and who would agree with your feelings. If I could vote, it would not be for Bush.

0 Replies

I don't think this takes ANYTHING away from the decision the Mr. Tillman made to leave a future in the NFL behind to do what he thought was right.

And my opinion on much of this "War On Terror" is fairly well-known in A2K space.

0 Replies

I don't think the distinction between friendly fire, or otherwise bears mention.

Not taking offense to the thread, but once a person steps into harm's way--no matter how they die--their sacrifice is not diminshed.

0 Replies

Sofia I completely agree and after all this man did not join the Army to be the poster boy for the Bush political campaign he did it for the people of the US and the world.

It is hard to believe in this day that after Pearl Harbor and for Korea that young men and women stood in line to sign up to defend their country.

0 Replies

Sofia and JoanneDorel, many thanks to you and others for your varied opinions.
In no way, Mr.Tillman's sacrifice is wasted and diminished. Thats not the point I am trying to make. Its about the exploitation of such news by Bush propogandists that bothers me.
Its similar to Jessica Lynch's rescue. She is a great individual who refused to take any credit that was given to her at the time and instead, appreciated the sacrifice her mate made in the mission. Yes. In war propoganda is made to sway public's opinion this or that way but to openly take credit for things that never happened, is one heck of a cheap trick, IMO!

0 Replies

Sonny:

OK, OK, OK.

Just makin' sure.

0 Replies

Sonny San wrote:

Its similar to Jessica Lynch's rescue. She is a great individual who refused to take any credit that was given to her at the time and instead, appreciated the sacrifice her mate made in the mission. Yes. In war propoganda is made to sway public's opinion this or that way but to openly take credit for things that never happened, is one heck of a cheap trick, IMO!

Indeed, personal disasters are taken for propaganda:

Quote:

Cpl Tillman's status as a national hero will be hardly dented by the new details of his fate. It is an embarrassment for the US military, however, which had earlier given a fairly detailed account of the events leading up to his death. In that version, Cpl Tillman was said to have died after the second unit in a two-unit convoy came under attack and he turned back with his men to help his comrades.

"Through the firing, Tillman's voice was heard issuing fire commands to take the fight to the enemy on the dominating high ground," read an army citation when the soldier was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star posthumously for valour. "Only after his team engaged the well-armed enemy did it appear their fires diminished."

It now appears that an Afghan soldier who was alongside Cpl Tillman as they returned to the first unit was mistaken as an enemy combatant by one of the US soldiers and fired upon. Other US soldiers began shooting in the same direction, at which point Cpl Tillman was fatally wounded. It seems, moreover, that there were no enemy soldiers in the vicinity at the time.

source: 'Friendly fire' killed American football star in Afghanistan

0 Replies

How did the Bush administration propagandize Tillman or Lynch?

I think the opposition just doesn't like any news that makes the war seem 'heroic', for lack of a better word.

People like Lynch and Tillman create positive news regarding the war. This isn't Bush's fault. The fact that Bush admires them is hardly odd. It would be odd if he didn't.

0 Replies

"Through the firing, Tillman's voice was heard issuing fire commands to take the fight to the enemy on the dominating high ground," read an army citation when the soldier was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star posthumously for valour. "Only after his team engaged the well-armed enemy did it appear their fires diminished."

That's heroic, indeed, and worth to be be admired by the President.

"It now appears that an Afghan soldier who was alongside Cpl Tillman as they returned to the first unit was mistaken as an enemy combatant by one of the US soldiers and fired upon. Other US soldiers began shooting in the same direction, at which point Cpl Tillman was fatally wounded. It seems, moreover, that there were no enemy soldiers in the vicinity at the time."

0 Replies

Walter--

If he'd caught the flu and died in service to his country, he would be no less heroic to me. They are all (minus any service personnel who torture or act in a reprehensible manner) heroic, to me.

0 Replies

Pat Tillman Was Killed in Friendly Fire

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know