Please explain to me two things: 1. What good does it do anyone to expose the fact Tillman was killed by friendly fire and prosecute those involved? 2. Does the fact it was friendly fire take away one iota from Tillman’s heroism and fine example to patriotic America?
Neiman - 08:03am on 03/31/2007
The issue here is not whether the early reporting of Tillman’s death was a public relations blunder, as your article suggests. The issue is whether the military improperly took advantage of Tillman’s sacrifice by intentionally lying to the American people in an effort to glorify the war. At least one general knowingly perjured himself by lying on Tillman’s application for a Silver Star. The Silver Star, which is the fourth highest medal in the military, is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. It has never before been awarded to someone who was killed by friendly fire. When generals lie on Silver Star applications, it denigrates the sacrifices of every lesser know hero that received the Silver Star based on merit, and causes us to question the military’s tradition of honor. If our military leaders are willing to perjure themselves as part of a public relations plan, then we have already lost what most of the soldiers thought they were fighting for.
JR - 09:03am on 03/31/2007
JR
I agree. Its just a ‘Jesus narrative’. These are standard psychological fodder for war ‘fire’ in cultures world round - an interesting phenom to research, they come in all varieties (flight 93). Sacrifice, bravery, ultimate sacrifice… oh wait, he was killed by friendly fire (just like the passengers on flight 93). ...around the time he was beginning to become anti-’War on Terror’. A potentially high profile critic with some real credibility. The real questions are: Was the friendly fire really accidental? What errors caused it to happen that may be avoided in the future? How many less famous soldiers have been killed by friendly fire that were not truthfully disclosed?
Sparkie Arbuckle - 10:03am on 03/31/2007
JR; Very thoughful! I cannot deny your points as being quite valid.
Neiman - 10:03am on 03/31/2007
JR: I had to go to Urgent Care today, feeling pretty sick; and while sitting there I thought about your post a lot. Normally, I would agree with you 100%, it was a very thoughtful post and I think quite accurate. But, after much thought, I have concluded that you are, considering this time in our history, wrong. Why?
Today most liberals and a growing, significant number of conservatives are demanding sinless perfection from the military. If a soldier or officer makes a mistake in judgement, no matter how honorable their motives; the majority of America is ready, willing, even excited at the prospects of nailing them to the nearest cross.
There has been no evidence presented to date to suggest anyone involved in this cover-up of the cause of Tillman’s death had any ill motives towards him or had any desire but to protect the family and honor a man of valor. Were these bad judgments? Yeah, in hindsight in a technical sense they were, but was it such a terrible thing that careers should be ruined? We are asking our military, enlisted and officers to go into harms way, to make instant life and death decisions and in other ways bolster the moral of our troops caught up in a life and death struggle to protect America; but if they make any mistakes - screw them, to hell with them, the main thing is we Americans cannot tolerate any mistakes in our soldiers, the same kinds of mistakes that we demand to be forgiven for at home.
My father (WW-II), Brother (Korea), Brother (Vietnam), me (Vietnam), my Grandson and Nephew (Iraq), my son gave his life 3/18/05. What would I tell my grandson, nephew and future decendents today? If you are in the military get the hell out ASAP, if you are not in for God’s sake don’t go in; this country is ready to punish the slightest mistake by our soldiers and if they can ruin your life that is even better; and they will never honor you for your sacrifices, they will never respect your courage and valor. No my friend, to hell with America if that is the way they feel, if they demand a standard of sinless perfection, to hell with this country!
Please explain to me two things: 1. What good does it do anyone to expose the fact Tillman was killed by friendly fire and prosecute those involved? 2. Does the fact it was friendly fire take away one iota from Tillman’s heroism and fine example to patriotic America?
The issue here is not whether the early reporting of Tillman’s death was a public relations blunder, as your article suggests. The issue is whether the military improperly took advantage of Tillman’s sacrifice by intentionally lying to the American people in an effort to glorify the war. At least one general knowingly perjured himself by lying on Tillman’s application for a Silver Star. The Silver Star, which is the fourth highest medal in the military, is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. It has never before been awarded to someone who was killed by friendly fire. When generals lie on Silver Star applications, it denigrates the sacrifices of every lesser know hero that received the Silver Star based on merit, and causes us to question the military’s tradition of honor. If our military leaders are willing to perjure themselves as part of a public relations plan, then we have already lost what most of the soldiers thought they were fighting for.
JR
I agree. Its just a ‘Jesus narrative’. These are standard psychological fodder for war ‘fire’ in cultures world round - an interesting phenom to research, they come in all varieties (flight 93). Sacrifice, bravery, ultimate sacrifice… oh wait, he was killed by friendly fire (just like the passengers on flight 93). ...around the time he was beginning to become anti-’War on Terror’. A potentially high profile critic with some real credibility. The real questions are: Was the friendly fire really accidental? What errors caused it to happen that may be avoided in the future? How many less famous soldiers have been killed by friendly fire that were not truthfully disclosed?
JR; Very thoughful! I cannot deny your points as being quite valid.
JR: I had to go to Urgent Care today, feeling pretty sick; and while sitting there I thought about your post a lot. Normally, I would agree with you 100%, it was a very thoughtful post and I think quite accurate. But, after much thought, I have concluded that you are, considering this time in our history, wrong. Why?
Today most liberals and a growing, significant number of conservatives are demanding sinless perfection from the military. If a soldier or officer makes a mistake in judgement, no matter how honorable their motives; the majority of America is ready, willing, even excited at the prospects of nailing them to the nearest cross.
There has been no evidence presented to date to suggest anyone involved in this cover-up of the cause of Tillman’s death had any ill motives towards him or had any desire but to protect the family and honor a man of valor. Were these bad judgments? Yeah, in hindsight in a technical sense they were, but was it such a terrible thing that careers should be ruined? We are asking our military, enlisted and officers to go into harms way, to make instant life and death decisions and in other ways bolster the moral of our troops caught up in a life and death struggle to protect America; but if they make any mistakes - screw them, to hell with them, the main thing is we Americans cannot tolerate any mistakes in our soldiers, the same kinds of mistakes that we demand to be forgiven for at home.
My father (WW-II), Brother (Korea), Brother (Vietnam), me (Vietnam), my Grandson and Nephew (Iraq), my son gave his life 3/18/05. What would I tell my grandson, nephew and future decendents today? If you are in the military get the hell out ASAP, if you are not in for God’s sake don’t go in; this country is ready to punish the slightest mistake by our soldiers and if they can ruin your life that is even better; and they will never honor you for your sacrifices, they will never respect your courage and valor. No my friend, to hell with America if that is the way they feel, if they demand a standard of sinless perfection, to hell with this country!