Posted on 03/04/2006 1:15:22 PM PST by Glenn
Edited on 03/04/2006 1:43:51 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
The death of Pat Tillman was a terrible loss for this country.
Not anymore of a loss than the death of any other one of our service members serving in the GWOT.
Must respectfully disagree.
The death of every soldier is tragic. But the death of a high-profile soldier, one who was a poster boy for the Army, is even more so. His loss has the possibility to damage morale or recruitment, just as his presence in the Armed Forces had the potention to boost them.
The Army (and the NFL) built him up. They have more to lose than with other deaths.
That in no way diminishes the sacrifices of any soldier. But pretending that this particular death can't hurt the Army doesn't make any sense.
"Fraggings"
Notice they happened late in our involvement.
http://members.aol.com/warlibrary/vwfrg.htm
Well, I must respectfully disagree with your opinion. I find it insulting that you would say that Tillman was a more valuable soldier than any other soldier in the war, just because he was famous. Obviously, the Pentagon disagreed with you too, because it's quite obvious that his chain of command made no efforts to keep him away from any real danger.
He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously, which is pretty much the standard. If he was so freakin special, why didn't he get a MOH?
Tillman was a good soldier from what I've read about him. He was a terrific patriot and American, to walk away from millions of dollars playing football and serve his country. But his death is no more of a loss to the Army or this country than the death of any other soldier. If you think it is, I'd like to give you the names of several widows I know. You can pay your respects to them, and tell them their husband's life, and their contribution to the GWOT wasn't worth as much as Tillman's was.
Agreed.
Just an additional PR problem.
Tell me they didn't do that.
It does reminds me of the stories I heard about the sprawling base at Long Binh in 1970 while on my second tour. Some called it USARV HQ. while it was nicknamed Pentagon East. Supposedly there were courtesy patrols on the base that consisted of a field grade officer and a senior non-com. Their job, among other things, was to check for uniform violations and properly shined jungle boots.
I just hope that (if they charge someone) it's based on objective facts rather than political expediency. Tillman's death is a tragedy (as is everyone's death), but many people die due to the fog of war. You can try your darndest to minimize it, but you'll always have it. I would hate to see some honest soldier railroaded just so the Family can have someone to blame.
First of all, thank you for your service, JTH.
I think highball is referring to the possible pr problem for the Army, not Tillman's worth to it.
Add me to the conspiracy. Is burning the uniform and body armor SOP?
Although all our military guys are wonderful individuals they are not without human failings. A group as elite as the Rangers is already special and a new high profile more-than-special person could easily be resented. Those guys don't play bean bag and all of us are impressionable and subject to suggestion. Some guy may have popped off and another took him up on it.
Thank you, that's exactly what I meant.
The Army used him as a recruiting tool. His death, if it was by foul play, is a major black eye to the Army's PR efforts.
I want to make it very clear that every lost soldier is a tragedy. But from the Army's perspective, they would look upon some deaths as more problematic than others, and that's why they must have a really good reason for reopening this case.
"The end of neo-conservative denial, innocence and naivete for one."
Stories like this are a regular roach motel for trolls like you and some of the others who jumped on a headline to spread outrageous lies.
Behold the story:
Investigation Launched Into Tillman's Death
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, March 4, 2006; 6:03 PM
The Army is opening a criminal investigation into the friendly fire death of former NFL player Pat Tillman to probe whether negligent homicide charges should be brought against members of his Ranger unit who killed him in Afghanistan nearly two years ago, according to defense officials.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/04/AR2006030400824.html
A couple of months ago, the local free alternative newspaper - which I only ever read while doing my laundry, and usually walk away marvelling at the torrent of B/S unleashed within its pages - had an entire article detailing their allegations that Pat Tillman was killed because he thought the Iraq war was "so fu--ing illegal." The allegations were that he supported the Afghanistan war, got sent to Iraq, and then to Afghanistan; along the way got disenchanted, and upon his return to the United States had scheduled a meeting with Noam Chomsky. The paper claimed that Tillman was killed to silence him, lest the poster boy for post-9/11 recruitment become an anti-war hero.
I would hate to see that turn out to be true. But, as you said, the Army probably has a good reason for reopening the case - and its not the conspiracy theories of a left-wing alternative newspaper.
Thanks.
From the same piece:
"Although there have been several military investigations into the Tillman shooting, this will be the first criminal investigation. A defense official said that it will likely focus on the potential charge of negligent homicide, which means investigators will try to determine if soldiers fired recklessly without intending to kill their fellow soldier."
Criminal probe?
Wow. Sounds as if there may have been some bad blood between the units which has come out in interviews. This is not good news.
This is a nightmare.
Wow, grist for the propaganda mill.
At least CNN hasn't changed the title to "Tillman Shot. Cheney Was There" Not yet, at least. Give CNN a chance... they would change the headline if they thought they could.
You are the only one that is making any sense.
I cannot believe that this happened. How do you KNOW it? I'd like to know more.
Thanks for your service by the way.
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