The Fog of Fame: Pat Tillman as everyone’s political football

[babylonsister]

http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/2142/1/

The Fog of Fame: Pat Tillman as everyone’s political football
Written by Stan Goff
Thursday, 09 August 2007


snip//


Pat Tillman was a lot more than a football player, and in all the right ways also a lot less — humble when he needed to be, unassuming, tender with loved ones. He joined the Army because he didn’t trust fame. He was afraid it might keep him from growing up and being honest and being responsible. He saw a lot of other young people — and the generations before him — going through this grunt-thing in the military, and had this idea that having a physical gift shouldn’t be some kind of exemption.

Anyone might argue with that for a host of reasons; I would.

But it is something essential about Pat Tillman that needs to be out there… that sense of ethics that will not substitute words for deeds. And he hated idealizations.

He was 26 when he fell. Pretty thoughtful for 26, in this culture especially.

The Congressional Committee investigating Pat’s death, a committee that fawned all over Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Meyers, and John Abazaid on August 1st needs to take note. I’m angry, so I’m saying it. Sometimes invective is appropriate.

Most members of that Committee haven’t the ethical sense to qualify for wiping Pat’s ass. Instead they kissed Donald Rumsfeld’s, Richard Meyers’, and John Abazaid’s. I’ll be coming back to this shameful and anemic display. It’s emblematic of not just Congress, but in particular of Democrats who continue to tip-toe around anything to do with the war as if they’re walking through a rattlesnake pit.

more...


this is an awesome, long article-worth your time, I hope:

http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/2142/1/

[stillcool]

1. thank you...

long article, but well worth the read. It's so refreshing to have regained some logic to my senses.

[hisownpetard]

2. Many thanks, babylonsister, for posting what I believe is THE definitive article

regarding the death of Pat Tillman and the subsequent cover-up of the facts.
As you said, the article is very long, but it is totally worth the time and effort if you have
any unanswered questions concerning this very disturbing topic.

Dannie Tillman is the steadfast heroine here who perseveres in trying to unearth
the truth in the face of duplicitous government and military officials whose only concern
is putting a happy face on their ugly war. As this article makes clear, it's no wonder
that Pat and Kevin Tillman grew up to be idealistic, intelligent men with a strongly
developed sense of integrity; they take after their mother.

I know she will not give up until the truth is out there. Let's make sure this does not
fade away until those who are responsible for this travesty are held up to the light
and... (how many times have we heard these words?)... held accountable.

[babylonsister]

3. Thank you, hisownpetard, for 'getting' it'! And yes, long article. nt

[hisownpetard]

4. What really made this article stand out for me, among other things, was the way

the author explained how important it is to commissioned officers on a career track
to be able to check off every bullet point ON TIME and, therefore, why 'time is of the essence,'
means more than even the military situation of the moment. How frightening, that lives can
be lost when ambitious officers put their own career advancement ahead of
the inditia that might lead them to postpone advancing under less than perfect conditions.

(Sorry for the verbosity - it's late and I'm tired, but wanted to make this post).

[babylonsister]

5. Thank you so much for reading it; it is important. nt

[hisownpetard]

6. I can't understand why more people haven't read it or responded. Can you? This is

such an important issue, much bigger than the Tillman case alone.

[cascadiance]

7. We have to take OUT everyone involved in this coverup/mess not only for justice, but to stop a coup!

I still believe the core of what Bushco is trying to do with executive privilege and forcing us to "look the other way" with Tillman's situation is to protect his key lieutenants from being pushed out of the military to take away his "ace in the hole" card he might play to have a coup keep him and Cheney in power and cancel the elections. The possible prospect of that alone for me says we need to MAKE SURE that all of these folks that are involved are dealt with swiftly and to the full extent of what the law allows.