The Pat Tillman story tells us everything we need to know about the United States’ failed policies in Afghanistan.
The events are familiar to most. Tillman was an NFL player who enlisted in the Army in the aftermath of 9/11. He was heralded by the Bush administration as an example of the best this country has to offer. When he was killed in Afghanistan, his family was told it was by enemy fire. Fully a month later, it was revealed that Tillman had in fact been a victim of mistaken identity and killed by members of his own platoon.
The Army knew it was friendly fire all along, and had most likely been given directives from above to go with the ‘enemy combatant’ story.
Congress has since held military investigations into the cover-up and the House Oversight Committee is still working on what the White House, Pentagon and official from the Bush Administration knew and when they knew it.
Here is Pat’s brother, Kevin (also a member of the Army), speaking in front of Congress about the cover-up.
The Bush Administration has evoked executive privilege in not releasing any documents on this case.
This tragic story is illustrative of the secrets and lies we are constantly told about our foreign policy endeavors.
Afghanistan should have been a slam-dunk. We knew how to maintain peace and create a stable government and yet we chose to put our resources in Iraq and allow Afghanistan to recede into the chaotic situation it is in today.
Instead the Taliban is just as strong as it was pre 9/11 – maybe stronger.
According to Scott Lindlaw of the AP in San Francisco, we may soon learn more details in this case. Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman will release a book in May. And author Jon Krakauer, best known for his books “Into Thin Air” and “Into the Wild,” takes a biographical look at Tillman in a book scheduled for release this fall.
I would love to see this issue surface in the general election, but I’m not holding my breath.
There’s so many lies to unravel, that I’m afraid the Tillman story will fall through the cracks.
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