bobdina
08-16-2010, 10:49 PM
Mary Tillman: 'Gen. McChrystal involved in orchestrating cover-up'
Mon Aug 16,2010 11:30 AM ET By Rick Chandler
The Tillman Story, a documentary about the life and death of NFL-star-turned-Army-Ranger Pat Tillman, is due for limited release on Friday. But there's already a perfect storm of controversy surrounding the main players in the saga; most notably General Stanley McChrystal, who signed off on the report that Tillman was killed by friendly fire in 2004. About a month after his death, the Army announced that Tillman was killed accidentally -- by his own men. Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, spoke with CBS Early Show co-anchor Erica Hill this morning on additional information that's coming out in the paperback version of her book, Boots On the Ground By Dusk: Searching For Answers In the Death of Pat Tillman. Mary Tillman, on McChrystal:
"I wrote the book, came out in 2008, and I indicate that McChrystal was involved in orchestrating the cover-up. He falsified the Silver Star. He was very aware that Pat was killed by friendlies."
"And then, when he was going to be promoted to the head commander in Afghanistan, I had contacted President Obama, I e-mailed him and written a letter and contacted members of Congress, just trying to remind them that this man needed to be scrutinized very carefully. And in the end, it turned out that he was pretty much meant for that position. He was a shoo-in. Of course, he was promoted. And, that is part of the foreword."
Mary responded, "The documentary in part is to try to present Pat as a human being and not this caricature that was created. But the biggest reason for this documentary is to point out the horrible way that he was used. His death was lied about by the military, by the government. But he's not an isolated incident. This happens on a regular basis. It's a systemic problem. It's not isolated to the Bush Administration. It's happened for years. And it's tolerated."
She continued, "Troops (are) being killed and the military lies to the family about what really happened."
Hill asked, "So, you feel that's something that is an ongoing problem for a number of families, they're not getting the full story from the government?"
Mary replied, "Yes. I believe that's true. I've met many of them."
Last week The Huffington Post released two letters written by Pat Tillman's father, Pat Tillman Sr., to the General in charge of the investigation, Gary M. Jones, ending one with "F*** you and yours."
I'm very interested to see this documentary, but don't expect to get definitive answers as to what exactly happened to Pat Tillman on that tragic day. As Mary Tillman herself said to CBS, no one will ever know the full truth, probably. However, Tillman's bravery and ultimate sacrifice for his country, and the shameful politics surrounding the cover-up during an election year, will remain as legacies, and should never be forgotten
http://outofbounds.nbcsports.com/2010/08/tillman-gen-mcchrystal-involved-in-orchestrating-the-cover-up.html.php
Mon Aug 16,2010 11:30 AM ET By Rick Chandler
The Tillman Story, a documentary about the life and death of NFL-star-turned-Army-Ranger Pat Tillman, is due for limited release on Friday. But there's already a perfect storm of controversy surrounding the main players in the saga; most notably General Stanley McChrystal, who signed off on the report that Tillman was killed by friendly fire in 2004. About a month after his death, the Army announced that Tillman was killed accidentally -- by his own men. Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, spoke with CBS Early Show co-anchor Erica Hill this morning on additional information that's coming out in the paperback version of her book, Boots On the Ground By Dusk: Searching For Answers In the Death of Pat Tillman. Mary Tillman, on McChrystal:
"I wrote the book, came out in 2008, and I indicate that McChrystal was involved in orchestrating the cover-up. He falsified the Silver Star. He was very aware that Pat was killed by friendlies."
"And then, when he was going to be promoted to the head commander in Afghanistan, I had contacted President Obama, I e-mailed him and written a letter and contacted members of Congress, just trying to remind them that this man needed to be scrutinized very carefully. And in the end, it turned out that he was pretty much meant for that position. He was a shoo-in. Of course, he was promoted. And, that is part of the foreword."
Mary responded, "The documentary in part is to try to present Pat as a human being and not this caricature that was created. But the biggest reason for this documentary is to point out the horrible way that he was used. His death was lied about by the military, by the government. But he's not an isolated incident. This happens on a regular basis. It's a systemic problem. It's not isolated to the Bush Administration. It's happened for years. And it's tolerated."
She continued, "Troops (are) being killed and the military lies to the family about what really happened."
Hill asked, "So, you feel that's something that is an ongoing problem for a number of families, they're not getting the full story from the government?"
Mary replied, "Yes. I believe that's true. I've met many of them."
Last week The Huffington Post released two letters written by Pat Tillman's father, Pat Tillman Sr., to the General in charge of the investigation, Gary M. Jones, ending one with "F*** you and yours."
I'm very interested to see this documentary, but don't expect to get definitive answers as to what exactly happened to Pat Tillman on that tragic day. As Mary Tillman herself said to CBS, no one will ever know the full truth, probably. However, Tillman's bravery and ultimate sacrifice for his country, and the shameful politics surrounding the cover-up during an election year, will remain as legacies, and should never be forgotten
http://outofbounds.nbcsports.com/2010/08/tillman-gen-mcchrystal-involved-in-orchestrating-the-cover-up.html.php