kikipeepers asked
Nothing describes the pain, anguish and heartache of the 'war against terror' like the story of Pat Tillman. No other story so vividly illustrates military error, bumbling and cover-up. The Pentagon recently launched another investigation into Tillman's death. Almost a year ago, the Washington Post explored Tillman's death by friendly fire on an Afghanistan hillside. The original Pentagon story, on 22 April 2004, was that Tillman was struck by enemy fire, while getting out of a vehicle, and later died at a field hospital. Dozens of witness statements, e-mails, investigation findings, logbooks, maps and photographs obtained by The Washington Post show that Tillman died unnecessarily following botched communications, a mistaken decision to split his platoon over the objections of its leader, and negligent shooting by pumped-up young Rangers — some in their first firefight — who failed to identify their targets as they blasted their way out of a frightening ambush. The truth remains elusive. Another military investigation was launched in August. A recent San Francisco Chronicle review of the 2,000+ pages of testimony to date comes to a different conclusion than the official line in January. Coupled with interviews with family members and soldiers who served with Tillman, the Chronicle 'found contradictions, inaccuracies and what appears to be the military’s attempt at self-protection.' That pretty much sums up the fall 2004 investigation by the Washington Post. Key questions remain unanswered. For example, Tillman's family wants to know: 'When did top Pentagon officials know that Tillman’s death was caused by friendly fire, and why did they delay for five weeks before informing his family?'
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