Just a day after approving a medal claiming former NFL player Pat Tillman had been cut down by "devastating enemy fire" in Afghanistan, a high-ranking general tried to warn President Bush that the story might not be true, according to testimony obtained by The Associated Press.[...]
[Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal] acknowledged he had suspected several days prior to approving the Silver Star citation on April 28, 2004, that Tillman may have died by fratricide.
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He said that suspicion led him to send a memo to top generals imploring "our nation's leaders," specifically "POTUS" _ the acronym for the president _ to avoid cribbing the "devastating enemy fire" explanation from the award citation for their speeches.
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The P4 message did not request or suggest any action to correct the information in the award recommendation package," wrote Thomas Gimble, then the Pentagon's top investigator.
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McChrystal testified in a previous investigation that he had decided not to tell the Tillman family of friendly fire "based on my thought that providing incorrect information before an initial investigation was complete was not in line with normal policies." However, Army regulations require that families be notified when such an investigation is under way - not when it is completed.
Like several other officers involved in the case, McChrystal testified that he did not know about the rule.
That's as possible as Cheney not recalling whether he sent Gonzo to Ashcroft's hospital bedside.
The general is a liar at least twice over then in the case of Pat Tillman's death (which, as you know, shows evidence of possible murder by fellow soldiers - not just "friendly fire"). Perhaps he did indeed warn Bush about the possibility of a different scenario than the one he offered for Tillman's death. If so, it would have been to avoid the repercussions of the real story coming out later. What he didn't realize was that this administration doesn't mind a bit to get caught making up stories. They never pay any consequences for it.
I am just amazed when officers lie about not knowing something to do with military rules. Shouldn't that in itself be grounds for at least demotion? You didn't know the rules? How did you get to be an officer?
Here's the memo McChrystal sent. As you can see, three top dogs were advised. Only Kensinger has yet had to pay any consequences - a letter of censure.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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