See, they needed heros to sell the war
Ranger Ordered to Hide Truth from Tillman's Parents
"An Army Ranger who was with former NFL start Pat Tillman when he died by friendly fire in Afghanistan testified Tuesday that he was told by a higher-up to conceal that information from Tillman's family. "I was ordered not to tell them," Army Specialist Bryan O'Neal told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform."
Who was it who said the first casualty of war is truth?
Boy, the one thing this Administration does get right is their marketing ability. The phrase, "they could sell a pump shotgun to a one-armed man" comes to mind. Anything that happens in this world is fair game for them to spin.
But then they do get caught, don't they?
The Tillman story told on the Hill is about a soldier being ordered to flat out lie in an attempt to cover up the friendly fire killing of another soldier, and turn the victim into a martyr for the Global War on Terror.
You can see why they were tempted. Tillman’s enlistment was the stuff that Hollywood is made of .. young, strong, handsome, had everything going for him .. turned down football fame and fortune to defend his country. His death in valiant combat is the stuff of enlistment posters.
Then we learn how his body was stripped and his uniform was burned .. and lies were told to his grieving family. Apparently the White House knew the truth and decided to go ahead and milk the story for PR purposes on two TV shows -- the correspondents' dinner on May 1, 2004, and a memorial service for Tillman two days later.
Then there's 'Saving Private Lynch.' Wait, you mean Jessica Lynch didn't wipe out an Iraqi armored brigade before she passed out? The military didn't lie about that too, did they?
I have to laugh when I remember how my Rightie friends swallowed the Lynch story hook, line and sinker .. and then put me down when I questioned certain things that didn't ring true and said it looked to be "designed for TV." Mainly because of how quickly the American flag was placed in her hand .. looked like they were carrying props.
Turns out I was right -- her "daring rescue" from compassionate Iraqi doctors and nurses was nothing but an abrupt hospital discharge with guns and a camcorder.
What’s shocking is how lying about both episodes came so easily to military officials .. and went so far. Tillman posthumously received a Silver Star based on a fabricated story of his death, and Lynch’s rescue in Iraq was turned into a quickie TV movie.
NEWSWEEK: Why did you decide to testify?
Jessica Lynch: Mainly it was about me just getting out the truth. I’ve spent the past four years trying to tell everybody the real truth, and not the stories they put together. They were false, ya know?
Jessica Lynch: Mainly it was about me just getting out the truth. I’ve spent the past four years trying to tell everybody the real truth, and not the stories they put together. They were false, ya know?
What was the greatest misinformation about you?
The whole Rambo story, that I went down fighting. It just wasn’t the truth.
The whole Rambo story, that I went down fighting. It just wasn’t the truth.
So what really happened?
I didn’t even get a shot off. My weapon had jammed. And I didn’t even get to fire. A rocket-propelled grenade hit the back of our [Humvee], which made Lori [Piestewa], my friend, lose control of the vehicle, and we slammed into the back of another truck in our unit.
Who is to blame for spreading the misinformation?
Well, I think really the military and the media. The military, for not setting the record straight and the media for spreading it, and not seeking the true facts...
Well, I think really the military and the media. The military, for not setting the record straight and the media for spreading it, and not seeking the true facts...
...The bottom line is the American people are capable of determining their own ideals of heroes and they don’t need to be told elaborate tales. [..]
That's right Jessica, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan certainly produce plenty of real heroes .. every day. The military did a disservice to all of its warriors when it inflated and rewrote the facts just to glorify the war.
If this war were so necessary to our national security as the Bushies would have us think -- why does it have to be pitched to us with disinformation .. flat out lies?
So, Bush White House and Pentagon, when next you tell us how well things are going in Iraq .. and we remember all your lies and deceit .. don't be too surprised when we sneer and say 'yeah right.'
