Government uses Tillman to sell war on terrorism

[UpInArms]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/8795421.htm?1c

ORLANDO, Fla. - (KRT) - Now it seems like just another major corporation using an athlete to endorse a product.

Only this time it wasn't Nike using Tiger Woods to sell golf balls. Or adidas using Tracy McGrady to sell sneakers. Or McDonald's using Yao Ming to sell Big Macs.

This time, it was the U.S. Army using Pat Tillman to sell a war.

When Tillman, the former NFL player, perished in the mountains of Afghanistan a month ago, we were told by the Army that he was killed leading a group of his men into the teeth of enemy fire. Now we find out there may not have even been an enemy. Now we find out his death was just a mistake, an accident.

<snip>

Pat Tillman gave up a newlywed wife and millions of dollars to go fight for his country. The fact that he was probably killed by a fellow American doesn't make him any less noble; it just makes the government a lot less believable.

...more...

(Mods - This article was not published as an editorial, it is in the "sports" section of the San Jose Mercury News. My opinion (for what it's worth) is that this will be considered a "news story for the sports readers" - hopefully a part of the public that might tune out that other part of the world - anyway, if you don't think this is LBN, please delete with my apologies in advance)

[wtmusic]

1. This smells a whole lot like the Jessica Lynch story

While the story's hot they're larger than life action heroes; when it's ice cold the truth comes out

[SquireJons]

2. Super Cynicism

OK, this is totally tin foil hat stuff here, but...

Tillman died from friendly fire, so they say now. What are the chances that he was deliberately killed in order to create an action figure, er I mean a 'hero?'

[wtmusic]

3. Never say never

but IMO his death has done more to harm the cause of imperialism

[maggrwaggr]

12. you think that's tinfoil? Here's what I originally thought:

I thought he was just going undercover, and they faked his death so they'd have not only a hero, but a man-without-a-name undercover black ops operative.

If it wasn't for his brother being so fucked up at his funeral I might still think that.

Then again, did anybody actually see his body?

Of course the friendly fire thing sorta put an end to that speculation. But the story smelled from the getgo, which is why my hackles went up. I knew somebody was lying about something.

[saigon68]

4. Used up---thrown away

[Hekate]

5. I already sent a letter to the Los Angeles Times

They had a short piece inside the A section, but a friend posted the longer version on another list. Anyhow, here's what I sent:

***Tillman killed by "friendly fire" after all***

Our government -- not our soldiers -- is an embarrassment to us all. If
Tillman could speak for himself I think he'd tell the truth, just as
Jessica Lynch did once she could get free of the clutches of the "Army
PR machine." Both of them got used: one a strong-jawed handsome white
athlete, the other a pretty blond country girl; both photogenic; both
somehow seen as a blank slate to write a story on. He's dead, she's
maimed, they both served as best they could.

The least we can do to honor them is tell the truth.****

Hekate (by her other name)

[caledesi]

6. Just saw on CNN that he was killed by friendly fire. nt

[rpannier]

7. You Know What They Say...

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive. The only difference between the Tillman incident and Iraq is:

Iraq: Bush lied, hundreds died.

Tillman died, then they lied.

[drumwolf]

8. how tacky

From the anecdotes I've read about Pat Tillman, I suspect he wouldn't have appreciated the government using his memory to sell their agenda.

I'm not sure precisely what the nuances of his political views were (I'm sure he was somewhat to the right of a lot of us overall), but from what I've read, on a personal level, he really did not like drawing attention to himself or being lionized as a god or a hero.

[Ernesto]

9. Soooo, this is how one earns a Silver Star?

By getting killed accidentally while doing your job? When I was in the 'nam with the USMC, a friendly fire death didn't rate anything but a Purple Heart.

[Lisa]

10. after the deaths of those Canadian soldiers ...

... the US military wanted to award them medals as well. Some of the brass were reportedly shocked and offended when some of the bereaved families politely refused and/or said that what they really wanted was an inquiry, and the punishment of those responsible.

[0007]

11. Tillman sure didn't want to spend more time with his family,

did he? What is wrong with this picture?