They burnt the man's diary

[dsc]

I got done watching Countdown just awhile ago and I am floored by one detail that was stated so fast it could have been overlooked. Within days after Tillman's death they burnt his diary. I just can't believe they would do that. Bad enough that poor family loses their beloved Pat, but to lose his last writings that is just evil. Shame on these people.

[DURHAM D]

1. It was part of the Pentagon's coverup.

It wasn't personal. The burning was for the war effort.

[dsc]

2. that doesn't make alot of sense

His diary can't have the details of his death as he was dead.

[eleny]

12. Tillman was against the war in Iraq

Who knows what thoughts he shared in his diary. Maybe his writings didn't fit well with the army's using him as a recruiting tool.

[liberalnurse]

21. I thought he was in Afghanistan?

Didn't he die before *bush invaded Iraq?

[bleever]

24. His first tour was in Iraq.

He was on his second tour, in Afghanistan, when he died.

[liberalnurse]

27. Oh, okay....thank you for helping me.

Since this is in the news a lot more lately, I think I should go back and review the story surrounding his death....and more bush lies as they apply.

[eleny]

38. I heard Olbermann's interview with his mom on today's show

It was in the audio of his radio interview. She talked about his opinion of the Iraq war. Maybe you can catch the replay.

Sorry for the delayed reply. Our net connection has been off and on sketchy today.

[BlueEyedSon]

59. You can bet *that* was in his diary!

[wicket]

48. If nothing else, please read this:

Pat Tillman: Remember his name

It's from when Sports Illustrated, well written & uber heartbreaking but pulls no punches.

RIP Pat :cry:

[scarletwoman]

64. Wow! That is an amazing article! Thank you so much for posting it!

I wish everyone else in this thread would take the time to read it -- it's too good to be so unnoticed.

[wicket]

72. You are very welcome!

:hi:

[loudsue]

68. Thanks for bringing in that article, wicket. What an amazing man Tillman was.

And there have been so many men and women and children -- American, Iraqi, Afghani -- whose lives were as special in their own way as Tillman's was -- who are now dead because of bush's war of choice and swagger.

May all of the neocons, and their enablers, who pushed this war through carry the weight on their souls for what they have done.

Absolutely awesome article that everyone should read. The author gets it.

:kick::kick::kick:

[wicket]

73. He certainly was

It breaks the heart :cry: And it's horrible what his family has had to go through :cry:

[youngdem]

14. It could indicate his opinions, and he was a very public figure

If he was writing something embarrassing or worse to the administration, they could never assail his character, and that is what they do....kill the messenger.

I don't know what was in it, but it is conceivable that the burned it because they couldn't take the risk that a dead national hero's last known words were against the war or some aspect thereof, and the effect they could have on the national opinion of the war.

Again, I don't know but his family sure suspects there was more to his death than accidental fire. His mother was on NPR and she intimated that she believed more was at play than she could prove and was willing to assert publicly right then.

I used to just suspect a simple tragic common fuckup in the fog of war. As I get to understand that perhaps he was questioning at least aspects of the company line, it adds a wrinkle. No doubt about it.

And whenever evidence is destroyed, you have to wonder why someone took the risk of incriminating themselves by destroying it if there was no harm to come from it continuing to exist.

[live love laugh]

15. It may have had details about other activities that the did not want

exposed.

[DURHAM D]

16. He was no doubt writing down his views on the invasion of Iraq.

He was against it. Because the military had made him into such a hero they could not let his changing views get out in the public.

Also, I doubt he would have been allowed to return to the states and give interviews. He was becoming a major problem.

Note: I guess my comment that made no sense to you must now make more sense since everyone else has explained it to you.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

18. Yeah, he'd have been on talk shows.

They couldn't handle that.

[Morgana LaFey]

30. What if he'd felt unsafe, threatened? Or WAS threatened and

made note of it? What if he'd discussed how his superiors cover things up? There could be a LOT of various types of unflattering "evidence" in there.

[Leopolds Ghost]

50. It makes perfect sense. You're unaware of what Tillman was saying when alive; hence your reaction

Which is just what the Pentagon intended when they burned his diary

-- and prevented him from posthumously campaigning for Kerry, a figure
who is universally loathed as "unsupportive of the troops" here on DU.

Perfect patsies for their psy-ops efforts, which was to win the next election in 2004.

[stranger81]

62. maybe he saw something he shouldn't have [n/t]

[TahitiNut]

3. Just another friendly little fire.

:puke: One can never underestimate the "military mind."

[roamer65]

4. Sounds like they read it and didn't want it going public.

[Burma Jones]

5. Tillman could have been fragged

his diary might have described "tensions" between him and his comrades in arms......That wouldn't help the myth.....

[Solly Mack]

6. you gotta wonder what was in it

I know I do

[jimshoes]

7. That seems like a totally

callous and disrespectful thing to do regardless of what was written in it. Something tells me that something Pat Tillman knew about or saw happen troubled him to the point of possibly blowing the whistle on some misdeed or other. I don't think we will ever know now for certain, but a more thorough investigation than what has been done up to now just might shed more light on the circumstances. It just seems there's more to the story.

[hlthe2b]

8. agree....

Divining within the myriad of indefensible, despiccable wrongs done to this family and this man is difficult, but to destroy that last tangible extension of Tillman is so very unforgiveable.

[lonestarnot]

9. They intentionally killed the poor man. They had to burn it!

[walldude]

13. I agree.. had this been an accident then they wouldn't

have felt the need to spin the story. I think the diary would have incriminated someone.

[lonestarnot]

20. Have you seen their account of how the accidental kill took place?

It's total bullshit.

[walldude]

28. I started to watch the press conference yesterday

and got about 5 minutes in before I had to shut it off. Just listening to them try to explain why it was going to be so difficult to explain what happened made my head hurt..

[lonestarnot]

34. I forced myself long ago to watch, and trust me their splain'n was not done well.

[Richard Steele]

39. No, no, no..they ACCIDENTALLY shot him in the head. Three times. Accidentally.

And burning a soldier's personal items is just standard
procedure after you accidentally shoot him in the head
three times, donchaknow.

[elehhhhna]

44. while he was screaming "I'm Pat Tillman", in English, to them

fishy fishy fishy

[wicket]

46. His last words were:

"I'm Pat Fucking Tillman, dammit!"

:cry:

[ecstatic]

51. Heartbreaking. So he KNEW it was his own side that was killing him

What a horrible way to go... Hopefully it was quick but I doubt it considering he had time to notice who was shooting at him.

[wicket]

52. The incident lasted several minutes

He kept yelling "Friendlies" and screaming his name. He knew. :cry: :cry:

[Marnieworld]

54. OMG

I didn't know that it was this clear. It should definitely be investigated. So sad and sick and twisted.

Every time I see his picture I want to cry. I just say silently to him, "I'm so sorry. You deserved so much better."

:cry: :grr:

[sanskritwarrior]

70. He tried to get them to stop shooting

but in a firefight even a friendly one you can hear almost nothing over the roar of automatic weapons.......Saying I'm Pat fucking Tillman with weapons going off does nothing if no one can hear you over their roar.........I personally believe this was a tragic accident made worse by bungling investigators........the only part that bothers me is the diary burning, hell maybe someone in his platoon had done something less than soldierly and Pat wrote about it. Was there an order given to burn the diary or did someone who might have done something to warrant a diary entry and possible crimnal prosecution burn it.......

I don't buy the conspiracy, the Army aint that smart......I ought to know 13 years in........

[wicket]

71. They burned his uniform too

I believe he was fragged.

[tom_paine]

65. Yes. 90%+ chance Tillman was murdered

By Loyal Bushies, who I have absolutely no doubt have been rewarded with promotions and great assignments and perhaps a job on Fox Infoganda after their service is over.

Like the many thousands of felonies large or small perpetrated or initiated by Busheviks since they stole the nation first in 2000, a simply study could blow the lid off this and bring it back into the public eye, because you know these Loyal Bushies have been getting away with so much for so long they have not even felt the need to cover their tracks very much.

As in Gonzogate, the slightest scrutiny will likely yield a torrent of incriminating circumstantial evidence.

Wish I had the time and resources to follow this through myself. Maybe someone who does...will.

As the story (maybe partly true by this late date, but who knows, really) Tillman's squad broke into two parts. My personal belief is that the bunch that went with Tillman were preselected to be Loyal Americans.

The other half was Loyal Bushies. I also wonder if an unusually high number of inbound transfers had brought some "newbies" to the squad shortly before his death.

How many in that second company transferred out shortly after the murder? Where did they go? How quickly have the men in the Loyal Bushie Squad been promoted and gained command. I would place a rather large bet, sight unseen, that at minimum 70% of them have met or exceeded the maximum speed with which it is possible to receive promotions.

But we will never know until someone does the "legwork" and compiles the data.

The same way I had been predicting for YEARS that the Busheviks, being New Totalitarians, but Totalitarians all the same, would rapidly wield their Law Enforcement Control to further Sovietize America (without the Commie economics, natch).

The same way I cried out, much of it archived here @ DU for a study which would reveal not only that but another study needs to be done revealing the utter corruption of what happens when a Federalist Society defendant or plaintiff goes before a Federalist Society judge (or any Loyal Bushie for that matter).

Hint: you will likely see the same semi-Totalitarian numbers you see in DoJ prosecutions i.e. 80% of the investigations being directed at the Opposition while 20% goes to The Party. They are not yet bold enough to go 100-0% but 80-20% is closer to Nazi/Soviet numbers of 100-0% that I would have guessed.

Sound like fantastic speculation. Maybe. In an alternate reality in which our democratic-republic is strong and healthy with a fierce independent press, it WOULD be fantasy.

Of course in such a world, the Tillman Family has their son's armor and diary.

It is not our world, the one we live in. It is not Bush-Occupied America, which has in common with Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union the fact that a vastly higher number of "conspiracy theories" turn out to be absolute truth. Oh, and a grotesquely corrupt leadership to whom the loss of a major city means NOTHING beyond political damage caused to them.

[Horse with no Name]

10. These people are pure evil

Pure, unadulterated evil pondscum.
We only have to assume that it held evidence that incriminates them.
Maybe he feared for his life.

[Jacobin]

11. How is this different from what the KGB might do?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

19. actually, the KGB was more talented at a cover-up. But give Pace and Co.

some time, and they will soon be there.

[northzax]

53. KGB kept everything

you never know when you will need a lever.

[Canuckistanian]

17. And his uniform

Of course, they said it was for reasons of "possible contamination".

But who else burns the clothing of dead people?

Was it a ritual act? A solemn farewell?

Uh-uh. It was to hide evidence, pure and simple.

[lonestarnot]

22. Destruction of evidence is a crime so I hear, but unless a crime is charged it is not a crime,

is it?

[Canuckistanian]

33. Right. And how many charges have there been?

Let's see. Haditha and Abu Ghraib. That makes two.

[lonestarnot]

36. There have been a few more I think, but not many.

[hootinholler]

37. Gravity remains a constant in the forest

Now about the noise?

-Hoot

[lonestarnot]

40. Yes and more of it...noise and more noise!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

29. They have body bags so you don't have to do stuff like this. It all stinks to high heaven.

[lonestarnot]

32. There is not one "reasonable" explanation as to why they would burn his uniform, not one.

[wicket]

45. I'll never get over that

They burnt his uniform!!!! :grr: :grr: :grr:

[Olney Blue]

23. He was a liberal, and probably ranted about the administration in the diary.

[ClayZ]

25. They burnt his diary!

That is so horrible!

There is no parent in the world who would put up with that!

:mad:

[madrchsod]

26. so someone in his ranger unit was ordered to kill him?

if this is the case, then it would be the first time an american soldier would be murdered during a combat mission by a direct order from a superior officer? if so who is responsible for making that decision?

[Morgana LaFey]

31. That's one possibility, Another is that someone took it upon

himself. Or a group of someones -- I thought there was a lot of fire.

[dailykoff]

35. All in a day's hard work.

Who's the commander-in-chief of this operation again?

[texpatriot2004]

41. And they burned his clothes - isn't that "tampering w/evidence" ?

why would they do that if they weren't hiding something?

[ShortnFiery]

60. Why in the hell would they do these things? Other than being guilty of a cover-up? n/t

[raccoon]

42. K&R. nt

[riverdale]

43. Thank you for that information

For the first time, I now believe that his death was not an accident. That clinches it.

[NightWatcher]

47. Was it his "diary" or his "burn-box"? does anyone know

Many people who work on secret missions, etc have what they call a "burn box" it started with many as a cigar box in which they kept their secrets in their footlocker. Many soliders who have these leave directions to burn the box upon their demise because they do not want their family to see the contents. Some operators have everything from playing cards to shell casings that they have gathered from work. Sometimes the boxes also contain items that reference special jobs and the operator would not want his family to see or know about.

[tibbiit]

49. he wasnt just killed fratricide

he was Fragged, murdered.
they made up the story for propaganda, but some of his bros killed him on purpose.'
tib

[donkeyotay]

55. I had no idea that Pat Tillman was against the Iraq war. That just wouldn't do.

Add him to the Wellstone column, and I hope his Mom gets her wish and this is added to the long list of congressional investigations. He was against the Iraq war, and they turned him into a recruitment poster for it. They burned his diary and his uniform. It sure looks suspicious.

[Dudley_DUright]

63. Not only was he against it, he knew that it was against international law

“You know, this war is so fucking illegal.” – Pat Tillman, in a conversation to his friend while in southern Iraq, before he was killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire and his death covered up by the Pentagon.

http://www.traveling-soldier.org/2.06.words.php

[evilkumquat]

56. Based on This Administration's' Track Record

Tillman was probably killed by friendly fire. In war, unfortunately, these things happen.

The Administration rushed to judgment, seeing a potential "hero" story in his death, with all the mushy "rich guy gives all for his country" pap; this was needed to help downplay the errors made in the Jessica Lynch "small-town girl goes down fighting rah rah we 'mericans is tough" fairy tale.

Once the Administration found out their bullshit story was going to come out, they panicked, as usual, and did a bunch of boneheaded things to try and cover things up, as usual, even though the evidence they were suppressing probably did not contain anything too damaging to them, as usual.

This Administration blocks EVERYTHING, and everything ALL THE TIME, regardless of how damaging the material is to their position.

This situation is probably no more than just another example of the Administration overreacting to a situation that did not need any action.

Evil Kumquat

[loudsue]

69. Since they burned his uniform THREE DAYS after he was killed,

I doubt it was a big afterthought. It happened too quickly given that these guys were out in the middle of NOWHERE during this gun battle. The cover up (burning the uniform) came too quickly on the heels of the shooting, so SOMEONE at, or close to, the scene knew what was going down immediately.



:kick:

[mzmolly]

57. That is very telling.

"Friendly fire" my ass.

[Jonathan50]

58. The story is quite interesting..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15635557/

The latest inquiry into Tillman’s death by friendly fire should end next month; authorities have said they intend to release to the public only a synopsis of their report. But The Associated Press has combed through the results of 2¼ years of investigations and uncovered some startling findings.

One of the four shooters, Staff Sgt. Trevor Alders, had recently had PRK laser eye surgery. Although he could see two sets of hands “straight up,” his vision was “hazy,” he said. In the absence of “friendly identifying signals,” he assumed Tillman and an allied Afghan who also was killed were enemy.

Another, Spc. Steve Elliott, said he was “excited” by the sight of rifles, muzzle flashes and “shapes.” A third, Spc. Stephen Ashpole, said he saw two figures, and just aimed where everyone else was shooting.

Squad leader Sgt. Greg Baker had 20-20 eyesight, but claimed he had “tunnel vision.” Amid the chaos and pumping adrenaline, Baker said he hammered what he thought was the enemy but was actually the allied Afghan fighter next to Tillman who was trying to give the Americans cover: “I zoned in on him because I could see the AK-47. I focused only on him.”

All four failed to identify their targets before firing, a direct violation of the fire discipline techniques drilled into every soldier.



Also, the unit had run out of supplies and had to buy a *goat* to cook and eat.

Some of the troops at the scene, while still in the Army, cannot be located for interviews.

[earth mom]

61. My husband is a sports nut & listens to Dan Patrick all the time and

he thinks the Tillman story is going to bring * & Co down because the millions of sports nuts out there are also outraged by this story.

I'm skeptical, but considering that all the other crimes committed by * & Co haven't done the trick, maybe this one will. :shrug:

[bluescribbler]

66. I don't know about the uniform, but I can think of a good reason for the diary

During WWII, soldiers were forbidden to keep a diary. It was a court martial offense. If the enemy got hold of it, they might be able to gain some sort of tactical or strategic advantage. I don't know if that's still true, but it would seem to be a reasonable regulation to me.

Of course, during WWII, soldiers' letters home were also censored. Every unit had an officer who read all the mail and blacked out anything which might be compromising. I don't think they're doing that now. So, perhaps the diary rules are relaxed as well. I just don't know.

[2008]

67. k&r (nt)