Why am I picking on you? Well, I’ve got no personal beef with you (I enjoyed reading your book, your account of Ranger School, and you sound like you were once a “squared away” LT). But, I’ve obviously taken the Pat Tillman story to heart. Your biased review of Krakauer’s book covering General McChrystal’s ass didn’t exactly endear yourself to me!

You just happened to be the last in the bipartisan line of Washington figures who have betrayed the memory of Pat Tillman.

. . .

Three years ago Kevin Tillman wrote in his eloquent letter, “After Pat’s Birthday”: “Somehow the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtueless, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country. … Somehow this is tolerated. Somehow nobody is accountable for this.”
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20091106_happy_birthday_pat_tillman/

Kevin had hoped the 2006 election of a Democratic Congress would bring accountability. But, just as with warrantless wiretapping and torture, those responsible for the cover-up of his brother’s fratricide have not been held accountable by the Democratic Congress.

In his book, “Where Men Win Glory,” Jon Krakauer blamed the Bush administration. However, the cover-up has been a thoroughly bipartisan affair. The Democratic Congress and the Obama Presidency have protected General McChrystal from punishment for his central role in orchestrating the cover-up:

http://feralfirefighter.blogspot.com/2009/11/did-they-teach-you-how-to-lie-yet_06.html

Sometime after his April 2007 Tillman hearing, Congressman Henry Waxman got the word the “fix” was in, to lay off McChrystal. Shortly before his August 2007 Tillman hearing, McChrystal was dropped from the list of witnesses and never interviewed despite his central role in the cover-up.

Senator James Webb conducted a secret “review” of McChrystal’s role. On May 15th 2008, the Senate Armed Services Committee (headed by Levin and McCain) held a secret “executive session” where McChrystal testified behind closed doors about his actions “in detail.” Shortly afterwards, the Senate promoted him to Director of the Joint Staff.

On May 12th 2009, despite McChrystal’s role, President Obama handpicked McChrystal to be his new commander of the Afghan War and for promotion to the Army’s highest rank. Ironically, on the following day Obama gave the commencement address at Arizona State University inside Sun Devil Stadium without once mentioning Pat Tillman! [Note: see Bob Young’s “Obama’s Big-Time Fumble” (Arizona Republic 5-17-09].

After a pro forma June 2nd hearing by the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate (begged to do so by Senator Reid) confirmed McChrystal’s promotion on June 10th.

It’s not surprising that after the initial fratricide cover-up fell apart, Army officers and the Bush administration lied to protect their careers. Reprehensible, but understandable. But the Democratic Congress, after they took control of both Houses in 2006, could have gone after those responsible. Or at least not promoted them!

The media’s been complicit as well. The New York Time’s Pentagon Reporter Thom Shanker wrote a May 26th piece “clearing” McChrystal of all wrong-doing shortly before McChrystal’s confirmation hearing. Since then, Thom has enjoyed favorable access to McChrystal (so much for the NYT’s coverage without “fear or favor’!) Ironically, Thom Shanker is currently a “writer in residence” with you at CNAS!

http://feralfirefighter.blogspot.com/2009/11/lies-borne-out-by-facts-if-not-truth.html