AP Exclusive: General's Memo to Bush Contradicted Medal Citation

[babylonsister]

AP: Tillman memo contradicted citation

AP Exclusive: General's Memo to Bush Contradicted Medal Citation

SCOTT LINDLAW and MARTHA MENDOZA
AP News

Aug 03, 2007 16:59 EDT

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.

Despite this apparent contradiction, Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal was spared punishment in the latest review of Tillman's shooting. On Tuesday, the Army overruled a Pentagon recommendation that he be held accountable for his "misleading" actions.

In a sometimes contentious November interview under oath and via videoconference, Pentagon investigators sharply questioned McChrystal about the conflicting accounts, according to the testimony obtained by the AP under the Freedom of Information Act.

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.

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.

"Why did you recommend the Silver Star one day and then the next day send a secret back-channel message warning the country's leaders about using information from the Silver Star in public speeches because they might be embarrassed if they do?" an investigator asked McChrystal.

more...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/08/ap_tillman_memo_contradicted_c.php

[Kagemusha]

1. I'll skip cursing like a sailor in public but...

Ughhhhh...!!! Overturning the recommendation that a general be held accountable, OF COURSE the Army overrules it. Can't have anyone accountable for anything over there. Ever!

[stillcool]

2. egads....

It's a good thing the Geneva Convention doesn't allow torture...because these dudes wouldn't hold up very well. They can't lie for shit...even with all the practice.

McChrystal also declined an invitation to appear Wednesday before a congressional committee investigating the misinformation given to Tillman's family and the American public following his friendly fire death in Afghanistan.

Tillman's parents have been critical of the military's punishments surrounding their son's death. The Army waited about five weeks after it suspected friendly fire was involved before telling Tillman's family the true nature of his death.

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.