In memory of NFL football star and Iraq War soldier, Pat Tillman killed in action on April 22, 2004.
"The end of an ox is beef, and the end of a lie is grief" ~~ African proverb
"I love you."
"We're liberating the people of Iraq."
"Your son died a war hero, saving the lives of his fellow soldiers."
Lies come at you fast, and nationwide, they are rampant. From the bedroom to the war room, from Iraq to the Oval Office -- beautiful lies always seem sweeter than the bitter truth.
For the past four years, Pat Tillman's family, led by his mother Mary, have been victimized by the modus operandi of the Bush administration. Mary Tillman's new book, Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman reveals facts which are veiled by the official story -- now in its seventh rewrite.
Within hours of Pat Tillman's death, the Army went into information-lockdown mode, cutting off phone and Internet connections at a base in Afghanistan, posting guards on a wounded platoon mate, and ordering a sergeant to burn Tillman's uniform.
"We want to find out how this happened," said Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight Committee. "Was it the result of incompetence, mis-communications or a deliberate strategy?"
60 minutes news star, Katie Couric interviewed Mary Tillman and revealed a mother's quest for truth and the current regimes' propensity for lies.
Katie Couric: Was there any solace in the story the military told you about how courageous Pat had been?
Mary Tillman: Well, of course. But what's interesting is the story itself seemed so contrived, even then, even before he knew that it was contrived. It had this contrived feel to it. ...you know, the soldier . . . running up the ridge line, firing at the enemy. You know, saving his men. It did sound kind of like a John Wayne movie.
What do John Wayne, Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman all have in common? They're real people and fictional characters.
Five weeks later, the Army announced that Tillman was killed by friendly fire -- which ended up being an act of fratricide. Mrs. Tillman said, "Even the time lapse is not what is so disturbing to us. If they didn't tell us right away exactly what happened, it would seem to me because of the clandestine nature of the Rangers, they could've easily said, 'we can't really divulge this, ' ...they could've said anything. But they made up a story."
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