Brother Decries 'Calculated Lies' On Pat's Death

Kevin Tillman, Jessica Lynch testify on military myth-making

By J. Kelman, Newser User

Posted Apr 24, 2007 1:13 PM CDT

(Newser) – The military created an "utter fiction" around Pat Tillman's friendly-fire death, the brother of the former NFL star told a congressional panel today. The Army used his death as an opportunity to bolster support for the war, Kevin Tillman said, calling early reports that Pat had been killed in combat “deliberate and calculated lies."

Tillman was joined by war hero Jessica Lynch, who said the Army had fabricated details of the events that led to her rescue in 2003. “I’m confused why they lied,” she testified. "The American people are capable of determining their own ideals of heroes and they don't need to be told elaborate tales."

[Images (1)]

[Videos (1)]

Kevin Tillman, brother of NFL star-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman who was killed by friendly-fire in Afghanistan, testifies before the House Oversight and Government Reform hearing on Capitol Hill, Tuesday,... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Tillman Cover Up Began Within Hours Of Tillman (theprogressivetruth (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Tillman's Mom Wants Hearings On Cover-Up

"This was an attempt to dupe the public and to promote this war."

(NEWSER) - Congress should investigate the Army's cover-up of Pat Tillman's friendly-fire death, his mother told ESPN Radio yesterday. A military inquiry concluded Monday that nine high-ranking military officials would face "corrective action," not criminal charges, for their role in claiming Tillman was killed by enemy fire long after they knew otherwise. More»

Tillman Parents No Fans of New Afghan General

Blame McChrystal for covering up NFL star's death; call for vetting

(NEWSER) - Pat Tillman's parents say Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal helped cover up the circumstances of their son's death and they want his record carefully considered before he takes charge of the Afghan war, the AP reports. McChrystal approved a citation for Tillman stating he was killed "in the line of devastating enemy fire," Pentagon records show, despite his suspicions that the NFL star had been killed by friendly fire, as proved to be the case. More»

Democrats Dole Out Subpoenas

Congress gets tough on U.S. attorneys players—and calls Condi in to talk Iraq

(NEWSER) - The Democratic Congress flexed its oversight muscle today, with both houses dishing out subpoenas all the way up to Condi Rice. A House committee subpoenaed the Secretary of State to discuss the lead-up to the Iraq War, while both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees summoned aides involved in the U.S. attorney firings. More»

Dems Score With Subpoenas

They can't pass bills, but they can sure hold hearings

(NEWSER) - Democrats haven't managed to score with a single one of the bills drafted in their giddy first 100 hours, but playing hardball with hearings has proved more fruitful. In cranking up the congressional oversight machinery, write Richard Simon and Noam Levey, they've dominated headlines and applied pressure to the administration. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Brother Decries 'Calculated Lies' On Pat's Death