Bravery And Courage Doesn't Make It OK To Lie

Rep. John Duncan (R-Tennessee) made a great comment during the House Government Oversight and Government Reform committee's hearing onto the death of Pat Tillman. Duncan commented that while the military should be held in high regard, it should not be "worshipped." He admitted that the Republican Party reveres the military so much that it ignores when it's wrong, similar to (and I would agree with him on this) how the Democrats react to labor unions.

The circumstances surrounding the aftermath of the death of Corporal Pat Tillman are just incredibly sad and incredibly frustrating. Just like the Iraq war that has come to define them, this administration fed us lies and tall tales to keep us from knowing the horrible truth; That some US Soldiers were cocky and unprofessional and accidentally killed a football star with a name recognizable by millions whose support and trust this administration needed to keep their blundered wars going.

The brave story of the football star who gave it all up to fight for America after 9/11 and died fighting is awe inspiring; I know when I heard it (and believed it) it inspired me. In the end, I've been had, we all have been had. The story the military told the media who told us was no more than a great work of fiction.

Spc. Bryan O'Neal, the last solider to see Pat Tillman alive knew the truth, but he testified before Congress that he was ordered by his superiors to keep the truth behind Tillman's death from his family, including Tillman's brother Kevin, who was nearby at the time of Pat's death.

Kevin Tillman, Pat's brother, summed it all up pretty nicely; The military was looking to cover it's ass at a time when their wars were going downhill fast and in an election year when a change at the White House would mean a chance at the Pentagon. Damaged by the Abu Gihrab torture scandal and stronger-than-expected insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Pentagon needed something to arouse nationalism and patriotism and keep the people behind them. The administration needed it too. To protect themselves, they lied, not just to us, but to the family of this American who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Those who refuse to accept the truth are going to argue that this is just another liberal attack on the military cause they hate the brave soldiers and want to defame them. I refer them to Congressman Duncan's remarks. I remind them that bravery and courage doesn't make it OK to lie.