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Pat Tillman's brother speaks out on Iraq war, Bush admin. and American apathy
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| Pat Tillman's brother speaks out on Iraq war, Bush admin. and American apathy
- Click HERE to go to the original thread with graphics
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| JoeyBoots |
Pat Tillman's brother blasts Iraq war
The Associated Press
Army Rangers Pat Tillman (left) and his brother Kevin in Saudi Arabia prior to serving in Iraq in 2003.
PHOENIX - The brother of an NFL player who was killed in Afghanistan after quitting the team to join the U.S. Army Rangers has spoken out.
Kevin Tillman, a former Army Ranger who served in Iraq and Afghanistan with his older brother, Pat Tillman, has remained silent since his brother's death in 2004. But this week, he wrote a scathing indictment of the war in Iraq, the Bush administration and American apathy.
"Somehow, the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes," Kevin wrote on Truthdig.com, which purchased his work.
The brothers, both Arizona State University graduates, joined the Army in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. They served together as Rangers with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Pat Tillman, who played defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals, was killed by friendly fire near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in April 2004. The Defense Department is investigating allegations of a cover-up, including failure by the U.S. Army to tell Tillman's family for several weeks that he had been killed by gunfire from his fellow Army Rangers, not by enemy fire as they initially were told.
Kevin Tillman has not spoken publicly about the war or his brother's death since his discharge from the Army. But in Truthdig.com, Kevin wrote openly about the war and America's response to it.
"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."
After playing for the ASU Sun Devils, Pat Tillman was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. He played with the team for four years.
On Sept. 12, 2001, he gave an interview in which he talked about how "stupid" football seemed relative to world events.
"At times like this, you stop and think about not only how good we have it but what kind of system we live under," he said. "My great-grandfather was at Pearl Harbor. And a lot of my family has gone and fought in wars. And I really haven't done a ... thing as far as laying myself on the line like that."
Pat was on the verge of signing another contract with the Cardinals in the spring of 2002 when he decided to join the Army instead.
The Tillmans were initially sent to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003, the brothers returned to the U.S. for training to become Army Rangers. After that, they were sent to Afghanistan.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/frontpage/30126.php |
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| 007douchebag |
| why does he SUPPORT the terrorists like this? :( |
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| wsuraider |
| They mentioned this on OTL on ESPN. |
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| turdfeguson |
| perfect name DOUCHEBAG |
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| greenbeard |
Quote: Originally posted by turdfeguson
perfect name DOUCHEBAG |
sarcasm. |
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| koa_portugese |
| I knew the Tilman kids when they were little. The Tilmans are an incredibly nice and supportive family and they're all wonderful people. Pat Tilmam did a brave thing. Bush could care less how many brave men he destroys. He'd rather watch them all die instead of admiting his mistakes. Bush is a coward. |
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| muntz |
Quote: Originally posted by koa_portugese
I knew the Tilman kids when they were little. The Tilmans are an incredibly nice and supportive family and they're all wonderful people. Pat Tilmam did a brave thing. Bush could care less how many brave men he destroys. He'd rather watch them all die instead of admiting his mistakes. Bush is a coward. |
weird... i thought his brother was all gung ho and supportive of the war... i didnt know he changed his mind.... maybe there is hope.... |
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| JoeyBoots |
Quote: Originally posted by wsuraider
They mentioned this on OTL on ESPN. |
HOWARD mentioned this report this morning. |
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| italiafem |
Quote: Originally posted by muntz
weird... i thought his brother was all gung ho and supportive of the war... i didnt know he changed his mind.... maybe there is hope.... |
He changed his mind like most of us especially when his family was lied to over and over and there was cover-up after cover-up. Pat Tillman gave up everything for the American citizen and our government couldn't even give him the courtesy and and love he showed back by being straight with his family from Day 1.
Men and women are dying so that real heroes like the Tillman's can find their voice and use it. RIP Pat. |
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| Robinsmuff |
Quote: Originally posted by muntz
weird... i thought his brother was all gung ho and supportive of the war... i didnt know he changed his mind.... maybe there is hope.... |
He never supporter the war in Iraq. There was a great article in Sports Illustrated SI article
that details who Pat Tillman was & why he & his brother enlisted. They were moved by 9-11 & felt the call of their country. They did not want only the underclass & those who needed money for college to do the heavy lifting of preserving our democracy. Had we stayed on course & focused on Bin Laden & Afghanistan kevin Tillman would not be writing this letter. If anyone thinks that this letter is in response to the way his Brother died, & the cover up that followed, I am inclined to believe it has more to do with his disgust that we ever entered Iraq. In the SIU article it is made clear that Pat expressed dismay that we were in Iraq even while serving there.
The problem with the Tillman's was that while patriotic they also were free thinkers who were raised with a belief that integrity, truth, & a sense morality are the highest calling in our Country. People like this are doomed from the outset in regards to following Bush & this war. |
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| MegaWatt |
I can see the guy being upset about his brother's death, and apparent cover-up. But, sorry dude, you signed-up for this gig. It's an all volunteer Army. You wanted to go kick some ass, and it looks like you got more than you bargained for.
"Somehow, the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes," Kevin wrote on. Illegal invasion? I don't know enough to make a decision on this...but, once again...YOU and your brother VOLUNTEERED for this "illegal" invasion.
A lot of soldiers find themselves being deployed...no one says you gotta like it. |
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| 007douchebag |
| i think they volunteered to go fight Al Qaeda and the people who did 9/11 and not the illegal invasion |
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| Robinsmuff |
Quote: Originally posted by MegaWatt
I can see the guy being upset about his brother's death, and apparent cover-up. But, sorry dude, you signed-up for this gig. It's an all volunteer Army. You wanted to go kick some ass, and it looks like you got more than you bargained for.
"Somehow, the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes," Kevin wrote on. Illegal invasion? I don't know enough to make a decision on this...but, once again...YOU and your brother VOLUNTEERED for this "illegal" invasion.
A lot of soldiers find themselves being deployed...no one says you gotta like it. |
Are you retarded? Or are you smart like Nick Hogan is "real smart". You know, like you got the highest score you can get on the GED test smart. He enlisted before we invaded Iraq. Not only is it ok for him to speak out,he has a duty as an American. He did not say a word while serving. In fact the media went out of their way to secure an interview with Kevin & Pat, & niether spoke to anyone, not even ESPN who honored them at the ESPYs. He is now out & has every right to express his opinion.
Now go back to being stupid & leave the the adult conversations alone. |
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| Monster_Zero |
Quote: Originally posted by MegaWatt
I can see the guy being upset about his brother's death, and apparent cover-up. But, sorry dude, you signed-up for this gig. It's an all volunteer Army. You wanted to go kick some ass, and it looks like you got more than you bargained for.
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So what you're saying is, "sucks to be them for trusting in Bush"?
Do you have one of those stupid ribbons on you car? :rolleyes: |
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| BeerPal |
Quote: Originally posted by MegaWatt
I can see the guy being upset about his brother's death, and apparent cover-up. But, sorry dude, you signed-up for this gig. It's an all volunteer Army. You wanted to go kick some ass, and it looks like you got more than you bargained for. |
Did he sign up for a government cover-up of his brother's death by friendly fire? Sit down, you retarded little twat. The grownups are talking. |
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| Madbandit |
Quote: Originally posted by MegaWatt
I can see the guy being upset about his brother's death, and apparent cover-up. But, sorry dude, you signed-up for this gig. It's an all volunteer Army. You wanted to go kick some ass, and it looks like you got more than you bargained for.
"Somehow, the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes," Kevin wrote on. Illegal invasion? I don't know enough to make a decision on this...but, once again...YOU and your brother VOLUNTEERED for this "illegal" invasion.
A lot of soldiers find themselves being deployed...no one says you gotta like it. |
You are such an God-fucking asshole, I'm surprised you can type. Just because you enlist in the war, it doesn't mean the government can cover up your death if you get KIA by your own men. Someone should smack you like a whore. :yes:
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| Reed Rothchild |
| Also, when they signed up, we hadn't invaded Iraq. They came back here from Afghanistan for Ranger training, then went to Iraq. By this time, like you say, they signed up, so you go where they say and do what they say. You don't give up your right to have an opinion about the political leadership. |
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