The Story of Jessica Lynch What really happened in Nasiriyah. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1823194/posts
Just because Jessica got co-opted by the left, does not mean the Pentagon told the lies.
And if she “can’t remember” she should STFU.
As for Tillman, there is real question as to whether or not he and the guy that was killed with them were the ones that initiated the friendly fire that got them killed. And that that is the reason the commander on decided to report it as “enemy-fire”.
Is it better to remember Tillman as a hero who died at the hands of the enemy, or as someone who fired on his own troops in the dark of night and got killed by them. This sort of thing happens a lot in war, but most civilians, especially grieving parents rarely are able to understand it.
Commanders have, through most wars we've fought, told parents their children have died fighting heroicly against the enemy, even when they have not, especially where friendly fire is concerned.
Not because they want to cover anything up, but to spare the feelings of the loved ones. And in the days before "political correctness" and "anything to bash the military", that was a sleeping dog that was usually left alone.
Reporters who knew better kept their mouths shut, as did the soldiers.
I spent my time in uniform and my kid is on her second tour, in Iraq. Speaking philosophically, I would rather hear she lost her life killing the enemy that as the result of some blundr. As would any parent or reletive. And that is why things like this are done.
But in todays political climate it so much more convenient to ascribe evil motives to the chain of command, especially if it helps bolster your political views.
You said — “But in todays political climate it so much more convenient to ascribe evil motives to the chain of command, especially if it helps bolster your political views.”
In regards to the article, it was posted earlier and I looked at it. I’m going to go over it a few more times, though and really sort it out, in regards to what Jessica Lynch is saying and what Tillman’s parents are saying.
Now, in regards to that last statement of yours, it may be that certain people will *use information* to either bolster their side or hammer the other side. That’s true and I know this happens all the time. But, what I see happening (and this is *extremely unfortunate* and very bad) is that our side will willing to shade the truth or even *dismiss* the truth — if — it looks like that “truth” can be used to hammer us. And that’s just plain wrong.
The first thing that has to be done is get the truth out there. And I would advocate that for friendly fire or whatever. Maybe a soldier committed suicide out there (talking about a hypothetical) and someone decided that it was an enemy action and reported it that way, to “spare” the parents and relatives. Well, it’s an “easy way out” but it’s simply not the truth. I don’t think that should be done. It should be reported as it is.
And the same goes for this. No matter who is goig to hammer whom, the truth should be told...