"Something to Die For" -- The "Untold" Tillman Story Between-The-Lines of Michael Hasting's "The Operators" (Ver. 1.5) - April 20, 2012 (Updated 4-20-14)

SOMETHING TO DIE FORThe [Untold] Tillman Story Bet een!the!"ine# o$ Mi%hael Ha#tin&'# Boo( The O)erator# * The +ild , Terri$yin& In#ide Story o$ -meri%a'# +ar in -$&hani#tanGuy Montag @ feralfirefighter.blogspot.com April 20, 2012 [Version 1.5 !p"ate" April 20, 201#$

%& 'at [(illman$ "ie" for this country, an" he belie)e" it *as a great country that ha" a system that *or+e". & ,ut *e ne)er thought that they *oul" use him the *ay they "i".. Mary (illman, /ongressional testimony 0April 2#, 20012 %3t [*or" of 'at (illman4s frien"ly fire "eath$ *ent up to the t*o.star le)el an" the t*o.star too+ it right up to the four.star le)el. & 56ere is the stea+ "inner, but *e4re gi)ing it to you on this & garbage can co)er. 7ou +no*, you got it, you *or+ it.4.. ,riga"ier General 6o*ar" 7ellen 0May 200#2 %48hat "i" Mr. (illman9s sacrifice mean:4 & 53t "i"n9t mean anything. 3t spea+s to the mythology of *ar ... (here is nothing glamorous or romantic about *ar. 3t9s mostly about ran"om pointless "eath an" misery & the goo" aren9t re*ar"e", there9s no such thing as +arma. 5.. ;effery A. (rachtenberg , %;on J@2

'at an" 1@2

%Eiscussions about the military ha" been part of the boy4s chil"hoo". My sons *ere influence" by these stories& [my father$ an" 3 ha" been at o""s o)er Vietnam. &(he senseless "estruction, loss of life, an" go)ernment "eception clashe" *ith his belief that ours is a righteous country. & 8oul" he ha)e1

Webb was a highly decorated Marine in Vietnam, and later became a novelist. In 2006, he was elected U.S. Senator V!.

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?Gencourage" 'at an" 1@2

%(his *ar is so fuc+ing illegal&- .. 'at (illman to Ganger Gussell ,aer at ,agh"a" airport 0200B2

%3 *as stronger then, but 3 am fiercer no*. 3 *as so certain of life, an" of my place in it. 3 *as so sure of my lo)e, an" of my future. 3 no* ha)e none of those certainties, but at least 3 can comprehen" pain. 3 *as so rea"y, so eager to fight an" no* 3 pay, richly pay, for ha)ing fought. & 3 guess that4s *hat the *orl" "oes to you. 3t ma+es you realiLe that honor an" loyalty are traps *ith no re*ar".-

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%& 'at "ie" for this country, an" he belie)e" it *as a great country that ha" a system that *or+e". & *e shoul"n4t be allo*e" to ha)e smo+escreens thro*n in our face. & *e are in front of /ongress because /ongress is suppose" to ta+e care of their citiLens. & 3t isn4t Kust our family. C)ery time they betray a #

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?Gsol"ier, they betray all of us.- & %8e ha" officers that *e truste". 8e ha" high regar" for them. & *e +ne* they ['at M 020102O ;on 5B 5> J5 J> 1# 1> @5 ;O %Gen. Mc/hrystal 3n)ites /DA=4s %Abu MuAa*amato 6elp 8rite his Afghan 8ar AssessementJ

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=ept. 21, 200>O Afghan 8ar Assessment Hea+e" to 8ashington 'ost4s ,ob 8oo"*ar" Do). 1, 200>O Eec. 1, 200>O %?n Martial Virtue&An" ;on , 2010O %6o* Eo 7ou As+ a Man to ,e the Hast Man to Eie for a Mista+e:May 2#, 2010O 000 Mc/hrystal /alls MarKa %A ,lee"ing !lcer150 152 15B 151 15@

;une 22, 2010O #ollin$ Stone 'ublishes Michael 6asting4s 'rofile of Gen. Mc/hrystal, %(he Guna*ay General-

T-B"E OF 2ONTENTS

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;une 2B, 2010O 'resi"ent ?bama Fires Gen. Mc/hrystal, Erops Afghan 8ar %(ar ,aby- ?nto Gen. 'etraeus4s Hap ;uly B0, 2010O %(he Me"ia.Military.3n"ustrial /ompleP- ,ac+lash

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E)ilo&/e5 %I Fo/nd My#el$ - a#h ith - Sen#e o$ InB/#ti%e April 10, 2011O Gen. %=tan the Man- Mc/hrystal4s Graceful Han"ing Aug. B1, 2011O Gen. %

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8ashington thin+ tan+ /enter for a De* American =ecurity 0/DA=2, also contribute" to the Gen. Mc/hrysal4s *hite*ash. After 3 pointe" him in the right "irection, *riter ;on erythin& he ent to ar $or * hone#ty1 inte&rity1 the de$en%e o$ the tr/th0 JI$ yo/ a#( me i$ I tr/#t o/r #y#tem no 1 the an# er i# I'm )retty di#&/#ted .y it0

.. Mic+ ,ro*n, %,etrayal of an All.American 6ero,- 2+ Guardian 0?ct. 1, 20102

The O$$i%ial Tillman Story3n 2002, 'at (illman *as the DFH football player *ho *al+e" a*ay from a QB.J million contract *ith the AriLona /ar"inals to Koin the !.=. Army. 'at (illman 0*ith his brother , 'resi"ent ?bama nominate" Gen. Mc/hrystal to be his ne* Afghan *ar comman"er. 3n response to accusations by the (illman family that Mc/hrystal ha" been in)ol)e" in a co)er.up of 'at (illman4s "eath, 'entagon spo+esman Geoff Morrell sai"O Nthis matter has been in)estigate" thoroughly by the 'entagon, by the /ongress, by outsi"e ePperts, an" all of them ha)e come to the same conclusionO that there *as no *rong"oing by Gen. Mc/hrystal.N (he =enate confirme" Mc/hrystal by unanimous consent on ;une 10th0 ;ust a year later, on ;une 2B, 2010, 'resi"ent ?bama fire" Mc/hrystal for inappropriate remar+s ma"e to a #ollin$ Stone reporter1 =hortly after*ar"s, Mc/hrystal retire" from the Army. Do*,

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%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?Ghe hea"s the Mc/hrystal group, teaches at 7ale, sits on se)eral boar"s, an" has been out on the lecture circuit. 3n April 2011, The (e) *ork Ti es reporte" that a EoE 3G in)estigation ha" cleare" Mc/hrystal of %all *rong"oing- in the #ollin$ Stone case. 'resi"ent ?bama appointe" the officially %rehabilitate"- Mc/hrystal to hea" the ne* %;oining Forces- program to help military )eterans an" their families.

The [Untold] Tillman Story8ell, the %official- (illman story is largely %lies borne out by facts, if not the truth.- Euring the past se)eral years, 34)e *ritten se)eral lengthy posts [see Appen"iP A$ that "escribe *hat 34)e calle" the %untol"- (illman story [see my Annotations section for more "etails$.

(he ,ush a"ministration %han"e" off- its4 *hite*ash of Gen. Mc/hrystal 0an" others in)ol)e" in the Army4s co)er.up of 'at (illman4s frien"ly.fire "eath2 to the Eemocratic /ongress an" ?bama a"ministration. (he Eemocratic /ongress betraye" the (illman family by preten"ing to in)estigate the (illman co)er.up, *hile they acte" to shiel" Mc/hrystal from public scrutiny. Eespite Mc/hrystal4s lea"ing role role in the (illman co)er.up, 'resi"ent ?bama 0on =ecretary Gobert Gate4s recommen"ation2 an" the =enate later promote" Mc/hrystal to the Army4s highest ran+ 0Gate4s le" the *hite*ash of Mc/hrystal2. ?bama continue" the *hite*ash of Mc/hrystal *ith his April 2011 appointment of Mc/hrystal to hea" up the %;oining Forces- program to help %rehabilitate- Mc/hrystal4s public image.

3n a""ition, the (e) *ork Ti e!s also *hite*ashe" Mc/hrystal. (heir 'entagon reporter (hom =han+er *rote se)eral pieces that suppose"ly %ePonerate"- Mc/hrystal of all *rong "oing. An" the 8ashington thin+ tan+ /enter for a De* American =ecurity 0/DA=24s An"re* CPum has also *hite*ashe" Mc/hrystal4s actions o)er the past fe* years.

May A 0;uly 20102

;une 2012

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;an. 2010 EVE Feb. 2011

;anuary 2012

;anuary 201B

;anuary 201#

Thi# i# an /n#ol>ed my#teryN no.ody ha# e>er really )aid a )ri%e $or hat a# done to the Tillman#1 he #aid0 No one ha# ta(en a%%o/nta.ility or made an admi##ion $or a deli.erate attem)t to %on%eal the tr/th0 Thi# #tory i# not o>er yet0 .. Amir ,ar.He), Eirector of the "ocumentary %(he (illman =tory- 0;une 2#th 20102

"ie# Borne O/t .y Fa%t#1 I$ Not the Tr/th* The Media'# 3ortrayal o$ the Tillman Story?)er the years, the maKor ne*spapers ha)e largely ignore" the (illman story. As /arl 'rine sai" in his recent post 0%Green*al" 3s 8rongT- ;an. 1, 20122O %(oo many reporters in an" out of E/ are stenographers& (hat4s one reason *hy C='D "i" better reporting on the "eath of 'at (illman than e)eryone in E/ I Mi+e Fish an" the sports guys *ere outsi"ers not only to "efense reporting but also the faile" ,elt*ay nePus of Kournos an" generals, so they ha" no sacre" co*s to spare or V3's to curry. (hey care" only about the truth.?r *orse yet, the (e) *ork Ti es 'entagon reporter (hom =han+er has repeate"ly *hite*ashe" Gen. Mc/hrystal4s central role in the Army4s co)er.up of 'at (illman4s frien"ly.fire "eath. 3n 200>, Kust prior to Mc/hrystal4s =enate /onfirmation hearing (hom =han+er -ePonerate"0ignoring clear e)i"ence of Mc/hrystal5s han"s.on role that 3 sent him2 Mc/hrystal of all 5*rong"oing- in the (illman case 0after*ar"s Mc/hrystal ga)e =han+er a personal tour of his ne* 'entagon hea"Auarters2 [see post %Hies ,orne ?ut by Facts, 3f Dot the (ruth-$. 3n April 2011, stenographer reporter (hom =han+er *rote that a EoE in)estigation 0although the EoE8.

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?Greport *as complete ,=2 ha" %cleare"- Mc/hrystal of %all *rong"oing- in the #ollin$ Stone case. ,esi"es C='D4s Mi+e Fish pre)iously mentione" by /arl 'rine, 3 *oul" gi)e a shout out to Ea)i" Ririn, Sports ,llustrated4s Gary =mith, =tan Goff, an" San Francisco %hronicle4s Gob /ollier *ho all "i" a fine Kob of reporting the (illman story [see lin+s to them an" others in my feral firefighter post %Gemember the 3conoclast, Dot the 3con-$. 3 *oul" also highly recommen" Mic+ ,ro*n4s more recent %,etrayal of an All.American 6ero- 0!< Guar"ian, ?ct. 1, 20102. 000 (o"ay, eight years after his "eath, ho* is 'at (illman remembere": 0if at all, %'at *ho:-2. 8hat is 'at (illman4s legacy: /urrently, most press accounts "escribe 'at (illman asO %the DFH star *ho left behin" an DFH career to ser)e his country.- & %so mo)e" by the trage"y of >S11 that he *al+e" a*ay from his multimillion."ollar contract *ith the AriLona /ar"inals to become a !.=. Army Ganger.- & %+ille" in the line of "uty in Afghanistan in 200#.- (hat is, 'at (illman has been re"uce" to a patriotic icon 0*hose name is use" as a fun".raising tool to raise money for %military scholars,- to celebrate military %ser)ice,- an" promote min"less patriotism2. /urrent press accounts often neglect to mention that 'at (illman %*as +ille" in a frien"ly fire inci"ent.- (hey almost ne)er mention the %untol"- story of Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal4s +ey role in the Army4s co)er.up of his "eath 0after all, *asn4t Mc/hrystal officially %cleare" of all *rong "oing-:2 an" his in)ol)ement in torture at /amp Dama.

The Tillman StoryDone of the boo+s *ritten by officials from the ,ush a"ministration e)en mention 'at (illman4s name he4s not e)en a footnote in the %big.name- biographies: 0e.g. 'resi"ent ,ush, Vice 'resi"ent Eic+ /heney, =ecretary of Eefense Eonal" Gumsfel", 8hite 6ouse press secretaries, etc.2 'at 8ho: 8hat co)er.up: =o much for the history boo+sT 6o*e)er, since 200@, se)eral boo+s 0an" one EVE2 ha)e "escribe" the 'at (illman story in "etail. 6o*e)er, none of them ha)e tol" much of the %untol"- story of the bi.partisan *hite*ash of those responsible for the co)er.up of (illman4s frien"ly.fire "eath. 000 Mary (illman publishe" her memoir Boots on the Ground by Dusk in 200@. 3t is a first.person account of her 0an" her families2 her battle for the truth about her son4s "eath in Afghanistan. 3ntersperse" *ithin her account are biographical s+etches of his upbringing in De* Alama"en /A, his football career, an" his ePperience in the Army. 6er boo+, more than any other account, "escribes Kust ho* the Army, the Generals, /ongress, etc. +ept lying to the (illman family o)er se)eral years *hile suppose"ly %in)estigating- 'at (illman4s "eath. 0008(

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;on $. 3 ha" sent the 'resi"ent an email an" a letter remin"ing him of Mc/hrystal4s in)ol)ement in the co)er.up of 'at4s "eath.%3 also contacte" the staffs of =enator 'atric+ Heahy an" =enator ;ames 8ebb an" ePpresse" my concerns. 3 ha" se)eral con)ersations *ith members of the staffs of both senators, but it *as clear that neither senator *ante" to get in)ol)e".- & [=enator$60

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?GMc/ain *as alrea"y publicly en"orsing the Mc/hrystal appointment before the hearing e)en began. & =a"ly, Mc/hrystal4s promotion ha" been sanctione" long before the hearing. Done of the congressmen presse" Mc/hrytsal about 'at4s case & or "etainee abuse an" torture at /amp Dama &%?)er the last fi)e years, the 'entagon an" /ongress ha)e ha" numerous opportunities to hol" accountable those responsible for the co)er.up of 'at4s "eath. Cach time they4)e faile". & The Till an Story ["ocumentary film release" August 2010$ illustrates the corruption, "eception, an" in"ifference that is systemic in our go)ernment. & (he co)er. up of 'at4s "eath *as orchestrate" at the )ery highest le)els of the 'entagon, an" else*here in our go)ernment & the go)ernment "i"n4t Kust lie to us it lie" to a nation.3 belie)e Mary *as allu"ing to the Eemocratic continuation of the ,ush a"ministration4s *hite*ash of Mc/hrystal *here she *rote, %& /ongress & ha" numerous opportunities to hol" accountable those responsible for the co)er.up of 'at4s "eath. Cach time they4)e faile".'erhaps Mary is a bit more charitable than 3 am. 3 *oul"n4t say /ongress %faile"-. 3 *oul" say they betraye" her an" our nation. (hey protecte" him from accountability for his central role in the co)er.up by intentionally *hite*ashing Mc/hrystal4s actions an" shiel"ing him from public scrutiny,

ION =R-=-UER'S +HERE MEN +IN G"OR761

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* THE OD7SSE7 OF 3-T TI""M-N

06ar"co)er, =eptember 200>2

0Ge)ise" =oftco)er, ;uly 20102

%An hour or t*o after [General 'hilip$ er# Im)ortant Ne In$ormation5About half a year later 0;uly 21, 20102 =enate$ confirmation is going to go smoothly. & (illman4s parents & aren4t getting much traction in the press. (hey are more or less ignore". & (he hea"lines from the confirmation reflect that Mc/hrystal is preor"aine"& Mc/hrystal gets unanimous confirmation from the =enate. ?n ;une >, 200>, he gets his fourth star.-

%[=ecretary of Eefense$ Gates *ill bemoan the fact that Americans ha)e lost a hero, someone *hose recor" of ser)ice is unmatche". 0Forget (illman, forget /amp Dama, forget the negati)e comman" climate&2 & Men li+e [=A= /omman"er$ Hamb an" Mc/hrystal tol" themsel)es they operate" *ithin a strict co"e of honor ... 6o* coul" they, at the same time, be in)ol)e" in co)er.ups I *ith (illman, *ith torture, *ith en"less allegations of rec+less ci)ilian +illings:-

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%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?G.. Michael 6astings, %(he ?perators- 020122

Mi%hael Ha#tin&'# The O)erator# ?A2O /Senate confir ation 5for President Oba a!s May AA, 677@ no ination to co and the 'f$han War9 )as reCuired and it )as easier than it had been co in$ out of TF 8A< 5JSO%9 the year before, althou$h , a$ain addressed Cuestions surroundin$ %orporal Till an!s death 5and treat ent of detainees91 , appreciated concerns raised by the Till an fa ily and others, but after ultiple in-esti$ations and testi ony the year5A

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?Gprior, , kne) that , had already pro-ided full and forthri$ht insi$hts on y role and all , had obser-ed1 On June 6, 677@, , testified in front of the Senate 'r ed Ser-ices %o ittee1& 000

(he hearing *as strictly %pro.forma.- =enators He)in, Mc/ain, an" 8ebb tosse" Mc/hrystal a fe* softball Auestions. (he real hearing ha" been con"ucte" the pre)ious year, behin" close" "oors. General Mc/hrystal "enie" the phony narrati)e of a raging firefight *as anything more sinister than Nmista+esN ma"e to honor (illman. N3 "i"n9t see any acti)ity by anyone to "ecei)e,N he sai". N8e faile" the family. An" 3 *as a part of that.N 6e ePpresse" his N"eepest con"olencesN to (illman9s family. Mary (illman sai" she neither accepte" nor belie)e" Mc/hrystal9s [non.apology$ apology. NMc/hrystal *as lying,N she sai". 3n the For*ar" to her August 2010 re)ise" paperbac+ 0at blurb.com2 of her 200@ boo+, Boots on the Ground by Dusk, Mary (illman commente" on Mc/hrystal4s =enate confirmationO %3 ha" sent the 'resi"ent an email an" a letter remin"ing him of Mc/hrystal4s in)ol)ement in the co)er. up of 'at4s "eath.& 3 also contacte" the staffs of =enator 'atric+ Heahy an" =enator ;ames 8ebb & but it *as clear that neither senator *ante" to get in)ol)e". & Mc/ain *as alrea"y publicly en"orsing the Mc/hrystal appointment before the hearing e)en began. & =a"ly, Mc/hrystal4s promotion ha" been sanctione" long before the hearing. Done of the congressmen presse" Mc/hrysal about 'at4s case & or "etainee abuse an" torture at /amp Dama &-

SE2RET-R7 OF DEFENSE ROBERT G-TE'S MEMOIR DUT7 * - SE2RET-R7 -T +-R

0May 200> 8est 'oint /ommencement2

0;uly 2010 Gates at Mc/hrystal4s Getirement2

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/, had co e to kno) and ad ire Mc%hrystal durin$ y first year as secretary, and , belie-ed he )as perhaps the finest )arrior and leader of en in co bat , had e-er et1 ? , had looked into Mc%hrystal!s actions in the Till an case and the alle$ations of detainee abuse and ? deter ined to o-e for)ard )ith his ad-ance ent 5in May 677D91 ? , told the president 5Bush9 /Mc%hrystal is one of the heroic fi$ures of these )ars, and if )e )on!t stand and fi$ht for hi , then )hoE 'nd so )e fou$ht1& .. Gobert Gates, %Euty- 0201#2 %6e +no*s the a"ministration4s position on the matter *as a co)er.up& a mista+e. ,ut it *or+e". An" they "i"n4t *ant the presi"ent to loo+ ba". & [(he =ecretary of Eefense$ ne)er tol" a lie, at least not in the *ay he coul" be caught in it. & An" any*ay, his )ersion coul" ne)er be challenge"& [it$ *oul" become the go)ernment4s official pronouncement. & An" the me"ia ga)e them their forum, al*ays ascertaining beforehan" that their allegations *ere borne out by facts if not the truth... [=enator$ ;ames 8ebb, So ethin$ to Die For 01>>12 (he co)er.up of 'at4s "eath *as orchestrate" at the )ery highest le)els of the 'entagon & Mc/hrystal4s actions shoul" ha)e been groun"s for firing. (hat is *hy it *as so "isturbing to us *hen 'resi"ent ?bama [on the recommen"ation of Gates$ instea" promote" Mc/hrystal to the position of top comman"er in Afghanistan & =a"ly, Mc/hrystal4s promotion ha" been sanctione" long before the [200> =enate$ hearing. Done of the congressmen [=enators /arl He)in, ;ames 8ebb, ;ohn Mc/ain$ presse" Mc/hrystal about 'at4s case & or "etainee abuse an" torture at /amp Dama &

.. Mary (illman, %Boots on the Ground by Dusk- 020102 %(he Mc/hrystal thing [fire" after %He4Affair Golling =tan-$ I that burns Gates up. & [,ut$ 6e tosses [Gen.$ Mc =enate hearing to promote Mc/hrystal to comman"er of the Afghan 8ar *as strictly %pro.forma.- =enators He)in, Mc/ain, an" 8ebb tosse" Mc/hrystal a fe* softball Auestions. (he real hearing ha" been con"ucte" the pre)ious year, behin" close" "oors. Gates *rote, %My strate$y of $ettin$ hi confir ed as director of the Joint Staff and takin$ care of any potential Senate issues at that ti e 5677D9 paid off1&

3n the For*ar" to her re)ise" paperbac+ 0at blurb.com2 of her 200@ boo+, Boots on the Ground by Dusk, Mary (illman mentione" ho* 'resi"ent ?bama an" the Eemocratic /ongress ha" continue" Gates M ,ush4s Mc/hrystal *hite*ashO

%3 ha" sent the 'resi"ent an email an" a letter remin"ing him of Mc/hrystal4s in)ol)ement in the co)er.up of 'at4s "eath.& 3 also contacte" the staffs of =enator 'atric+ Heahy an" =enator ;ames 8ebb & but it *as clear that neither senator *ante" to get in)ol)e". & Mc/ain *as alrea"y publicly en"orsing the Mc/hrystal appointment before the hearing e)en began. & =a"ly, Mc/hrystal4s promotion ha" been sanctione"Crom #ate9s memoir7 )I hired #eo$$ Morrell Fas my 'ress s'o =uperbo*l *ith his team 0the AriLona /ar"inals2 playing the =teelers, 'at (illman *as barely a footnote. ?l" ne*s. A bit troublesome for the me"ia an" DFH to "*ell upon. A bit of an embarrassment. ,est ignore"O108

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From the ,altimore =un4s Gic+ Maese4s %/ar"inals stan" as en"uring tribute to (illman- O %Faith 6ill *ill sing NAmerica the ,eautiful.N ;ennifer 6u"son *ill belt out the national anthem. Fighter Kets *ill fly o)erhea". Gen. Ea)i" 'etraeus, comman"er of the !.=. /entral /omman", *ill toss the coin. & ,ut something9s missing. 7ou coul"n9t help but notice in the "ays before tonight9s =uper ,o*l that the memory of 'at (illman feels li+e barely a footnote. 3n fact, the DFH sent out a ne*s release a couple of "ays ago, *ith the trumpeting hea"lineO NDFH salutes ser)ice, courage an" bra)ery in =uper ,o*l ZH333.N ,ut it ha" nothing to "o *ith (illman. 6e "eser)es to be remembere" to"ay. & (hough it has announce" no plans to pay tribute to (illman to"ay, the DFH pic+e" a beautiful theme for the =uper ,o*l . ser)ice, courage an" bra)ery. 3t9s "ifficult to thin+ of better *or"s to "escribe the most important /ar"inal any of us *ill e)er +no*.From (he 'ittsburgh 'ost.GaLette4s /huc+ Fin"er4s %'layers sense hero9s presence-O %An @.foot bronLe statue, hair flying, a"orns a NFree"om 'laLaN outsi"e !ni)ersity of 'hoeniP =ta"ium. 6is retire" Do. #0 an" name appears in their Ging of 6onor. 6is photo hangs in the trainer9s room an" else*here aroun" the team9s (empe, AriL., facility. & 7et no* that the /ar"inals& ha)e reache" the summit of =uper ,o*l ZH33 & 8hat about honoring (illman here: & Marie (illman, his *i"o* an" no* chairman of the 'at (illman Foun"ation, has been in)ite" to sit *ith the /ar"inals9 o*ners & ,ut beyon" that, no patches: Do stic+ers on helmets: Do ... something:From ,ill 'lasch+e4s 1.25.0> column, %'at (illman4s Frien" 6asn4t Forgotten 6im-O %(his is a story not only about a missing tag ["ogtag gi)en to a teammate$, but a missing legacy. (he =uper ,o*l is here, but any mention of the most nationally belo)e" alumnus of either team is not. 'at (illman playe" for the AriLona /ar"inals from 1>>@ through 2001, yet, as you *atch the /ar"inals play the 'ittsburgh =teelers on =un"ay, you might ne)er +no* it & (he DFH lo)es to *rap itself in the flag, yet the league has no plans to remember him. (he /ar"inals ha)e a statue an" reflecting pool "e"icate" to (illman outsi"e their sta"ium, but nothing on their Kerseys. 5Gi)en *hat 'at represente", you *oul" thin+ they *oul" "o something.4The Mirror 2+!s Oli-er 0olt )rote in /The tra$ic de ise of Pat Till an is the Star Span$led Tra$edy of the Super Bo) l& ;AB6DB7@=> %,ut gi)en the sacrifice (illman ma"e & there has been little mention of him here in (ampa. & the DFH says nothing is planne". & (hat is Kust part of (illman9s trage"y. 6e might ha)e been the most celebrate" story of this year9s =uper ,o*l bet*een his ol" AriLona team an" the 'ittsburgh =teelers. 3nstea", he9s the sa""est. An" also the most a*+*ar" & *hat shoul" ha)e been the "ream story that cemente" the marriage bet*een the DFH an" the != Army, turne" into a terrible trage"y an" a mortifying106

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?Gembarrassment. & *hen the =tealth ,omber roars o)erhea" before the game on =un"ay, e)en in the ePcitement of the moment, maybe people *ill remember that American sport9s connection *ith its arme" forces is not all about glory. 3t9s about secrets, lies an" "eath, too.3ronically, "uring =uperbo*l ZH333, Gen. Ea)i" 'etreaus 0*ho *or+e" closely *ith Gen. Mc/hrystal2 performe" the coin toss at the beginning of the game an" *as honore" for his %ser)ice, courage an" bra)ery.- 7et, "uring the 200> =uperbo*l not a *or" about 'at (illman 0*ho ePemplifie" those )alues2 *as tele)ise" 0although a short )i"eo *as sho*n on the scoreboar"2. 000 (he Me"ia, Army, /ongress, an" the 'resi"ency 0both ,ush an" ?bama a"ministrations2 ha)e betraye" the (illman family by their failure to hol" accountable those responsible for the co)er. up of 'at (illman4s frien"ly.fire "eath. 3n a""ition, the DFH betraye" the (illman family. Although they ePploite" the "eath of 'at (illman, they later refuse" to help the (illman family in their battle for the truth about his "eathO From Ea)e Ririn4s [email protected]@ column, %(he DFH9s (illman ?ffenseO (he Heague =creams 'atriotism ,ut is =ilent 8hen the Family of a 'atriot =ee+s its 6elp-O %Mary (illman has a message for the Dational Football HeagueO 6elp me fin" out *hat happene" to my son. & 3n a recent inter)ie* *ith me, she *as highly critical of the actions of the DFH because she belie)es it continues to bathe in the glory of her son9s patriotic sacrifice *hile "oing little to help the (illman family fin" out ho* 'at "ie". & (he league certainly seems to ha)e the clout to get things mo)ing.& 20 )eterans *ho sa* combat in 3raA an" Afghanistan too+ the ePtraor"inary step last August of *riting a letter to DFH /ommissioner Goger Goo"ell, as+ing his help in securing the release of the reAueste" "ocuments. !nfortunately, the league has not respon"e" to Mary (illman or the )eterans.-

3n a 200@ inter)ie* 0%Hi+e 6e Eie" (*ice9O Mary (illman9s Honesome Goa"-. ;une 2, 200@2 Mary (illman criticiLe" the DFH lea"ership for their failure to help her unco)er the truthO

%3 thin+ they [DFH$ ha)en9t gone out of their *ay to help they9)e ePploite" 'at, Kust li+e the military. 3 "o belie)e that. 3 mean, they ha)e a beautiful statue to him at /ar"inal =ta"ium. 3 "on9t +no* if that9s more for us or him 3 feel li+e it9s more for them. & (hey ha)en9t really helpe" to try to fin" out *hat happene" to 'at. (hey ha)e tremen"ous po*er. ?h, absolutely. ,ut there has been no effort to fin" out. & 3t9s li+e, N?+ay, *e ha" the Kersey "e"ication, *e "i" this, let9s mo)e on.-

10A

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/,f you could say so ethin$ to the last t)o (F" co issioners #o$er Goodell and Paul Ta$liabue if they )ere here ri$ht no), )hat )ould that beE> %8ell, 3 *oul" say to them that they ePploite" 'at no "ifferently than the military. 7ou +no*, this is a young man *ho *as Auite uniAue. 6e *as trying to "o the right thing an" it *oul" be the right thing to try an" fin" out *hat happene" to him.-

3 guess the DFH figures they4)e pai" for a statue, ha" a Kersey "e"ication, pai" for a (illman !=? in Afghanistan & time to mo)e on. (he DFH has turne" 'at (illman into a lifeless patriotic icon, instea" of remembering his iconoclastic nature. 000 U)date5 From a February 1, 201B Faceboo+ post at the 'at (illman Foun"ationO %(he DFH 6ea"Auarters in De* 7or+ no* features a tribute honoring 'at (illman. (a+e a loo+ at the great "isplay )isitors see. (han+ you, /ommissioner Goo"ell.-

THE NF"'S S-"UTE TO SERHI2E104

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33

%Euring these [=alute to =er)ice$ games, teams *ill "isplay & bran"e" elements & inclu"e goal post *raps, pylons *ith camouflage ribbon "ecals, *all banners & ribbon lapel pins, Gatora"e to*els, Di+e an" !n"er Armour glo)es for players, captain9s patches an" camouflage ribbon footballs use" "uring e)ery play. & =ergeant Cmily (hompson =chelberg & has been selecte" as the 2012 DFH.(illman Military =cholar. & [At$ (he /ar"inals =alute to =er)ice game & a fiel" siLe flag *ill be unfurle" "uring the Anthem& /ar"inals players *ill *ear special stic+ers *ith the number #0 on them "uring the game, in memory of 'at (illman.!! DFH recogniLes Veterans Eay an" honors military *ith a 9=alute to =er)ice9 0Do).1, 20122 %=omeho* bac+ at home, support for the sol"iers meant & slapping [%=upport ?ur (roops$ stic+ers on cars & 3t4s interesting that a sol"ier on his thir" or fourth tour shoul" care about & a fa"e" stic+er on a car as his frien"s "ie aroun" him&.. i%e..

Mn 6ovember 1., 2012, the /0C headlined their Caceboo< site with this )Sal,te to Service- banner.

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Although 'at (illman *as %barely a footnote- at the 200> =uperbo*l, t*o members of the DFH4s top lea"ership are no* ser)ing on the boar" of "irectors of the 'at (illman Foun"ation. Michael ,i"*ill is 'resi"ent of the AriLona /ar"inals an" Koine" the 'at (illman Foun"ation boar" of "irectors in April 2010. ;oe ,ro*ne Koine" the 'at (illman Foun"ation boar" in =eptember 2010. 6e is a senior a")isor to DFH /ommissioner Goo"ell. 3n 2010, after ,i"*ell an" ,ro*ne Koine" the boar" , the DFH teame" up *ith the 'at (illman Foun"ation an" establishe" the DFH.(illman Military =cholars programO %=ince the Foun"ation4s inception, the Dational Football Heague has graciously recogniLe" 'at4s heroic sacrifice for his country in a )ariety of *ays that celebrate his memory. (he legacy of 'at (illman an" his connection to the DFH is an important American story that continues to be tol" by a)i" football fans an" e)ery"ay Americans ali+e. /? ,t isn!t 3ust our fa ily1 .-ery ti e they betray a soldier, they betray all of us1 ? But )hat is so outra$eous is this isn!t about Pat1 This is about )hat they did to Pat and )hat they did to the (ation1 ?By akin$ up these false stories ? *ou are di inishin$ their 5soldiers9 true herois 1 ,t ay not be pretty1 ,t ay not be like out of a John Wayne o-ie, but that is not )hat )ar is all about1 ,t is u$ly1 ,t is bloody1 ,t is painful1 'nd to )rite these $lorious tales is really a disser-ice to the (ation?& 'nd in her book, Boots on the Ground by Dusk, Mary )rote> /People ha-e asked, SWhy is Pat so special that so uch attention is $i-en to his death1! , understand that Cuestion1 Thousands of soldiers and Marines ha-e died in ,raC and 'f$hanistan1 ? Pat is not ore i portant or special than any of the others )ho ha-e fou$ht in these )ars, but the truth of )hat happened to Pat is i portant1 The truth shines a li$ht on the corruption, inco petence, and lack of accountability in the ilitary and in $o-ern ent that is syste ic, and affects us all?1 The $o-ern ent didn!t 3ust lie to usR it lied to a nation1& Finally, Mick Bro)n Cuotes Mary Till an in his 67A7 piece, /Betrayal of 'n 'llB' erican 0ero&> /!We can find 3oy in our li-es a$ain, but still not lose si$ht of the i portance of $ettin$ at the truth, for Pat!s le$acy, and for all the other soldiers and their fa ilies1 ' lot of people don!t really understand the depth of )hat happened to Pat G /Oh, he!s not the only one to die of friendly fire1 But it has absolutely nothin$ to do )ith the friendly fireR it!s all the deceptions around it1!? She pauses1 Q(othin$ is $oin$ to brin$ Pat back, but at the sa e ti e, because of

11(

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?Gthe person he )as, )e had to $o to the $reatest len$ths )e could to do as uch as )e could1 'nd , think he )ould nod his head and say, yes that!s a $ood thin$1!& 000 6o*e)er, instea" of remembering the full truth of %'at4s Hegacy- the 'at (illman Foun"ation 0an" its 'resi"ent Marie (illman2 has chosen not to %get stuc+ in the past-O %3 *as trying to fin" my *ayVho* "o 3 li)e *ith this an" not get stuc+ in the past:- =he has chosen to focus on other people4s futures an" not "*ell on *hat might ha)e been for 'at. %3 "i"n4t *ant to become bitter because of all that ha" happene". 3 sa* that 3 ha" an opportunity to "o something positi)e [*ith the 'at (illman Foun"ation helping military )eterans *ith going bac+ to college$.'erhaps 3 ha)e become %bitter.- ?b)iously, 3 "on4t agree *ith the '(F4s stance of burying the contro)ersies surroun"ing 'at4s life an" "eath, but 3 "o respect Marie4s efforts to help returning )eterans. 000 3 belie)e the 'at (illman Foun"ation 0an" the DFH2 ha)e turne" 'at (illman into a lifeless icon 0number %#2-2, instea" of "escribing his compleP reality 0e.g. his opposition to the *ars, his betrayal by the Army, the *hite*ash of those responsible by the go)ernment2. (hey4)e enshrine" 'at (illman as a patriotic icon, *hile the man has fallen by the *aysi"e, his name M image use" as a fun"raising prop at DFH football games to raise money for %(illman military scholars,- to celebrate of %heroic sacrifice- of %military ser)ice,- an" to promote min"less %patriotism-. 8e shoul" honor 'at (illman4s legacy by honoring the man, not the myth. (he iconoclast, not the icon. 8e shoul" remember that the %& arme" forces is not all about glory. 3t9s about secrets, lies an" "eath, too.4 As his mother sai" in 200#, %'at *oul" ha)e *ante" to be remembere" as an in"i)i"ual, not as a stoc+ figure or political prop. 'at *as a real hero, not *hat they use" him as.3 belie)e *e shoul" remember 'at4s legacy as a cautionary tale of %secrets, lies, an" "eath,- not as a patriotic fable. (he (illman story is a metaphor for the betrayal of all the patriotic young Americans *hose li)es ha)e been *aste" in the so.calle" Global 8ars on (error of the past "eca"e. (he least the Foun"ation coul" "o in return is to tell the %ugly- truths of the (illman story.

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THE [MISSING] 3-T TI""M-N "EG-27

%['at (illman *as$ the DFH star *ho left behin" an DFH career to ser)e his country.- & so mo)e" by the trage"y of >S11 that he *al+e" a*ay from his multimillion."ollar contract *ith the AriLona /ar"inals to become a !.=. Army Ganger & +ille" in the line of "uty in Afghanistan in 200#... %'at4s Hegacy- 0'at (illman Foun"ation2 N7ear one& 3t *as really about & people honoring an" remembering 'at (illman. ... [Do*$ 8e9re here [2012 'at4s Gun$ to honor those *ho ha)e ser)e" an" sacrifice" for this nation & it9s beyon" 'at & (illman Military =cholars & continue the legacy of 'at (illman by also creating their o*n legacy.N .. 6unter Giley, Eirector of 'rograms 'at (illman Foun"ation %3 thin+ they [the DFH$ ha)en9t gone out of their *ay to help they9)e ePploite" 'at, Kust li+e the military. & they ha)e a beautiful statue to him at /ar"inal =ta"ium.& (hey ha)en9t really helpe" to try to fin" out *hat happene" to 'at. &3t9s li+e, N?+ay, *e ha" the Kersey "e"ication, *e "i" this, let9s mo)e on.N

.. Mary (illman 0;une 200@2

%&*hat shoul" ha)e been the "ream story that cemente" the marriage bet*een the DFH an" the != Army, turne" into a terrible trage"y an" a mortifying embarrassment& *hen the =tealth ,omber roars o)erhea" before the game [=uper ,o*l 200>$& maybe people *ill remember that American sport9s connection *ith its arme" forces is not all about glory& 3t9s about secrets, lies an" "eath, too.-

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%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?G.. ?li)er 6olt, (he Mirror 0;anuary 200>2

%'at *oul" ha)e *ante" to be remembere" as an in"i)i"ual, not as a stoc+ figure or political prop. 'at *as a real hero, not *hat they use" him as... Mary (illman 0200#2

The [Mi##in&] 3at Tillman "e&a%y[A"apte" from a letter han"e" to Marie (illman on Eecember #, 2012 at a boo+ signing see the post %(he [Missing$ 'at (illman Hegacy-$ (han+s for *riting your boo+, /The "etter> My Journey Throu$h "o-e, "oss J "ife1& 3 foun" it to be an honest M heartfelt memoir an" a *orthy complement to the boo+s %Boots on the Ground by Dusk& M %Where Men Win Glory.- 3 especially appreciate your portrayal of 'at as a %gentle soul- to *hom the *or" honor %meant the *orl".3n my #1 years of life, 34)e yet to suffer the loss of a lo)e" one. Although 3 spent eight years as an Airborne Ganger HGG', an" the past t*enty.one years as a firefighter, my closest brush *ith mortality *as *hen 3 *as "iagnose" *ith cancer 03 *as BJ years ol" an" my "aughter *as Kust a B.month ol" baby2. 34)e only rea" t*o other %berea)ement- memoirsO Hisa Diemi =*ayLe4s /Worth Fi$htin$ For> "o-e, "oss, and Mo-in$ For)ard& 0about 'at =*ayLe4s battle *ith cancer2 an" Michael 6asting4s /, "ost My "o-e in Ba$hdad& 0his account of flying bac+ to the =tates besi"e her cas+et is haunting2. 000 3n April 200#, 3 belie)e" 'at (illman *as a blin"ly patriotic %"umb Koc+.- 3 a)oi"e" *atching his memorial ser)ice that seeme" to be a "istraction from the ne*s an" images of Abu Ghraib. 6o*e)er, in ?ctober 2005, after rea"ing Ea)i" Ririn4s profile, %?ur 6ero,- 3 *as pulle" into the %periphery of his orbit.- 3 learne" that 'at *as a remar+able man *ith a core of honesty M integrity, *ho le" by personal ePample, an" li)e" his life intensely. 6is iconoclastic reality *as much "eeper than that of the patriotic icon portraye" by the press. Hi+e =tan Goff, 3 felt a sense of +inship *ith him. =hortly after*ar"s, 3 *rote a letter to the e"itor of my ne*spaper, %& 3 *as angere" the truth about 'at4s life an" "eath ha" been burie" by the me"ia an" go)ernment. (illman *as enshrine" as an icon *hile the man fell by the *aysi"e& 'at (illman, ne)er at a loss for *or"s himself, is no* silent. ?f the many tragic aspects surroun"ing his "eath, one is that he cannot "efine his o*n legacy. Do*, it4s up to his family an" frien"s to reclaim the truth an" integrity of 'at4s life an" "eath.-

11A

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?G=ince then, 34)e continue" to follo* the t*ists an" turns of the (illman story. 7ou *rote ho* your battle for truth an" accountability en"e" in August 2001. After the %moc+ery- of the secon" /ongressional hearing, you ma"e the choice %to mo)e for*ar"- *ith your life 0%3t en"s here-2. Amir ,ar.He) also en"e" his film, %(he (illman =tory,- *ith that hearing 0as "i" Mary (illman M ;on S11 generation- ha)e been *aste" in the 3raA M Afghan *ars of the past "eca"e. (housan"s of young sol"iers ha)e been +ille", *oun"e", an" or suffer from (,34s M '=(E. For nothing. As Michael 6astings *rote in his boo+, /The Operators,& %8e4" been fighting the *rong *ar, in the *rong *ay, in the *rong country- 0my post %=omething to Eie For- a""s my annotations to his boo+ about the Afghan 8ar an" his roa" trip *ith Gen. Mc/hrystal2. =e)en years ago, the Afghan 8ar *as Kust an abstraction to me. Do*, my step.brother, an Army /olonel, Kust returne" from his hopeless tas+ of trying to train the Afghan police. 6is boy 0a ne*.born baby *hen 3 crashe" at his place at Ft. ,enning after gra"uating from Ganger =chool in 4@52 is %young an" "umb- 0as 3 *as then2 an" Koine" the 3nfantry. 6e4s no* "eploye" *ith a =try+er unit from Fort Mc/hor" in >1 Firefighter, 1>>1 I 'resent, /ity of Gran" Gapi"s, M3

THE FER-" FIREFIGHTER'S -NNOT-TIONS TO MI2H-E" H-STING'S THE O3ER-TORS *12(

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THE +I"D , TERRIF7ING INSIDE STOR7 OF -MERI2-'S +-R IN -FGH-NIST-N

%For Mary (illman, *hat the army "i" to her son ma"e a moc+ery of e)erything he *ent to *ar for I honesty, integrity, the "efence of the truth. 93f you as+ me if 3 trust our system no*, the ans*er is 34m pretty "isguste" by it. !nfortunately in our culture people sur)i)e more effecti)ely through lies an" "eception an" "ishonourable beha)iour than they "o the re)erse. An" that4s )ery sa". '

.. Mic+ ,ro*n, %Betrayal o$ an -ll!-meri%an Hero,- !< Guar"ian 0?ct. 1, 20102

N7ou are a General. (here is no *ay a man li+e you, *ith your intelligence, e"ucation,&an" ran+ ... belie)es the conclusions reache" in the March B1, 2005 ,riefing ,oo+ [B r" Army 15.J in)estigation into his son4s "eath$ . ,ut your signature is on it. 3 assume, therefore, that you are part of this shameless bullshit. & 3n sum .. Fuc+ you & an" yours... 'atric+ (illman, =r. 0Hetter to ,G General M. ;ones 0April 21, 20052 %&3 *ante" ,arac+ ?bama to *in the presi"ency in 200@. Among my reasons *as his outspo+en opposition to ,ush4s "isastrous, unnecessary an" probably illegal *ar in 3raA. & =o *hat "oes ?bama "o: 6e sen"s B0,000 more troops to Afghanistan. 6a)ing inter)ie*e" 'at (illman, =r. 0father of 'at ;r.2 3 calle" him for a Auote. %My con"olences to the families in a")ance,- he sai"... ;ac+ De*orth, %/areful 8hat 7ou 8ish For,- Santa Monica Daily Press, 0;an. 2>, 20112

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%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?G%=ince ?bama became presi"ent, a thousan" sol"iers *ere +ille" in Afghanistan, more than "ouble the total in the years un"er ,ush&. let4s "eclare )ictory an" go home. & 3t only too+ an a""itional 111 American li)es & for the 8hite 6ouse to arri)e at this conclusion. &8e4" been fighting the *rong *ar, in the *rong *ay, in the *rong country... Michael 6astings, The Operators 0;anuary 20122

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+E SHOU"DN'T BE -""O+ED TO H-HE SMO=ES2REENS THRO+N IN OUR F-2E

Marie (illman 0*i"o*2, Mary (illman 0mother2, Gichar" (illman 0brother2, in& It to 7o/ on Thi# E Gar.a&e 2an 2o>er0 7o/ =no 1 7o/ Got It1 7o/ +or( It051 'at (illman ha" been +ille" by frien"ly fire in Afghanistan in April [22,$ 200#. Mc/hrystal +ne* about it almost imme"iately [April 22 I 2#$B#, but he still *ent ahea" an" signe" offB5 on a falsifie" recommen"ation for (illman4s =il)er =tar that suggeste" he *as +ille" by the enemy.

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A *ee+ after (illman4s "eath [April 2>$, Mc/hrystal sent a ['#$ memo up the chain of comman", specifically *arning that 'resi"ent ,ush shoul" a)oi" mentioning the cause of (illman4s "eath. &BJ

11B At the time, (illman4s "eath also re)eale" ho* sa))y Mc/hrystal coul" be *hen he *as incline" to ser)e his political masters.. & a number of times throughout the ,ush%/0 Scott, the $irst !rmy 18 6 investigator 'assed verbal con$irmation 1)I9m certain, I9m s,re-3 o$ $riendly $ire ,' the chain o$ command B,st two days a$ter 0illman9s death. +et, ",ms$eld said it too< five weeks $or him to get the word. Fsee '.61, =0he FUntoldG 0illman Story=G.(

D,t Mc%hrystal did not merely =sign o$$= on a 'iece o$ 'a'er that landed on his des< as it woron ?ra,ly .1, 200A, #en. William Wallace overr,led the I#9s $indings, and cleared Mc%hrystal o$ all wrongdoing in the 0illman cover ,' 1several other o$$icers involved were given sla's on the wrist and have since been 'romoted to #eneral. "etired #en. ?ensinger was made the o$$icial sca'egoat& he lost a star and a little 'ension money3. Fsee )#eneral Wallace9s "eview o$ 0illman Cratricide Investigations- , ''. 86 68=0he FUntoldG 0illman Story=G.(1

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The Tillman Fratri%ide5 +hat the "eader#hi) o$ the De)t0 o$ De$en#e =ne ?Ho/#e O>er#i&ht 2ommittee Hearin&1 -/&/#t 8#t A>>2

The Em)eror'# General:C * Gen0 Stanley M%2hry#tal1 ASM%G was a strange animal. It didn9t re'ort to the /entagon hierarchy or to one o$ the combatant commands, even tho,gh most 'eo'le tho,ght it re'orted to US SM%MM E >SM% came directly ,nder the 6ational %ommand !,thority, which translated to the /resident and the secretary o$ de$ense.- F$rom )?ill Din Laden- 120123 >ohn WeismanG8A

>o,rnalist >eremy Schahill said )IOve also heard $rom 'eo'le that %heney hel'ed coordinate the testimony o$ #eneral Mc%hrystal abo,t the death o$ /at 0illman in !$ghanistan, which was determined to be a $riendly $ire incident, and that %heney act,ally coll,ded with #eneral Mc%hrystal to attem't to cover ,' that death.- F'. 12, )0he Km'eror9s #eneral-G 1((

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May 881 A 3n [February$ 200>, he [Gen. 'etraeus$ flips the coin before the opening +ic+off at the =uper ,o*l.J0

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Mc$. & 3t4s the 5first sac+ing of a *artime theater comman"er- & since Eouglas McArthur *as fire" by (ruman & (he me"ia4s response to Mc

'ri)ately, Mc>12

%(hey ought to ma+e a mo)ie about this. Mr. =mith comes to 8ashington.- %7eah, 3 calle" my pa last night an" he says, ;u"" boy [ne*ly.electe" =enator$, you been up there *ith them muc+.a.muc+s t*o "ays, no*. Ei" they teach you ho* to lie yet:.. ;ames 8ebb %A /ountry =uch As (his- 01>@12

%Across the room [in my =enate office$ & my mother4s father, ,.6. 6o"ges, stares out at me & as he has "one in e)ery office 3 ha)e occupie" for more than t*enty years. & Eefiant he *as, an" tragic too. 6e *as a fighter, a lonely champion of lost causes *ho himself lost e)erything because of the causes he champione"... =enator ;ames 8ebb, %A (ime to Fight- 0200@2

%3f nothing e)er *or+s out all the *ay, an" if all things change, *hat4s left: 7our family an" your frien"s an" your )alues, that4s *hat4s left. An" your "uty to them & (hey4re the only important things in life. & An" that the rest of it might change a million times, be calle" *rong or right or anything else, but you must ne)er )iolate your loyalty if you *ishe" to sur)i)e the Ku"gment of the ages.-

.. ;ames 8ebb %A /ountry =uch As (his- 01>@B2

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I/ne 8,ne 2010, Mary 0illman wrote7 )I had sent the /resident an email and a letter reminding him o$ Mc%hrystal9s involvement in the cover ,' o$ /at9s death. In the letter, I s,ggested Mc%hrystal sho,ld be )scr,tiniSed very care$,lly- by the Senate !rmed Services %ommittee. I also contacted the sta$$s o$ Senator /atric< Leahy and Senator >ames Webb and e2'ressed my concerns. I had several conversations with members o$ the sta$$s o$ both senators, b,t it was clear that neither senator wanted to get involved.- FBoots on the Ground by Dusk 12010, www.bl,rb.com36A

/atric< 0illman, Sr.9s 2008 letter to Drigadier #eneral #ary M. >ones ends with this s,mmation7 =+o, are a #eneral. 0here is no way a man li,ly .1, 200A, #en. William Wallace overr,led the I#9s $indings, and cleared Mc%hrystal o$ all wrongdoing in the 0illman cover ,' 1several other o$$icers involved were given sla's on the wrist and have since been 'romoted to #eneral. "etired #en. ?ensinger was made the o$$icial sca'egoat& he lost a star and a little 'ension money3. Fsee )#eneral Wallace9s "eview o$ 0illman Cratricide Investigations- , ''. 86 68=0he FUntoldG 0illman Story=G.A.

0he $ollowing day, !,g,st 1, 200A, %ongressman Henry Wa2man9s Ho,se Mversight %ommittee held the second hearing o$ their 0illman )investigation.- However, Wa2man allowed #en. Mc%hrystal to )decline- to a''ear 1he was never later interviewed3, and never tried to determine i$ he was res'onsible $or the altered Silver Star witness statements. ! year later, the %ommittee9s >,ly 2004 re'ort blamed )stonewalling- by the D,sh !dministration $or their $ail,re to hold anyone acco,ntable. In reality, the *emocratic %ongress 1and later, /resident Mbama3 had contin,ed the D,sh administration whitewash that 'rotected #en. Mc%hrystal $rom acco,ntability $or his central role in the 0illman cover ,' F''. 86 @ 4(, =0he FUntoldG 0illman Story= and =*id 0hey 0each +o, How to Lie +etI=G.A(

Mn >,ne 2nd 2005, the Senate !rmed Services %ommittee held #eneral Mc%hrystal9s con$irmation hearing. %hairman Senator %arl Levin didnOt 'ress Mc%hrystal abo,t ab,sive interrogations by >SM% $orces. Mn >,ne 11th 1after Mc%hrystal was con$irmed on >,ne 10th3, Senator ",ss Ceingold inserted into the %ongressional "ecord that he )o''oseFdG the nomination o$ L0# Stanley Mc%hrystal- beca,se o$ a )classi$ied matter- and beca,se Mc%hrystal9s testimony concerning interrogation )a''ears incom'lete, at best.- F''. 114 121, =0he FUntoldG 0illman Story- and ''. 5, 25 .0 =0he Km'erorOs #eneral=G.A8

Mary 0illman said she neither acce'ts nor believes Mc%hrystalOs a'ology. =Mc%hrystal was lying,= she said. !nd Mc%hrystal never act,ally a'ologiSed $or orchestrating the cover ,'. I$ Mc%hrystal has any )regrets- it9s $or how his role in the scandal a$$ected his re',tation. I do,bt he gives a damn abo,t the years o$ heartache he9s ca,sed the 0illman $amily. F''.116, 126 =0he FUntoldG 0illman Story- and =*id 0hey 0each +o, How to Lie +etI=G.A6

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%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?G5@ (illman4s parents an" the interrogator [Matthe* AlePan"er$ aren4t getting much traction in the press. (hey are more or less ignore". (he hea"lines from the confirmation reflect that Mc/hrystal is preor"aine"11 Mc/hrystal gets unanimous confirmation from the =enate1@. ?n ;une >, 200>, he gets his fourth star.1>

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%6!S9s !ndrew K2,m wrote a >,ne 2, 2005 blog 'ost,=%on$irm Him=7 )0he bottom line is, nothing is ever going to heal the wo,nds in$licted on the 0illman Camily E !nd while I have nothing b,t res'ect $or the 0illman CamilyE, their 'ersonal grie$ sho,ld not be a veto on the nomination o$ the man F#en. Stanley Mc%hrystalG E 0hese are serio,s P,estions and are more im'ortant than either the death o$ /at 0illman or the alleged ab,se o$ detainees.- In other words, the 0illman $amily can go to hell. Fsee )%on$irm Him- in )He Who Shall 6ot De Cact %hecite# 2N-S'# -./ M/Pa ama to Hel) +rite Hi# -$&han +ar -##e##ment

J1

?n ;une 12 [200>$, /harlie Flynn ta+es a bus from the 'entagon to An"re*s Air Force ,ase. & (hey4re [Mc/hrystal M staff$ ta+ing off for

'ri)ately, Mcohn 6agl said, =!ndrew K2,m is one o$ the worldOs brightest thin5Matthew M. !id wrote that the )administration E P,ietly $ired a n,mber o$ o$$icials, some o$ them P,ite senior, who 'rovided in$ormation to a,thor Dob Woodward $or his 2010 boo< )bama*s Wars. #en. >im >ones was $ired in Mctober 2010 1'. 228, 2ntel Wars3451 52

( 20 1( U'date7 #ates wrote 1'..6437 )!$ter I le$t o$$ice, I was chagrined to hear $rom an insider I tr,st that Mc%hrystal9s sta$$ had lea0 A1 A1, accuses him of being in)ol)e" in the (illman co)er.up. 1B2 For The Washin$ton Post, An"re* CPum re)ie*s a ne* boo+ about 'at (illman by ;on @ 6e "oesn4t mention>on ?ra> 0(he "eception is egregious enough that the Washin$ton Post ombu"sman is force" to apologiLe for the o)ersight2.100

11# Author ;on ,ne 2.G Mbama acce'ted Mc%hrystal9s resignation, and he 'ro'osed that /etrae,s taan. 20, 20123, Michael Hastings said7 )0he m,lti'le /entagon investigations into the Rollin %tone story were 'artic,larly abs,rd. E M$ co,rse, the res,lts o$ these investigations were invariably re'orted with 'ro /entagon s'in. !hom %hanker Fno s,r'riseJG the +ew ,ork !imes9s /entagon corres'ondent, didn9t even bother calling ,s $or comment be$ore he ran with the /entagon s'ooining Corces %omm,nity %hallenge.- !ll twenty $inalists will be honored by Michelle 20.

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Mbama at the White Ho,se. 0he /at 0illman Co,ndation which hel's ret,rning veterans go bac< to college is one o$ the $inalists. 0he Co,ndation9s 'resident is Marie 0illman 1/at 0illman9s widow3 E Marie will 'robably be at the White Ho,se to acce't the honors. Will Stanley Mc%hrystal be there as wellI 0hat could be interesting E b,t Marie has chosen to $oc,s on other 'eo'le9s $,t,res and )not get st,c< in the 'ast E I didn9t want to become bitter beca,se o$ all that had ha''ened. I saw that I had an o''ort,nity to do something 'ositive.- F)/at Wo,ld be /ro,d- )/eo'le-, March 12, 2012 and her 'oignant March 2, 2011 Harvard s'eech Marie 0illman on Cinding /,r'ose-]P.S. Mn !'ril 11, 2012, Marie 0illman was 'resent at the White Ho,se $or Cirst Lady Michelle Mbama9s celebration o$ the 1st anniversary o$ the >oining Corces 'rogram 1I don9t ay %arney said )that F/residentG Mbama is )very aware E o$

20(

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the general9s rXs,mX.More Details: see Mic< Drown9s Mctober 2010 'ro$ile, )Detrayal o$ !n !ll !merican Hero-, >aO Mc/hrystal, 'etraeus,& an" e)en the 'resi"ent himself, *ho4" ri""en to po*er on an anti*ar ti"e.

1>B (here *as a simple truth, my colleague ePplaine"O 8ar corro"es an" +ills e)erything it touches. 3t "estroys *hat4s insi"e you. 8ar ma+es you sa".

I wo,ld add several names to the ran>12 %For Mary (illman, *hat the army "i" to her son ma"e a moc+ery of e)erything he *ent to *ar for I honesty, integrity, the "efence of the truth. 93f you as+ me if 3 trust our system no*, the ans*er is 34m pretty "isguste" by it. !nfortunately in our culture people sur)i)e more effecti)ely through lies an" "eception an" "ishonourable beha)iour than they "o the re)erse. An" that4s )ery sa". ' .. Mic+ ,ro*n, %,etrayal of an All.American 6ero,- !< Guar"ian 0?ct. 1, 20102 %3f nothing e)er *or+s out all the *ay, an" if all things change, *hat4s left: 7our family an" your frien"s an" your )alues, that4s *hat4s left. An" your "uty to them & (hey4re the only important things in life. & An" that the rest of it might change a million times, be calle" *rong or right or anything else, you must ne)er )iolate your loyalty if you *ishe" to sur)i)e the Ku"gment of the ages... ;ames 8ebb, ' %ountry Such 's This 01>@B2 21A

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-$ter 3at'# Birthday;ust before the 200J mi".term elections an" his brother4s birth"ay on Do)ember Jth, 0o) , 0elped "ose the Battle for the 0earts and Minds of the ,raCi People. 3t4s *orth Auoting from his recent post, %Heft ,ehin"-O /With its a$$ressi-e and sadly careless use of the draconian .spiona$e 'ct to i prison )histleblo)ers, the Oba a ad inistration has, in any cases, o-ed beyond harass ent and inti idation into actually )ieldin$ the beautiful tools of 3ustice in a per-erse )ay to silence dissent1& /, find yself a e ber of a ne) club , don!t e-en re e ber applyin$ for> The Whistleblo)ers1 2ntil )e ble) those )histles, )e )ere all in our o)n )ays belie-ers in the ' erican syste ? in the course of 3ust doin$ our 3obs, )e stu bled into colossal $o-ern ent )ron$doin$ ;syste atiHed torture, )arrantless )iretappin$, fraud, and )aste=, stood up for )hat is ri$ht in the ' erican spirit, and found oursel-es payin$ surprisin$ personal prices for acts that see ed ob-ious and necessary1 We are $uilty of nai-etL, not treason1& /.ach of us initially thou$ht that the a$encies )e )orked for )ould be concerned about )hat )e had stu bled upon or unco-ered and )ould )ant to )ork )ith us to resol-e it1 ,f ost of us are no) disillusioned, )e )eren!t at the outset1 Only by the force of e-ents did )e beco e transfor ed into opponents of an outBofBcontrol $o-ern ent )ith no tolerance for those )ho )ould e:pose the truth1& 000 Another *histleblo*er, H(/ Eaniel Ea)is, recently publishe" an article calle" N(ruth, Hies an" AfghanistanN *here he *rote, N=enior ran+ing != military lea"ers ha)e so "istorte" the truth *hen communicating *ith the != /ongress an" American people in regar"s to con"itions on the groun" in Afghanistan that the truth has become unrecogniLable.N 3n an inter)ie*1 Acti)e.Euty Army 8histleblo*er Ht. /ol. Eaniel Ea)isO !.=. Eecei)ing 'ublic on Afghan 8ar 0Eemocracy Do*, Apr. 11, 20122, H(/ Ea)is sai"O /? , don!t kno) )hy they!re dead1 , don!t kno) )hat benefit y country deri-ed fro the loss of their life1 ? 'nd if you can!t tell e that they!re $oin$ to $ain so e benefit for y country, , 3ust orally cannot keep Cuiet1 , ean, the 'r y is built on )hat!s called the 'r y Se-en Nalues215

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?G? if you see so ethin$ that!s )ron$, you!-e $ot to ha-e the oral coura$e to do so ethin$ about it1 ? loyalty is one of those -alues, and , belie-e ? y loyalty to the soldiers ? , 3ust o)ed it to the to do )hate-er , could to try to brin$ li$ht to this?& Michael 6astings sai", %you ha)e a 11.year Army )eteran, *ho4s "one four toursVt*o in Afghanistan an" t*o in 3raAV*ho has "eci"e" to ris+ his entire careerVbecause he has t*o. an".a.half more years left before he gets a pensionVbecause he feels that he has a moral obligation to "o so.,est of luc+ to him 03 hope he ma+es it to t*enty years to get his pension2. 'ersonally, 3 thin+ H(/ Ea)is is a bit na^)e about the reality of the %Army =e)en Values.- 3 thin+ ;ohn (. Gee" ha" a better grasp on the reality in his posts at Kohntree".com such as (he !.=. military4s B0.year, marathon, single.elimination, suc+.up tournament 06o* America selects it generals2 an" 3s military integrity a contra"iction in terms: 000 ,ut, in sharp contrast to the fates of the *histleblo*ers, Gen. Mc/hrystal is "oing Kust fine in retirement. 6e4s the hea" of the Mc/hrystal Group 0*ith former Ganger GG( /? ,G ;ames %/raig- DiPon2, sits on se)eral boar"s of "irectors, hea"s the a")isory boar" of the ;oining Forces program, an" has been a celebrate" 0an" *ell.compensate"2 spea+er on the lecture circuit. 6is memoir, %My =hare of the (as+- is sche"ule" for publication on Do)ember 1B, 2012. An" Mc/hrystal is not alone in escaping accountability for his actions 0or in profiting from the publication of his memoirs2. Glenn Green*al" recently *rote, in /rime ,oasting for 'rofit 0=alon.com, April 25, 20122, that %shiel"e" from all forms of accountability, a /3A official is able to publish a boo+ glorifying his illegal acts-O /the decision to destroy the 5)aterboardin$9 tapes )as ade by Jose '1 #odri$ueH Jr1, )ho )as the head of the Directorate of Operations, the a$ency!s clandestine ser-ice ? ,n (o-e ber, 67A7, the Oba a DOJ P consistent )ith its steadfast shieldin$ of BushBera cri inals fro all for s of accountability P announced that the in-esti$ation )ould be closed )ithout any char$es bein$ filed1 ? Protected by the DOJ ? fro any and all accountability for )hat he did, the %,' official )ho ordered the -ideotapes! destruction ? is no) en3oyin$ the fruits of his cri es1 0e 3ust published a ne) book in )hich he a$$ressi-ely defends his decision to destroy those tapes& /#odri$ueH thus 3oins a lon$ line of Bush officials P Bush, %heney, #u sfeld, #ice, Wolfo)itH, et1 al P )ho not only paid no price for the cri es they co itted, but are free to run around boastin$ of those cri es for profit1 That!s )hat happens )hen the ost politically po)erful officials are -ested )ith i unity for their ille$al acts1 Both the cri inals and their cri es beco e nor aliHed1 They feel free not only to ad it their cri es openly but to 3ustify and $lorify the , because they kno) they )ill ne-er be held accountable for the 1 ,nstead of ha-in$ to e:plain hi self as a cri inal defendant, #odri$ueH is instead per itted to )rap his conduct in the banner of herois as a hi$hlyBpaid Si on J Schuster author1 This )ill be one of the ost endurin$ and conseCuential aspects of the Oba a le$acy> by )orkin$ so hard, in so any )ays, to shield BushBera cri es fro all for s of accountability,220

%=?MC(63DG (? E3C F?Gthe De ocratic President has ensured that they are not -ie)ed as cri es at all, but at )orst, runBofBtheB ill political contro-ersies1&

Mean*hile, in contrast, ;esselyn Ga"ac+, in ?bama targets Kournalists 0Apr. >, 20122, *rote about the fate of the /3A officer *ho ble* the *histle on tortureO

/%,' officer John +iriakou /)as the first %,' officer to call )aterboardin$ /torture& and that he re-ealed that the %,'!s torture pro$ra )as policy rather than aberrant playti e1 ? his book, "The #eluctant Spy> My Secret "ife in the %,'!s War on Terror&% ? sharply criticiHes the %,'!s torture pro$ra 1 ? The 5DOJ9 indict ent of John +iriakou, like that of To Drake, is eant to chill )histleblo)ers and the 3ournalists )ho report their stories1 ? +iriakou hi self has also spent tens of thousands in attorneys! fees and is stru$$lin$ to raise the illion dollars his defense is e:pected to cost1 ,ntelli$ence co unity e ployees )ith ort$a$es and ouths to feed no doubt $et the essa$e1& 000 ;esselyn Ga"ac+ also *roteO %?scar. an" Cmmy.nominate" "ocumentarian Haura 'oitras & has filme" three of my D=A clients for the thir" installment of her 8ar on (error trilogy. Dot surprisingly, her latest film *ill be about the go)ernment4s e)er.ePpan"ing secret "omestic sur)eillance, D=A treating our nation li+e a foreign country for spying purposes, an" the *ar on *histleblo*ers.8ashington 'ost report Eana 'riest, in her boo+ Top Secret ' erica, also *rote about %the go)ernment4s e)er.ePpan"ing secret "omestic sur)eillance-O /The Defense Depart ent has $i-en JSO% a bi$$er role in non ilitary assi$n ents ? the or$aniHation is busy )ith its ne) F7,777BsCuareBfoot office buildin$ turned co and center ? 5Joint Special Operations Task ForceB(ational %apital #e$ion91 ,t sits across the hi$h)ay fro the Penta$on in pristine suburban splendor, 3ust a fi-eB inute dri-e fro Mc%hrystal!s ci-ilian office and the for er $eneral!s fa-orite beerBcall restaurant111 ,t is creatin$ tar$etin$ packa$es for 21S1 do estic a$encies?&

Many of the intelligence inno)ations 0inclu"ing the use of "rones2 pioneere" by Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal M Gen. Michael Flynn to target insurgents o)erseas in 3raA an" Afghanistan are no* being turne" in*ar" on the !nite" =tates. 3sn4t it great to li)e in the %lan" of the free, home of the bra)e-:151181

In his 'iece, 0he 6ational Sec,rity State %ontin,es to MilitariSe the Homeland 14 0. 1.3, /eter Van D,ren wrote, )More and more, wea'ons, tactics, techniP,es and 'roced,res that have been ,sed abroad in war are coming home, this time em'loyed against !merican %itiSens. E M,ch o$ the technology and methodology the 6S! and others have been shown to be ,sing against !merican %itiSens was develo'ed on and $or the battle$ields o$ IraP and !$ghanistan, in 'artic,lar the advanced ,se o$ cell 'hones to trac< 'eo'le9s movements. E !lso re$ined in IraP, !$ghanistan and the

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2on&re## Didn't F/m.le1 They Thre the Game;on , 20012

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REMEMBER THE I2ONO2"-ST1 NOT THE I2ON[a"apte" from ?ctober 2005 %Hetter to the C"itor- 0in -A =ense of 6onor,- Appen"iP %F-2$ Note5 3 han"e" this e"itorial to =tan Goff after one of his presentations in March 200J. ;ust a couple of *ee+s later =tan publishe" his first (illman article, %(elling (ransformati)e (alesO (he =trange 'ost Ganger =aga of 'at (illman- on April 5th 200J. 000 Hast year, 3 belie)e" 'at (illman *as a patriotic %"umb Koc+-. 3 refuse" to *atch any of the flag *a)ing co)erage of his memorial ser)ice. 3t seeme" li+e a si"esho* "istraction to the brea+ing Abu Gharib story. ,ut the reality of 'at *as much "eeper than his iconic image. 3n ?ctober 2005, 3 rea" Ea)i" Ririn4s article, %?ur 6ero.- 3 "isco)ere" a si"e of 'at (illman not *i"ely +no*n Ia fiercely in"epen"ent thin+er, a)i" rea"er 0a fa)orite author *as Doam /homs+y2, an" critic of the ,ush a"ministration an" the 3raA *ar 0%&this *ar is so fuc+ing illegal-2. 'at *as a remar+able man *ho *as "ri)en by a core of honesty an" integrity, le" by personal ePample, an" li)e" his life intensely. 34)e ta+en the co)er.up of 'at (illman4s "eath a bit personally. Hi+e =tan Goff, 3 feel a sense of +inship *ith 'at (illman. 3n 1>@B, *hen 3 *as %young an" "umb,- 3 enliste" *ith an Airborne Ganger Hong.Gange Gecon 'atrol 0HGG'2 company. 3 gre* up in the Army, enKoye" the camara"erie an" the challenges. ,ut, the lies of the first Gulf 8ar *ere the last stra*. After eight years, 3 finally left the Army in March 1>>1, an" ha)e been a firefighter the past 1# years. 3 *as angere" that the truth about 'at4s life an" "eath ha" been burie" by the me"ia an" go)ernment. (illman *as enshrine" as an icon *hile the man fell by the *aysi"e, his parents use" as props at his funeral. 'at4s family still "on4t ha)e the meager consolation of +no*ing the truth about his "eath. %(he truth may be painful, but it4s the truth,- his mother sai". %3f you feel you4re being lie" to, you can ne)er put it to rest.000 Het us honor 'at (illman4s memory by honoring the man, not the myth. (he iconoclast, not the icon. As his mother sai", %'at *oul" ha)e *ante" to be remembere" as an in"i)i"ual, not as a stoc+ figure or political prop. 'at *as a real hero, not *hat they use" him as.'at (illman, ne)er at a loss for *or"s himself, is no* silent. ?f the many tragic aspects surroun"ing his "eath, one is that he cannot "efine his o*n legacy. Do*, it4s up to his family an" frien"s to reclaim the truth an" integrity of 'at4s life an" "eath.

2B1

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-BOUT THE -UTHOR%'atience, Montag. ?ur ci)iliLation is flinging itself to pieces. =tan" bac+ from the centrifuge. Gemember the firemen are rarely necessary. (he public itself stoppe" rea"ing of its o*n accor". 7ou firemen pro)i"e a circus no* an" then at *hich buil"ings are set off an" cro*"s gather for the pretty blaLe, but it4s a small si"esho* in"ee", an" har"ly necessary to +eep things in line. =o fe* *ant to be rebels anymore... Gay ,ra"bury, %Fahrenheit #51-

Guy Montag-, M.F.H.F. Hocal \#51

Fire gear *ith (illman DFH \#0 6elmet =tic+er

After three years of ;G?(/, *hen he *as a %young M "umb- se)enteen year.ol" boy, %Guy Montag- enliste" *ith /o. %F- 0Ganger2 #25th 3nfantry. 6e spent eight years *ith /o. %F- from 1>@B to 1>>1, complete" Airborne an" Ganger =chool, an" left as a =G( lea"ing a HGG' patrol. 6e earne" t*o engineering "egrees an" *as a yuppie for a couple of years *ith An"ersen /onsulting 0no* Accenture2. 6e aban"one" the life of a cubicle rat, an" for the past t*enty years he4s been a professional firefighter 0only 12 more years to go 5til retirementT2. =ince ?ctober 2005, Montag has closely follo*e" the 'at (illman story. =ince 200@, he4s been an amateur %feral scholar- 0hat tip to =tan Goff2 of the %untol"- 'at (illman story. 6is ePtensi)e (illman files are at httpOSS***.feralfirefighter.blogspot.com 8hen he4s not *asting spen"ing time on the (illman story, Guy Montag is an eclectic rea"er, *or+s on his homestea", is a %soccer mom,- helps 0*hen she permits it2 his boo+*orm "aughter fin" ne* sci.fi to rea", an" generally neglects his long.suffering *ife *ho is appalle" at the amount of time her %husban"- has spent on his blog o)er the past four years.2B@

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-33ENDIQ -5THE FER-" FIREFIGHTER B"OG T-B"E OF 2ONTENTS

Aer Shall I Fail My 2omrade#- .. (he Ear+ Hegacy of Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystalO 6is ,etrayal of 'at (illman, 6is /omman" of ;=?/ (orture, an" 6is Faile" Afghan 8ar %=urge- 0Ver. 80, 20102

N6e 8ho =hall Dot ,e Fact /hec+e"N 0Eraft2 .. /DA=4= An"re* CPum an" the 8hite*ash of Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal4s Gole in the /o)er.!p of 'at (illman4s Frien"ly.Fire Eeath

0;an. 15, 20102

N(hro*ing My =hoe at ,ob 8oo"*ar" ... DotN 0Eraft2 I %?bama4s

0Eec. 2>, 20102

8ars- an" the 8ashington 'ost4s ,ob 8oo"*ar"4s 8hite*ash of Gen. Mc/hrystal4s Gole in the /o)er.!p of 'at (illman4s Frien"ly.Fire Eeath

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0;uly 15. 20102

N(he Cmperor9s GeneralN 0Ver. 1.02 I 'resi"ent ?bama an" the 8hite*ash of Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal4s Gole in the /o)er.!p of 'at (illman4s Frien"ly.Fire Eeath

0;une 22, 20102

N,arely a FootnoteN .. =uperbo*l ZH333 an" the DFH9s ,etrayal of 'at 0;une 20, 20102 (illman

N(hat9s My 6eroN .. 'at (illman, Gachel /orrie, an" 7oni Detanyahu

0;une 20, 20102

A2 Mc/hrystal, an" their ,etrayal of 'at (illman 0!p"ate" >S0>S0>2

Appen"iP AO Mc/hrystal Gesponsible for Fratrici"e 3n)estigation M Family Dotification

Appen"iP ,O Mc/hrystal9s Carly =enate (estimony

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/0e had ne-er et Green, spoken to hi only once by phone, but he had co itted hi self to clearin$ his na e1 ? 0e felt helpless, his sense of futility laced )ith outra$e1 ,sn!t any of this $oin$ to co e out ri$htE ? Green )as dead, but Webb couldn!t let the case $o1 0e ? filed an

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appeal ? askin$ that Green!s dishonorable dischar$e be up$raded to honorable1 Webb personally ar$ued the case before the board1&

/,n Dece ber A@8D, ei$ht years after the shootin$s and three years after Green!s suicide, Webb )rote to Mrs1 Green> /'t last, Sa !s na e is cleared1& 0e e:plained that her son!s dischar$e had been up$raded to a $eneral dischar$e1 ? /This is s all solace, , kno),& )rote Webb, S, only re$ret )e )ere unable to do ore for hi sooner1&

34)e been be"e)ile" by the (illman case. For years, 3 ha)en4t been able to let the case go. 3 hope" this coul" be one small cause 3 might be able to ma+e a "ifference *ith all the other shit going on the past fe* years. 3t *oul" be nice if this %letter- of mine *oul" ma+e a "ifference.

For thirty years your boo+s ha)e "ealt *ith themes of honor, integrity, loyalty, an" betrayal. Ge. rea"ing your boo+s, 3 notice" many parallels bet*een your boo+s an" the story of 'at (illman4s "eath. 3 belie)e" you *oul" feel a sense of +inship *ith 'at (illman an" his family.

Fi)e years ago, 'at (illman4s family *ere han"e" a tarnishe" =il)er =tar. 3t *ill be a tra)esty of Kustice if Mc/hrystal is confirme" by the =enate Arme" =er)ices /ommittee, promote" to the Army4s highest ran+, an" han"e" his fourth star. 3 feel you o*e a "uty to 'at (illman an" his family. A "uty to place a %hol"- on General Mc/hrystal4s nomination an" stop his confirmation on ;une 2n".

7eah, that coul" be a lost cause. 7ou4" piss off a lot of people. ,ut, at least you *oul" gi)e Mary (illman the small solace of +no*ing there is one man of integrity in the =enate *illing to stan" as her a")ocate. =omeone *illing to %be a lonely champion of lost causes&- 'erhaps you nee" to ta+e a long loo+ at the picture [Gran"father 6o"ges15J$ staring at you from your office *all:

7ou4)e been a hero to me for three "eca"es, since 3 *as a teenager, through my years as an Airborne Ganger HGG', to the present "ay as a firefighter. 3 ha)en4t al*ays agree" *ith your positions on the Vietnam 8ar, etc. ,ut 34)e ne)er before "oubte" your integrity. 34)e al*ays truste" your sense of honor. 34" li+e to thin+ that, after three years in /ongress, you are still able186

%Across the room & my mother4s father, ,.6. 6o"ges, stares out at me & as he has "one in e)ery office 3 ha)e occupie" for more than t*enty years. & Eefiant he *as, an" tragic too. 6e *as a fighter, a lonely champion of lost causes *ho himself lost e)erything because of the causes he champione".- [p. 5, ' Ti e to Fi$ht$

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to ans*er %Do- to the Auestion your great.aunt Hena as+e" of you in 1>15 %=o you4)e been to la* school. Ei" they teach you ho* to lie yet:000 3 guess they ha)e. 3nstea" of acting as the =enate champion for the (illman family, =enator 8ebb playe" his role 0outrage" )eteran che*ing out Mc/hrystal2 in the =enate4s pro for a political theater of the confirmation hearing. Hi+e 'at (illman, ;ame 8ebb4s been a ma)eric+ an" a fascinating character. =enator 8ebb4s betrayal of the (illman family cuts the "eepest. 34" truste" in his sense of honor. 3f anyone in /ongress shoul" ha)e care", it *oul" ha)e been him. 8ebb, as a young Marine )eteran, spent @ years to clear the name of a "ea" Marine for his mother4s sa+eT 34m har" on 8ebb not because 3 "isli+e the man, but that 34m "isillusione" by him. As an ol" man an" politician, he4s turne" into ePactly *hat he once re)ile" as a young )eteranT An" 34m certainly not casting all the blame for the sins of /ongress onto him. 6enry 8aPman, /hairman /arl He)in, =enator Mc/ain, Dancy 'elosi, an" 6arry Gei" an" others in /ongress share in the blame. 3t Kust happens 3 +no* more about 8ebb an" his role an" ha" personal interactions *ith his office. 000 3n his 200@ boo+, ' Ti e to Fi$ht, 8ebb *roteO %8here are the lea"ers: & e)en the best among us *ill not "are to spea+ honestly ... =ometimes the times are simply rea"y for a change. An" sometimes it ta+es smart, tough lea"ers to change the times. An" sometimes, li+e the present, *e nee" the times an" the lea"ers to coinci"e. 8hen that happens, it is a time to fight.=imiliarly, in his April 2#, 2012 fun"raising email, 8ebb *rote, %,ob 0 "ays [Fall 200>$ as a %*riter in resi"ence- to *or+ on %ounterstrike. 0An" guess *ho hoste" his =eptember 2011 boo+ release party: /DA=, of courseT2

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3sn9t the 8ashington establishment coLy: 8hat9s the "ifference bet*een the me"ia, the go)ernment, an" Nin"epen"entN thin+.tan+s such as /DA=: 3t appears to be all one big incestuous blob. 3 "i"n4t come a*ay from my personal ePperience *ith (hom =han+er *ith any confi"ence in our %*atch"og- me"ia.

-33ENDIQ D5 HE +HO SH-"" NOT BE F-2T!2HE2=ED[A"apte" from N6e 8ho =hall Dot ,e Fact /hec+e"N an" pp. 1## I 152, N(he [!ntol"$ (illman =toryN$%From the time 3 *as )ery little, 3 *as a*are of my father4s pri"e in being a Marine. 8hen 3 *as three years ol" & 3 *oul" stan" bet*een my parents, feet "igging into the soft leather of the big front seat, an" sing the entire Marine /orps 6ymn at the top of my lungs... Mary (illman, %,oots on the Groun" by Eus+- 0200@2

/DA= /C? Dathaniel Fic+ [DoteO Eraft letter ?ctober B1, 200>$ An"re* CPum is a Fello* at your 8ashington thin+.tan+ /enter for a De* American =ecurity 0/DA=2 *hich has been calle" N8ashington9s go.to thin+ tan+ on military affairs.N /DA= spearhea"e" the a")ocacy of the Afghan *ar NsurgeN an" has close ties *ith both General Mc/hrystal an" his mentor General 'etraeus. Euring your GU inter)ie*, you sai"O %8e9)e sent one of our fello*s, An"re* CPum, to ser)e on General Mc/hrystal9s assessment team, an" *e meet *ith General Mc/hrystal )ia )i"eoconference once a *ee+ to tal+ about strategy there.-

3n 2002, An"re* CPum ser)e" as an infantry H( in Afghanistan 0"escribe" in his boo+ %(his Man4s Army-2 an" again *ith the Ganger GG( in 200#. Hast year, you *ere %name" one of GU9s 50 most po*erful people in 8ashington.- Euring 200B, you le" a Marine Gecon platoon "uring the in)asion of 3raA 0as "escribe" in your fine boo+ %?ne ,ullet A*ay,- in C)an 8right4s %Generation NMeet the 'ress,- 0an" his ?ctober 1#th 200> %Eaily ,east- article2 ;on e to eG)lain thi#L E FRRR1 reallyL I P/it0

6o*e)er, four years ago, Kust before Gen. Mc/hrystal4s =enate confirmation hearing, you poste" %/onfirm 6imN 0;une 2, 200>2. 3t "i"n4t appear you then thought the %allege" abuse of "etainees- by ;=?/ forces un"er Gen. Mc/hrystal4s comman" *as *rongO

%(he bottom line is, nothing is e)er going to heal the *oun"s inflicte" on the (illman Family & An" *hile 3 ha)e nothing but respect for the (illman Family&, their personal grief shoul" not be a )eto on the nomination of the man [Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal$ & more important than either the "eath of 'at (illman or the allege" abuse of "etainees [at /amp Dama by ;=?/ forces un"er the comman" of McGa)en M Mc/hrystal$.251

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(o"ay, Mc/hrystal claims that he %ne)er con"one" mistreatment of "etainees- ,ut the 200@ =A=/ report sai"O %(he abuse of "etainees at Abu Ghraib in late 200B *as not simply the result of & 5a fe* ba" apples4 acting on their o*n. & 3nterrogation policies en"orse" by senior military an" ci)ilian officials authoriLing the use of harsh interrogation techniAues *ere a maKor cause of the abuse of "etainees in !.=. custo"y.& =M! (F [;=?/ tas+ force$ policies [authoriLe" by Mc/hrystal$ *ere a "irect cause of "etainee abuse an" influence" interrogation policies at Abu Ghraib an" else*here in 3raA.-

3n a""ition, as ;oint =taff VE;B it appears Mc/hrystal *as in)ol)e" in the process of formally importing torture to 3raA in 200B by sen"ing Gen. Geoffrey Miller to %GitmotiLe- Abu Gharib an" by sen"ing =CGC instructors to teach torture techniAues to (F 121.

After Mc/hrystal "i" his share of the tas+ of %lighting the fire- of Abu Gharib that contribute" to the "eaths of != sol"iers, he then comman"e" the ;=?/ night rai"s *hich +ille" thousan"s of Kiha"i4s *ho came to 3raA because of Abu Gharib 0Mc/hrystal4s li+e an arsonist firefighter *ho sets the fire an" then later brags about putting it outT2

After he too+ comman" of ;=?/ in 200B, instea" of re"ucing torture, Mc/hrystal 0along *ith then (F 121 /? A"miral ,ill McGa)en2 appro)e" ore techniAues until he *as or"ere" to stop most of them after the Abu Gharib scan"al although it appears ;=?/ "i"n4t fully clean up its act until the en" of 2005. MaK. Eouglas 'reyer *rote in his boo+, /The Fi$ht for the 0i$h Ground&> %3ncre"ibly, e)en after the Abu Ghraib scan"al bro+e, the facility run by the elite =pecial Mission !nit in 3raA [(F121$ continue" to permit more of these techniAues than ha" been pre)iously allo*e" at Abu Ghraib&-

Finally, after hearing Mc/hrystal4s 200> =enate testimony, =enator Guss Feingol" *roteO %3 am concerne" about General Mc/hrystal4s public testimony, *hich sought to con)ey that he *as 55uncomfortable44 *ith )arious interrogation techniAues an" sought to 55re"uce44 their use. Gi)en the full history of his approach to interrogations, this testimony appears to be incomplete, at best.-

?)erall, it appears Mc/hrystal4s memoir attempts to re.*rite history an" *hite*ash his role in the use of torture as comman"er of ;=?/ 0For more "etails, see the chapter %Do ,loo", Do Foulin the Eec 2012 post %DCVCG =6AHH 3 FA3H M7 /?MGAEC=- .. (he Ear+ Hegacy of Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal M 6is Memoir /My Share of the Task&> 6is ,etrayal of 'at (illman, /omman" of ;=?/ (orture, an" Faile" Afghan 8ar %=urge,- poste" at the Feral Firefighter blog2.25@

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000

Thi# i# the la#t )o#t on -./ M/Pa ama0 E

First, Dagl left /DA=. (hen Date Fic+. Do*, An"re* CPum. 8ell, this is Guy Montag4s Hast /omment is response to CPum4s %Hast 'ost- &

3n his Eec 2011 Hine of Eeparture post, %CPum 3s Gight 0=ort ?f2,- /arl 'rine chastise" you [among others at /DA=$ for your %sincere but misgui"e" [Afghan /?3D policy a")ice$, the sort of a")ice that *oul" get "ecent men an" *omen +ille" trying to %*in- a costly *ar in the 6in"u

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8ell, 3 still bear a %gru"ge- against you for the "eaths of our sol"iers after the Afghan %surge0at least my 11, nephe* got through his tour last year unscathe"2 an" for your %crappy- boo+ re)ie* of $ as a %*riter in resi"ence- to *or+ on /ounterstri+e &- 3t4s *orth noting that /DA= spearhea"e" the push for the 200> Afghan 8ar -surge- an" *or+e" closely *ith Gen. Ea)i" 'etreaus an" Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal. 3sn9t the 8ashington establishment coLy: 8hat9s the "ifference bet*een the me"ia, the go)ernment, an" Nin"epen"entN thin+.tan+s such as /DA=: 3t appears to be all one big incestuous blob. 3 "i"n4t come a*ay from my personal ePperience *ith (hom =han+er *ith any confi"ence in our %*atch"og- me"ia. 0(hom =han+er also participate" in the misinformation about the ;essica Hynch story in 200B2.

'.=. =chmitt an" =han+er *rote, %A special than+s goes out to those in the go)ernment public affairs community *ho truly belie)e an" act on the "ictum that their Kob is maPimum "isclosure *ith minimum "elay, all to better inform the American public about ho* its bloo" an" treasure are spent in "efense of the nation.-

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3s this an ironic Ko+e: %maPimum "isclosure *ith minimum "elay-T: Are *e tal+ing about the 'A officers such as those in)ol)e" *ith the 'at (illman co)er.up *ho ga)e out minimum "isclosure *ith maPimum "elay to his family o)er the past se)en years

-33ENDIQ F5 D-N- 3RIEST'S TO3 SE2RET -MERI2- 2-M3 N-M- +HITE+-SH OF M22HR7ST-"%3n N(op =ecret AmericaN 020112 Eana 'riest an" 8illiam M. Ar+in, t*o of America9s most relentless reporters, pull the curtains bac+ on ;=?/, or ;oint =pecial ?perations /omman", to re)eal a self.sustaining secret 'entagon army that has capture" or +ille" more Al Uae"a militants %than the rest of the !.=. go)ernment forces combine".-& % (he authors praise" Gen. Mc/hrystal4s lea"ership of ;=?/O %3n the fall of 200B, ;=?/ got a ne* comman"er [Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal$ *ho *oul" turn the organiLation into arguably the most effecti)e *eapon in the !.=. counterterrorism arsenal.% 6o*e)er, their account *hite*ashe" Gen. =tanley Mc/hrystal4s role in tortureO %Although no public in)estigation has e)er been con"ucte" into the abuses at [/amp$ Dama, Mc/hrystal reporte"ly sai" %(his is ho* *e lose,- *hen he toure" the facility for the first time. 6e assigne" his top intelligence officer, then.,rig. Gen. Michael Flynn, to professionaliLe ;=?/ interrogations.,ut the August 200J CsAuire piece, -%t# o$ 2on#%ien%e1 claime" that %at the )ery same time the Army *as cleaning up Abu Ghraib [at /amp Dama$ nu"ity an" hoo"ing an" stress positions *ere still routine, *here ran+ing officers +ne* ePactly *hat *as going on an" promise" to protect the interrogators at all costs.%'rofessionaliLe-: 3s that something li+e ho* Gen. Geoffrey Miller %GitmotiLe"- Abu Ghaurib: 3t4s *orth noting that =enator Guss Feingol" %oppose["$ the nomination of H(G =tanley Mc/hrystal- to become comman"er of the Afghan 8ar because of a %classifie" matter- an" because Mc/hrystal4s =enate testimony concerning interrogation %appears incomplete, at best.An", E3A interrogator Matthe* AlePan"er 0author of %6o* to ,rea+ a (errorist4 M %