What's your take on Kevin Tillman's letter?, Pat Tillman's brother... Options

[cupcake]

After Pat’s Birthday
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601..._pats_birthday/
Posted on Oct 19, 2006
By Kevin Tillman

Editor’s note: Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read document.

It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we got out.

Much has happened since we handed over our voice:

Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.

Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them. Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.

Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.

Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.

Somehow American leadership, whose only credit is lying to its people and illegally invading a nation, has been allowed to steal the courage, virtue and honor of its soldiers on the ground.

Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.

Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated.

Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated.

Somehow the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated.

Somehow subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.

Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country safe.

Somehow torture is tolerated.

Somehow lying is tolerated.

Somehow reason is being discarded for faith, dogma, and nonsense.

Somehow American leadership managed to create a more dangerous world.

Somehow a narrative is more important than reality.

Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.

Somehow the most reasonable, trusted and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted countries in the world.

Somehow being politically informed, diligent, and skeptical has been replaced by apathy through active ignorance.

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.

In a democracy, the policy of the leaders is the policy of the people. So don’t be shocked when our grandkids bury much of this generation as traitors to the nation, to the world and to humanity. Most likely, they will come to know that “somehow” was nurtured by fear, insecurity and indifference, leaving the country vulnerable to unchecked, unchallenged parasites.

Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat’s birthday.





Brother and Friend of Pat Tillman,

Kevin Tillman

_______________________________________________________

[cupcake]

To be completely honest, I don't give a flying fuck about any and all Iraqi's. it's not because they're muslim, it's because I know they really don't give a fuck about us who are there to "help" them; of course they need the help due to us destroying their govt. and country. Some of you will retort this but Iraq was more stable and less of a threat with Saddam in power. We've been dealing with him for years and knew how to control him. I'm not from the school of cut and run, but I know a waste of military power and life when I see it.

We should be hunting Al Queda and that's it. I'm fuckin sick of hearing the president say that we're in iraq to keep us safe on our own soil. Eat a dick! this reasoning keeps me awake at night wondering how he was elected into office twice. it also just proves how weak and misguided the democrats were at the time.

We need to get out of there and focus our attention on real threats like NK and Al Queda and any other hadji's that want to get froggy. as long as we're on their homeland trying to implement a democracy and also stay allies with Israel (which I could honestly care less about), they will always hate us. I'm not naive to think that someday Muslims are gonna wake up and not have deep rooted hatred for christians and jews. they hate us...period.

Democracy in Iraq? sorry but it ain't gonna happen. just my opinion. I also know that not every muslim is radical and has intentions of hurting Americans, but I'm pretty sure most of them do and nothing will ever change that. seen it firsthand.

I'm not a Republican or Democratic fanboy, just someone that can see through this bullshit. I don't position myself with either or just because I disagree with either's policy's.

The Republicans are probably gonna lose the house and they deserve it for backing the wrong team. monumental mistakes have been made in Iraq and the lessons learned will be taught in schools for generations.

I love my country and the military but I strongly disagree with the current administration and cannot wait until they are gone and we have new leadership, regardless of party, that renew their focus and stop the bullshit spewing on FoxNews 24/7.

[Seeker]

Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat’s birthday.

Dude is delusional, we live in Bush's fascist Amerika... where elections are rigged with electronic voting machines and you can be sent to prison and held forever without charge.

[Divergent Realit...]

Dude is delusional, we live in Bush's fascist Amerika... where elections are rigged with electronic voting machines and you can be sent to prison and held forever without charge.

Refrain:
We're all living in America,
America is wunderbar.
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.

Wenn getanzt wird, will ich führen,
auch wenn ihr euch alleine dreht,
lasst euch ein wenig kontrollieren,
Ich zeige euch wie's richtig geht.
Wir bilden einen lieben Reigen,
die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen,
Musik kommt aus dem Weißen Haus,
Und vor Paris steht Mickey Maus.

We're all living in America...

Ich kenne Schritte, die sehr nützen,
und werde euch vor Fehltritt schützen,
und wer nicht tanzen will am Schluss,
weiß noch nicht, dass er tanzen muss!
Wir bilden einen lieben Reigen,
ich werde Euch die Richtung zeigen,
nach Afrika kommt Santa Claus,
und vor Paris steht Mickey Maus.

Refrain:
We're all living in America,
America is wunderbar.
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.
We're all living in America,
Coca-Cola, Wonderbra,
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.

This is not a love song,
this is not a love song.
I don't sing my mother tongue,
No, this is not a love song.

We're all living in America,
Amerika is wunderbar.
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.
We're all living in America,
Coca-Cola, sometimes WAR,
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.

zomg

[Hartmann]

The war in Iraq is illegal because his brother was killed in Afghanistan... Sounds like he just needed to vent his anger about his brother's death (which as far as I know took place in Afghanistan) and used Iraq as the platform.

What would make me angry as a brother would be the fact that the friendly fire incident was "covered up". I could give two craps less about Iraq and the Iraqis. Every single one of my friends that is still in Iraq has told me that the "Hadjis" are some of the laziest people they've met, they do nothing for themselves, and don't want to work, they just want it handed to them. They need to understand that we can provide the freedom but they have to provide the will to sustain themselves not go around feeling sorry for themselves because they aren't a Shiaa.

[impala454]

I love my country and the military but I strongly disagree with the current administration and cannot wait until they are gone and we have new leadership

i think a lot of people on this board feel this way, and to all of you i ask this: what do you believe the new leadership can do to rectify the situation, and keep our nation safe from terrorist attacks? if you were handed the presidency right this second what would you do?

[cupcake]

pull all conventional units out of iraq. we are only creating more enemies with each passing day. also the violence is growing with multiplicity. it's worse now than it was 2 years ago for fuck sake!

people say "well then you'll have a country of terrorists who hate us!" yeah so? like we don't already?

and who are you to say they won't have an all out civil war and come up with a decent govt?

I think we should let them fight it out, and after gaining a decent assessment of which side is the more moderate (or at least democratic) start funding and supporting them via SF/SOCOM/CIA. just like we did with the northern alliance. help them win...because WE ain't gonna win jackshit!

keep a strong naval presence in the gulf...ARGs, MEUs, etc. but keep them on the water for contingencies. like we have for the past 14 years.

but let the iraqis have their own country. with help dealt by extreme prejudice.

and start focusing our resources where they should have been all along...on the country-less al queda network.

those guys blowing us up in iraq aren't terrorists. they are you and me if some shitheads invaded our country. they are "red dawn". get out of their country and they'll chill the fuck out.

al queda however, will not.

actually let SF live up to de oppresso libre do their fuckin jobs instead of saddling them with shithead doorkicker grunt missions. obviously that shit don't work.

[pebkac]

zomg

Interweb awesomeness points ++

[Hartmann]

pull all conventional units out of iraq. we are only creating more enemies with each passing day. also the violence is growing with multiplicity. it's worse now than it was 2 years ago for fuck sake!

people say "well then you'll have a country of terrorists who hate us!" yeah so? like we don't already?

and who are you to say they won't have an all out civil war and come up with a decent govt?

I think we should let them fight it out, and after gaining a decent assessment of which side is the more moderate (or at least democratic) start funding and supporting them via SF/SOCOM/CIA. just like we did with the northern alliance. help them win...because WE ain't gonna win jackshit!

keep a strong naval presence in the gulf...ARGs, MEUs, etc. but keep them on the water for contingencies. like we have for the past 14 years.

but let the iraqis have their own country. with help dealt by extreme prejudice.

and start focusing our resources where they should have been all along...on the country-less al queda network.

those guys blowing us up in iraq aren't terrorists. they are you and me if some shitheads invaded our country. they are "red dawn". get out of their country and they'll chill the fuck out.

al queda however, will not.

actually let SF live up to de oppresso libre do their fuckin jobs instead of saddling them with shithead doorkicker grunt missions. obviously that shit don't work.

Amen. We are not police officers nor are we an occupational force.

However, I do not think a change of administration will cause this to happen. I think this is on a military level. Yes, the president has a little to do with tactics but the generals should be making some decisions on their own, I mean, they have their stars for a reason.

[Billy]

i ask this: what do you believe the new leadership can do to rectify the situation, and keep our nation safe from terrorist attacks?

The answer: Stop fucking with the middle east.

[GOB]

i wonder when kevin tillman's book is going to come out.


$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[cupcake]

Amen. We are not police officers nor are we an occupational force.

However, I do not think a change of administration will cause this to happen. I think this is on a military level. Yes, the president has a little to do with tactics but the generals should be making some decisions on their own, I mean, they have their stars for a reason.

well they can't really do anything that goes against what the SecDef wants. and since we have Rummy as SecDef right now, we're kinda bound by that.

I would like to see the next administration bring in Anthony Zinni for that position. however, he may be too smart to get wrapped up in this mess.

I'll gladly follow that man into hell and back...again.

[Hartmann]

well they can't really do anything that goes against what the SecDef wants. and since we have Rummy as SecDef right now, we're kinda bound by that.

I would like to see the next administration bring in Anthony Zinni for that position. however, he may be too smart to get wrapped up in this mess.

I'll gladly follow that man into hell and back...again.

Zinni is a genius. The fact that Rumsfeld ignored his (Zinni's) plan for Iraq with more troops during the initial invasion and the months directly following it makes me irrate.

[The Fanatic]

Dude is delusional, we live in Bush's fascist Amerika... where elections are rigged with electronic voting machines and you can be sent to prison and held forever without charge.

sad and in some ways true. The american government can spy on you for any reason it wants. They are trying to create a national ID card, real ID or some bullshit, hell they want to unite north america. Soon maybe there will only be one party in america, The Republican party.