Rumsfeld denies cover-up on Tillman case

[edjr 6,584]

It's not just a river in Egypt.

 

Simply AMAZING how corrupt the Bush Administration is/was

 

WASHINGTON - Ex-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other top former Pentagon brass denied any cover-up and rejected personal responsibility Wednesday for the military's bungled response to Army Ranger Pat Tillman's friendly-fire death in Afghanistan.

 

"I know that I would not engage in a cover-up. I know that no one in the White House suggested such a thing to me. I know that the gentlemen sitting next to me are men of enormous integrity and would not participate in something like that," Rumsfeld told a House committee.

 

It was Rumsfeld's first public appearance on Capitol Hill since President Bush replaced him with Robert Gates late last year. At a hearing he reiterated previous testimony to investigators that he didn't have early knowledge that Tillman was cut down on April 22, 2004, by fellow Rangers, not by enemy militia as was initially claimed.

 

The truth was kept from the public and Tillman's own family until five weeks later — May 29, 2004. Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, and other family members watched from the back row at Wednesday's hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

 

Retired Gen. Richard Myers, former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he learned of the likelihood of friendly fire toward the end of April but that it wasn't his responsibility to inform the White House or the Tillman family.

 

"I don't think there's any regulation that would require me to do anything," said Myers.

 

Rumsfeld and Myers both said they couldn't remember precisely how they learned of Tillman's death or that it might be friendly fire.

 

Tillman's death received worldwide attention because he had walked away from a huge contract with the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army after 9/11.

 

Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., charged that unanswered questions surrounding Tillman's death reach into the highest ranks of the Pentagon and beyond.

 

"The concealment of Cpl. Tillman's fratricide caused millions of Americans to question the integrity of our government, yet no one will tell us when and how the White House learned the truth," said Waxman.

 

But Rumsfeld said he'd always impressed upon Pentagon underlings the importance of telling the truth.

 

 

Rest of the story can be found here

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070801/ap_on_...n_friendly_fire

[edjr 6,584]

I figured no bush rumpswabs would have anything to say

[wiffleball 4,790]

Yeah, I'm not really buying the Reagan defense either.

 

 

 

Funny thing is, you hear from military guys in all kinds of interviews and they can tell you exactly where they were when they heard about Pat's passing. It was a big deal for many of them. Yet somehow, none of these 'men of honor' can remember when, how or if they heard about his passing - let alone when, how or if they heard about it being fratricide.

 

Somehow, I just don't think anyone can believe that Rumsfeld and his cronies just can't recall learning about the fragging of the most famous soldier in their army, but each one of them can tell you in equisitite detail dozens of stories of individual soldiers they met during their tenure - when it makes them look like the kind, caring leader they want you to know about. Huh, a bureaucracy that THRIVES on memos, and not a one to be found telling you about this, huh? Right.

 

Really not surprised at this.

 

[DAVID RUFFIN 2]

I'm sure the Clinton defense will be invoked shortly.

[wiffleball 4,790]

I'm sure the Clinton defense will be invoked shortly.

 

Actually, if you'd read the article, you'd know the Reagan defense ('I can't recall') was the tactic chosen.

 

If Rummy had been caught getting a hummer from Wolfowitz, THEN it would be time for the Clinton Defense.

[birdbrain3X 0]

I'm sure the Clinton defense will be invoked shortly.

 

"I did not have sex with that football player."