Brother of Pat Tillman Speaks Out Over U.S. Policy

"Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started." - Kevin Tillman, U.S. Army Special Forces

(SALEM) - The brother of Pat Tillman has spoken out, issuing a story that underlines the anguish the family has endured since the pro football star was slain by friendly fire in Afghanistan. The story paints a different picture than most media reports about U.S. interests and involvements overseas by a soldier who was there, lost his brother, and lived to talk about it.

Kevin was a pro baseball player before joining the Army and responding to his nation's call. It is doubtless that people will try to "swift boat" him as veterans in politics are so frequently attacked, so too are national celebrities who speak out against the status quo.

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 get out.

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

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

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.

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.

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Henry Ruark October 24, 2006 5:35 am (Pacific time)

To all: Dialog here mirrors much of what Founders felt and fought out in Federalist Papers, Their conclusions you know as our great documents of freedom, the Declaration and the Constitution, world famed ever since. Please also note their very FIRST Amendment --which is why there IS a "free press" and which outlines responsibility as well as freedoms.

DV October 24, 2006 3:44 am (Pacific time)

Anonymous, Should we in Salem just sit back and talk about the local issues and not confuse our simple minds with things beyond parking ordinances?

Eric Lighter Et.al October 24, 2006 2:23 am (Pacific time)

Hitler was a Christian. He compelled his country into war. Also he refered to his country as the Homeland. This seems to be the course that the Pirates running this country have taken. Our leader's are coward's they only seem to blame. Not ounce have I heard them say. Why is this happening.

Charles ET.al October 24, 2006 2:06 am (Pacific time)

Via conditioning most American's seem to simply comply. Freedom is an illusion. The leader's of the so called free world yeild to no one and have no fear of the Law. As long as one must fear there government and be silenced on the truth. Democracy will not exist. Only the truth will set us free.

The Editor October 24, 2006 1:14 am (Pacific time)

Salem-News.com draws a huge following from all over the world every day. We were one of the first news groups to run the story. Your question seems to have a lot of assumptions about what a news site does.

I find it interesting that you choose the word "spout" to describe stories that we run offering views that don't endorse the wars overseas. I think that is kind of strange for the anti-war person you describe yourself to be. At any rate, our stories are widely consumed and we were sent that piece very early on. That may be why we have had the cover of Google News so many times, over groups like the NY Times, CNN and the list goes on and on. It is a new world and people in a given locale should know about developments everywhere.

Anonymous October 23, 2006 11:47 pm (Pacific time)

While it's nice to see the letter printed, and I agree with what Mr. Tillman writes, I'm not sure why it belongs on Salem-News.com. Is this just to spout more anti-war opinions? I am no fan of the war, but I'm not sure why it's here on Salem-News.com. Just curious. :)

Henry Ruark October 23, 2006 1:19 pm (Pacific time)

Dave et al: What it'll take is allasame as happened with Viet Nam and Johnson - revolt built on revulsion of what Americans were told by much of the media, while some small parts kept pouring on the truth. Now we face massive corporate control of media channels, and thus even more demand for some-of-same/again in those free to speak...even when readers dislike the despairing desperate truths thus clearly administered.

Dave October 23, 2006 12:42 pm (Pacific time)

What does it take to get the people of this country to stop worrying about there morning Latte' and stand up and speak and get this President investigated and impeached NOW!!!!!

Hambone October 23, 2006 10:30 am (Pacific time)

Thank you for printing this !

C'itall October 22, 2006 11:17 am (Pacific time)

There is so much more to the controversy about Pat Tillman’s death. You do know that his family, and our whole country was lied to about how he died, right? Remember that detail? That most important fact didn’t come out till after his funeral, until after Bush gave a speech about him over the jumbotron at football stadiums, and until after he was awarded the Silver Star, posthumously of course. Why were Pat's parents fed lies? Why were Pat's clothes and equipment burned at the scene? His brother, Kevin, who wrote this article wasn’t told the truth- and he was at the scene! What happened to Pat's journal, that he had kept with him for years? It was never returned to his parents. They pressured army investigators by going public about Pat's true feelings about the war in Iraq (he thought it was illegal) and his growing questioning about the Bush "war on terror." This article isn’t about his brother “venting” because he is “bitter”. It’s about TRUTH. He’s just the first to break his silence. Get ready for what lies ahead as more and more families are impacted… and abused by our own system, after giving the life of a loved one “for the cause”. For what, did you say?

Mateo October 22, 2006 6:34 am (Pacific time)

It is understandable that Kevin Tillman is bitter and needs to vent. He has the clout to do so. There are many with these feelings who don't have the clout or reasons he does. To them I say "In hindsight, if you were in charge what would you have done in the face of these world challenges?" It's hard to say as we don't know all that was and wasn't known by President Bush and his advisors during these difficult times. You sure can't make a sound judgement or decision through with limited picture we get through the media. I see a lot of people around me who are quick to find fault in the Bush administration's handling of events after 9/11 when the only clout they have is what they've seen in the media and talking with others about how wrong everything is. It's the popular thing to do for many people in order to socialize and fit in. If the administration would have done little or nothing in the wake of 9/11 the same people would be complaining about that.

Raven October 21, 2006 9:08 pm (Pacific time)

Although the government deserves the critisim, it is sad that Kevin's experiences have made him so bitter. I hope that people do not miss Pat's thoughts on entering the military. Not having a voice in the US is something to really think about when thinking about enlisting.

Henry Ruark October 21, 2006 5:37 pm (Pacific time)

That "Somehow..."-sequence surely "tells it like it really is" -- proud to see it run in full damning detail in our Salem-News. Do NOT forget the also-damning political-cult pirating a once-proud political party, and bringing us this "Somehow"-sequence as their reflection of 19th Century outmoded, disproven political philosophy.

Eric Holmes October 21, 2006 2:59 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you for printing all of Kevin's letter. The Arizona Republic sure didn't!

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