If we haven't got a hero, we'll MAKE one...

[skunk]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A444-2004May29.html

Whoops!

[Neserk]

so can you give me the gist w/o me having to register?

[skunk]

so can you give me the gist w/o me having to register?
Sorry :rolleyes: . Turns out that Tillman was killed by "friendly fire" in Afghanistan. Not friendly enough, I guess.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Former pro football player Pat Tillman was "probably" killed by friendly fire as he led his team of Army Rangers up a hill during a firefight in Afghanistan last month, the U.S. Army said Saturday.

Tillman walked away from a $3.6 million NFL contract to join the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"While there was no one specific finding of fault, the investigation results indicate that Cpl. Tillman probably died as a result of friendly fire while his unit was engaged in combat with enemy forces," Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger Jr. said in a brief statement to reporters at the Army Special Operations Command.

Kensinger said the firefight took place in "very severe and constricted terrain in impaired light" with 10 to 12 enemy combatants firing on U.S. forces.

A senior Pentagon official told The Associated Press it appeared the gunfire that killed Tillman came from a U.S. soldier, but since there were Afghan soldiers present also, it was not completely clear.

An Afghan military official told the AP on Saturday that Tillman died because of a "misunderstanding" when two mixed groups of American and Afghan soldiers began firing wildly in the confusion following an explosion.

The Afghan official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also contradicted U.S. reports that the American soldiers had come under enemy fire.

Kensinger, who heads Army Special Forces, took no questions Saturday morning after reading the statement.

[Stelliform]

That is unfortunate. In all wars friendly fire accounts for a significant loss of life. Sad.

[Neserk]

Turns out that Tillman was killed by "friendly fire" in Afghanistan. Not friendly enough, I guess.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

[zimv20]

does this mean we should expect to hear the same thing about nick berg in a month or two?

[skunk]

does this mean we should expect to hear the same thing about nick berg in a month or two?
Well, what we were told doesn't really add up, does it?

[pseudobrit]

The WP article isn't as detailed as another AP report that included quotes from an Afghan military figure who was present for Tillman's death.

A basic synopsis:

Tillman was on patrol with US and Afghan forces, they split into two groups and spread out. A mine exploded somewhere nearby and both groups opened fire on one another in the confusion.

There were no enemy forces involved in the firefight.

[Steradian]

The WP article isn't as detailed as another AP report that included quotes from an Afghan military figure who was present for Tillman's death.

A basic synopsis:

Tillman was on patrol with US and Afghan forces, they split into two groups and spread out. A mine exploded somewhere nearby and both groups opened fire on one another in the confusion.

There were no enemy forces involved in the firefight.
Eitherway, people died and that is sad. War sucks.