Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Tillman's wife: Real leaders needed

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The wife of NFL athlete-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman said Wednesday in her first public comments since her husband's death by friendly fire that the country needs "authentic leadership."

Saying that talking about her best friend was difficult, Marie Tillman told an audience at the University of Arkansas about the many good qualities of the NFL athlete and Army Ranger.
"Pat was a man with enormous talent. His athletic ability was matched by a deep and complex moral and intellectual side," said Marie Tillman, a featured speaker at the school. "He always tried to do the right thing and he was the first to admit when he didn't."

Pat Tillman was cut down April 22, 2004, by bullets fired by his fellow soldiers in Afghanistan, not by enemy fire, as the military initially claimed. The military said officers knew within hours that Tillman's death was from friendly fire but didn't tell his family or the public for five weeks.

Tillman's death attracted worldwide attention because he had walked away from a huge contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

During a congressional hearing Aug. 1, former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and three former generals expressed regret with the Pentagon's delay in telling the truth. They took no blame for the violation.

Marie Tillman and her brother-in-law Alex Garwood avoided discussion about the controversy around Tillman's death, saying they wanted to focus on honoring his memory through the work of the Tillman Foundation.

On Wednesday, Marie Tillman said her husband was dynamic and action-oriented, something needed in private and public life.

"We are in need of authentic leadership on many levels," Marie Tillman said.

Yahoo

Fresh meat! Republicans have a chance now, to show how tough they are tearing her to shreds.

3 Comments:

Blogger B Will Derd said...

'Marie Tillman and her brother-in-law Alex Garwood avoided discussion about the controversy around Tillman's death, saying they wanted to focus on honoring his memory through the work of the Tillman Foundation.'

I think we should honor that wish, don't you?

Ever find out what happened to TT's blog? I just noticed the Truth About Iraqis (an unfortunately titled blog) has suffered a similar fate. Not only has his blog been lost, he hasn't been on the usual comment sections in since.

1:13 PM  
Blogger madtom said...

Hi Will,

I know, but the right wing attack machine is going to have a field day, and that's what my comment was about.

TT said his blog was hacked, and I imagine the same for TAI, TAI last post was on August 11, I posted some of it over at Iraqi Bloggers Central on their post on this subject. They also feel that he's missing from the usual haunts. I would not know as we do not really haunt the same blogs, so I have no idea. He has in the past faked having his blog hacked to get the sympathy vote from his readers, but I do not know more.

6:31 PM  
Blogger B Will Derd said...

And here I thought I WAS the right wing attack machine..... but I doubt they will say a word. Unlike Sheehan, she shows no signs of being an off the chart leftie and has every reason to complain about her treatment, though she barely has. The whole family shows great class.

Thanks for the info, or non-info on TAI. I can't stand the little prick, but I kind of came to like him a little cause he was so off the wall while seeming to be so well educated sometimes. I think the last post I saw of his was calling all Iraqis to the Great Resistance! A few hours later and his blog was gone. Could have been for dramatic effect, especially if he has a history of doing such things. TRUTHteller silenced...TRUTH about Iraqis brought down.... coincidence? Yeah, probably so. They were both Resistance Cheerleaders, though.

Anyhow, glad you are maintaining the effort here. Still one of my regular stops.

8:19 PM  

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