The Pat Tillman case keeps getting uglier and uglier. Earlier this week Army Specialist Bryan O’Neal testified before a congressional committee that he was ordered by his superior officer to lie to anyone – including the Tillman family – who asked about the former Arizona Cardinal’s death by friendly fire. Tillman was mistakenly killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, shot by other Army Rangers as they emerged from a battle in a nearby canyon. Under questioning from California Representative Henry Waxman, O’Neal said Lt. Col Jeff Bailey told him to keep his mouth zipped.

“He basically just said, sir, that uh, ‘Do not let Kevin (Tillman, who joined the Army with his brother) know, he’s probably in a bad place knowing that his brother’s dead,’” O’Neal testified. “He made it known that I would get in trouble, sir, if I spoke with Kevin.”

“You were ordered not to tell him,” queried Waxman. “Roger that, sir,” replied O’Neal.

Isn’t it bad enough that the Tillman family – mother, father, brother, wife – had to lose their loved one in a senseless war, then three years later find out they were continually lied to about Pat’s death? Bad? Absolutely. Unconscionable? Without a doubt.

The really sickening part of it was that the lies were perpetrated not to protect the Tillman family, but to protect the image of the war, of which Pat Tillman unwillingly found himself the poster boy. In fact, he did very few interviews, telling reporters that he just wanted to help defend his country. No, the leadership decided that by using a pro football star who gave up fame and riches to join the Army following 9-11 was nothing but a win-win situation. Well, a win situation for them. Tillman shunned the publicity. And how could they possibly explain to the country that their “star” was shot by his own teammates?

Actually, very easily. It should have gone much like this:
“We regret to announce that Army Ranger Pat Tillman was killed while on a mission in Afghanistan yesterday. He was accidentally shot by fellow Rangers in the aftermath of a battle with Al Quaeda forces. Pat Tillman gave his life in service of his country and will be honored accordingly. We wish our sincerest condolences to everyone who loved Pat Tillman.”

What was so difficult about that? Sincere. Truthful. Any controversy that might have been brewing would have been shut down immediately. And instead of being muzzled, his fellow soldiers could have talked about how these kinds of tragedies are an unfortunate part of battle, and that they were all so sorry that it happened. Instead, they couldn’t even publicly grieve because someone was afraid it would look bad for the war effort. Didn’t the Defense Department and the people running it realize that the truth would eventually come out and they would look like a bunch of conniving liars? Apparently not. Or maybe they did, and just didn’t give a damn…