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Rumsfeld expresses regret over handling of football star's death (Roundup)
Aug 1, 2007, 19:42 GMT
Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld listens to questions during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on what military leaders knew about the combat death in Afghanistan of U.S. Army Ranger and former football star Pat Tillman, in Washington, August 1, 2007. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Washington - Former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday expressed regret over the Pentagon's handling of American football star turned soldier Pat Tillman's death in Afghanistan.
'The handling of the circumstances surrounding Corporal Tillman's death could only have added to the pain of losing a loved one,' Rumsfeld said during congressional testimony. 'I, personally, and I'm sure all connected with the (Defence Department) extend our deep regrets.'
Friendly fire claimed the life of Tillman in Afghanistan in 2004, a fact that was concealed from the public for weeks as he was instead portrayed as a hero who died in a gun battle with enemy forces.
Tillman's family has accused the Pentagon of purposefully lying about the circumstances of his death in part because he was a football star who walked away from a 3.6-million-dollar contract to join the Army after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Rumsfeld said he was not involved in the process of notifying the family and, as defence secretary, did not get involved in investigations to avoid influencing outcomes.
Rumsfeld said after becoming defence secretary in 2001 he sent a memo, which he provided to Congress on Wednesday, stating that he expected all Defence Department personnel to tell the truth.
'Do nothing that could raise questions about the credibility of DOD,' Rumsfeld said of the memo. 'Department officials must tell the truth and must be believed to be telling the truth or our important work is undermined.'
Rumsfeld was testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform one day after the Army censored a retired general for mishandling the case and accused him of lying to investigators.
Retired three-star General Philip Kensinger, who oversaw Army special operations, also faces having his rank reduced.
The Pentagon initially told the family that Tillman was shot in the head by enemy fire on April 22, 2004, but weeks later it emerged it was a case of fratricide. An internal report released by the Pentagon in March found that serious errors were committed in the several investigations of his death but that it remained an accident.
Rumsfeld left office in December after US President George W Bush replaced him with Robert Gates.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
It seems that the lies concerning this football player yielded a higher propaganda value for the Pentagon.Add to this one Abu Graib,the WMD in Iraq,the complete failure and utter incomptetence of Rumsfeld nthe yellow cake from Niger,,the lies from Wolfie about his girlfriend's ,the SCooter Libby case,Gonzales perjury and you get a pretty grim picture of the Bush administration during 7 years of glorified Bush policy .What a pitifull score .
thats why america hates bush and co.
And I'd like to share with you all my sincere chagrin that Rumsfeld was ever born.
Woody Guthry's guitar said : 'This machine kills fascists'.
I think he was referring to the Bush & co. kind of riff raff currently infesting the White House.
I would like to thank Bush and Rumsfeld, There has been no attacks . What you doing is working.We cant worry about global warming if we are busy with terrorists. We had 8 years of Gore and Clinton doing nothing and we got stuck with 911.
Of course Bush cant handle the War in Iraq and anything else simultaneously ?He is too stupid to chaw and think at the same time .Hence is poor record in politics .Which can not be said about Clinton .I wish for the USA a better president next time .Dont forget to register as voter and be carefull next time .Think of health care and education too .Dont be influenced by neocons claiming your moroms like Bush cutting back on education in the next budget just to raise military spending .
O course I meant chew and think at the same time .
that ol eeconnomy is just terribl. Ah got me 4.6 percient unempolyemint, an tax revinues up th ying yang, an 92000 new jobs. Hell, ah feel lahke Frankleen Roooosevelt! yep, things is lookin pritty dark sum whire...but no hire.
Bayh th wahy, n' bridges eveh fell down in Texass, not evin thim cheeecanooo une's.
I am a little dismayed by Tony-the-Bitcher's comment on Bush i.e. a 'poor record in poltics'.
Bush, successfully beeat a popular Texas Governor for the seat, then wnet on to beat two, supposedly, intellectually superior opponents for the Presidency.
How does a person get a poor record in politics by winning? Apparently from someone who is full of crap?
Do people actually think these pols oversee every event in government?
page: 1
Chuck RayAug 1st, 2007 - 20:24:07
censured, not censored
'one day after the Army censored a retired general for mishandling the case'
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