As summarized by Aaron Renn:
Pat Tillman died 20 years ago today.
He gave up an NFL career and millions of dollars to enlist in the Army in the wake of 9/11. Tillman was killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan, something the Army lied about and tried to cover up. The military even ordered his fellow soldiers to lie to Tillman's family at his funeral.
Our leaders, especially the Bush administration, squandered the incredible national unity and wave of patriotism in the wake of 9/11 in order to advance their own war agenda in Iraq and elsewhere. Afghanistan is now run by the Taliban again.
The incredible patriotism and service ethic of so many of our young people has been abused by our bankrupt leadership class, and enlistment in the military is justly collapsing.
