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―LIES … BORNE OUT BY FACTS,
 
IF NOT THE TRUTH‖
 
Senator James Webb, Thom Shanker & The New York Times and the
Whitewash of General McChrystal’s Role in the Aftermath of Pat Tillman’s Death
 
By GuyMontag425, feralfirefighter.blogspot.comSeptember 11, 2009
―Allegations, lies, denials, dissembling, distortions … And all the while they secretlywhispered to the media … And the media gave them their forum, always ascertaining beforehand that their allegations were borne out by facts, if not the truth.‖
 ---
James Webb, ―Something to Die For‖ (1991)
 
 
 
September 11, 2009Clark Hoyt,In the accompanying binder,
―Lies … Borne Out by Facts, If Not the Truth,‖
I argue thatWashington Pentagon Reporter Thom Shanker (and his NYT editors), whitewashed
General McChrystal‘s central role in orchestrating the cover 
-
up of Pat Tillman‘
s 2004friendly fire death.
Instead of an objective search for the truth (―without fear or favor‘) of GeneralMcChrystal‘s actions, The New York Times displayed its stenographical willingness to parrot official government positions ―borne out by facts, if not the truth.‖ Once again, as
with their coverage of the Jessica Lynch case, the Times has published coverage (or lack thereof) that brings into question the integrity of its journalism and its ability to use a
―mountain of evidence to arrive at an honest or even sensible conclusion.‖
Accompanying this cover letter are two binders that present my detailed arguments:
At the end of May, I sent my binder, ―Did They Teach You How to Lie Yet?‖
-- SenatorJames Webb, General Stanley McChrystal, and the Betrayal of Pat Tillman, to bothSenator Webb and NYT Pentagon reporter Thom Shanker. This binder presents the case
that Congress and the top leadership of the Army acted to shield General McChrystal‘s
actions in the cover-
up of Pat Tillman‘s fratricide from pu
blic scrutiny and acted toprotect him from punishment.
Last week, I completed the second binder, ―Lies … Borne Out by Facts, If Not the Truth‖
-- Senator James Webb, Thom Shanker & The New York Times, and the Whitewash of 
General Stanley McChrystal.‖ Th
is binder explores in detail the role of Thom Shanker
(& his NYT editors) in ―clearing‖ McChrystal of any wrongdoing in the Tillman case
and
whitewashing McChrystal‘s central role in orchestrating the cover 
-
up of Pat Tillman‘s
2004 friendly fire death.As Public Editor, I believe you should question Thom Shanker (and his editors) abouttheir coverage of General McChrystal and the Tillman case. Those involved should be
held accountable for whitewashing McChrystal‘s role in the cover 
-
up of Pat Tillman‘s
fratricide, and the New York Times should publish a detailed correction.Please feel free to contact me for follow-up with any questions or comments about mywork.Sincerely,
 
―LIES … BORNE OUT BY FACTS, IF NOT THE TRUTH‖
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PDF Page #:
 
September 11
th
2009 Letter to New York Times Public Editor Clark Hoyt 4
. . .
Thom Shanker & The New York Times, and the Whitewash of General 17
McChrystal‘s Role in the Aftermath of Pat Tillman‘s Death
 
Rebuttal of Thom Shanker‘s Pre
-Hearing NYT Article: 35
―Nomination of U.S. Afghan Commander Revives Questions in Tillman Case‖Rebuttal of Thom Shanker‘s Post
-Hearing NYT Articles: 60
―Nominee to Command U.S. Afghanistan Forces Stresses Civilian Safety‖& ―U.S. Report Finds Errors in Afghan Airstrikes‖
 
. . .
 
Senator James Webb and the Whitewash of General Stanley McChrystal‘s Role
77
in the Aftermath of Pat Tillman‘s Death
 May 25
th
2008 Letter to Senator James Webb
(from ―Did They Teach You How to Lie Yet?)
89
 
April 3
rd
2008 Letter to Senator James Webb
(from larger untitled document)
99
 
APPENDICES:
A: ―Did They Teach You How to Lie Yet?‖ (refer to separate Volume II binder):
 
Operational & Administrative Chain of Command (from IG Report)Fratricide Investigation Flowchart (Appendix C, IG Report)Casualty Reporting and Next of Kin Notification Flowchart (Appendix D, IG Report)Timeline of Tillman Fratricide Notification (GuyMOntag425 5-17-08)
Transcript of General McChrystal‘s June 2
nd
2009 Senate TestimonySenate ASC 6-02-09 Confirmation Hearing
(from ―Did They Teach
You How to Lie Yet?)
B:
 
E-Mail Correspondence Between Guy Montag & The New York Times 101C:
 
New York Times Articles about General Stanley McChrystal:
(5-12-
09) ―Pentagon Ousts Top Commander in Afghan War‖
(5-13-0
9) ―A General Steps from the Shadows‖
(5-14-
09) ―New Commander for Afghanistan‖ (NYT Editorial)
 (5-15-
09) ―Afghan Villagers Describe Chaos of U.S. Airstrikes‖
 (5-26-09)
 
―Nomination of 
 
U.S. Afghan Commander Revives Questions in Tillman Case‖
 (6-01-
09) ―Questions for General McChrystal‖ (NYT Editorial)
 (6-02-
09) ―Nominee to Command U.S. Afghan Forces Stresses Civilian Safety‖
 (6-02-
09) ―U.S. Report Finds Errors in Afghan Airstrikes‖
 
D
: ―
5 Years Ago: When the Pentagon and Media Lied About Jessica Lynch Rescue‖
 
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