Exploiting heroism

By Michael J.W. Stickings

So it seems the U.S. military -- and its warmongering political overlords -- lied about Pat Tillman (Afghanistan) and Jessica Lynch (Iraq). This according to Tillman's brother and Lynch herself in testimony before Congress.

• Kevin Tillman: "We believe this narrative was intended to deceive the family but more importantly the American public."
• Jessica Lynch: "The bottom line is the American people are capable of determining their own ideals of heroes and they don't need to be told elaborate tales."

There's nothing noble about these lies. What they point to is the cynical deception with which America's wars are being waged.

The American people deserve the truth, however hard it may be to handle.

And they deserve not to have heroism invented for them for political purposes:

• Jessica Lynch: "I am still confused as to why they chose to lie and tried to make me a legend when the real heroics of my fellow soldiers that day were, in fact, legendary."

Why? Because support for these wars, as well as their ongoing waging, depends upon the American people not knowing the truth about them:

• Kevin Tillman: "The facts needed to be suppressed. An alternative narrative had to be constructed, crucial evidence destroyed... These are deliberate and calculated lies."

Indeed they are.