“Friendly Fire”

For Gen’l Stonewall Jackson CSA
    Capt. Glenn Miller, USAAF
    & Cpl. Pat Tillman, USA

Once it blasts through
the blood and the bone
it’s no longer friendly fire—
when it’s done and said
you’re just as dead
and your friend made of lead
was a liar. 

—Steven Bartel
c2006 All rights reserved

Mary and Kevin, and the family:
thank you all so very much for your courage and your sacrifice.
I admire you beyond what words can say. God bless you. -Steve

What does a soldier’s committment to “the cause” as you say, have to do with holding government accountable and getting to the truth? This bull that the public has obviously bought into that says to be patriotic is to never question the government is beyond ignorant. You forget out of what our country was formed.

I am a true conservative, unfortunately voted for Bush twice, a combat infantryman veteran myself and a Christian. The current war, just about all those in power and most of our country’s current policies are corrupt, illegal and just plain sick. This continues because of American’s ignorance of our history and good old fashioned apathetic living.

Wake up America, you are asleep at the wheel. The Tillman family diserved immediate disclosure about Pat just as the country does about everything being fraudulantly done in the name of “freedom” and the “war on terror”.

I believe when you sign the papers, you have given your life to the cause. Your hand on the pen on the paper ends your life as you know it. All of the hindsight in the world won’t change that for a soldier and neither will rambling on about it afterwards.

One easily exploited facet of the reality of an ultimately civilain led military is that politics are inherently going to be tied to any action or inaction, victories, or mistakes. When most of us goof up in our job we generally have the convenience of fudge room and safeguards that keep our every mistake from being paraded before the world, or our boss, or being forever present to those who don’t care for us personally.

I find it rather damning to our society as a whole the degree of immediate criticism so often leveled beyond the full context of the true scope and nature of either the job or the situation. This very atmosphere I feel is a significant proliferator of our societies problems. So ‘hungry’ we are for perfect and instant gratification, so full of the dellusion that we can expect more and more from a system ever more complex and as much human and subject to error as we ourselves are, that we readilly engage in judging anything and everything we have any antipathy for with the most stringent and unforgiving lens we can come upon. Never stoping to realize how damning that same measurement would be if ever focused on each of us as individuals.

There were those who saw in the communist purges the hints of a witch trial. I personally discern much the same spirit in the aproach that predominates on this site and sites like this. Almost all will condemn and shout down the McCarthy era while at the same time doing all they can to revieve and feed that same spirit, only this time it’s been modified in it’s target. Now it’s the “Bushies” instead of the “commies” that are seen as evil incarnate. Nothing and no one will convince these ‘believers’ in the ‘horrible’ state and ‘demonic’ visage of the current administration that even an incling of their vehement wrath is an egregious exageration and cynicism that would damn them as readilly as it damns the “Bushies.”

Has there been horribly massive screw ups in the case of Pat Tillman? Has there been likely politicization of the issue? most assuredly on both counts. But step back and look at this relative to every other candidates. If you can’t come up with equivilant cases of government screwing up or polititians taking misadvantage of the sorrows and loss of others I’d be very capable to point such out. But I think actually finding resolutions to the issues at hand, statements that go beyond merely being “the un-Bush” policy, are what is needed.

Certainly we need to critique and investigate errors. But this desire to paint this all as either evidence of complete evil, complete incompetence, and/or some vast conspiracy is to hold to a position that would, if used as a measurement against nigh all political US or World history, would damn all to the same or GREATER degree than that Bush receives at your hands.

I’m probably a fool to even try to give this position. I’ve had such little aparent success in the past. The problem here is that the ‘fundies’ don’t even know they are ‘fundies’ and infact vehemently claim the title of ‘the un-fundy™’.

A friend of mine sent me the Tillman piece and since your web site was included, I could come and see for myself.  What a godsend! I can hardly wait to pass it on to my friends. We were already embroiled in Vietnam when I received the grace to open my eyes and look for the truth, This time it hasn’t taken me that long, only because I’ve been disgusted with all the antics of our “elected” leaders for so many years. I am a retired educator living in an assisted living facility and it would warm your hearts to know how many seniors are on the same page as you ! Again thank you ! You and your work will be in my thoughts and prayers each day.  Peace!
                          Rachel M. Story, McPherson, Kansas

Here ?

gfdgdg

“OUR DAILY BREAD, . . . FOOD FOR THOUGHT.”

TO ALL OF MY FAITHFUL FELLOW AMERICANS, . . . JUST DON’T WAKE UP, . . . BUT ARISE, . . . AND GET UP! SHAKE THE DUST OFF YOUR FEET, AND GET YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, INVOLVED IN SOME PROPER FORM OF ACTION. FOR THIS NIGHTMARE WILL ONLY WORSEN AS EACH NIGHT PASSES.

THE YEAR OF 2006, IS NOT LOOKING ATTRACTIVE FOR AMERICA. ONE COULD PAINFULLY IMAGINE, WHAT 2007 AND 2008 WILL PRESENT IT SELF AS, IF WE CONTINUE TENDING SUPPORT TO THE LEADING OF THE BLIND. 

FACT: FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THIS OCEANIC GLOBE, ARE FOUND PERPETUALLY GRIEVING. THE ABSOLUTE CAUSE, CREATED BY THE MISLEADING OF INTERNAL REPRESENTATION. INSTRUCTED AND COMMANDED DOWN, THROUGH THE CHAIN OF ARROGANCE AND BETRAYAL. WHEREAS, . . . THE MISGUIDED A.G., PROVIDES NO FORCE OF INSIGHT, NO POWER OF NAVIGATION, NO VIEW OF DISCERNMENT, . . . HENCE, IN CLEAR VIEW, . . . THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT SHIP, IS SAILING ON ITS LAST SEA.

WE ADDRESS ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, . . .

WHAT OTHER NATION BESIDE OUR OWN, AND THE MANY OTHERS FOUND ACROSS THE VAST ONEROUS WATERS, WILL THE A.G. AIMLESSLY LOOK UPON TO DEFRAUD, EXPLOIT, OPPRESS, ROB, VIOLATE, ANNIHILATE, AND DISSOLVE?

WHERE IS THE ETCHING OF TRACE THAT DISTINGUISHES THE FACTUAL DISCOVERY OF DESTINATION, LEADING TO THE LIGHT OF ABSOLUTE ATTRACTION, THAT ONCE AGAIN EVOLVES, . . . THE APPALLING ATTENTION OF THE “WHITE HOUSE DEVIOUS CLUB MEMBERS?”(W.H.D.C.)

WHERE IS THEIR FUTURE RECIPIENT OF EXCLUSION BASED ON THEIR “HIT LIST?” WHERE IS THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS STORY OF “BLOOD AND HUMAN SACRIFICE?”

FINALLY, . . . WHERE IS THE PLACE OF REALITY AND COMMON SENSE FOUND, WHEN THOSE WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF TRANSFERRING MILLIONS AND BILLIONS, AND EVEN TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, CAN’T BE FOUND “LIVING IN A PLACE OF PEACE?” 

HOW SAD, . . . BUT TRUE.

Given what is now obvious, every day headlines across the country should read: “Bush Administration Hoodwinked United States into an Endless and Muddled War Using Lies and Deception.”  Every single day until people are held accountable.

Carlos Montoya’s comment (#5033) reflects the sentiment that is increasingly common among non-North Americans: ‘We stood together with you North Americans against Bush in the runup to the war. Then you allowed him to occupy the White House for another four years. Now we no longer commisurate with your misery, we are angry with you. How can you allow this man to continue to inflict so much pain on the world? Forty percent of you still support him. Are you Norte Americanos crazy?

It’s very sad to realize that only now are the concerned citizens of this United States coming to understand the depth of the lies and coverups in our government.

Remember…these are “elected officials”  they do not have tenure.  If you don’t like what you are seeing, vote the pigs out of office.

Wake up.  You people are a bunch of idiots if you think Bush masterminded the killing of Pat Tillman.  Bush just finished what was started a decade before, it’s finally rewarding to have a president that we can be proud of and that will do what he says he’s doing.  I never saw Clinton do that.

In contribution to: Dianne Beeny’s commentary, . . . Our sentiments exactly.

In addition to: Joy Mcclellan’s realization, . . . Not only are ‘their’ kids escaping from servicing onto the word of patriotism, but also, ‘their’ kids are reaping from the benefits of other people’s kids who are. What a costly equation!

In response to: Trucker Bob’s allurement of the truth, . . . The Armageddon is already ‘on notice’ of arriving toward ‘Time’.
‘Kool Aid’, as one describes it, has already combusted many people’s brain cells. Giving explanation to the great loss of all ‘sound reasoning’.
In matter of speaking, what the Prez has started, others will step in to complete. The Prez is currently in the planning of leaving a legacy of troops, traveling along the ‘Red Sea of Doom.’ As to meanwhile, others are in the preparation of canceling them out after their purpose is served.
Doesn’t anyone yet see, . . . there will be no one remaining but those who steal and murder for the security of ‘Pride in Self Preservation’?

In comment to Sylvia Barksdale Morovitz, . . . The Truth leading to Pat Tillman’s death has been repeatedly distinguished.  All assessments have been revealed through the countless shadows of guile, left behind in view of the American governmental system of dictatorship. The expectation of reviewing the factual details, is privy to only the team players of the Masked Gunmen. The Tillman family, along with the many other families, may have to wait upon ‘JUDGMENT DAY, before they receive THE TRUTH.  FOR IT IS PROMISED, . . . ALL TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED, AND ALL WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE UNTO IT.

In connection with Nancy Boulicault, . . . The testament of knowing when your country is fully diseased and saturated with poison, is when your good conscience cannot guide you to ‘one’ person who is worthy of the position of ‘Leading’.

The ‘only’ prospect open for public review, is the citizens’ private information. Now the Federal department of the IRS, is looking to forward tax applicants’ private information to third party’s, while they omit themselves from any legal liability. How can anyone intrust releasing their personal tax information to a tax preparer who is looking to receive an outside sale?

American citizens are now “FOR SALE.” Just as a slave should be! How sad.

I don’t know if someone else pointed this out, but “fragging” in Vietnam was usually not an abitrary action. It was often directed toward gung-ho, low-level field officers who insisted on taking their already experienced and action-wise soldiers into danger.

Am I the only person in America who views Pat Tillman’s actions (giving up a football contract and joining the military) cynically? In my experience, hoopla about patriotism and heroism is just that. When a person does what Mr. Tillman did (and I do feel a great deal of sympathy for his family), I usually suspect they are running away from something. It doesn’t mean they’ve done anything bad, but there can be something left behind that they don’t want to face or deal with.

Sounds like Tillman DID wake up from his 9/11 fog and I’ll bet he was going to say so to the media.  So, he had to be silenced.

When an awful matter as such arises, it would be best to give acknowledgment to the fact, The Truth has no heroic meaning or purpose, when it is forced into a stance with those, who willingly mutilate any leading to its findings.

Our compassion extends out to the entire Tillman family, and the many other families’ who have lost their dear loved ones, for the cause of servicing the misguided.

It is with great everlasting remorse, that the spirit of deception has snared the minds and the power of will, of so many people across the world.  More devastating and incomprehensible to accept, is the indisputable, people of all ethnicity continue to absorb the idiocy of torture, and reward it aid, and the provision of a resting place called, ‘necessity’.

When is torturing another person, ever the essential key toward the giving and receiving of harmony? Truth speaks, . . . The American governmental nation is NOT for “PEACE.” They have proven themselves to be in the mind set of darkness. Leading the way for division, strife, violence, grief, loss, hatred, and longsuffering. The same revolt, found breeding amongst their own union. Without a doubt, the many personal life stories, such as one of Pat Tillman, speak The Truth to this undeniable fact.

As also, the many heartfelt life stories render silent messages of Truth, about us all, . . . One of which is, . . . That we have become complacent to the color of the bloodshed of mankind. 

Americans, . . . we are going against all natural teaching. We were taught to multiply, . . . not murder! Why do we continue to follow the misguided leading of the blind? How sad.

This is yet another example of secrecy in government, and in this case, the crime of treason in wartime.

These documents show blatant disregard for presidential directives issued during National Security Council meetings during warime.

The pattern of abuse continues in the so called intelligence community with proclamations of “slam dunk” evidence for the justification of preemptive attack on Iraq.

These once top secret documents were declassified by the State Department in 2000 much to the chagrin of the CIA.  Now we know why.

http://johnmccarthy90066.tripod.com/id120.html

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/hall/Mac.html

Copies of these documents were provided to former AG Ashcroft and Senators Kyl and Shelby of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence without response.

This issue is not yet resolved.

its a shame what the american people put up with in the form of patriotism/love of country.
we send our best, to die for bullcrap, while right here in the good old u.s.a; we are denied the most basic rights that a progresive thinking goverment should extend to its citizen.health care,a living wage,and a free education.
the death of pat tillman/and the lies, sent out by the bush administration, shows that gangsters are running this goverment/secrecy and lies, thats all we get from the bush gang.

If the U.S. government is not capable or willing to confess the true story behind the relatively benign Tillman coverup, what will it take to get the truth behind the stories of hundreds of people subjected to forced disappearance without judicial oversight and torture without evidence of wrongdoing under the guise of the “war on terror?”

Amnesty International’s work has no end in sight!

Thank you, Ancil, for your correction. I ‘misrecollected’. Three decades of fog will do it to ya.

‘The term was “fragging” not “flagging”

During the worse years of the Vietnam war, U.S. servicemen took to murdering one another with tossed granades, sometimes for ideological reasons. Killing someone in one’s own unit was a routine affair, and was widely known as ‘flagging’. Was Tillman flagged?’

Lawrence Donegan’s report in the Guardian states that Tillman “was and articulate and well-informed man who subscribed to the Economist, travelled with a small library of Noam Chomsky books and urged his friends to vote for Kerry…”
No smoking gun here of course, but this adds to the intrigue and at least provides some context for the speculation that he was fragged.  Was he too independent in his thinking? Too well informed of the more cynical aspects of American foreign policy?  Was he waking up from a 9/11 induced patriotic fog to realize the underlying dishonesty and hypocrisy of Bush’s radical and belligerent agenda?

I attended the “Women Say No to War!” march and press conference at the United Nations on March 6th, and watched Cindy Sheehan and other peaceful(!) Code Pink activists arrested and man-handled roughly by the NYPD. It was an appalling & totally unnecessary spectacle of undue force. All they were trying to do was deliver a signed petition with 60,000 signatures to the U.S. mission to the U.N. No matter what anyone thinks Casey Sheehan would think of his mother’s peace activities - I happen to think that he would be immensely proud - he would be sick to see his mother treated like that!! - Held face down to the cold sidewalk then dragged roughly by her arm for 15 feet. Her son gave his life for our country, and his mother deserves more respect than that.  She speaks out so that what happened to her son won’t happen to others, and so that more families won’t have to go through such pain.
My heart goes out to the Tillman family and all others who have suffered and will suffer from the lies of this war, including the Iraqi people.  We need to get our troops out of there ASAP!! Too many have died already and we don’t belong there; Never did. Bring them home NOW!!!
We need to build a culture of peace world-wide, to counter-act the damage done and fear now running amuck. What I witnessed on Monday is a microcosm of what’s happening around the world.
We need to learn (and teach) how to heal, nurture, trust, hope and care for each other and our planet. We need to evolve to a higher consciousness and responsibility for our thoughts, deeds and actions. We need to look for enlightenment and what we all share deep inside: a need for love, sustenance and protection.  And true security comes from peace within, not from walls, weapons and fear. It takes courage to face up to fear and transcend it. But when that happens is when you find true freedom.

If you good folks in the USA don’t stop drinking the Kool-Aid your delusional coward of a leader(?) is going to visit Armegeddon upon you.

As a 67 year old veteran, father and grandfather, I shudder when I watch what he’s doing to your once-great country.

The term was “fragging” not “flagging”

During the worse years of the Vietnam war, U.S. servicemen took to murdering one another with tossed granades, sometimes for ideological reasons. Killing someone in one’s own unit was a routine affair, and was widely known as ‘flagging’. Was Tillman flagged?

As an ex-USAF Nurse who served in the early ‘60’s, I certainly believe in protecting our country.  We hear a constant drumbeat alluding to all of the people and countries who believed that Iraq had WMD’s.  What drivel!!  Scott Ritter, who should know better than anyone, tried to stop this war but the neo-cons and Bush wanted it bad enough to risk our sons and daughters lives—-for whatever…many theories—- oil, euros, military bases.  One can’t help but notice that THEIR children aren’t over there getting blown up.

“The Pat Tillman Story”, “The Jessica Lynch Story”, “The Mushroom Cloud/WMD Story”, does any of this sound familiar?  It appears that the movie “Wag the Dog” was a primer for this administration.  Having just seen “Good Night and Good Luck”, the parallels from the early 50’s are uncanningly similar to today.  We have jounalists who fear for their careers, or worse, unable or unwilling to search for the truth, let alone report it out of fears of retribution from their Corporate Bosses, the Government and the American Public.  Americans would rather HEAR a good story and could care less about its veracity. Jounalists, like Morrow then and Scheer now, are becoming marginalized and the truth and the values that used to represent the USA are the caualties. Where are the apologies from the MEDIA who have propagated this crap?  The “Fourth Estate”.....indeed.

Mary Tillman, I support your efforts to get the truth out about your son.  If financial aid is needed to fight, I will be the first to give whatever I can afford.

I would like to read Pat’s journal to find out what his thoughts were about the war in afghanistan!

P.S. The Idaho State Journal sucks!

Initial reports of Tillman’s death included details of not only his fervor in enlisting to defend the country, but also his subsequent disenchantment. With his brother besides him to confide in, Tillman was certainly not circumspect in criticizing the Bush administration’s prosecution of the war. His superiors certainly would have known. Were they concerned that, unless silenced, this Rumsfeld-annointed hero may become a PR nightmare?

Could this be the real story: murder rather than killing, as opposed to the pithy, army standard-issue ‘cover thy ass’ basic instinct? Is the story more Macbeth than Rove? The new army criminal investigation may turn up the truth (or not).

There are so many odd circumstances: Why was his unit split into two, against standard operating procedures and over the vigorous objections of the commanding officer in the field, then sent back together after dark to shoot Tillman dead? Why was Tillman’s uniform and body armor (with presumed bullet holes) burned during an investigation? Why was the chain of command communications records with the head of the theater Commander (or even Commander-in-Chief) not examined and/or preserved?

During the worse years of the Vietnam war, U.S. servicemen took to murdering one another with tossed granades, sometimes for ideological reasons. Killing someone in one’s own unit was a routine affair, and was widely known as ‘flagging’. Was Tillman flagged?

The “Pat Tillman Story”, the “Jessica Lynch Story”, the “Mushroom Cloud/WMD Story”.  Does anyone else see a pattern here?  It appears that the film “Wag the Dog” was a primer for this administration and its pundits. I just saw “Good Night and Good Luck” and found the subjects of fear and censorship to be as important today as they were in the 40’s and 50’s. We all know that most Americans would rather hear a good story than confront its veracity hence the rise in popularity of O’Reily, Hannity and Coulter and the subsequent demise of the phrase “Investigative Journalism”.  It is now, sadly, just another oxymoron.  Our only hope is that Robert Scheer, like Ed Morrow, will inspire other prominent jounalists to stand up for America and confront the risks associated today with investigating and reporting the TRUTH.

Bob,
There is a bigger story here about the few of us WWII Merchant Marine mariners still alive, average age 81 years-old, who have been fighting the US government since 1945 for recognition and promised benefits. There is a Pulitzer lurking in this story if an investicator wants to dig. The government wiped its feet with us since and still today. See http://www.usmm.org/urgent.html and mini-history of WWII Merchant Marine - http://www.usmm.org/cd.html
Dan - 2213 Acton St., Berkeley - telephone 510-540-8472

The Bush,Cheney,Rumsfeld cabal is the most contemptable administration in the history of this great nation the length to which they will sink no’s no bounds,what they tried to do with Pat Tillmans death is truly dispicable and they should suffer the wrath of the American People.
William S Martin
Springfield Missouri

What is the motivation to drag this old news out again?  Surely the hardcore “..right or wrong, my country..” crowd will resentfully blame the anti-war movement for being hypercritical of heroic soldiers doing an already tough job and creating an atmosphere in which the beleagured administration is forced to bend over backwards to placate the hysterical demands of its critics.  Hmmmmmmmmmm…....

At least you should bring up the questions WHY he killed, and WHO gave the orders to kill him.  I suspect this story should go way beyond, “the administration exploiting this tragic episode.”
It won’t take much digging Robert.

This tragic story is just another example of the Bushit that needs to come to a complete and final end.  This war was built on a foundation of lies and to the catering to AIPAC’s special needs like special needs children get their asses wiped.

the sheehans’, the tillmans’, the smiths’, the joneses’, all should be fearful for others’ impending deathes in bushs’ war on the poor.

I was a member of the NROTC at UCLA between 54 and 58, and served as a naval officer from 58 to 61.  I was told that I had to take the same courses as those at the Naval Academy except I did not have to major in engineering.  I took a course in geopolitics as required.  One of the main points made in the class was that the U.S. and for that matter any European country should not get involved in a land war in Asia.  This was not a political issue, it was an issue of logistics.  The lines of communication are just too long to allow us to sucessfully fight such a war.  Based on our experience in Viet Nam, it is obvious we are not able to successfully fight a war in Asia.  If all the regular naval officers were given the same information, how could it be that someone in the administration does not know the problems involved in a land war in Asia.  When I think of the Tillman family, I become so frustrated.  I know three families who have grandchildren and one husband leaving for Iraq within the next two months.  This cannot go on. We are wasting the lives of our children and wasting the resources of our country.  Byron J. Lawler

It makes me wonder if Pat Tillman’s conscience was getting in the way of business as usual in Afghanistan. He was a man of conscience. We know this because of journal reveals conflicted emotions about what was happening in the “War on Terror”.

Was he fragged? At the very least, it was ‘friendly fire’ and a cover-up. They burned his uniform and his armor. I’d love to see investigators get to the bottom of this.

Mary Tillman is an honor to the country in insisting the truth be told about her son’s death.  She follows the path of another mother who was eventually ostracized by our president, but not quieted.
What could be expected of a military investigation but what they want the public to hear?  It is ridiculous.  A full congressional investigation should be pursued and the turth revealed to all.  Mr. Bush has gotten away with too much rhetoric concerning this war of insanity.  It’s time that everyone knows the truth of the Tillman death.  It’s possible that it may strengthen the opposition to the war.

This website is called Truthdig.

Obviously the Bush administration doesn’t dig the truth.

It’s good that Truthdig does!

One would hope that a Democratic Party leader would bring this up in Congress. But given that those folks all voted to renew the Patriot Act,it’s fruitless to expect any of them to show courage and leadership at this late date. I think it’s time for Bob Scheer to run for office again.

A Congressional Investigation getting to the truth? Only Rip Van Winkle could wake up believing that this Republican Congress could investigate anything with a view to getting to the truth.

The Tillmans are the most public and tragic face of the Bush regime’s callous manipulation of information and people in the pursuit of power and profit.

They know the truth (poor souls) but it will stay part of the ‘secret’ history and ‘fog facts’ generated by Bush and his minions until we, the American people, join the Tillmans in holding these criminals accountable.

““U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, has criticized as yet another example of the military “investigating itself.” There needs to be a congressional hearing on the role of the administration in exploiting this tragic episode.”

Maybe after the mid-term elections. No investigations for reps with a D, sorry, just closed doors.

Thanks for covering this symbolic story. We can’t see the flag-draped coffins of other troops, but Bush had no problem mentioning Tillman. Oh wait, not during an ongoing investigation, oh wait, I mean…You are right, his mother is a true hero.

While focusing on yet another investigation into the death of
Pat Tillman, the nation should begin to
seriously question Pentagon “facts” released about the deaths of
all Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Inventing and manipulating “facts” began long before we invaded Iraq,
but the sweep of the spin became evident when honest citizen Jessica Lynch
debunked the Pentagon’s tale of her experience. How fortunate Pat Tillman to have
parents who refuse to accept political flim-flam and persist in holding
this administration’s feet to the friendly fire of truth. As White House
pressure to stop leaks through intimidation of reporters and others increases,
more concerned Americans may step up to the plate and blow the whistle
on abuse, lies and corruption in high places. Therefore, the Tillmans and their
supporters must not rest if the issue of the son’s death is finally
resolved. Far more than his triumphs on the football field, the name
“Tillman” shines on behalf of national honor.