Were there Blackwater in the vicinity of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan at the time of his death?

I've been waiting for this question to appear all day after watching this video of these Blackwater pilots who were acting like "cowboys":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x59253

Congress went on August break and the Pat Tillman investigation faded. I believe there are still many unanswered questions regarding the tragic death of Pat. Doesn't anyone else wonder if there were any of these "cowboys" nearby?

If any became part of Blackwater, it'd be after ending their time in special forces... cashing in on booming business.

It is an interesting question, IMO.

But no, since the entire nature of special forces missions is fundamentally classified, I don't know FOR SURE. And you must realize I couldn't possibly know for sure.

To me this being an interesting question is like how the question of whether Princess Diana was killed by the Queen of England is interesting, even though neither the driver of the car nor the paparrazi, nor the bridge, were in the employ of the government of the UK. Some things are "interesting" while being so far-fetched that they should be immediately dismissed barring extremely strong evidence to rule them in.

I don't know what more I can say about this issue. The concept that "private" operatives explains all evil in the world boggles my mind. What, uniformed soldiers can do no wrong now?

...explains all the evil in the world? My goodness, that is a masterpiece of assumption. Further, I made no comment about uniformed soldiers whatsoever. And asking you whether you know if private military operatives were in the vicinity was intended to discover if you had read anything about the situation. You seemed so sure.

By the way, I still think it's an interesting question. But it's just interesting, nothing more, as I don't have enough facts to know whether it's far-fetched or near-fetched.

It's an emotional math thing. Suddenly, people have discovered that they can whitewash everything uniformed soldiers do by going after Blackwater only as a singular evil and blight upon mankind, so as to seem to be criticizing the war in a legitimate way that doesn't actually criticize the troops fighting it.

At any rate, best I know, the only private military types in Afghanistan at the time were working hand over fist with the CIA (though the State Dept might've had some too), on US bases, doing things like processing detainees. That has nothing even remotely to do with the stuff Tillman's unit seems to have been doing, which, at minimum, we know was out in the field. No civilian authorities were involved in the slightest with the investigation; it was purely military from beginning to end.

But the thing I find remarkable is how many people WANT this scenario to have been true.

Thanks for the information. I guess I still don't like your assumption, though. "DU" and "people" does not necessarily equal "me."

It is very hard to believe any of our regular military would shoot down one of their own. But not hard at all to believe a merc was out there target shooting.

of the shooters in the killing of Pat Tillman, all US Rangers and no Blackwater in area. An unfortunately not uncommon "fog of war" friendly fire incident. One of the persons with Tillman's small detachment was an AMF (Afghani ) soldier in civilian appearing clothing and not obviously a soldier. SSGT Baker and the Rangers in his vehicle were ejected from the Rangers; one Field Grade Article 15 and one Company Grade Article 15 were issued for violating the Rules of Engagement.

Serial Two, the Albatross Section, in particular a GMV under the control of Sergeant Greg Baker, with a driver, an M240B machinegun, an M2 50-caliber machinegun, an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and two M4s (the standard assault rifle now used by the infantry) came out of the canyon and fired on both the village and Pat’s position. Pat and Thani were killed; and Uthlaut, along with his radio operator, Jade Lane, were wounded.

What is established is that Baker directed the firing, and that after firing at Pat’s position once, the vehicle advanced and fired on the same position again, probably to regain visibility after Pat threw a smoke grenade in an attempt to alert them that they were firing at friendlies.

why, especially after seeing a smoke grenade (to indicate they were friendlies) would they re-fire?

Are you suggesting it was just a tragic accident?