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Editorial: Truth is long overdue

The Army, Pentagon and now the White House have turned the death of Cpl. Pat Tillman into a national disgrace without end.

More than three years after Tillman was accidentally shot to death in Afghanistan by fellow Rangers — not by enemy gunfire, as Army brass told the world — the cover-up continues.

The latest shameful twist is that White House officials, citing “executive branch confidentiality interests,” have refused to fully release communications sought as part of a congressional investigation into Tillman’s death. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform also said documents released by the Pentagon were inadequate.

Though the White House and Pentagon released 9,539 pages of material, major shortcomings remain in the level of disclosure. Committee leaders expressed doubts that communications between the White House and the Pentagon on Tillman’s death were limited to the two documents turned over — one of which was a packet of newspaper clippings.

Troops on the battlefield knew that the fellow Ranger who gave up a pro football career to fight with them died by friendly fire. That information quickly made it up the chain of command.

Those who knew the truth nevertheless permitted Tillman, honored with a posthumous Silver Star, to be buried with the public still believing he was killed by the enemy.

Key questions still remain about which commanders and administration officials knew the truth, and when.

The committee has set hearings on the Tillman case for Aug. 1 and has “invited” several senior defense and military officials to testify, including retired Gen. John Abizaid, former U.S. Central Command chief; former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld; former Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard Myers; and others.

None of this would be taking place if the truth had been told at the start. It won’t end until the truth is fully, and finally, out.