Bush Twisted propaganda lies of Iraq

Pat Tillman gave up a $4.8 million football contract to serve in Iraq.

Truth, it is famously said, is the first casualty of war.

And thus it has been for two of the most celebrated official heroes of America's campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One was Pat Tillman, the pro-football star who gave up the NFL's riches to serve, and ultimately die for, his country.

The other was a blonde teenage girl from West Virginia whose capture and rescue in the early days of the Iraq conflict inspired the TV drama-documentary 'Saving Jessica Lynch.' Now however the two stories have returned to haunt the Pentagon.

Both stand revealed as propaganda operations in which the truth was deliberately distorted to inspire a country and allay public doubts about the righteousness of the cause.

For the US military they have become a colossal embarrassment; for gleeful Democrats they are another stick with which to beat an already battered administration.