Walter Mitty war criminal....

[bigjarofwasps]

SEATTLE — A man who tried to position himself as a leader of the anti-war movement by claiming to have participated in war crimes while serving in Iraq is facing federal charges of falsifying his record.

Jesse Adam Macbeth, 23, formerly of Phoenix, garnered attention on blogs and in some alternative media after he began claiming in 2005 to have been awarded a Purple Heart for his service, which he said included slaughtering innocents in a Fallujah mosque. His story was contradicted by his discharge form, showing that he was kicked out of the Army after six weeks at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2003 because of his “entry level performance and conduct.”

A complaint unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle charged him with one count of using or possessing a forged or altered military discharge certificate, and one count of making false statements in seeking benefits from the Veterans Administration.

Macbeth’s public defender, Jay Stansell, declined to comment.

Organizations that opposed the war, including Iraq Veterans Against the War, posted videos or statements containing Macbeth’s claims on their Web sites. In one videotaped interview, a skinny, stuttering Macbeth, dressed in a camouflage jacket, described slaughtering hundreds of people in a mosque: “We would burn their bodies ... hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque,” he said.

Macbeth's uniform as worn in the video was inconsistent with Army regulations,[18] and in some cases, inconsistent with his purported identity. Boyce is quoted in Stars and Stripes as saying "There are... numerous wear and appearance issues with the soldier's uniform – a mix of foreign uniforms with the sleeves rolled up like a Marine and a badly floppy tan beret worn like a pastry chef," Stars and Stripes also reported that Macbeth wore his beret with the insignia over the wrong eye.[6]

[Paul R]

What a dumb a$$. People like this only hurt the cause they are trying to push forward.

[Ed_Haynes]

So true, like those pretending to be "patriots". There are more than enough legitimate tales.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Kev in Deva]

The following statement would have made me suspicious

?We would burn their bodies ... hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque,? he said.

As far as I remember there are no rafters in a Mosque, and if he had ever set foot in one he would know that,

the Moronic "wannabe" liar, I hope he gets jail-time for his lies.

Kevin in Deva.

[Michael Johnson]

"a badly floppy tan beret worn like a pastry chef,"

During the Second World War my father was a Lieutenant in the reserve battalion of The Ontario Regiment. One of his duties was to stop the Honorary Colonel Sam McLaughlin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_McLaughlin before he went on parade, and tweak his Armoured Corps beret off to the proper side. Sam never learned how to wear a beret.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Michael Johnson

[Alex K]

The following statement would have made me suspicious

As far as I remember there are no rafters in a Mosque, and if he had ever set foot in one he would know that,

the Moronic "wannabe" liar, I hope he gets jail-time for his lies.

Kevin in Deva.

Kevin, a very good point

regards

Alex K

[Ed_Haynes]

Kevin, a very good point

regards

Alex K

Never been in an Iraqi mosque, but most of those I was in in Afghanistan (outside Kabul) had rafters, as did many rural mosques in Saudi Arabia (including al-Wahhab's own mosque). Nevertheless . . . .

This is, however,

[Guest Rick Research]

35 years from now he'll be in the United States Senate for life, too. Show a little respect for the future leadership of the Republic.

[W McSwiggan]

Attended the Wake for 1LT Bacevich this weekend. KIA - Iraq - Mother's Day by suicide bomber.

His father - a distinguished officer - combat veteran of Vietnam & Iraq - Former commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, retired Colonel (not LTC as so many of our lackluster media reporters have stated) - Professor at Boston University and outspoken critic of the Iraq war.

Contrast the Bacevich family and its sacrifice with this bozo...

Again - I am aghast. I will not engage in a rant but I am tempted.

[Tiger-pie]

The anti-war mob should vet whomever claims to be an ex-serviceman claiming such things too, they look foolish as a result, and this lessens their credibility within the public arena. They rush to embrace these sort of morons in a bid to justify their agenda and yet again it has backfired.

Regards;

Johnsy

Edited May 24, 2007 by Tiger-pie

[Guest Rick Research]

Irrelevant when facts simply do not MATTER.

I notice NO indication of charges being brought under the imbecilic "Stolen Valor Act" despite his thereby-chargeable claims to having a Purple Heart. THAT might get the "wrong people" looking a lot more vigorously at members of Congress who have made careers sailing under equally false colors.

As an advanced degree research historian, the alacrity with which the ignorant seize on fables that fit their agenda has long ceased amazing me. Truth, evidence, professional standards of research, verification, and analysis Need Not Apply.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hear me now and believe me later...

Al Capone... they could not get him for being a gangster... so they got him for tax evasion.

They cannot get this guy for spreading his B.S. ... so they will probably nail him for stolen valor.

[KeithB]

I notice NO indication of charges being brought under the imbecilic "Stolen Valor Act" despite his thereby-chargeable claims to having a Purple Heart. THAT might get the "wrong people" looking a lot more vigorously at members of Congress who have made careers sailing under equally false colors.

Even though he has only now been charged, all this occured in 2005 before the Stolen Valor Act became law.

[bigjarofwasps]

I wonder is it really in the public interest to pursue charges againest this `sniveller`. Far better to publicly expose him as a charlatan?

A wise man once said........

He which hath no stomach to this fight,

Let him depart; his passport shall be made,

And crowns for convoy put into his purse;

We would not die in that man's company

And gentlemen in England now-a-bed

Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us in Iraq.