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Anti-War YouTube 'Vet' Admits He Is Faker
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ShareSeptember 21, 2007 3:11 PM
A Washington man, whose claims to have slaughtered civilians as a U.S. Army Ranger in Iraq were seen by millions on YouTube, admitted in federal court in Seattle today that he was a fake and a liar.
Jesse Adam Macbeth, 23, pleaded guilty to charges he faked his war record.
"He was in the Army for 40 days before he was kicked out of boot camp for being unfit," said U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan. "He was never in Iraq."
Photos: Operation Stolen Valor
Macbeth's story of killing men and women as they left a Baghdad mosque included claims that he was a U.S. Army Ranger and had received the Purple Heart for injuries suffered in combat in Iraq.
His interview was translated into Arabic and distributed in the Middle East, said the U.S. attorney.
"Macbeth's lies fueled hostility to our servicemen in Iraq and here at home," Sullivan said.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
Federal prosecutors and investigators with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs say they are in the midst of a crackdown on phony heroes.
"The phony war hero phenomenon plagues the American landscape and tarnishes the service of thousands of veterans who have served honorable," said Douglas Carver, special agent in charge of the VA's inspector general operation in the west.
World News Video: Phony War Vets
In another recent case, investigators uncovered a man who posed as a U.S. Marine Chaplain, officiating at the weddings and funerals of Marines.
Reggie Lee Buddle, 59, of Puyallup, Wash., was sentenced to two years of probation in July after pleading guilty to charges he wore a Marine Captain's uniform and insignia.
Buddle, who never served in the Marines, participated in an opening ceremony of the Washington state Senate last year, delivering the opening prayer.
Macbeth, the phony U.S. soldier who claimed to have committed atrocities, was sentenced to five months in jail.
He told the judge today he wanted to apologize to "the real American heroes."
He said he lied about his military record in order to get money and treatment from the VA hospital.
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September 21, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (119)
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As a member of the military, I think this loser needs to be shipped to Iraq, dumped in the middle of no where, and be left to fend for himself. What a disgrace and a pathetic excuse for an american.
Posted by: soldier101 | Sep 21, 2007 3:39:20 PM
ABC is framing this as another example of the “phony war hero” phenomenon, which it isn’t. While scummy and pathetic, civilians who impersonate troops to steal the glory of the uniform at least aren’t besmirching the service. This guy faked his record so that he could sell the image of a tainted uniform. Throw the book at him.
Posted by: Elaine | Sep 21, 2007 4:04:29 PM
Thief and Liar who scamed the public and US government. I hope they lock him up for a long long time.
Posted by: Jeff | Sep 21, 2007 4:12:27 PM
progressives only ever lie about anything and they hate the troops.
Posted by: jummy | Sep 21, 2007 4:29:19 PM
He faked his record so that he could sell the image of the tainted uniform *to the left.*
Posted by: Elaine | Sep 21, 2007 4:33:11 PM
The things that he has mentioned have certainly gone on to wide extent in Iraq but he should be given a high powered BB gun and a luminous balaclava and be sent to Iraq to get some experience that he can later truthfully relate!
Posted by: Bill Hicks | Sep 21, 2007 4:54:06 PM
The hallmarks of the liberal-left.
Posted by: One_American | Sep 21, 2007 5:05:18 PM
He's as fake as GWB's Vietnam record.
Posted by: ronnierayjenkins.com | Sep 21, 2007 5:05:21 PM
SHOCKING! Truly SHOCKING!
Posted by: Robert Marley | Sep 21, 2007 5:33:38 PM
Why blame the left for this polyp? I'm a liberal who served in the Navy and I'm damned proud of it. People like this jerk are in it for their 15 minutes of fame. Throw them in jail permanantly. They don't deserve the freedom earned by the blood of others.
Posted by: Gordon Betts | Sep 21, 2007 5:52:44 PM
The sad thing is that people believe this garbage and when presented with the real truth, they choose not to believe it. I spent 23 years in the U.S. Armed Forces, and this "couldn't hack it, wanna be" gets 5 months in jail, come on get real. Give him 5 months in a Iraqi jail and then see what he says about the U.S.A
Posted by: G.H. Gibault | Sep 21, 2007 6:00:05 PM
Bush doesn't have a Vietnam record Ronnieray. Never claimed to.
But thanks for playing "All Bush, All the Time." Poorly.
Posted by: lex | Sep 21, 2007 6:18:06 PM
This is a serious mental condition and can and obviously did cause serious damage to our national moral and physical injury on the battle field troops. I believe something must be done to protect ourselves and service personnel from individuals to organizations such as Move on.org from spreading their untruths. Be it monetary or imprisonment penalties for the knowingly person who obviously spread lies concerning their personal life’s activities that affected the nation or the battle.
Posted by: Williamwfh | Sep 21, 2007 6:18:35 PM
You must mean John Kerry's faked Vietnam record, who should be held accountable right alongside this jerk who is personally responsible for additional deaths of our soldiers, and all for nothing more than political advantage.
Throw him away.
Posted by: Pete | Sep 21, 2007 6:18:41 PM
I am sick and tired of the slams against the 'liberal-left'. I am a liberal and damn proud of it. I am also damn proud of our military and support them 100%. My brother, my brother-in-law, and my boss are all either active or reserve soldiers. I am against our military being used in this illegal, immoral war, a war that was based on falsehood and continues being supported by falsehoods.
Why is it that when I say 'Bring our soldiers home' I'm suddenly anti-military?
Posted by: Sharktattoo | Sep 21, 2007 6:20:46 PM
GWB claims to have served in Viet Nam? You'd think that would have come out before freaking NOW... If it were true, that is. Of course, if you're lying, well... not so much.
Posted by: Batfink | Sep 21, 2007 6:26:13 PM
dont forget about this fake as well.
Posted by: Bill Williams | Sep 21, 2007 6:32:19 PM
Lying isn't a liberal-left thing- it happens to be to occur in:
(1) Hey, I didn't molest that kid in church
(2) I was only playing "footsies with the officer
(3) There are weapons of mass destruction
(4) We will prosecute who ever leaked the name of the CIA operative
(5) Jessica who?
Anyways, hang the guy for spreading lies, impersonating a war vet and causing undue harm to every soldiers serving in Iraq.
Posted by: Al Yee | Sep 21, 2007 6:38:06 PM
To ronnierayjenkins...GWB never said or implied he served in Vietnam..you are the reason the liberal lefties are going to pay a heavy price next election, we, the silent majority, are fed up with left wing liberal crybabies who throw empty accusations at anyone who opposes their twisted political philosophy. Like the subject of this article, you are a coward..and deserve to have your wimpy butt kicked (preferably by a Marine Drill Instructor).
Posted by: Mike West Palm Beach | Sep 21, 2007 6:38:56 PM
Life was never quite the same after the movie "Wag The Dog".
Posted by: Doug | Sep 21, 2007 6:40:36 PM
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