quote:

Man who posed as military hero sentenced to 5 months in prison
By Jennifer Sullivan

Seattle Times staff reporter

A Tacoma man who falsely claimed he was a decorated war hero when he took the stage at demonstrations held in opposition to the U.S.'s role in Iraq was sentenced this morning to five months in prison in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Jesse MacBeth, 23, was also sentenced to three months in a halfway house after his release and three years of probation.

MacBeth claimed that he was an Army ranger who killed more than 200 people, many at close range, including some as they prayed in a mosque. He spoke at an anti-war rally in Tacoma and appeared in a 20-minute anti-war video that circulated widely on the Internet.

In reality, MacBeth made it through only six weeks of Army basic training and never set foot in Iraq.

Conservative bloggers exposed MacBeth in May 2006, destroying his credibility and embarrassing the Seattle company that produced the video about his exploits.

On June 7, MacBeth pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. MacBeth admitted that he filed a bogus claim for VA benefits in 2005, which included a fraudulent military-discharge form.

MacBeth said on the forms that he had been in the Army for more than three years and had achieved the rank of corporal. He also claimed he had been awarded a Purple Heart and that he was discharged because he suffered from post-traumatic-stress disorder.

MacBeth spent 44 days as a private at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2003, but was released "for issues related to entry-level performance and conduct," according to court papers.

PepperSpray Productions in Seattle produced the video titled "Jesse MacBeth: An Iraq Veteran Speaks Out." In the film, MacBeth told nuanced tales of brutal killings he carried out at the behest of his commanding officers.

"They would actually feel the hot muzzle of my rifle on their forehead," he reportedly said on the video, which is no longer in circulation.

Information previously reported in The Seattle Times is included in this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

quote:

Guest Column: I never wanted to protest

by Jesse Macbeth
Special to The State Press
Friday, April 23, 2004

There are several things I would like to mention that Lucia Bill and Brian Clapp of The State Press failed to mention or distorted to fit their opinions.

But before that, let me tell you why I protest. I don’t protest for the homeless people because I know most of them are homeless because that is the way they choose to live. They like that life. I am doing my protest against Coffee Plantation on the basis that they banned me from their property for the sole reason that I was in my military uniform, in case some of the boneheads who own Coffee Plantation and those in the press who advocate for them have forgotten. This is America. We are still at war. Soldiers and civilians are still dying. So why would someone boot an American soldier who is drinking coffee that he paid for and talking quietly to friends?

They booted me on my appearance alone. If they do not like green or BDUs, then that is their problem. If they don’t like American servicemen, then why are they in America? Yes, I told the security guard and the employee who said I couldn’t be there because of my uniform to f— off. And I will tell them that again and anyone who bans an American serviceman who is peacefully drinking bought product from their store. I would understand if I was being loud and disturbing people, if I stank so bad they were losing customers or if I was disturbing their business in any way. But I was doing none of those.

I understand they’re upset about the homeless bathing and panhandling in the store. I would be upset about that, too. But again, my problem with them and the Free to Camp Coalition’s problem are way different. I would gladly sit down with Coffee Plantation and discuss a way we can resolve this, because I’ve really got better things to do than protest. I am on the verge of being reshipped out. If Coffee Plantation will agree to change some things, then I will no longer protest. Some of the things include not banning people based on appearance or social status. If people are bathing in your bathroom, then ban them. But if they are paying customers and they are quietly sitting down and enjoying a drink like everyone else and you ban them because you don’t like what they’re wearing, then that is not right. If they were worried and customers were complaining, then I might understand.

I served in Iraq 16 months as a U.S. Army Ranger. Coming back home and being treated that way angered me. Coffee Plantation is not the enemy or my enemy. The owners who discriminate are the enemy. I used to go and hang out there all the time. I would play chess and buy food there all day sometimes.

Lucia Bill and Brian Clapp, it works better if you print the whole truth, not shape it to fit your opinion or Coffee Plantation’s. Your column is just another example of how the media mistreats the people. I love America. I would fight a million wars and die a million times to ensure the safety of America and the American people. So if that makes me a jerk or a socialistic pig, then so be it. I have a lot of pride in my country, my service in my uniform and all of my battle buddies out there right now fighting and dying. I won’t set that aside for anything. If Coffee Plantation wants to sit and talk to resolve this, I will gladly.

I won’t discuss the day I’m being shipped off. But we need to arrange talks ASAP if Coffee Plantation wants to talk.

quote:

The War the Media is Not Reporting — An Iraqi Veteran Speaks Out

Apr 26, 2006
By Justice

Jesse Macbeth, formerly a Special Forces Ranger in Iraq, is now active with Iraq Veterans Against the War in Tacoma, Washington. The Rangers are elite units sent door-to-door in Iraq to combat the insurgency. They were also sent into Fallujah to crush all opposition to the occupation of that city. Justice recently interviewed Jesse.

How did you end up in the military?
I grew up on the streets. I got into trouble for fighting. The same judge that I’d been dealing with my whole life told me that I wouldn’t have to do adult time if I signed up for the military immediately. Sometimes I kinda wish I went to jail instead.

How did you become a Special Forces Ranger?
Basic training was easy for me. Growing up on the streets, I was used to running from cops. I was used to not eating for days. I got picked to go to Ranger School.

What did your division do?
I was in the Third Ranger Battalion. Our job was to strike fear in the hearts of the Iraqi people.

We would go into people’s houses and plow down entire families. We would interrogate people. If we didn’t like the answers that they gave, then we would kill the youngest child. If they gave more answers that we didn’t like, then we’d move on to the rest of the family. They could’ve been innocent people.

We would leave the bodies in the streets and blame it on the Shi’ites or the Sunnis. [In Fallujah] we were ordered to go into mosques and slaughter people while they were praying. I won’t go into full detail because I’m still haunted by the memories.

What was the assault on Fallujah like?
Fallujah is where we slaughtered people in mosques. We provoked the people there. Some people escaped from the mosques and saw us. We would dig holes and leave mass graves of children, women, and old men. We were ordered to let people die on the street. We were told that the Geneva Convention means nothing to us in combat.

We were ordered to fire on peaceful protesters in Fallujah. Somebody threw a rock at us, and an officer said that he thought it was a grenade. Then we were ordered to fire. When it’s daylight in Iraq, it’s daylight! Nobody really thought it was a grenade.

What medals did you get in Iraq?
I got a lot. I got a purple heart. Half of them, I don’t remember. I got five or six medals just for landing. I got a bronze star.

What injuries did you get?
I got stabbed many times. I got shrapnel in my knee. I got shot in the back.

What do you think is the role of the U.S. in Iraq?
The military is terrorists there. Soldiers thought we were going to fight terrorism, but we became the terrorists. We were told we were going to liberate the country and find weapons of mass destruction. The real aim is to have the U.S. own the country. The U.S. wants oil.

How has the government treated you since you got back?
Like ****. I hate them. I’m not gonna be a terrorist or anything, but I hate them. They killed my battle brothers. They used me. They messed me up. They didn’t care about me. They turned me into a beast, a machine.

What Veteran’s benefits have you gotten?
I ain’t getting nothing. A card and that’s it.

Where do you work?
I’m an Iraq vet, and I work at Wendy’s.

How did you get involved in IVAW?
Veteran’s Affairs told me they had no money for me. I always knew the war was ****ed up, but that motivated me to say something about it. The government throws us away. They did the same thing after Vietnam.

Why do you think people should get involved in the antiwar movement?
Because it’s gotta stop. Innocent people are getting killed. Bush says we have to stay the course and that it’s hard work. Bush doesn’t know what work is.

Anything else you want to say?
Yeah. The news here is controlled. The military lets information out that serves their purposes. We slaughtered a sovereign nation. Reporters got killed.

When I was growing up, everyone thought I’d be a criminal, but they were wrong. I’m gonna be one of the leaders of the revolution.

quote:

When I was growing up, everyone thought I’d be a criminal, but they were wrong. I’m gonna be one of the leaders of the revolution.

quote:

Jesse Macbeth, formerly a Special Forces Ranger in Iraq, is now active with Iraq Veterans Against the War in Tacoma, Washington

quote:

Originally posted by Azurerepublic:

quote:

Jesse Macbeth, formerly a Special Forces Ranger in Iraq, is now active with Iraq Veterans Against the War in Tacoma, Washington

From Tacoma, Washington? That should the first clue this was some left-wing BS lie.

What the hell is a Special Forces Ranger? I never heard of such a thing.

quote:

What the hell is a Special Forces Ranger? I never heard of such a thing.

quote:

Originally posted by IzzyBizzy:

quote:

What the hell is a Special Forces Ranger? I never heard of such a thing.

You are prior Army and you don't know what Special Forces are? SOC

quote:

Originally posted by 09Recon:

quote:

Originally posted by Azurerepublic:

quote:

Jesse Macbeth, formerly a Special Forces Ranger in Iraq, is now active with Iraq Veterans Against the War in Tacoma, Washington

From Tacoma, Washington? That should the first clue this was some left-wing BS lie.

What the hell is a Special Forces Ranger? I never heard of such a thing.

Hi there. I'm from Tacoma, Washington. About as far from the left-wing as it gets.

Jesse MacBeth is a puddle of rotting pigshit, anything he claims to be is either a delusion or an outright lie.

As for the Special Forces Ranger, if you go out to Ft. Lewis and visit either 1st Special Forces Group or the 2nd Ranger Battalion, you'll get to meet a fairly sizable number of studly young killers wearing Special Forces tabs above their Ranger and Airborne tabs.

Some of them have even got their Pathfinder torches and quite a few of them have MFF or MFF-Masterblaster wings along with a handful of foreign jump wings. Toss in the occasional Presidents 100 tab and the 'Honor Guard' patch, mix in a sizeable number of Drill Sergeant pumpkins, Air Assault Bullwinkles, Rigger wings and things I can't even describe, you've got quite a few people who can call themselves a, "Special Forces Ranger", among other things.

quote:

Originally posted by 09Recon:

quote:

Originally posted by Azurerepublic:

quote:

Jesse Macbeth, formerly a Special Forces Ranger in Iraq, is now active with Iraq Veterans Against the War in Tacoma, Washington

From Tacoma, Washington? That should the first clue this was some left-wing BS lie.

What the hell is a Special Forces Ranger? I never heard of such a thing.

Hi there. I'm from Tacoma, Washington. About as far from the left-wing as it gets.

Jesse MacBeth is a puddle of rotting pigshit, anything he claims to be is either a delusion or an outright lie.

As for the Special Forces Ranger, if you go out to Ft. Lewis and visit either 1st Special Forces Group or the 2nd Ranger Battalion, you'll get to meet a fairly sizable number of studly young killers wearing Special Forces tabs above their Ranger and Airborne tabs.

Some of them have even got their Pathfinder torches and quite a few of them have MFF or MFF-Masterblaster wings along with a handful of foreign jump wings. Toss in the occasional Presidents 100 tab and the 'Honor Guard' patch, mix in a sizeable number of Drill Sergeant pumpkins, Air Assault Bullwinkles, Rigger wings and things I can't even describe, you've got quite a few people who can call themselves a, "Special Forces Ranger", among other things.

quote:

Originally posted by Southall:
John Wayne was a special forces, a ranger (Texas Ranger???) , a seebee, and a Marine

quote:

Originally posted by Southall:
Thanks for the edits on my post! John Wayne is my hero! The wannabe ranger is a sad individual.

quote:

Originally posted by Azurerepublic:

quote:

Originally posted by 09Recon:

quote:

Originally posted by Azurerepublic:

quote:

Jesse Macbeth, formerly a Special Forces Ranger in Iraq, is now active with Iraq Veterans Against the War in Tacoma, Washington

From Tacoma, Washington? That should the first clue this was some left-wing BS lie.

What the hell is a Special Forces Ranger? I never heard of such a thing.

Hi there. I'm from Tacoma, Washington. About as far from the left-wing as it gets.

Jesse MacBeth is a puddle of rotting pigshit, anything he claims to be is either a delusion or an outright lie.

As for the Special Forces Ranger, if you go out to Ft. Lewis and visit either 1st Special Forces Group or the 2nd Ranger Battalion, you'll get to meet a fairly sizable number of studly young killers wearing Special Forces tabs above their Ranger and Airborne tabs.

Some of them have even got their Pathfinder torches and quite a few of them have MFF or MFF-Masterblaster wings along with a handful of foreign jump wings. Toss in the occasional Presidents 100 tab and the 'Honor Guard' patch, mix in a sizeable number of Drill Sergeant pumpkins, Air Assault Bullwinkles, Rigger wings and things I can't even describe, you've got quite a few people who can call themselves a, "Special Forces Ranger", among other things.

Ranger is a qualification and a type of unit. If you are in a Ranger unit you call yourself a Ranger and only a Ranger. Many Ranger qualified Special Forces people have Ranger tabs meaning they are Ranger qualified, but unless they are in a Ranger unit they are not Rangers. And no Special Forces Soldier who was also Ranger qualified would ever call himself a Special Forces Ranger. They would be called Special Forces and only Special Forces.

As a former Paratrooper I've trained in the field with more than a few Rangers and even had a few Special Forces guys tagging along as observers with us. I know the difference between the two very well. My own brother is Ranger qualified. None of this rocket science to most Combat Arms types.

quote:

Originally posted by DarbyDub:
A no longer available interview with him from the Socialist Alternative.

quote:

The War the Media is Not Reporting — An Iraqi Veteran Speaks Out

Apr 26, 2006
By Justice

Jesse Macbeth, formerly a Special Forces Ranger in Iraq, is now active with Iraq Veterans Against the War in Tacoma, Washington. The Rangers are elite units sent door-to-door in Iraq to combat the insurgency. They were also sent into Fallujah to crush all opposition to the occupation of that city. Justice recently interviewed Jesse.

How did you end up in the military?
I grew up on the streets. I got into trouble for fighting. The same judge that I’d been dealing with my whole life told me that I wouldn’t have to do adult time if I signed up for the military immediately. Sometimes I kinda wish I went to jail instead.

Do they even do that anymore?

How did you become a Special Forces Ranger?
Basic training was easy for me. HAHAHAHAHAHA! OK aparently you couldnt hack it! Growing up on the streets, I was used to running from cops. I was used to not eating for days. I got picked to go to Ranger School.


We would leave the bodies in the streets and blame it on the Shi’ites or the Sunnis. [In Fallujah] we were ordered to go into mosques and slaughter people while they were praying. I won’t go into full detail because I’m still haunted by the memories. Or maybe cause your a lieing POS!

What medals did you get in Iraq?
I got a lot. I got a purple heart. Half of them, I don’t remember. I got five or six medals just for landing. I got a bronze star.

Wow im not even a journalist and I could tell that statment is Bull$h!t 5 or 6? He doesnt even know. Wouldnt that be the first hint of BS

What injuries did you get?
I got stabbed many times. I got shrapnel in my knee. I got shot in the back. Hopefully you will now!

What do you think is the role of the U.S. in Iraq?
The military is terrorists there. Soldiers thought we were going to fight terrorism, but we became the terrorists. We were told we were going to liberate the country and find weapons of mass destruction. The real aim is to have the U.S. own the country. The U.S. wants oil.

Man am i tired of this argument. My gas prices are still $3 a gallon.


What Veteran’s benefits have you gotten?
I ain’t getting nothing. A card and that’s it.
You cant get VA beniefits if your NOT a vetren

Why do you think people should get involved in the antiwar movement?
Because it’s gotta stop. Innocent people are getting killed. Bush says we have to stay the course and that it’s hard work. Bush doesn’t know what work is. Annnnnd you do?

Anything else you want to say?
Yeah. The news here is controlled. The military lets information out that serves their purposes. We slaughtered a sovereign nation. Reporters got killed.

When I was growing up, everyone thought I’d be a criminal, but they were wrong. I’m gonna be one of the leaders of the revolution.
A revolution for lieing POS?