My Previous Diary: 100% Crap

I wrote a diary last week with links to a video purporting to contain the confessions of "army ranger" Jesse Macbeth to war crimes in Iraq. I know there has been at least one other diary questioning/deconstructing said video.  Well, now it has been verified by Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and  indefatigable independent reporter Dahr Jamail that Macbeth is a fraud.

More below

Diarist snafu had a great diary here speculating on the provenance of the video, the timing of its release and the motives behind it.  Little more needs to be said on that score. This would be a great story for the investigative reporters at ROLLING STONE, or salon.com.

I have done the community a disservice by introducing this virus into our collective system. I apologize.  Let me say, though, that I am not some hopeless naif. I served at a naval hospital for a few months and met shell-shocked marines and soldiers back from Vietnam who told very similar stories to those contained in the video.  The meme that "our boys" couldn't do such things simply doesn't hold water with me.

In closing, I condemn Macbeth and the people behind him.  Dahr and IVAW are working selflessly and tirelessly to end the carnage in Iraq.  This sorry episode has not made that work any easier.

•  Thanks for

  Keeping it real.

  by LibChicAZ on Sat May 27, 2006 at 10:41:04 AM PDT

•  Way to step up to the plate

  at own it. That is character and what we are all about.

  by niteskolar on Sat May 27, 2006 at 10:42:37 AM PDT

  •  agreed...

    nice to see this.

    by kredwyn on Sat May 27, 2006 at 07:14:45 PM PDT

  •  agree

    Honesty, openess and willingnuess is a great combination of qualities.  Thank you.

    by kaye on Sun May 28, 2006 at 12:40:21 AM PDT

•  You've got class

  I thank you personally.  Tell your kids I said you're someone to be proud of.

  by marthature on Sat May 27, 2006 at 10:47:22 AM PDT

  •  Marathature

    That was very well said, I could add not one thing to it.

    by high uintas on Sat May 27, 2006 at 08:29:05 PM PDT

•  Good on you.

  And props for the best dKos diary title in quite some time . ..

  by chrississippi on Sat May 27, 2006 at 10:53:55 AM PDT

•  No one can argue with honesty.

  Good of you to inform and retract.

  by shergald on Sat May 27, 2006 at 10:54:56 AM PDT

•  Refreshing!

  to see some honesty. That's what's lacking in today's society, in this administration specifically.

  by jedinecny on Sat May 27, 2006 at 10:59:36 AM PDT

  •  Screw the administration...

    I would be satisfied if our major papers would put something up on their front page admitting all the stories they published that were 100% crap were, well... 100% crap.

    But of course, i won't hold my breath.

    by Shapeshifter on Sat May 27, 2006 at 04:41:18 PM PDT

  •  Wouldn't it be nice?

    WaPo:  Our previous story on this was 100% crap!!!  

    by dkmich on Sun May 28, 2006 at 04:38:24 AM PDT

•  Apology accepted.

  Nice demo of how it's done, too.

  by blueteam on Sat May 27, 2006 at 11:01:16 AM PDT

•  No stones should be left unturned!

  The search for truth is not always pretty, but that doesn't mean the search should stop.  Recommended for honesty and for your continuing persistence in making this country better.

  by desordre remplir on Sat May 27, 2006 at 11:05:18 AM PDT

•  Classy apology all the way

  . . . but I remain very suspicious about Jesse MacBeth's financial and political connections. He may just be a nut but the timing of this brouhaha with Haditha coupled with the speed and enthusiasm that the wingers pounced gives me great pause. Is anyone digging any deeper into MacBeth's background?

  by peraspera on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:03:36 PM PDT

  •  I hope so

    There's a back story here.

    by chuckvw on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:40:34 PM PDT

    •  Well done, Chuckvw

      The two diaries raise your position here and elsewhere. Way to go.

      by Little on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:33:11 PM PDT

•  Well done, son.

  Well done.

  by Maryscott OConnor on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:03:42 PM PDT

•  Good job. n/t

  by irishwitch on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:26:40 PM PDT

•  Ah the sweet liberal bias

  of reality and truth.  I love DailyKos for this.

  by trashablanca on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:30:41 PM PDT

•  To Chuckvw

  I didn't see your diary before I wrote one of my own on MacBeth the scumbag here.  Once someone told me about your diary, I edited mine to acknowledge your diary and include a link.

  I applaud you for doing the honorable thing here and making sure that the truth is told.

  by Sharon Jumper on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:38:54 PM PDT

  •  Thanks, Sharon

    by chuckvw on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:42:02 PM PDT

    •  And thank you, Chuck,

      class act.

      by wozzle on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:58:04 PM PDT

    •  You are a class act

      Thanks!

      by SarahLee on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:30:16 PM PDT

•  What sickens me even more about this

  episode is the gloating by some on the right (and I won't link to Michelle Malkin), for having pulled a fast one on 'Anti-war nutcase fringe groups.'

  I was willing to believe MacBeth, because it probably is a fact that our soldiers are committing atrocities: we already know about Abu Ghraib, Fallujah and Haditha. It's sad that there are people in this world who perpetrate frauds like this, so lacking in any empathy for the real victims in Iraq, and the real soldiers who are dying and suffering in this totally senseless war. Why do the RW pundits gloat? I can even have empathy for MacBeth, because he's obviously mentally disturbed and needs help. But those who used him to perpetrate this fraud, and the RW bloviators who use it to smear those who are not in favor of their war get no empathy from me for their sick, evil actions that only serve to fan hatred.

  by Halcyon on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:40:11 PM PDT

  •  it's their job

    to fan hatred.

    That is what they are paid to do.  

    by theyrereal on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:43:33 PM PDT

•  From someone who's diaries are ALWAYS 100% crap..

  You are my hero! I'll love to buy you a beer someday...

  "Generosity, Ethics, Patience, Effort, Concentration, and Wisdom"

  by Dood Abides on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:43:09 PM PDT

  •  Hey, I like your diaries!

    A beer sounds good right about now... I'm going to try to make the next seattlekos meetup.  May drink a pitcher all by myself!

    by chuckvw on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:50:15 PM PDT

    •  Have you been to one before?

      Is my memory so bad I don't remember meeting you? Our automatic scheduler isn't doing a very good job - everyone ignores it - so if you are on the local Yahoo list never trust it and always verify.

      And we seem to have blended with the Drinking Liberally Group that meets at the Montlake Tavern on Tuesdays at 7:00.

      I'm usually the one that does the Kos/Washblog Meetup scheduling but I haven't done a very good job the last couple of months. I'm planning to do a BBQ/Picnic at some park. I'm waiting to get one particular member's schedule because we all miss her.

      Nice apology, by the way.

      by SeattleLiberal on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:05:21 PM PDT

      •  I haven't been to one yet

        You all aren't meeting on Saturdays downtown anymore? Please do let me know.  I am a member of the yahoo group.  Week nights are problematic, but Saturdays are always good!

        by chuckvw on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:09:42 PM PDT

        •  One of yours, I take it?

          http://www.georgemendoza.com/...

          Sometimes if someone is from Seattle I like to see if I know 'em.  This popped up when you got googled off your webpage.

          by otto on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:14:17 PM PDT

          •  Man, that brings back some memories

            In my former guise as general assignment reporter at the LAS CRUCES SUN-NEWS...

            by chuckvw on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:19:58 PM PDT

            •  I hope you don't think I was snoopin

              I just went to your sig page, then googled images to see if I knew you from Seattle.

              I figure one of these days I'm gonna run into someone I know on Kos.

              by otto on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:22:36 PM PDT

              •  Six degrees of separation! n/t

                by chuckvw on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:23:30 PM PDT

                •  That would be a challenge for regular people

                  Imagine trying to do that with people who aren't on TV or movies.  

                  by otto on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:28:24 PM PDT

        •  Yeah we'll meet on Saturdays

          sometimes.

          I just need to figure it out. I don't know if you are on the local Yahoo group. I'll always post any plans there. But once a month there is an automatic date set up that rarely is the real thing.

          Drinking Liberally is here. I usually don't make it to these either.

          by SeattleLiberal on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:43:40 PM PDT

      •  Where can I get some of that?

        The information, I mean. I saw an ad in a store for Burien drinking Liberally.  I wish I remembered where.

        Westside out.

        by otto on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:10:24 PM PDT

        •  Drinking Liberally

          You can find groups here.http://drinkingliberally.org/

          I am not involved much in this group. It is always a good time when I go though.

          by SeattleLiberal on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:45:33 PM PDT

•  Thanks for the honorable correction!

  by Elizabeth D on Sat May 27, 2006 at 12:48:55 PM PDT

•  It takes a big man

  to admit this in such a classy way.  Thanks.

  Just one more integrity difference between the Blue Team and the Red Team, where only CondoLIEza Rice is man enough to admit to even the most minor mistakes.

  by TrueBlueMajority on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:22:35 PM PDT

•  MacBeth was easy to believe

  because similar atrocities in his story have been documented as Fact.

  by annefrank on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:27:58 PM PDT

  •  When you put it like that...

    ...MacBeth sounds a lot like a Rove plant.  Just like the TANG forgeries.

    Just enough truth to get us all excited, and when it shows up as a fraud, it can serve to silence what truth there actually was to the story.

    Hope this one doesn't go the same way.

    by Stymnus on Sat May 27, 2006 at 06:19:26 PM PDT

    •  I'd like to have a talk with MacBeth

      I wanna know more about this dude.

      by annefrank on Sat May 27, 2006 at 09:42:59 PM PDT

•  Skeptic?

  Am I the only one here who thinks this is not one lone crackpot? I smell another set-up which just was too false to get past the bar. Glad y'all nailed this red herring before it slithered off the hook. Good job!

  by Sargent Ripper on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:40:09 PM PDT

•  FTBITTTD

  Could one say that Macbeth's reputation has been blown into a Million Little Pieces?

  by Brother Love on Sat May 27, 2006 at 01:45:03 PM PDT

•  Anybody seen Macbeth lately?

  Or has he been whisked to an "undisclosed location" . . .
  Seriously, he apparently did belong to a IVAW at one time. Definitely a wacko, but even wackos have to take responsibility for being a lying cheating scumbag . . .
  Now, when a real whistleblower from the military speaks up, the right has a ready-made "Just another Macbeth." comeback.

  by Wbythebay on Sat May 27, 2006 at 02:14:55 PM PDT

  •  BINGO!

    ow, when a real whistleblower from the military speaks up, the right has a ready-made "Just another Macbeth." comeback.

    Let this sink in folks. This is nothing new from the Fright-Wing™. False opposition shills have a long and venerated history, going back to Rove's mentor Lee Atwater and ealrier to Nixon's plumbers.

    Mitch Gore

    Wanna win in '08...?

    Put your money where your mouth is.

    by Lestatdelc on Sat May 27, 2006 at 05:14:42 PM PDT

    •  I would also hasten to point out

      ...how once again, the Fright-Wing™ blogsphere has everything from name change records and a whole litany of "things that didn't add up" about this clown, ready to unload the second it gained any traction within the blogsphere.

      Funny how these clowns have 70s era typewriter fonts and Jessie "MacBeth" background "debunking" info ready to uncork when they need it isn't it?

      Mitch Gore

      Wanna win in '08...?

      Put your money where your mouth is.

      by Lestatdelc on Sat May 27, 2006 at 05:43:43 PM PDT

      •  They have the funding for...

        all the fonts and debunking info they want, and all the professional services they need, for as long as they need them.

        And they really, really, need professional services.

        by mike101 on Sat May 27, 2006 at 06:27:13 PM PDT

    •  I get in trouble with my wife

      Because, she says, I don't believe her.

      Trouble is, I don't believe anyone. I'm learning to assume that she is right and not to question every word she says (we're 12 years into this "married" thing and I'm still working on it). I'm a skeptic. That's what I am. There's nothing like a fact established for one's self.

      I'm leery of jumping on a bandwagon.

      I do believe that the right runs "sucker punch" campaigns. note that I said "I believe." I did not say "I know." The distinction is meaningful. One can write about theory and balance of probability so long as one doesn't report it as fact.

      This ties in with a comment I made about the front page posted video earlier this weekend: It was strongest when it simply hit them with their own words and with objective pictures. I felt it weakened its persuasive powers when it went into symbols (blood on the flag and the stars-to-skulls motif). The symbols only "preached to the choir." I think it turns off the people who should be persuaded.

      The right knows that facts and the truth are irrelevant. All that matters is how people "feel" about things. People "feel" something is true. They are attracted to "facts" that reinforce what they already believe.

      I think they (and if I knew names and knew for sure, I would say whom and what) are extending this to their enemies (us). They are dangling false "liberals" and "whistleblowers" out there, trolling for us. They want to catch us making a big deal out of these so they can discredit us.

      First, they discredit lawyers and heap contempt upon the law. Then they discredit journalists and heap contempt upon the media. Once any pretense of reality is gone, they can say what will please the people and do what pleases themselves.

      The antidote is to loudly and consistently tell the truth. People accept the easy lie for a time, but eventually reality wins. And then the people resent being lied to, mainly because the liar revealed them to be fools.

      Sorry, I'm rambling now, and a long way from supportable fact. But this is what I think...

      by evilpenguin on Sat May 27, 2006 at 09:08:09 PM PDT

•  Brings up a pet peave of mine, and a solution

  When somebody makes a mistake, we should expect a retraction and explanation.  Are kudos due chuckvw?  

  Of course this beats the current media who regularly distort and mislead, if not parrot outright lies from that morning's Republican talking points. Still, this doesn't mean that it deserves great praise.

  I have read information on this site before that has turned out to be in error and way too often I have found no retractions, explanations.  It could be that I just missed it as it went in and out of the recommended diaries, although I do read the site somewhat frequently.  I had begun to believe that we didn't acknowledge mistakes here.  

  What the media (and blogosphere) does not yet address (although this administration fully understands it) is that the impact of a lie lasts, has a life of its own because not everyone who hears the lie will hang around for any retraction, but instead will propogate this lie to others who themselves may not be subjected to the truth.  

  What I would like to see is for DKos to take a leadership role here.  Set up a permanent link devoted to the fact checking, truth checking of any diary posted.  This link would include retractions and could be cleaned out/archived every week or two (it wouldn't get to massive, would it?).  This would serve as incentive for the diarist/website/news organizations to get the facts right, at least to the best of their ability.  

  by Divertedone on Sat May 27, 2006 at 02:17:40 PM PDT

  •  Kudos neither sought, nor expected

    Had this story been researched when I posted the first diary one would have found that it was advanced by Dahr Jamail and, apparently, at the time, IVAW.  These are folks who are widely respected here.

    This is not necessarily the diary I would like to have made the rec list with, I can assure you!  But I am glad that it and Sharon Jumper's diary got attention so that the truth will be known...

    by chuckvw on Sat May 27, 2006 at 02:30:36 PM PDT

  •  BOOO!

    "Be Our Own Ombudsmen!"

    by letsfight on Sat May 27, 2006 at 04:05:22 PM PDT

  •  I think it does deserve kudos

    I also have a problem with people not presenting the facts here, and not updating/correcting their diaries when problems are clearly pointed out.

    I can think of two examples recently of that - one involved a diary that falsely asserted that Fitzpatrick had misbehaved and been chastised for it by the judge, and another detailed the arrest and conviction of a woman in Cleveland Heights. One of the diarists eventually, kinda sorta, did admit their error, and another did not do so in a similar fashion, even after being challenged to do so.

    If everyone always promptly corrected their mistakes, it wouldn't be noteworthy when someone does do so. The diarist's efforts to do so, in an overt way, taking all the blame when it looks like an honest mistake, is noteworthy since it does not always happen that way.

    I too think it's really important for this site and groups of people like us to stick to the facts and honor the truth. We cannot afford to let the moderates, who don't like any politicians but really don't like the Republicans right now for lying and distorting the evidence, put us in the same category as those deceptive neo-cons. In order to keep their votes coming our way, I believe we have to stick to the facts, provide evidence, and respect the truth. I think it's imperative. That's why I call people when they MISREPRESENT the truth all the time here.

    And my pet peeve? Misspelling pet peeve! LOL

    by slouise217 on Sun May 28, 2006 at 12:30:12 AM PDT

•  good job

  No need to apologize, you fixed the problem as soon as you found out there was one.

  Everybody gets the story wrong once in a while, especially when the original teller is seemingly credible... and a liar.

  In a reality-based community, people check the facts.

  Unfortunately, right-wing blogspace is delusion-based, and they'll be flogging this dead horse for the next several weeks.

  by alizard on Sat May 27, 2006 at 03:17:24 PM PDT

•  I agree that an apology isn't really required

  but a transparent, corrective retraction is a great response. Kudos to you.

  From the descriptions I've read of Macbeth, he probably IS shell-shocked, just not by the events he described.

  by Cowalker on Sat May 27, 2006 at 03:53:10 PM PDT

•  Before you blame yourself too much...

  ...you should consider what it is that you are up against.

  I think we have seen this thing before and we will see it again.

  Remember what happened to Dan Rather?  Before him, there was Peter Arnett and Tailwind.

  The Right has learned to pre-empt damaging evidence by presenting fabricated stories with the same meme as the real evidence.

  What needs to be done here is a WBTC on this, what happened to Dan Rather and what happened to Peter Arnett to see if there is some kind of nexus connecting them....now that would be a very interesting finding.

  by xynz on Sat May 27, 2006 at 04:16:12 PM PDT

•  Thank you for serving in that naval hospital

  I'm sure those young men appreciated it deeply, as well as their families.

  Must've been rough.

  Thanks again.

  by AllisonInSeattle on Sat May 27, 2006 at 04:35:47 PM PDT

  •  I was on temporary duty there

    awaiting discharge.  I worked a little in radiology and neonatal critical care unit (delivering plasma mostly)...

    I remember playing in some of the worst softball games on record.  Most of the guys were so heavily medicated they couldn't see straight.  We all laughed about it at the time.

    by chuckvw on Sat May 27, 2006 at 04:50:55 PM PDT

    •  Thank you again

      for your service.

      by AllisonInSeattle on Mon May 29, 2006 at 01:24:33 PM PDT

•  Wow,

  integrity. World's in short supply of that these days. Lifts my spirit to read this.

  by One bite at a time on Sat May 27, 2006 at 04:39:17 PM PDT

•  pretty much

  most of my diaries are 100% crap, too.

  by skippy on Sat May 27, 2006 at 04:53:27 PM PDT

•  Wow

  Honesty, integrity, and humility -- in the real world, not getting flamed on DailyKos.  I must be dreaming.

  by Dragonchild on Sat May 27, 2006 at 05:16:56 PM PDT

•  This dairy

  100% Golden

  by spoon or no spoon on Sat May 27, 2006 at 05:27:42 PM PDT

•  Sharon Jumper...

  also has a diary up about it.

  by kredwyn on Sat May 27, 2006 at 07:14:12 PM PDT