Facts and the truth just never serve the interests of loony leftists...in Congress or out.Leftist Senators and House Members are taking a well deserved drubbing for jumping on Limbaugh's mention of "phony soldiers" during one of his broadcasts.
These leftist morons...in the Congress and at "Media Matters"...allege Limbaugh was talking about ALL present and former military personnel who oppose the war in Iraq.
Not so and now, these leftist morons are getting their butts kicked...with facts and the truth.
Feds Probe So-called Phony Soldier Cases
Friday, October 5, 2007 8:54 AM
Written by Fred Lucas, CNSNews.com Staff Writer
The federal government is currently conducting more than 60 "stolen valor" investigations of individuals suspected of making false claims about their military records, according to the Department of Veteran's Affairs, and about 30 people nationwide have been arrested in the past year for crimes related to falsifying a military record.
Stolen valor typically occurs when someone falsifies documents or produces medals and awards from the military they didn't earn in order to qualify for veterans benefits.
Jeffrey Sullivan, the U.S. attorney in the Western District of Washington, prosecuted Jesse Macbeth of Tacoma, Wash., in the past year as well as five others who falsely claimed heroic military service.
Macbeth, who was sentenced to five months in prison last month, is the person Rush Limbaugh cited on his radio program as an example of a "phony soldier."
For some, federal officials said, the motive for stolen valor is psychological, as a former soldier yearns to be a hero. But for most, the motive is financial, a means of getting certain federal benefits and medical care that come with being a veteran.
"In the six cases we've done, it has resulted in an estimated $1.4 million loss for the Veterans Administration," Sullivan told Cybercast News Service. "There are a significant amount of scam artists and phonies. They take money that legitimate vets deserve."
Sullivan said this fraud "does truly hurt the men and women of the armed forces who legitimately put their lives on the line."
Macbeth, 23, gained the most attention of those Sullivan has prosecuted, in part because he became a hero of the anti-Iraq war movement. He claimed to have witnessed his fellow American soldiers commit atrocities in Iraq, when in fact he was never there.
He was in the U.S. Army for only 44 days in 2003, and was never stationed outside of Fort Benning, Ga. Macbeth also claimed that he held a Purple Heart, served for three years, and was discharged for having post traumatic stress syndrome - all false. He spoke at an anti-war rally and was the subject of an anti-war documentary.
Macbeth's name became the center of controversy this week after Limbaugh cited him as an example of a "phony soldier." Many Democrats in Congress quickly denounced Limbaugh, claiming he was using the phrase to label all American veterans opposed to the war in Iraq.
The length of sentencing for "stolen valor" can vary based on a number of factors, Sullivan told Cybercast News Service.
For example, Larry Lewis Porter, 52, of Seattle, cost the government $134,000, according to Sullivan's office. Porter was sentenced last April to 37 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining disability benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA) by fabricating post-traumatic stress syndrome from his experience in the U.S. Navy - an experience that never happened
However, Reggie Buddle, 60, of Puyallup, Wash., was sentenced to 500 hours of community service, because he falsely posed as a decorated U.S. Marine chaplain and presided over Marine weddings, funerals and baptisms.
Most offenders served in the U.S. military but embellished their tales, said Jim O'Neill, assistant inspector general for investigations at the VA.
"Most served, some served honorably, but just falsified their combat experience or something that never occurred to get benefits," he told Cybercast News Service. "They only make up 5 percent of our case load of investigations, but we take them very seriously."
Both O'Neill and Sullivan said that veterans groups, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars, have been a major help, as it's usually other veterans who notice that a war story doesn't add up, and they inform authorities.
"Some people do this to provide for something missing in their life," Sullivan said. "I don't know all the psychological aspects of it. But for some, they did good, but that wasn't enough. They want to be a hero."
http://newsmax.com/insidecover/phony_soldiers/2007/10/05/38410.html