WAR: Is Jimmy Massey Telling the Truth about Iraq?

Former Marine Staff Sgt. Jimmy Massey has been the darling of the anti-war movement because of his litany of atrocities allegedly committed by US Marines in Iraq. His claims were blindly accepted by everyone, while the Marine Corps adamantly denied their veracity. Now, every one of his claims has been exposed as either an out-right lie or a gross exaggeration.



I was never drawn in by Massey's lies. Not that such things aren't impossible or have never occurred in war, but because the stories just didn't add up and because, if they had happened, Massey would have been directly responsible for their having occurred. If they had been true, the Corps would have prosecuted him in a New York second. I'm glad that Massey has been proven a liar, not only because I don't want my country involved in such things, but also because it exposes the willingness of the media, the anti-war movement, and certain others among us to accept anything negative about America.

Semper Fidelis!

Related News Links:
www.stltoday.com
www.nationalledger.com
www.nypost.com
www.startribune.com

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Confessions of a Marine
Sergeant Jimmy Massey: Marines killed 30+ civilians within 48 hours
politics.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...


[edit on 2005/11/12 by GradyPhilpott]

There certainly is many holes and changes to his stories. I can't understand why anyone would stand there and lie. I just don't get that part. Fame but at what price? Your own morality and soul?

I cannot understand how that if I have read five minutes of his "testimonies" and found so many holes in it, why it was not questioned earlier, why was it not stopped dead in it's tracks earlier? Is there any basis for truth in what he has said. Sadly even if there is he has now been discredited so much by his back tracking and story changing that no one will believe a word of what passes his lips ever again.

I do believe there is more going on in Iraq than meets the idea, but even stronger than that belief is my belief in the truth. The only true important issues in all of this is the truth.

Grady ... Grady ... Grady as most often ... right on the money!?

Just as with the recent Fallujah "video" ... Mr. Massey's recollections are about as accurate and accountable as the two "after-the-fact" EX-soldiers in the Italian News productganda video.

IMO Massey's accounts[and I use that term loosely] should be subjected not only to public review, but that of the US Gov't. also.

Peace2All

I was going to stay away from this one. But i couldnt.

First, IF he is a liar, then OFF with his head.

I find it revolting that some people lie, lie, lie and can get away with it.

Arent liars irritating?

I, myself have had it with liars. Liars here, liars there.

By all means, lets rid society of liars.

Thank You.

Should someone ever decide to make a film of Massey's pathetic life, the perfect actor would be William H Macy, who was so good in Paul T. Anderson's magnificent "Magnolia.".



[edit on 2005/11/12 by GradyPhilpott]

When it comes to Iraq and what is going on, I have mix feelings I keep my own interpretations of what is going on because I have friends that has been there and they pretty much can tell more that many others at least to me.

As everything in life a lots of true and lies get mix up together but that is the way that governments wants things to be because like that they can stay away front taking resposibilities.

After what happen with Abu-Graib I came to the realization that ugly thinks can happen when humans find themself in charge and in power trips over other human beings.

I am not familiar with Mr. Jimmy Massey so I can not use him as an example.

Originally posted by marg6043
I am not familiar with Mr. Jimmy Massey so I can not use him as an example.

The links provided at the bottom of the article will provide some background for this story in the event someone has actually missed it.

You can also go here.

Here is Massey's website where you can read more of his lies and observe his shameless, crass commercialism at the cost of his nation and the Corps.


[edit on 2005/11/12 by GradyPhilpott]

Thanks for the link Grady.

After reading in his background I can disagree with him in many ways, my husband and I were part of the military family and I never will said that it was like a mafia but I remember my husband saying that Boot camp will turn you into a killing machine but I if you are to fight an enemy you have to be train to do it. Right?

About recruiting well . . . my son best friend just signed into the marines for the wrong reason, because he was hard broken, my son was with him when he did it and told him not to, none of the recruiters did any counseling to him and this boy is under the impression that he will not go to Iraq and that he still can get out of it. He will be leaving in January 9.

Now whatever is happening in Iraq is disturbing it should be we have our soldiers dying and we also hear about civilians death torturing and others things that are not becoming to our reasons to be there and that can be hamful to the safety of our soldiers.

Now the distinction between what is exaggeration to reality can get very mix up and it can be done intentional so we the common people do not blame our soldiers for whatever is going on In Iraq and turn into another welcoming from Vietnam for them.

Although I don't believe that it can happen . . . we are more intelligent and we know that our troops are just following orders, I still wonder as to what the real people in Iraq is going through but as everything we will find out in time.

Originally posted by Mayet
I can't understand why anyone would stand there and lie. I just don't get that part.

This might explain part of the reason.

Massey was discharged in December 2003, shortly after returning from Iraq due to depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome.

It may be he believed it was true, but was all in his head. This is also the first I have heard of him, and am not defending him in any way. But I have always thought this was an unnecessary war. Why? Because of the horrible experiences it puts our solders through. Bad things will happen that haunt them for the rest of their lives if they manage to survive. For the ones that don't, their families go through hell for the rest of their life. And undoubtedly civilians have and will continue to be killed. All for what? These are the things to keep in mind the next time we are so eager to go to war.

Originally posted by Hal9000

Originally posted by Mayet
I can't understand why anyone would stand there and lie. I just don't get that part.

This might explain part of the reason.

I think this the more likely reason:

Last month, Massey's book, "Kill, Kill, Kill," was released in France.

I'm sure the French will just lap this up and it'll be a best seller even though he's been proven to be a liar. Anti-Americanism sells big.

Originally posted by Hal9000
It may be he believed it was true, but was all in his head.

Don't believe it. He's a flat-footed liar who shamelessly capitalized off his lies. I hope there is some way to make him pay dearly for his lies.

[edit on 2005/11/12 by GradyPhilpott]

He's not the first person to lie about war for capitalist gain... remember the people that gave him the opportunity in the first place?

I don't know anything about this guy but he sounds like he wants his cut of the pie and telling stories is how he thinks he can do it.

As much as his tales may be bogus, what would be really sad would be if the pro-war people decided to use him as an example to prove the Iraq war is A-OK.

Originally posted by djohnsto77
I'm sure the French will just lap this up and it'll be a best seller even though he's been proven to be a liar. Anti-Americanism sells big.

Is his book only being released in France? And is there any word on how it is doing?

I just don't understand how a 12-year veteran could intentionally lie just for money, when he would know his lies would be uncovered. There has got to be more to it. Maybe he was forced out, and he is seeking revenge? I agree that it is damaging to the image of our country, and he should be held accountable, if he did it intentionally.

Originally posted by Hal9000
Is his book only being released in France? And is there any word on how it is doing?

Yep, at least for now. Here's something I found:

The book was being released first in France -- and in French -- because, he said, "I didn't find an American publisher."

The French journalist who helped him write the work, Natasha Saulnier, said she believed the US companies were reluctant to touch the book because its "controversial" nature threatened commercial interests and the US public's image of their fighting forces.
...
Although the target of criticism from serving members of the US military -- some of whom see the book as score-settling by a disgruntled Marine forced to leave the services -- Massey has received significant interest in his book in France.
...
His publisher said that, while an English language version of the book was still pending, a Spanish edition would be coming out early next year.

Information Clearinghouse

[edit on 11/12/2005 by djohnsto77]

[edit on 11/12/2005 by djohnsto77]

As much as his tales may be bogus, what would be really sad would be if the pro-war people decided to use him as an example to prove the Iraq war is A-OK.

But it was ok for some of the anti-war people to use his stories as an example to prove that the Iraq war wasn't A-OK? This guy serves absolutely no purpose to those in favor of the Iraq war. The only use that any of us could possibly have for this moron is to show how some will sink to any level and lie for their own personal gain, and how easily those who already have their minds made up can be fooled when they hear something that suits their agenda.

Had this been a conservative, pro-war author who wrote lies in favor of the Iraq war, then this thread would have already reached 10 pages with everyone on ATS cursing him/her to eternal damnation.

Originally posted by Rasputin13
Had this been a conservative, pro-war author who wrote lies in favor of the Iraq war, then this thread would have already reached 10 pages with everyone on ATS cursing him/her to eternal damnation.

Amen, brother, amen. You can go back to those threads on this board where his lies were taken as gospel and take roll on those who won't be found posting to this thread.

Confessions of a Marine
Sergeant Jimmy Massey: Marines killed 30+ civilians within 48 hours
politics.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Originally posted by Rasputin13

As much as his tales may be bogus, what would be really sad would be if the pro-war people decided to use him as an example to prove the Iraq war is A-OK.

But it was ok for some of the anti-war people to use his stories as an example to prove that the Iraq war wasn't A-OK? This guy serves absolutely no purpose to those in favor of the Iraq war. The only use that any of us could possibly have for this moron is to show how some will sink to any level and lie for their own personal gain, and how easily those who already have their minds made up can be fooled when they hear something that suits their agenda.

Had this been a conservative, pro-war author who wrote lies in favor of the Iraq war, then this thread would have already reached 10 pages with everyone on ATS cursing him/her to eternal damnation.

That's cool, i'd be surprised if he didn't have support before the truth came out but it's till highly illogical to warrent the wars legitamacy because of this one person.

Like i said, i have no idea what he's been on about, i've never read a thing by him but i don't see how his few stories being bunk disprove all the things which have occured in Iraq that simply shouldn't happen in a world that values humanity.

I mean, sure if your a war supporter, have a little celebration and call this a 'win' but really if 'lies' are such an important thing to the conservatives - then it's about time you look at your own adminstration because i'd hate to see hypocrites on this board.

As for 'pro-war conservatives who write lies', there's more than enough of them already, most of them work in the Whitehouse and Petagon or have shows on FOX and are doing much better finacially than a person trying to flog a book in France because he's probably got nothing else going for him and is most likely a can short of a 6-pack anyway.
They get called out everyday and will get called out again tomorrow for their lies, that's been the MO for the last 5 years. Only when an anti-war person 'lies' does it become news. Interesting.

Originally posted by TheShroudOfMemphis
Only when an anti-war person 'lies' does it become news. Interesting.

You don't pay much attention to the news do you. However much I am convinced that the President and his administration did not lie about the reasons to go to war with Iraq and no matter how many Democrats can be quoted as having agreed with the justifications for the war and who voted for it, the overiding news story these days has been that GW Bush, et al., lied. I've been seeing the "Bush Lied" bumper stickers ad nauseum.

The truth is that Massey is not the only liar. His statements don't need to be true, they just need to support the right agenda. Massey's just one more liar in crowd of liars who've turned there lies into careers, including Jane Fonda, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Michael Moore, Tom Hayden, Howard Dean, ad infinitum. Among that crowd, Massey's just a wannabe.

What is exceedingly scary and I would think of note to those who participate in this forum is the total credibility lapse of our mainstream press. Thank God for alternative media. We have lost the notion of reporting facts to reporting whatever fits the political slant of the news room. Mary Mapes (of false document fame)has said nothing less that it's not the press's job to prove what they report, it's someone else's job to disprove. This Massey guy is a fraud and a joke but because he fits the left wing political slant of many new organizations, his word went unchallenged and reported as fact.
As my sig says, belief is the enemy of knowledge. If you watch CBS, NBC, ABC, CCN or read the New York Times etc... and summarily believe what they say, you are a weak minded fool.

Well this type of tactic worked for John F. Kerry.

So don't be surprise when this guy runs for office.

Roper