NationStates Jolt Archive


Former girlfriend outs radical's lies about being Army Ranger

Eutrusca
23-05-2005, 23:49
NOTE: For those of you who advocate leftist ideals based on your own closely held beliefs, this character is giving you a bad name. For those of you who are veterans, this character is claiming to be a Ranger and a combat veteran.


Micah and Me (http://www.thespoonsexperience.com/archives/2004/05/a_guest_post_by.php)

A GUEST POST BY MRS. SPOONS

The blogosphere's all abuzz right now over the story of Micah Wright, a semi-successful leftist-wacko writer and cartoonist. (See Glenn, Greyhawk, Michele, Treacher, Jay Reding, and the Washington Post, just to name a few).

I like to think of myself as reasonably well informed, but I'd never read anything about this guy. He apparently got an anti-war book published and had another on the way, partially due to his creds as a veteran who is now a rabid peacenik. Evidently, when challenged to defend his position that the Bush White House was heading an enormous conspiracy to round up innocent Arabs in the US, deprive all American citizens of their civil rights, and take over most of the Middle East, Wright would use the "chicken hawk" defense: he can have an opinion about war and national defense, but nobody else can, because he was an Army Ranger. Here's an example of this interesting logic in an e-mail from Wright to Kevin Parrot:


"You're dreaming if you think we started that war to free the Iraqi people or that everyone who was against this war was FOR the slavery of the Iraqi people. I'm just as happy as anyone else that Saddam is dead (or, if you want to start yet another war, hiding in Syria) but I think the President would have been far better served if he told the American people the real reason we invaded Iraq: because we want a good base to invade Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt from. I've seen combat to "liberate" people before in Panama. Have you? Did you volunteer to fight for your country? I f*cking doubt it. I especially doubt your leg ass ever made it through Airborne School and I KNOW for a fact that you wouldn't have survived one week of Ranger School."

However, the Washington Post just published an article announcing that Wright was never in the Rangers. Everything Wright ever said about his gallant service and bravery, on his website, in newspaper interviews, and even in his book, were all lies. His publishing company just canceled the release of his next book, and lots of the Internet community is understandably up in arms about this revelation. I just wish I had done a cursory google search on Micah Wright a couple years ago and found out what he was up to. I could have told Kevin Parrot, WaPo, and Wright's publishers that I knew Wright hadn't been a Ranger during the American invasion of Panama.

Because I was dating him in Tucson, Arizona at the time.

I was a freshman at the University of Arizona, and Micah was a junior. We met my first month at school at a mutual acquaintance's birthday party in September, 1989, and sort-of dated each other and generally hung out together that year. The Panama invasion started in December, 1989, and ended with Noriega's surrender in January, 1990. Micah was definitely at the U of A, not Panama.

I must admit to being pretty shocked to not only see my ex-boyfriend's name pop up on Instapundit, but also to find out he'd been embroiled in very public hoaxes and lies for quite a while. Shocked, but, when I thought about it, not really all that surprised. Let me explain.

Even though we stopped dating after my Freshman year, Micah and I remained friends for about two years after that (no, not in the empty "let's just be friends" way, but actual friends). When I knew him, Micah wasn't a left-wing wacko yet. He was just a general wacko, in an entertaining way. Nuts, but fun. He was outspoken and amusing and always interesting. Though always kind to me, he was sometimes rudely outspoken in that way of saying things to people I would never have had the guts to say (but really wanted to). That's a fun friend for a teenager to have.

He enjoyed provoking people even then, but back then he was more subtle and light-hearted about it. One of our mutual interests was comic books (he introduced me to some of the finest titles out there, like Sandman, Hellblazer, and Justice League), and I remember one day in 1991, he picked me up to go the comic book store wearing his ROTC camos, knowing that Charlie, the comic book store cashier, was so pacifist that he'd gone to Attica for refusing the draft. Micah didn't say anything to rile Charlie, didn't do anything out of the ordinary. He just loved seeing Charlie's face when he walked in there in uniform. He loved to be a shit.

So, yes, Micah was in ROTC. That much is true, and that's no doubt where he learned enough of the lingo to fake his way through as a "Ranger" years later. And while I'm appalled at this news, I guess it also makes a twisted kind of sense, because Micah always had scams going. Sometimes they were small; Micah never paid for a newspaper as long as I knew him. He somehow (I never found out how) knew the lock combination to every single newspaper machine on the Arizona campus. He would just stroll up to a machine, dial up the combination, open it up, and take a paper.

Sometimes the scams were bigger. He wasn't the most diligent student (he was still there after I'd graduated), and I remember his chuckling to me one day in 1992 that he'd gotten out of a class in a very creative way. He was in an anthropology class that he hadn't been attending or doing any work for, and now it was too late in the semester to withdraw, so he'd be stuck with an inevitable F. Well, instead, he went to the professor's office in his ROTC uniform, told the prof that the reason he hadn't been in class was that his ROTC unit had been deployed to Iraq for the Gulf War, and he'd only just returned. She thanked him for his service and immediately gave him and W (withdrawal) instead of an F. He crowed all afternoon at her gullibility.

Shades of things to come? It seems that as his age advanced, so did the scope and venality of his deceptions.

Though I continued watching Micah once a week in his comedy performances at the Union (he wrote for and performed in an excellent student sketch-comedy group), we had drifted apart by my senior year, and after I graduated in 1993, I had no more contact with him. I'd always had fond memories of my crazy friend, and occasionally wondered what had become of him. I am very sorry to see it is this. From what I've now read of Micah's writing and internet correspondence of the last few years, he's evidently become a pretty bad guy. His playful baiting and frank wit have turned into rabid accusations and nut-job tirades, he has apparently lost all ability in civilized discourse, and he has now torpedoed his own career because his tendency for using scams to ease his way took over any sense he had left. Pretending to be an Army Ranger in order to cheaply score points in political debate and to sell America-bashing books and posters is so scandalous and awful that I can barely believe this is the same person I remember. Yes, the origins were there, but I still can't believe where they led.

It's all especially hard to take in since neither one of us had been very politically aware when we knew each other. Perhaps this is just as well, since in his political maturation he became a far-left, Indymedia, Democratic Underground, Michael Moore, no-blood-for-oil type who told an enormous lie to further his professional career. And I, well, I'm a far-right, Little Green Footballs, National Review Online, Spoons-marrying, gun-totin' type. If I had ever tried to look him up in the years after graduation, I'm sure we would've just ended up yelling at each other.

Of course, being the one to expose his scam would've been pretty fun.

P.S. I just remembered-- Micah's dad was in the military. I can' t remember what branch. That's probably another way he knew enough about the service to fake it as a Ranger.

Jeez, his dad must be dead now. I can't see any way the guy would've failed to notice his son's lies.
Hyperslackovicznia
23-05-2005, 23:55
WOW! :eek: I can't believe anyone could get away with something like that for so long!
CthulhuFhtagn
24-05-2005, 00:05
Incidentally, is there any reason given to actually believe the person making the claims?
Eutrusca
24-05-2005, 00:06
WOW! :eek: I can't believe anyone could get away with something like that for so long!
It is rather incredible, isn't it! Unfortunately there are a lot of "veteran-wannabees" around, usually just little guys who want to get some attention and respect. I kinda feel sorry for them ... kinda. Thing is, they're taking away from those who actually did serve with honor and distinction, including his own father. :(
The Black Forrest
24-05-2005, 00:09
What does being a leftist have to do with a person who has issues? Is a liar?

I know of one conservative that claimed to be in-country and never was....
Eutrusca
24-05-2005, 00:10
Incidentally, is there any reason given to actually believe the person making the claims?
Yes. Another General poster looked it up. It's all legit.
Cannot think of a name
24-05-2005, 00:11
Soooo....am I supposed to appoligise for some cat I've never heard of, or what? Is this guy making policy, on widely syndicated media? Is he getting press passes to the White House? I don't understand why this guy is my responsability.
Eutrusca
24-05-2005, 00:11
What does being a leftist have to do with a person who has issues? Is a liar?

I know of one conservative that claimed to be in-country and never was....
That's not the point I was making. This is a case where almost all of us were deliberately decieved, leftists, veterans, military, even conservatives.
Eutrusca
24-05-2005, 00:12
Soooo....am I supposed to appoligise for some cat I've never heard of, or what? Is this guy making policy, on widely syndicated media? Is he getting press passes to the White House? I don't understand why this guy is my responsability.
I suspect you missed the point. No apology was expected or asked for.
CthulhuFhtagn
24-05-2005, 00:13
Yes. Another General poster looked it up. It's all legit.
Who?
Cannot think of a name
24-05-2005, 00:14
I suspect you missed the point. No apology was expected or asked for.
"He's giving us a bad name"? Only if you believe in hive mind mentality. Most people are able to seperate ideology from the individuals.
Achtung 45
24-05-2005, 00:16
hey sweet, I live in Tucson!
Syniks
24-05-2005, 00:28
That's not the point I was making. This is a case where almost all of us were deliberately decieved, leftists, veterans, military, even conservatives.
It's the deliberate deception that chaps my ass.

At least SOME of John Kerry's time was actually on the ground in 'Nam. I'm willing to ignore a little "embelishment" even from someone I don't like. At least he was there for a short time.

But this guy used false claims of military experience to lend moral authority to his anti-war positions (http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/000956.html). That's beyond low. I don't care if you are anti-war, just don't lie to meand tell me you were some sort of Combat Ranger.

From The Washington Post, where his authority as an Ex Ranger is extoled (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A13755-2003Jul5&notFound=true)

From the Washington Post..: OOPS... (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A60120-2004May1&notFound=true)

From Micha Wright's website: http://www.micahwright.com/ranger.htm
http://www.micahwright.com/ranger-2.htm
http://www.micahwright.com/ranger-3.htm

I don't care if you were in the military or not. Just don't lie about it to earn some sort of street cred. I'll bust your balls for it. :mad:
Syniks
24-05-2005, 00:29
Who?

Me, just now. It's called Google. Interesting gadget that. Makes BSing a little more difficult.
Keruvalia
24-05-2005, 00:52
Well that's pretty nutty. Most people who claim veteran status don't usually go with the Rangers. They usually claim to be "secret SEAL Team 6" (hint: There has never been a "secret" SEAL team or BUD/S class, though DevGru is highly classified).

Contact the Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC) for more information.

I always figure if someone wants to claim to be a Ranger, so be it. Though I did get a chuckle out of one guy who said he was a Ranger and even did the research and came up with a Co., Btn, and unit and all that ... except he "forgot" the name of his CO.

Now, I don't know about you, but knowing the name of the guy who signed the orders that made sure your ass didn't become 200 pounds of swiss cheese during combat is certainly something *I* remember ... no matter how much of my memories I drink away.

Meh ... it's obnoxious, but he appears to have apologized. I'll let it go. I'm not one to hold a grudge.
Syniks
24-05-2005, 01:09
Incidentally, is there any reason given to actually believe the person making the claims?
It's really easy to find out if someone was in the military or not... especially if they have a semi-uncommon name... like Micah Wright.

For instance, a quick check (just now) shows only 2 "Micah Wright"s in the DOD database... neither of which is a Micah I(an) Wright.

For fun, I did Eutrusca's and it came back, lo and behold, that he was in fact in the Army and was in fact a Capitan.

If you make claims to being a RL Veteran and you are not, anybody with your RL name can verify it and call you out as a liar and charlatan. Sometimes faster than than a speeding FOIA.

(Czardas can claim to have been Vice Admiral of the US Navy and it wouldn't matter because it's RP.... supreme leader of the universe indeed... :p )
Keruvalia
24-05-2005, 01:14
For instance, a quick check (just now) shows only 2 "Micah Wright"s in the DOD database... neither of which is a Micah I(an) Wright.


Hey, incidently, where are you getting this stuff? When I wanted my dad's service record to make a shadow box of his stuff to pass on to my kids, I had to send off for it via mail.

I didn't know there was a place on the web.

Edit: On a quick look, I had to go through NARA.
Tuesday Heights
24-05-2005, 01:45
There was a special they did on Dateline a few weeks back about a guy who pretended to be a Navy Seal, ended up marrying like five women and ended up getting away with until he ran away with his next wife stealing hundreds of thousands. It's such a shame to see people do this, get away with it and nothing be done to stop them. Such a shame!
Eutrusca
24-05-2005, 01:50
There was a special they did on Dateline a few weeks back about a guy who pretended to be a Navy Seal, ended up marrying like five women and ended up getting away with until he ran away with his next wife stealing hundreds of thousands. It's such a shame to see people do this, get away with it and nothing be done to stop them. Such a shame!
It's more than just a shame, it's dispicable, not to mention illegal in some States.
New Sancrosanctia
24-05-2005, 01:59
I suspect you missed the point. No apology was expected or asked for.
still, your introduction could easily be read as an attack. i know it wasn't, paps, but still, i for one try to refrain from statements like "you conservatives" as no one conservative, is going to agree on everything with every other conservative. and pretty much no one in the political spectrum is going to side with this micah character.
if "you conservatives" lump this kind of dishonesty with "us lefties" :p than, it seems to me, there is no hope for reasoned political debate in this country, and it's more the problem of those who are making this kind of assumption than mine. ah well. everybody do the monkey.
Tuesday Heights
24-05-2005, 02:02
It's more than just a shame, it's dispicable, not to mention illegal in some States.

I totally agree with you. There's no words really to describe how sick, dispicable and otherwise incomprehensible.
Sdaeriji
24-05-2005, 02:06
It's more than just a shame, it's dispicable, not to mention illegal in some States.

Does that imply that it is legal in certain states? Could you perhaps list said states? ;)
Raem
24-05-2005, 02:08
He apologised more than a year ago. Why is this news now?
Cathenia
24-05-2005, 02:12
http://www.mishalov.com/False_MoH_Recipients.html
http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies8.htm

There's a lot of that going around. It's an utter disgrace to those who actually win the medal for doing something valourous. Beware of Gresham's Law.

Cathenia
Cathenia
24-05-2005, 02:17
It's nothing new - I have a book, The Rambling Soldiers, about the British soldier throughout history and there's an interesting chapter 'Street Campaigners'. Before there was no 'veterans affairs office' and most vets ended up on the street. The short chapter tells how to recognize fakes and real ones. The real ones just play it cool and generally don't want to talk about it. Then there are those who've served but not as heroically as they'd wished and they make a lot of noise. Finally there are outright fakes who, losing a limb through accident or disease, buy (or steal) surplus uniforms or medals and become confidence men.

Point being, it's always been done. It's a crying shame but it's nothing new under the sun.

What did YOU do in the war grandpa?
Cathenia
Eutrusca
24-05-2005, 02:24
Does that imply that it is legal in certain states? Could you perhaps list said states? ;)
Sadly, there are more states where it's not illegal than those where it is. :(
Eutrusca
24-05-2005, 02:27
He apologised more than a year ago. Why is this news now?
An apology is good but it doesn't make everything just hunky-dory. There are mass-murderers who have "apologized," but they still had to do the "Westinghouse Dance."

I never said it was news. I just now learned about it and thought I would share it. ( shrug )
Raem
24-05-2005, 02:30
An apology is good but it doesn't make everything just hunky-dory. There are mass-murderers who have "apologized," but they still had to do the "Westinghouse Dance."

I never said it was news. I just now learned about it and thought I would share it. ( shrug )


He didn't kill anybody, he lied.
Eutrusca
24-05-2005, 02:39
He didn't kill anybody, he lied.
Sigh. He did far, far more than just "lie." He besmirched not only the honor of military personnel and veterans, he gave the causes he championed a bad name and thus all other people who support those causes.
Kecibukia
24-05-2005, 02:42
He isn't the only loser out there doing stuff like this.

check out the "wall of shame". The pictures are down now but they still have links.

http://www.authentiseal.org/index.html

I actually know a guy that was listed on the site. It's sad that these people have so little self esteem/respect that they have to actively pretend to be someone. Pathetic really.
Whispering Legs
24-05-2005, 14:37
It's fairly easy these days to out someone without even going to the military and asking.

There are people over on SOCNET who will look into guys who are posers for you.

In the past, it might have been easier to lie about prior service, but the Internet now makes a quick check all that much easier.