Files refute reservist's Iraq story

[Sal316]

Files refute reservist's Iraq story
Haab detained 7 at state rest stop

Robert Anglen
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 3, 2005 12:00 AM

When Patrick Haab was arrested in April for holding seven undocumented immigrants at gunpoint at an Arizona rest stop, the Army reservist described himself as an Iraq war veteran and used that status to generate financial support and sympathy from around the country.

But military records obtained Tuesday by The Arizona Republic show that Haab never served in Iraq and indicate that he was on the verge of being removed from the military because he was paranoid, threatened to kill himself and pulled a knife in an altercation with fellow soldiers.
<snip>
Arizona Republic

[Sal316]

1. Reststop Rambo busted.

Now this is funny. A guy who is a hero to all the anti-immigrant neocon nutjobs, including Hannity, is nothing but a fraud.

Oh what tangled webs we weave....

[meganmonkey]

2. It's also really sad - this guy needed some serious help and should

not have been driving around with a gun:

"...he reportedly told a commanding officer during an Arabic cultural awareness class that he "just wants to kill all of the camel jockeys," including a Muslim soldier in his own unit.
As a result of that incident and an apparent suicide attempt moments later..."

on edit: Reading further, it looks like some steps were made to interfere with his gun ownership etc...but still :wtf:

[zbdent]

19. Come, now, doesn't the NRA support every lunatic's right

to carry a gun?

;)

[PunkPop]

3. Suurpriiize, Suurpriiize (a la Gomer Pyle)

I'm shocked. Just shocked I tell ya.

[Greeby]

10. Which Gomer Pyle?

this one?



Or more likely this one:

[alarcojon]

11. I vote for the latter

whose suicide attempt was successful, by the way.

[greekspeak]

4. Ah...the good old days when the nutjobs stayed on the compound

Remember? They used to hole themselves up from the evil world of "mud people" and fags, waiting for the revolution in which they would help overthrow the evil government of libruls and insitute the white, anglo-saxon protestant theocracy?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Haha! And RW'ers had the nerve to challenge ANDY???

There's a racist sucker born every minute!

[Sal316]

6. You know what their first defense is?

"We doubt that his military records should have ever been released."

Well, if you're suing the County for $1 million, ya better expect them to dig into your background.

[Fridays Child]

7. This is but one example of why the Border Protection Patrol Act...

...will lead to big trouble, if it passes.

http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_briefs

[northzax]

8. paranoid? brought a knife to a gun fight?

sign this man up for the Bush Administration! He should be Ambassador to the UN!

[alarcojon]

9. What a piece of work

In February 2004, Haab was removed from his unit in Kuwait, the records show, after he reportedly told a commanding officer during an Arabic cultural awareness class that he "just wants to kill all of the camel jockeys," including a Muslim soldier in his own unit.

Think about that. He included a US soldier in his own unit on his bigoted hit list.

According to the records, he received counseling for five months and a military official said "he did not think Sgt. Haab was ready to return to duty or become a functioning part of society." Military officials found out that while on "med hold" at Fort Bragg, Haab spent $12,000 on a .50-caliber sniper rifle. They were concerned enough to contact the Surgeon General's Office.

Not only was he not considered fit for duty, he wasn't even considered ready to become a functioning member of society. Yet he walked the streets, the proud owner of a sniper rifle the authorities knew about, ready to "kill all of the camel jockeys" and probably all the Mexicans too.

Haab maintained that race had nothing to do with his decision to stop the immigrants, but following his arrest he became a celebrity on conservative talk radio and television shows where he said immigrants were turning the country into "Americo," a combination of America and Mexico.

Of course he maintained that "race had nothing to do with it." Even the most ignorant racist KNOWS they have to say that to the authorities and in the public at large. But when among his own, on the rabid, hate-mongering right-wing media, his true colors show.

Of course, we all know that Hannity will report all of this in a "fair and balanced" way, right? :sarcasm:

[NNN0LHI]

12. This guy fits the profile of a typical freeper. No shit

And also a few well known foaming at the mouth Mexican haters. Wonder what ever became of Lou Dobbs wife trying to get on a commercial airliner with her fully loaded .357 Magnum? Ain't heard no more about that.

:scared:

Don

[Mizmoon]

13. Something stinks about this story

Okay, so they are claiming that he told a commanding officer he wanted to kill "camel jockeys" and a unit-mate, AND MOMENTS LATER he tried to kill himself?

Does anyone else find this hard to believe?

I'm not defending this jerk, I think his actions suck, but this story smells like confused BS to me.
---------------------------------------------------

In February 2004, Haab was removed from his unit in Kuwait, the records show, after he reportedly told a commanding officer during an Arabic cultural awareness class that he "just wants to kill all of the camel jockeys," including a Muslim soldier in his own unit.

As a result of that incident and an apparent suicide attempt moments later, Haab was transferred back to the United States for a mental health evaluation at Fort Bragg and

[alarcojon]

16. The "moments later" was actually hours

Two months after arriving in Kuwait, the records state, Haab was pulled out of the cultural awareness class by his superior and ordered to talk to a chaplain. A few hours later, he became distraught, threatened to commit suicide and got into a scuffle with military officials attempting to take away a hidden knife.

If I may speculate: his superior told him if he didn't straighten up, he could get discharged. The chaplain preached to him about brotherly love. In his paranoid state, he thought even the army was against him, and life wasn't worth living anymore.

Who knows?

[Mizmoon]

17. bad writing - it gets me every time

Hours are not "moments" in my mind. Your version makes more sense.

[alarcojon]

18. I agree, bad writing. eom

[rocktivity]

14. The guy who shot Dimebag Darrell Paul

had been discharged from the Marines as a paranoid schizophrenic. What with their recruiting shortfalls, I suppose we should be grateful that the military is still willing to deem some people unfit to serve.

:headbang:
rocknation

[htuttle]

15. Lighten up, Francis!

[damntexdem]

20. I just don't understand: given his qualifications ...

why wasn't this guy appointed U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.? Or are they saving Haab to be Ambassador to Mexico?

[ElectricHermit]

21. If

He paid $12,000 for a .50 cal he got ripped off.

[Mairead]

22. That poor soul. If the reportage is accurate, he needs serious help

Preferably before he loses his grip completely and kills someone.

But of course he won't get any. They will lock him up, though, after.