We knew Michael Moore couldn't stay out of the spotlight for long. An Iraq war veteran who lost both arms in combat is suing Michael Moore for $85 million, claiming Moore used clips from an NBC "Nightly News" interview without permission in falsely portraying the veteran as anti-war in Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," according to The Associated Press.

Sgt. Peter Damon, a National Guardsman, is asking for damages due to "loss of reputation, emotional distress, embarrassment, and personal humiliation."

The AP reports:

"In his interview with NBC, Damon was asked about a new painkiller the military was using on wounded veterans. He claims in his lawsuit that the way Moore used the film clip in 'Fahrenheit 9/11' - Moore's scathing 2004 documentary criticizing the Bush administration and the war in Iraq - makes him appear to 'voice a complaint about the war effort' when he was actually complaining about 'the excruciating type of pain' that comes with the injury he suffered.

"In the movie, Damon is shown lying on a gurney, with his wounds bandaged. He says he feels likes he's 'being crushed in a vise.'

"'But they [the painkillers] do a lot to help it,' he says. 'And they take a lot of the edge off of it.'

"Damon is shown shortly after U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., is speaking about the Bush administration and says, 'You know, they say they're not leaving any veterans behind, but they're leaving all kinds of veterans behind.'

"Damon contends that Moore's positioning of the clip just after the
congressman's comments makes him appear as if he feels like he was 'left behind' by the Bush administration and the military.

"In his lawsuit, Damon says he 'agrees with and supports the president and the United States' war effort, and he was not left behind.'"

Michael Moore's fast and loose, smoke and mirrors playing with the truth tactics are well known in the documentary film community. It's how he acquires permission or otherwise licenses footage for his films.

We here at "Hollywood Confidential" are pleased that Sgt. Damon has the courage to take on Moore and Miramax for their slick piece of propaganda. We wish Sgt. Damon the very best in his lawsuit - and in his rehabilitation.