This is quite interesting:
THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned from a military source close to the investigation that Pvt. Scott Thomas Beauchamp–author of the much-disputed ‘Shock Troops’ article in the New Republic’s July 23 issue as well as two previous ‘Baghdad Diarist’ columns–signed a sworn statement admitting that all three articles he published in the New Republic were exaggerations and falsehoods–fabrications containing only ‘a smidgen of truth,’ in the words of our source. . . . According to the military source, Beauchamp’s recantation was volunteered on the first day of the military’s investigation.
If Beauchamp did, in fact, lie about these incidents, and have these lies printed in a national publication, I don’t see how an Article 15 doesn’t result from this. The combination of his recantation and the Article 15 will destroy any “credibility” he hoped to garner for his anti war views by serving in Iraq, and will also kick the legs out from under any support he might have hoped to receive from the progressive movement, IVAW, or VoteVets.
I don’t see how this wouldn’t be a disastrous amount of egg (a resignation worthy amount, actually) for Franklin Foer, either. And my god, what a blow for TNR’s credibility. First Stephen Glass, now Scott Thomas Beauchamp.
Several bloggers will also be deeply embarrassed by their support of Beauchamp and TNR (I’m not going to name names here, these bloggers know who they are), but I suspect their method of dealing with the embarrassment will be the usual — They’ll just stop writing about the incident, and pretend their previous attacks never happened.
via Glenn Reynolds
Update: McQ names names. It occurs to me as well that Bruce would probably know whether this (the lying) is a nonjudicial (Article 15) or judicial (courts martial) matter in terms of how Beauchamp would be punished.
Update 2: Via QandO commenter Scott Jacobs, it seems the Army may have already indicated that Beauchamp will be receiving administrative punishment, so probably Article 15.
Update 3: Welcome again, Instapundit readers, and thanks once again, Glenn.
Update 4: D’oh. Reader and slashdotter Guy Montag points out that I’ve forgotten at least one: Eve Fairbanks. Thanks, Guy!
Filed under: Iraq, Media, Military, News, Politics, Scott Thomas Beauchamp
You missed at least one: First Stephen Glass, then Eve Fairbanks, now Scott Thomas Beauchamp.
Seems like TNR stopped firing them after Glass.
What about Ruth Shalit?
To all the bloggers who have successfully exposed this pig Beauchamp… well done!
The American military is worthy of our appreciation and praise and this incident only further strengthens that view.
Volluntarily recanted on the first day of investigation <– I think the military culture of honor has infected Pvt. Beauchamp.
In house punishment recommended. Let him work in the skullery for a month peeling potatos, and then welcome him back cleansed of sin.
Seriously. He has done the war effort an immesurable service by exposing TNR.
Well, either he lied to TNR, in which case he has no integrity, or he lied to the Army, in which case he has no integrity.
If he was intimidated by the army, he STILL has no integrity AND he’s a poser as well. So much for the brave soldier- scribe.
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