OT: Sorry to OT on the first few comments, but lizards-YA GOTTA READ THIS.

Accommodation as a Tool of Radical Islam!

It's a shame Bill Burkett is being questioned... I mean, how do you explain these documents?

Rathergate reference, for you hatchlings.

Our nation's self-defense should not be politicized. I am dismayed to see it.

To whom you are married increases your credibility as a writer?

Duh?

The magazine’s editor, Franklin Foer, disclosed in an interview that Beauchamp is married to a New Republic staffer, and that is “part of the reason why we found him to be a credible writer.”

My mind is utterly blown by this admission. When I was in J-school, one of the first things we were told was that, if your own mother told you that the sun rose in the east, you were to get confirmation from at least two other sources.

I'm sure a military board of inquiry is going to have a field day with this schmuck.

re: #5 Ojoe,

He was their friend's husband, of course he was telling the truth. He wouldn't lie and say what they wanted to hear, would he?

Would he?

Oops.

All I can say is thank God for the investigative reporting on this from the blogoshere. Makes you wonder if Kerry could have been nipped in the bud back when if we had this awesome resource.

Dishonorable that lying bastadge. Yeah, he'll be deified by the nut-roots but he'll be just another proven liar and a disgrace. Then fire the wifey, let the editor fall on his sword and finish off this outbreak of cancer

From the overnight thread,

From a commenter at Confederate Yankee:

The PAO, MAJ Leudeke, indicates a formal investigation is taking place. I believe that means a 15-6 investigation is taking place. A dis-interested field grade officer will be assigned to investigate both the allegations that Beauchamp made as well as his behavior in this thing.

I imagine the incident has reached, at a minimum, Brigade level, and probably has General Officer attention. He will probably get an Field Grade Article 15. I would recommend the maximum punishment but not a dishonorable discharge. That would be reduction in grade to E1, loss of four weeks pay over 2 months, 45 days of extra duty, 45 days of restriction, $1400 fine, and General Officer Letter of Reprimand in his Performance fiche. I doubt that he will be Court Martialled unless he requests it. I hope he can salvage a General or Honorable Discharge for his service.

I think that is fair. And, for your info PFC Beauchamp, I was a First Sergeant in Iraq and I never considered the events you described as plausible.
Posted by y7 at July 27, 2007 03:54 AM

Sounds good to me. Except, would the Army still want him? I suppose they could put him somewhere out of the way, with no Internet access, where he can't do much damage. Fixing potholes or some such.

What happens at The New Republic is more interesting to me than the fate of their Bill Burkett.

"Beauchamp, meanwhile, is in a world of hurt, as the military has launched a formal investigation into the crimes and ludicrously bad behavior he wrote about and shopped to the New Republic—instead of reporting to his commanding officers."

Attention Moonbats:

In the real world, you are responsible for your own actions.

Beauchamp is troll in the most absolute worst fashion. He is a liberal, who joined the army? I know lots of liberals and not a single one would ever consider joining the military. He did it solely to establish the credibility to disparage the army, our soldiers, and our mission.

He is a traitor and he deserves a traitor's fate.

re: #9 Iron Fist

People like the Foer should never be in charge of anything real...

re: #14 Leonidas Hoplite

Too bad this war is not formally declared. Boy we are hampered by that omission.

Unlike Dan Rather, this man is in the Army and they have real control over him. He did not report serious abuses to his Officers or he was lying like a dog, making his fellow soldiers look very bad.
I'd say that some charges are going to be made and given the Jury panels in the Service, and their level of sympathy, he could be in for a real rough time.

[Link: www.daybydaycartoon.com...]

Now, imagine for a moment that the Weekly Standard had run a piece called, say, "We're Winning in Iraq", by an anonymous military source, without revealing that the source was married to a WS staffer. Specifically, to the WS staffer who wrote the piece. Do you think TNR would cover this by saying "this only increases the source's credibility"?

Utter hypocrisy.

re: #12 Dar ul Harb

From the overnight thread,

From a commenter at Confederate Yankee:

The PAO, MAJ Leudeke, indicates a formal investigation is taking place. I believe that means a 15-6 investigation is taking place. A dis-interested field grade officer will be assigned to investigate both the allegations that Beauchamp made as well as his behavior in this thing.

I imagine the incident has reached, at a minimum, Brigade level, and probably has General Officer attention. He will probably get an Field Grade Article 15. I would recommend the maximum punishment but not a dishonorable discharge. That would be reduction in grade to E1, loss of four weeks pay over 2 months, 45 days of extra duty, 45 days of restriction, $1400 fine, and General Officer Letter of Reprimand in his Performance fiche. I doubt that he will be Court Martialled unless he requests it. I hope he can salvage a General or Honorable Discharge for his service.

I think that is fair. And, for your info PFC Beauchamp, I was a First Sergeant in Iraq and I never considered the events you described as plausible.
Posted by y7 at July 27, 2007 03:54 AM

Sounds good to me. Except, would the Army still want him? I suppose they could put him somewhere out of the way, with no Internet access, where he can't do much damage. Fixing potholes or some such.

What happens at The New Republic is more interesting to me than the fate of their Bill Burkett.

Bah, the military is in a "Damned if they do, damned if they don't" situation here. This turd is well on his way to being the new cause celebre' for the LLL.

Valerie, Cindy, move aside, there's a new shithead in town.

Here's my thing - if I'm in the military and I see bad things going on, I'd report them up the chain of command. If TOP doesn't like it, then it goes to the LT and up.

Having said that, this guy comes across as a poor writer and seething with hate. Screw 'em.

re: #5 Ojoe

Oh, come now. Surely you knew that in the liberal world, the only reason to get married is to enhance your prestige, get money, or obtain a position that you otherwise couldn't attain (see, e.g., Joe Wilson and the Niger mission).

Foer also said Beauchamp “has put himself in significant jeopardy” and “lost his lifeline to the rest of the world” because military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

Guess he remembers now that he is in the fracking Army.

#9 Iron Fist:

He wouldn't lie and say what they wanted to hear, would he?

Oh, it wasn't just what they wanted to hear, it was what he was absolutely ACHING to say. His "narrative", doncha know. You've been reading some of his blog postings, right? This guy basically was preening himself to be the next Wilfred Owen. That's the whole reason he joined the Army, by his own admission.

Man, I hope the Army's big green machine rolls right over this turd.

What happened to journalists like Ernie Pyle?

Naah, today we have Tokyo Roses. Who lie, distort the truth and manipulate pictures. Remember the picture of the Brit soldier that was photochopped?

re: #22 thedopefishlives

Yeah, And since you can get sex beforehand all you want, that's not a consideration, and children are overpopulation and bad for the earth.

Who does Foer think he's kidding when he denies that Thomas was motivated to lie by his lefty ideology? Maybe the nutroots...but it was my understanding that TNR wants a broader audience.

re: #19 Occasional Reader

Now, imagine for a moment that the Weekly Standard had run a piece called, say, "We're Winning in Iraq", by an anonymous military source, without revealing that the source was married to a WS staffer. Specifically, to the WS staffer who wrote the piece. Do you think TNR would cover this by saying "this only increases the source's credibility"?

Utter hypocrisy.

Spot on.

So this guy is Joe Wilson in fatigues?

You know that if for some reason any of the misdoings he wrote about turn out to be true (doubtful IMHO), and the Army nails him for failure to report them to his commanding officers, you will hear all kinds of garbage from the left about it being pay back from the Army (and the GWB WH, of course!) for having written something anti-military.

Special Court Martial, a year at Club Fed, and a Big Chicken Dinner for this tool.

OT, sorry it's so early, but this is breaking

Riots and bombing at Red Mosque Prayers Friday.

re: #33 thanos

Why is this news?

re: #1 WriterMom

OT: Sorry to OT on the first few comments, but lizards-YA GOTTA READ THIS.

Accommodation as a Tool of Radical Islam!

A sensible, moderate Muslim. How refreshing.

#14 Leonidas:

He is a liberal, who joined the army? I know lots of liberals and not a single one would ever consider joining the military.

There are a few. Not many, but a few. E.g., former LGF poster Reaganite has a brother who was a former Green Beret, and is a Democrat (don't know if he self-described as "liberal", per se). There are still a few JFK-style patriotic Democrats out there.

Beauchamp has lost his lifeline...and no longer has a friend to phone.

50/50 anyone?

I am not sure what article of The Uniform Code of Military Justice covers this. Maybe somebody on active duty can comment.
This has to be covered and you do not get all the same protections that you get in a civil court.
If he has fabricted, he is in a world of manure standing on his head.

re: #25 Occasional Reader,

Yeah, he already knew what he was going to say before he got to Iraq. I hope the POS gets a dishonorable discharge after some time in Ft. Levenworth. Words mean something, and actions have consequences.

Hey, I don't have reply to and quote buttons.

I am glad the military is conducting an investigation.

re: #40 Ed Mahmoud's Sock Puppet

Hey, I don't have reply to and quote buttons.

Well, I didn't. They got better.

Following in the footsteps of Jayson Blair and Howell Raines, except for that niggling detail of having to deal with a formal military investigation instead of just Pinch and his pet moose.

re: #37 cosmo

Beauchamp has lost his lifeline...and no longer has a friend to phone.

50/50 anyone?

That took me a second to get. I would suggest he ask the audience, especially the AOL folks!

re: #40 Ed Mahmoud's Sock Puppet

Hey, I don't have reply to and quote buttons.

I see it on mine...maybe reload your browser?

his particular story

Lovely. This is the "He can't be wrong because there is no truth anyway" kind of liberal bullshit.

who was a former Green Beret

Make that, is a former Green Beret. It's not that he somehow has now ceased to be a former Green Beret.

[banging head on desk]

re: #3 Dar ul Harb

I wonder, did Mr. Scott Thomas fax his story from a Bagdad Kinkos?

re: #37 cosmo

Beauchamp has lost his lifeline...and no longer has a friend to phone.

50/50 anyone?

LOL

Then how's he posting this?

(Fake, but accurate.)

Wow. Foer really wants to ride this one down. Apparently he has learned nothing from the fools who have gone before him.

Fine. Perhaps it's about time that we start calling for HIS head. So who is Foer's boss?

Something I found recently: Canwest Invests in New Republic

The other owners are Martin Peretz, editor-in-chief of TNR since 1974 and co-founder of The Street.com; Roger Hertog, vice chairman of Alliance Capital; and Michael Steinhardt, philanthropist and president of Steinhardt Management Corporation, a private investment venture. Laurence Grafstein, managing director at Lazard, is an advisor to the partnership.

So New Republic is partly owned by a Canadian media conglomerate - Canwest Global - an entity I am familiar with. Among the papers Canwest publishes up here in Canuckistan is the conservative National Post. The owners of Canwest are pro-conservative (and pro-Israel). They recently covered the VisionTV /jihadist debacle on the front page above the fold.

Perhaps a letter writing campaign calling upon Canwest and other owners to examine Foer's poor decision-making in selecting Beauchamp as a source which resulted in publishing what is likely to prove as utter lies. Asking the owners of New Republic to enforce some reasonable ethical standards is now in order - in my not so effin' humble opinion.

Beauchamp, meanwhile, is in a world of hurt, as the military has launched a formal investigation into the crimes and ludicrously bad behavior he wrote about and shopped to the New Republic—instead of reporting to his commanding officers.

This POS had better be thankful that the upper Brass have him under scrutiny, because his mates can't put the good ol' Army Discipline smackdown on his shiny white hiney. This boy needs a daily blanket party, if y'all get my drift. His buddies can't really do too much to him now.

'Course, he's not smart enough to realize that, seeing as how he's not smart enough to bang two rocks together successfully...

JAFLW

Ambrose called the WWII versions of this guy "Sad Sacks".

re: #36 Occasional Reader

Agreed. I specifically used the term "liberal" instead of "Democrat" because there are some Democrats who do not subscribe to the views of the hard-left segment of the party. I just don't run into many in Westchester County, NY.

Even knowing this is a liberal coverup for a liberal scheme gone bad, I still cannot fathom why he would say that being married to a staffer gave a writer credibility.

I'm stumped. Maybe Cognito could clue me in.

re: #47 Occasional Reader

I know well a number of grunts, some of them still packing shrapnel from 'Nam, who are liberals today. And a few conservatives as well.

"I stink, therefore I sham."

I thought that the default liberal response to accusations was to claim that your patriotism is being questioned? Why hasn't Foer played that card yet?

re: #14 Leonidas Hoplite

He wants to be Kos... Not that his military service makes his lunacy any more credible, either...

(H/T Hot Air via zmdavid on the overnight, for Fake Scott Thomas, by the way)

Yeah, one of my best friends votes Democratic but is in the air force. Wouldn't really call her a liberal. Loves guns....don't get her started on gun control vs NRA.

Imagine for a moment that the Weekly Standard had run a piece called, say, “We’re Winning in Iraq,” by an anonymous military source, without revealing that the source was married to a WS staffer. Specifically, to the WS staffer who wrote the piece. Do you think TNR would cover this by saying “this only increases the source’s credibility?”

Most people would die laughing, including me.

Beauchamp, meanwhile, is in a world of hurt, as the military has launched a formal investigation into the crimes and ludicrously bad behavior he wrote about and shopped to the New Republic—instead of reporting to his commanding officers.

This is what I find upsetting. This guy didn't report this at the time. If his story is true, he didn't try to stop it. If his story is false then, well, he's a liar. Either way, this guy is an a**hole.

Next we will hear the the "Fake but accurate" defense from TNR

re: #58 christheprofessor

re: #14 Leonidas Hoplite

He wants to be Kos... Not that his military service makes his lunacy any more credible, either...

What did Kos do in the Army - peel potatoes?

We shall see what happens to this guy... Even just one untruth will destory every piece of credibility he ever had, as well as any credibility of The New republic.

shouldn't TNR be happy that the truth of the story is being formally investigated? you would think that with the eyewitness of a credible writer that they would have no complaints.
/

Anybody know how to send care packages to his unit at FOB Falcon? The rest of his unit could use some Lizard love. This has to suck for them.

re: #63 scottthecanuck,

He told the narrative that needed to be told. It's his narrative, even if it didn't exactly happen the way he told it.

That's what's coming.

re: #54 NiceLass

Even knowing this is a liberal coverup for a liberal scheme gone bad, I still cannot fathom why he would say that being married to a staffer gave a writer credibility.

I'm stumped. Maybe Cognito could clue me in.

It really points to a different worldview, doesn't it? I've noticed this with liberal friends. They throw personal anecdotes around like "My neighbor is Jewish and he's more critical of Israel than I am."

In this case, I think they are trying to say that since they trust the staffer they can trust the spouse. They are oblivious to the fact that that does not say Word One about the spouse's credibility or the credibility of his story. But since they like the story, they are perfectly happy to invoke the lowest standard of credibility they think they can get away with.

Foer also said Beauchamp “has put himself in significant jeopardy” and “lost his lifeline to the rest of the world” because military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges

Cry me a river.

Isn't *HE* the one who said he barely had time to take away from his busy schedule fighting the war to write or respond to blog posts? I guess now, he'll have more time to concentrate on doing his job.

*IF* Beauchamp is in "jeopardy" its because he squarely put himself there by disobeying Army regulations (at the least) and by telling tales about his colleagues intended to discredit them and the military in general.

But I don't believe he'll be *physically* hurt by this, for the simple reason that the colleagues he thinks are drooling morons are likely both wiser and morally superior to him.

Sharmuta.....Hi.

So I think most of agree that he joined so he could write these kind of stories. Thinking this would give him the credentials for this.

So maybe a truck accidently hitting a dog becomes a Bradley intentionally running over one.

This discovery of a grave becomes the skull story. Etc

He takes a common Iraqi event, and embellishes it hugely.

"Lost his life line to the rest of the world"? Did he lose his mail privileges also? Give me a break. Having been on three carriers prior to internet and cell phones the mail works just fine for getting in contact with the "world".

His writing has in effect places all his seniors on report because they failed to properly supervise him and or report his activities.

“It is really unfortunate that someone like Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story, has become a pawn in the debate over the war and the Weekly Standard’s efforts to press an ideological agenda.”

Here's a hint goof ball - He has become a pawn through HIS actions and YOUR actions. Not by anyone else's.

re: #37 cosmo

Beauchamp has lost his lifeline...and no longer has a friend to phone.

50/50 anyone?

I'm thinking MD 20/20... and he's gonna need it!

JAFLW

Foer also said Beauchamp “has put himself in significant jeopardy” and “lost his lifeline to the rest of the world” because military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

Geez, I almost feel bad for the poor little traitor.

/

re: #34 Ojoe

re: #33 thanos

Why is this news?

Because it's an ongoing battle for the future of Pakistan, an Islamic state armed with nukes and cruise missiles that can reach pretty much anywhere with a shipboard launch. It's also where current leader Al Qaida, the org responsible for 9/11 is most active. If you don't think this is news in the war on terror, you aren't really paying much attention.

And a moment of silence for the owner of the Ghost Of Rugby The Rat, without whom this moment would have been almost certainly impossible.

I sit in amazment at just how right the bloggers were in this case.
He is a flaming lib.....who had aspired to be a writer.
Wifey even reference it when she quoted him years ago as the "editor-in-chief" of some LIBERAL college magazine.
He was ID'ed down to the company in Iraq by knowlegable military bloggers.
His motives were further exposed by an astute reader who caught his demotion from private first class to private.

This has all been a great exercise to get us in shape for the election dirt soon to come.

re: #73 cpuller,

They are trying to put his actions beyond question. Kinda like they did the Attention Whore's before they got fed up with her.

It's all BS.

The whole "I only joined the military for credibility" thing was the nail in his coffin.

Somehow he thought being a Private gives him unassailable insight into geopolitics, foreign policy, defense, etc. and that would back-up his liberal ideologies that were formed before he enlisted.

(Relax, TNR lurker, I served.)

re: #72 MKelly

"Lost his life line to the rest of the world"

I think this is TNR code for "he can't leak any details of the investigation to us so that we can further slime the military and prop up our "source-in law."

Beauchamp "lost his lifeline to the rest of the world"? He apparently missed the part that when you join the military, the military is your world - and your weapon is your lifeline.

re: #47 Occasional Reader LOL! reaganite once told me his younger brother was a "lefty-liberal" but smart (if that's not a contradiction in terms!) and that their holiday celebration dinners (which were, unfortunately few and far between, given his and his older brothers active duty service) were, um, "interesting"!

Foer said: “It is really unfortunate that someone like Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story

There's part of the key to this story. For some Liberals, there is no true reality. The facts do not exist. Each one of us has our own reality, and all are equally valid, hence, Scott was just telling us his "particular story", his reality.

Foer also said Beauchamp “has put himself in significant jeopardy” and “lost his lifeline to the rest of the world” because military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

He can be brought up under Article 134 at least. Curious to see if the command tries NJP or straight to court martial.

I see prestigious Humanitarian and Literary Awards in Scott Thomas' future:

The Rigoberta Menchu Truth in Journailism Award
The Arafat Waheed Khan Humanitarian Award
...

Is it against the law to submit a phony story to The New Republic? If he really didn't do or see the misdeeds he claimed, is saying he did publicly a crime, assuming he doesn't lie in the official investigation?

If his official, under oath story is different, will we ever know?

I think it's sedition, but that doesn't seem to be prosecuted any more.

re: #84 ChildOfMary

re: #84 ChildOfMary

Foer said: “It is really unfortunate that someone like Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story

There's part of the key to this story. For some Liberals, there is no true reality. The facts do not exist. Each one of us has our own reality, and all are equally valid, hence, Scott was just telling us his "particular story", his reality.

reminds me of an episode of Cheers

Fraser to Cliff "Cliff, what color is the sky in your world?"

Foer is naive to believe he can print this type of slander and NOT have scrutiny. This tripe invites a thorough vetting. So Foer needs to stop whining and produce.

....military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

Bwahahaha, that's the least of his problems.

Not incidentally, if Beauchamp's wish was to use his military background as a springboard for some political aspirations, he isn't going to be able to.

Kerry, at least, did actually command a swift boat, and was actually wounded in combat (however superficially).

This guy may well end up demoted (if he hasn't been already, and I think there was some speculation that he actually has), and his record is going to look like crap.

Mean Gene, I don't know how many times I posted the following here, but it's amazing how the world of information has changed in the last 10-15 years.

Before blogs, internet, Fox, Rush, we had to believe what the big three networks and Time magazine told us. There was little recourse or investigation possible.

I always use the example of the South Vietnam officer shooting the terrorist in the head. Although that event obvisouly happened, no one knew the story behind it. I was probably exposed to that image....say 400 times in my life before I heard what the terrorist did.

And how many people know that when Dan Quayle had the famous "potatoe" incident, that the public school teacher handed him a card with the word spelled that way?

i just went to TNR and realized that it's a subscription site! you can read the summarized lie for free or you can pay 10 bucks a month and read the full lie

re: #64 Ward Cleaver

re: #58 christheprofessor

re: #14 Leonidas Hoplite

He wants to be Kos... Not that his military service makes his lunacy any more credible, either...

What did Kos do in the Army - peel potatoes?

Heh. That probably was his most dangerous assignment... That is, after scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush...

I mean, let's face it. I'm married to a construction worker so does that mean I can operate heavy machinery?

Do you want a one word answer or two?

Is there any confirmation on when this guy joined the military?

I think that's a key question that needs to be investigated...

re: #93 bosforus

i just went to TNR and realized that it's a subscription site! you can read the summarized lie for free or you can pay 10 bucks a month and read the full lie

Try [Link: www.bugmenot.com...]

re: #90 markx

....military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

Bwahahaha, that's the least of his problems.

Yes, apparently the fun doesn't stop there.

re: #8 Happy Viking

I'm sure a military board of inquiry is going to have a field day with this schmuck.

I'd like to get a look at this punk's 201 file, bet it's full of Company and Field Grade Article 15's.
I agree that he should be booted out with a dishonorable discharge, but not before he spends some quality time at Fort Leavenworth Military Prison. Which is where Hanoi John Kerry belongs.

re: #10 mbruce

All I can say is thank God for the investigative reporting on this from the blogoshere. Makes you wonder if Kerry could have been nipped in the bud back when if we had this awesome resource.

Indeed it does. I have often wondered about this very thing.

re: #85 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Foer also said Beauchamp “has put himself in significant jeopardy” and “lost his lifeline to the rest of the world” because military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

He can be brought up under Article 134 at least. Curious to see if the command tries NJP or straight to court martial.

I favour the Courts Martial!

I've got to admit I'm enjoying this one.

Now, I have no problem with Mr. Foer. The fact that Beauchamp was married to a staffer is, I'm sure, the reason he was so certain Scott Thomas is a soldier. OK, that's established. Doesn't mean what he was saying is true, but he is a soldier. Fine. And, to be fair as well, he did publish Beauchamp as a diarist, not as a major article.

No, the part I enjoy is what is now happening to Pvt. Beauchamp. He makes these allegations, and the military is actually investigating them. He has either admitted to numerous violations of the UCMJ, or has lied to bring disgrace on the military, which is also a UCMJ violation. I really look forward to seeing how the investigation continues.

And I'd love to see if TNR covers it...

Drew Garrett

Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story

Who does this clown think he'll convince by this kind of nonsense? Note to Foer: you got snowed, and now it's public and embarrassing. Suspend Beauchamp, wait for the results of the military investigation, promise consequences pending that investigation, make good on them, apologize publicly, and revise policy so this doesn't happen again, ever. Or, stonewall, flail, whine (in that order), and take TNR with you.

re: #50 justacanuck

Leonard Asper, the CEO of Canwest is a friend of mine, and based on the conversations I have had with both him, and his late father, is a Lizard.

However is a hands off, editorially, with most of his investments.

re: #94 christheprofessor

re: #64 Ward Cleaver

re: #58 christheprofessor

re: #14 Leonidas Hoplite
He wants to be Kos... Not that his military service makes his lunacy any more credible, either...

What did Kos do in the Army - peel potatoes?

Heh. That probably was his most dangerous assignment... That is, after scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush...

Wonder if the U S Army still has S*** burning detail?

re: #50 justacanuck

Great research there friend.

Pssst, TNR, a little hint.

The cover up is worse then the initial violation. You were careless and got fooled by a con-man. Fine. Now you should keep quiet or maybe turn on him and eat your own man.

Otherwise you are tied to him as he goes down.

How many syllables in a Haiku? I forget.

re: #65 tfc3rid

We shall see what happens to this guy... Even just one untruth will destory every piece of credibility he ever had, as well as any credibility of The New republic.

Nah, the media will ignore it saying "we're waiting for the investigation."

Months/years later when the investigation is over, they'll ignore it saying "this was already reported on, it's old news."

re: #105 Buck

re: #50 justacanuck

Leonard Asper, the CEO of Canwest is a friend of mine, and based on the conversations I have had with both him, and his late father, is a Lizard.

However is a hands off, editorially, with most of his investments.

The Lizardoids are everywhere.

Bwahaha!

re: #96 tfc3rid

Is there any confirmation on when this guy joined the military?

I think that's a key question that needs to be investigated...

The next question should be why he joined?

re: #76 Thanos

All you say is true. I should have used the"sarc" tag.

Like this

Violence at a mosque, big news!

/sarc

Ignore the details of soldier Scott - it only harms us.

Focus on the lying liberal media aspect. TNR misleads public about "anonymous" left wing blogger/plant.

re: #109 Guy_Montag

How many syllables in a Haiku? I forget.

5-7-5

re: #113 Ojoe

re: #76 Thanos

All you say is true. I should have used the"sarc" tag.

Like this

Violence at a mosque, big news!

/sarc

Nah, not big news more radical islamic SSDD!

re: #95 NiceLass

You probably could operate it.

“It is really unfortunate that someone like Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story, has become a pawn in the debate over the war and the Weekly Standard’s efforts to press an ideological agenda.”

Oh vomit. If Beauchamp is a pawn, it's because you made him one, you asshole. You knew if he were ever found out, he'd be in deep shit; but you let him hang himself anyway. So get off your moral high horse, douchebag.

As for Beauchamp, I can't say it any better than Greyhawk:

Scott Thomas Beauchamp is an asshole. He either did what he said he did to a disfigured woman in a DFAC (which makes him an asshole) or he fabricated the story for reasons unknown (which makes him an asshole).

re: #55 Mike C.

In that Vietnam had a draft, you would expect vets from both sides of the aisle, though . . .

re: #92 Dave the.....

And how many people know that when Dan Quayle had the famous "potatoe" incident, that the public school teacher handed him a card with the word spelled that way?

Really? I've never heard that...

re: #106 Dustyvet

Heh. They'd be burning both of their writings....

re: #116 Dustyvet

What is "SSDD"?

re: #118 David Simon

“It is really unfortunate that someone like Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story, has become a pawn in the debate over the war and the Weekly Standard’s efforts to press an ideological agenda.”

Oh vomit. If Beauchamp is a pawn, it's because you made him one, you asshole. You knew if he were ever found out, he'd be in deep shit; but you let him hang himself anyway. So get off your moral high horse, douchebag.

As for Beauchamp, I can't say it any better than Greyhawk:

Scott Thomas Beauchamp is an asshole. He either did what he said he did to a disfigured woman in a DFAC (which makes him an asshole) or he fabricated the story for reasons unknown (which makes him an asshole).

Two for two!

re: #108 Dave the.....

You were careless and got fooled by a con-man.

Why have people here made the leap of logic that TNR had no knowledge that Scott was married to a staffer?

re: #121 Ojoe

re: #116 Dustyvet

What is "SSDD"?

Same S*** Different Day!...:) Tomorrow we will cover BOHICA,and SNAFU!

re: #124 Dustyvet

Also "FUBAR" which is beyond "SNAFU"

“It is really unfortunate that someone like Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story, has become a pawn in the debate over the war and the Weekly Standard’s efforts to press an ideological agenda.”

He's not a pawn, you fool. He was trying to use his fellow soldiers as his pawns, and your pawns, in TNR's efforts to press an ideological agenda.

But he failed to realize that the Army has this strange habit of enforcing its regulations.

Oopsy!

If he's lying, he's a complete and utter scumbag and should be had up for treason after the Army gets through throwing the reg. book at him. If he's telling the truth (which I doubt, for numerous reasons including his stated reason for joining the Army and my own acquaintance with the behaviour of soldiers), then he is at fault for not reporting any of these incidents up the chain of command. Either way, he's in serious trouble.

re: #103 agarrett
No, the part I enjoy is what is now happening to Pvt. Beauchamp. He makes these allegations, and the military is actually investigating them. He has either admitted to numerous violations of the UCMJ, or has lied to bring disgrace on the military, which is also a UCMJ violation. I really look forward to seeing how the investigation continues.

That sums it up very well.

But what is BOHICA?

re: #83 realwest

Realwest, whatever happened to Reaganite and Ann? I was offline for a while and they were gone.

re: #125 Ojoe

re: #124 Dustyvet

Also "FUBAR" which is beyond "SNAFU"

Yeah!..:)

re: #128 Ojoe

But what is BOHICA?

BEND OVER HERE IT COMES AGAIN...:)

Yes, the Quayle thing. Not only was the card that the teacher handed him mispelled, but the cards were checked first (do an internet search on this).

Know why Dan Quayle has more class then most Democrats? He never went after that teacher in public. Do you think a Clinton or Kerry would have taken the fall for the teacher?

"Lost his life line to the rest of the world" - uh huh. Makes it sorta seem like he'll meet an "unfortunate death" while in combat or just get outright fragged, right? I mean, that's really why those POS at TNR said that.
The reality is that Pvt Beauchamp is probably the safest soldier in Iraq - the US Military will go to extreme lengths to make sure that nothing physically bad happens to him.
Fuck what TNR wants us all to think about this.

re: #83 realwest

re: #47 Occasional Reader LOL! reaganite once told me his younger brother was a "lefty-liberal" but smart (if that's not a contradiction in terms!) and that their holiday celebration dinners (which were, unfortunately few and far between, given his and his older brothers active duty service) were, um, "interesting"!

You do know of course that that's NOT the Green Beret brother, right?

Basically, TNR, though one of their employees, contracted for a design-and-build story defining US soldiers as banal cretins.

The wife says to her editor, "You know, my hubby is over there and you wouldn't believe the stuff he sees!" "Really?", the editors respond. "Yes," she says, "and he is a really good writer. I could have him send you some of his stuff. I think our readers would really identify with it."

Wifey then tells hubby exactly what sort of product is in demand at TNR. Hubby dutifully prepares his product and delivers it on time and under budget.

This is what passes for reporting in the liberal MSM.

re: #67 distwalker

Anybody know how to send care packages to his unit at FOB Falcon? The rest of his unit could use some Lizard love. This has to suck for them.

Outstanding idea ... your thot process just gave my mind a bit of expansion!

Tks. Sign me up ...

re: #38 opnion

I am not sure what article of The Uniform Code of Military Justice covers this. Maybe somebody on active duty can comment.
This has to be covered and you do not get all the same protections that you get in a civil court.
If he has fabricted, he is in a world of manure standing on his head

Fact is, a soldier receives more protections under the UCMJ. For example, long before civilian suspects were being read their "Miranda" rights, soldier suspects were being read their rights before questioning. Although there are more things you can be charged for in the military, (when was the last time a civilian was charged with adultery?) the soldiers' rights are better looked after in the military.

re: #95 NiceLass

I mean, let's face it. I'm married to a construction worker so does that mean I can operate heavy machinery?

Do you want a one word answer or two?

Yeah, kind of like if your spouse was President, does that men you can be President too?

Hahaha... oops, wait.....

re: #132 Dave the.....

One other little point about Quayle: when he ran the hew and cry was that he lacked "experience" in elected office.
Do the math.
When he ran as on that ticket as VP (not president) he already had more time in elected office than Hillary does now or Obama does now.....and they are running for president, not VP!

re: #36 Occasional Reader

There are still a few JFK-style patriotic Democrats out there.

sorry, does not compute.....

re: #136 Bobibutu

I will figure it out and post the address in this thread.

re: #25 Occasional Reader

#9 Iron Fist:

He wouldn't lie and say what they wanted to hear, would he?

Oh, it wasn't just what they wanted to hear, it was what he was absolutely ACHING to say. His "narrative", doncha know. You've been reading some of his blog postings, right? This guy basically was preening himself to be the next Wilfred Owen. That's the whole reason he joined the Army, by his own admission.

My feeling as well. A book deal, maybe a movie. The talk-show and campus circuit.

"A talented new voice with unmistakable accents of authenticity. A no-holds-barred account of the hellish reality of the Iraq war!"
- The New York Times Review of Books

OldTime Rock and Roll at GCP, quoting from a Confederate Yankee piece he found courtesy of LGF's own Dar ul Harb, notes that Beauchamp posted explicit details about his units movements on his blog, just another charge he'll probably face. Instead of a SCM with a Big Chicken Dinner, maybe he'll get a GCM with a full DD and a decade at the Club Fed resort outside Kansas City.

Another long day...cleaning an M16, landscaping, dipping Pro Masks (gas masks to civilians) into strange concotions, a little bit of office work...basically a hodpodge of menially tasks to keep me busy. We finally got official dates on Iraq deployment: May 15 - Our Bradleys get shipped to Kuwaite June 11- Advanced Units move in June 28 - Bravo Team, second squad, first platoon, Alpha Company, first battalion, 18th brigade, first infantry division (the breakdown of who I belong to) deploys. Were probably going to sit in Kuwaite sic for some unknown amount of time, and then move into Baghdad...

re: #105 Buck

re: #50 justacanuck

Leonard Asper, the CEO of Canwest is a friend of mine, and based on the conversations I have had with both him, and his late father, is a Lizard.

However is a hands off, editorially, with most of his investments.

I have no problem with Asper being hands off editorially - I think he should be - and I would be too if I were in his shoes.

This, however, is a matter of the ethics and competence of an editor at one of his investments. I doubt Leonard is interested in seeing one of his latest investments get turned into a laughing stock due to questionable decision making skills by those who run it day-to-day.

The longer Foer stonewalls and backs Beauchamp, the larger the steaming pile of shat gets that Foer will eventually have to eat.

re: #103 agarrett

I've got to admit I'm enjoying this one.

No, the part I enjoy is what is now happening to Pvt. Beauchamp. He makes these allegations, and the military is actually investigating them. He has either admitted to numerous violations of the UCMJ, or has lied to bring disgrace on the military, which is also a UCMJ violation. I really look forward to seeing how the investigation continues.

And I'd love to see if TNR covers it...

Yeah, kind of a lose/lose situation, huh?

*snickers*

re: #139 mean Gene

Good point...

re: #129 bolivar There was a fit of madness on LGF many months ago, with several former regulars attacking Charles for all sorts of things (but mostly over his allowing American Infidel to continue posting her seemingly incessant attacks - all of which were lies - on reaganite and when she discovered reaganite and Ann got married, she opened her own blog with them as the feature story for a loooong time).
In any event, some of the former regs (e.g.,
Rayra, Sarah D. and others) got so out of hand that Charles banned them all. IIRC, reaganite "quit" before that, but was "banned"
along with Ann by Charles on that one particular night.
BTW, as my good friend and great LGFer Obi-wan once put it, "it was as if some folks came to your house for a party, bitched about the food, took a couple of dumps on your carpet and then complained about the guest list."
FWIW, given what was said about Charles on his own blog - HIS BLOG, you understand-
I don't blame Charles at all (although if it had been MY blog I'd a banned AI much sooner than did Charles, but Charles is more patient than am I).

re: #134 Occasional Reader Of course.

re: #143 Ed Mahmoud's Sock Puppet,

Wouldn't that be amusing. He so wanted to be Jf'nK II, maybe he'll do the time Jf'nK deserved :-)

Realwest. I remember that. I was off for a couple of days and when I checked in, eveyone was talking about the super nasty thread from the night before.

I took a quick look at it and decided to pass.

“It is really unfortunate that someone like Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story, has become a pawn in the debate over the war and the Weekly Standard’s efforts to press an ideological agenda.”

Translation: None of us were expecting to get caught. We're really p*ssed the wing-nuts found us out, and that makes us victims being picked on by The Man. Now go back to sleep.

Fuck hitting the post button too soon - re: my #
184, that should be "of course, the Green Beret is reaganite's older brother; the younger brother isn't in the military."

re: #99 Dar ul Harb

re: #90 markx

....military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

Bwahahaha, that's the least of his problems.

Yes, apparently the fun doesn't stop there.

Owch! Well ... the guy appears not to be brain dead so that leaves either stoned or stupid ... and/or ... well let's not go there just yet - maybe Mr. Murtha would like to comment first. ;-)

PIMF My #134.
Sigh.

UCMJ 92 (disobeying an order-re- publishing details of his units deployment) and 134 (general article), article 132 1a (frauds against the United States)

re: #144 justacanuck

Good point, and that is probably the way it should be looked at.

Although "60 Minutes" and CBS did not get hurt by Rather and gang.

re: #140 wargammer2005 No disrespect, but I gotta go with O.R. on this - I do know some "liberals" or Democrats who haven't lost their minds. Not many, mind you, but some. And, strangely enough (or not) a number of them are Vietnam Veterans.
But they are JFK style Dem's - "we shall bear any burden, pay any price....." type Dems.

Foer also said Beauchamp “has put himself in significant jeopardy” and “lost his lifeline to the rest of the world” because military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

Once he gets out of Leavenworth he can write all he wants.

re: #155 Ed Mahmoud's Sock Puppet

Continuing to focus on the soldier can only go badly. ("US soldier jailed for speaking truth to power"... blah, blah)

"TNR caught in CBS/Rather style liberal MSM lies/coverup" plays better.

...I am not here as John Kerry Scott Beauchamp. I am here as one member of the group of 1,000 which is a small representation of a very much larger group of veterans in this country, and were it possible for all of them to sit at this table they would be here and have the same kind of testimony....

They told the stories at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war, and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country.

Someday, we'll be hearing this if Liberals get their way.

re: #141 distwalker

re: #136 Bobibutu

I will figure it out and post the address in this thread.

Great!

re: #150 Dave the..... Yeah, it was sorta like watching a train wreck coming, but being unable to do anything about it. I don't blame Charles AT ALL, but I do miss some of those posters A LOT.

re: #158 Ward Cleaver

Foer also said Beauchamp “has put himself in significant jeopardy” and “lost his lifeline to the rest of the world” because military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

Once he gets out of Leavenworth he can write all he wants.

I wonder if TNR will publish Letters from Leavenworth?

I know I won't be reading it.

re: #156 Buck "Although "60 Minutes" and CBS did not get hurt by Rather and gang."
I'm not so sure of that; cBS stock has been, IIRC, dropping since Rathergate and, of course, Rather justifyably walked the plank.

I'll bet $10,000 the only reason this Beauchamp joined the army is to enter politics some day.

Right out of a certain flip-flopper's playbook.

re: #153 Bobibutu

re: #99 Dar ul Harb

re: #90 markx

....military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges. ...

Bwahahaha, that's the least of his problems.

Yes, apparently the fun doesn't stop there.

Owch! Well ... the guy appears not to be brain dead so that leaves either stoned or stupid ... and/or ... well let's not go there just yet - maybe Mr. Murtha would like to comment first. ;-)

And keep the little sod out of the PX...:)

Can one of our resident PhotoShop-pers produce a "snapshot" of John Kerry commanding his swift boat, along with his mates: Scott Beauchamp, Jesse MacBeth, etc.

Maybe have them cruising up the Mikong Delta / Tigris-Euphrates, one guy kicking it back on the deck while reading a New York Slimes, another on his laptop blogging about the atrocities he saw committed that day.

Kerry, of course, is trying to map his location, having been lost for days...

re: #70 looking closely
*IF* Beauchamp is in "jeopardy" its because he squarely put himself there by disobeying Army regulations (at the least) and by telling tales about his colleagues intended to discredit them and the military in general.

But I don't believe he'll be *physically* hurt by this, for the simple reason that the colleagues he thinks are drooling morons are likely both wiser and morally superior to him.

__________________________________________________ ___
Fixed that for ya.

re: #135 distwalker

This is exactly the case, and so eerily Plame-esque.

Basically, TNR, though one of their employees, contracted for a design-and-build story defining US soldiers as banal cretins.

This is what passes for reporting in the liberal MSM.

Regardless of whether it's a journalism "ethics" violation (since there are no standards, rules, tests, licenses, certificates or other credentials to be a "journalist" other than be willing to write to the "narrative") you would think it might have set off alarm bells in the editors' heads.

But they were too eager to have an insider telling his "particular" fake but accurate "story."

If they were so worried about the Diarist remaining anonymous, they shouldn't have published him as "Scott Thomas". They weren't even smart enough to cover their tracks well.

I agree, Scott Thomas and his troubles, though fascinating, are the lesser story.

The phrase that has stood out for me from the beginning is "rigorously fact-checked." Would love to know more about that.

[Link: politicalhumor.about.com...]

re: #135 distwalker

I suggest you go read Elspeth Reeves' material, before you say things like that.

re: #167 reggie "Kerry, of course, is trying to map his location, having been lost for days..."
ROTFLMAO! Too true. And him, at the rank of Lieutenant in the Navy (which I think is a Captain in the Army), and not knowing how to navigate!

re: #168 gringo Uh, please see my #133 above.

re: #167 reggie

Can one of our resident PhotoShop-pers produce a "snapshot" of John Kerry commanding his swift boat, along with his mates: Scott Beauchamp, Jesse MacBeth, etc.

Maybe have them cruising up the Mikong Delta / Tigris-Euphrates, one guy kicking it back on the deck while reading a New York Slimes, another on his laptop blogging about the atrocities he saw committed that day.

Kerry, of course, is trying to map his location, having been lost for days...

[Link: politicalhumor.about.com...]

Nope but this picture of a Minnesota National Guard Unit in Iraq is grand!

The leftist establishment OWNS defeat.

There's nothing nuanced about it. They wanted defeat, they bought it, and now they own it.

re: #147 realwest

My stars.

Is that what happened? I was off, moving house, and when I got back, it'd been over for a long time.

I never did find the thread - I'm glad I didn't, actually, if it got that nasty.

Big deal. They're protecting their customer base. People who read them, and NEVER read anything on the Net.

While a larger group of people who do NOT read TNR, now know that Beauchamp was downgraded by the military. Where he writes that he's a private First Class; that's no longer true. What rules did he break to be downgraded to second class? I have no idea. But he certainly has cause to be holding a grudge.

As to Beauchamp's being married to Elspeth. One of the writers at TNR. All you get for your money are memories of Plame.

The left's a small group. Full of insiders. And, this is how they fight.

I doubt in this fight TNR is any better off than the TARNISHED CIA!

As to finding the truth, it's easy when you have bookmarks. I got my information from Flopping Aces. And, I've just shared.

re: #171 Dianna

Why? Because she tried to be edgy and "out there" with her liberal audience by supporting Ann Coulter in a back-handed way? Please. I did read that and it was damning with faint praise. The rest of her stuff is the usual predictable left-of-center drivel you would expect from anybody at TNR.

re: #147 realwest

I survived, and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt.

('Course, I realize that the commenter's job is to make the host look good.)

re: #147 realwest

That was what I suspected but, never could determine on my own. Too bad as I always enjoyed his point of view. His inside poop was frequently very interesting and more than a little informative. Really is too bad that some people just cannot be civil in somebody elses house - I would never take a crap on Charles rug and absolutely never in the punchbowl. Now as for bitching about the company we find ourselves in - hey I am only human and cannot suffer fools forever!

Thanks, and hope you are feeling better.

re: #54 NiceLass

Even knowing this is a liberal coverup for a liberal scheme gone bad, I still cannot fathom why he would say that being married to a staffer gave a writer credibility.

I'm stumped. Maybe Cognito could clue me in.

I have no idea. Frankly I don't care one way or another if the guy was married to a staffer -- there are other examples of husband-and-wife teams that have done very good work -- except that 1) he was writing pseudonymously and 2) he came up with some real humdingers. The veracity of the humdingers is what matters to me.

re: #175 bulbasaur

The leftist establishment OWNS defeat.

There's nothing nuanced about it. They wanted defeat, they bought it, and now they own it.

Someone sold them something, that's for sure.

Like they say, the first bag is free.

So many excellent posts.

And, now, I can't wait for the military to shake a leg; given that Beauchamp is identified. His laptop confiscated. And, he's got to answer to the military's chain of command. Not Foer.

Also, above, #175 Bulbasaur, said: THE LEFT OWNS DEFEAT!

What an excellent view point. Since they're the ones suggesting defeat; we see how they get stuck in it, time and time, again.

This TNR story won't go away. Elspeth may discover that her husband-writer either wears a dishonorable discharge; if he's lucky. And, that's all that happens to him, ahead.

Or she can plan on her extra weddings, that were supposed to occur in October, beinf forestalled a bit.

But hey! They are writers! More articles. People are listening, now.

re: #139 mean Gene

please do not confuse the liberals with facts

re: #131 Dustyvet

ROTFLMAO

The leftist pique at the scrutiny afforded Beauchamp's writing is interesting. TNR obviously had a purpose in publishing these stories, and no one seriously believes that the purpose was to let let this soldier "tell his story," or to report unflattering portrayals of U.S. troops that are too unpatriotic for the New York Times.

The left seems to be offended by the simple journalistic principle of fact-checking. They seem genuinely surprised that a natural response to a sensational factual assertion is to question that assertion. This is merely the re-warmed tripe that failed in the Clarence Thomas hearings: the seriousness of the allegation is itself a measure of truthfullness.

The ethical gymnastics of the New Republic are instructive however. I think they help explain why, even though the vast majority of college faculties are liberal, the vast majority of graduates are not, and the fact that while conservative talk radio thrives, liberal talk radio falls flat. Conversely, liberals do well on daytime television and they seem to have no conservative counterparts.

In general (and of course there are numerous conter-examples, but generally speaking) liberal discourse is concerned with the character of the people that it discusses. Nothing bad in the world happens but that it is traced to some character flaw of someone or other. Remember how Katrina was all about how officials didn't care because folks in New Orleans were, um...black? Or that intelligence was fudged to benefit Halliburton, 9/11 was a government plot, etc., etc.? The liberal worldview is heavily influenced by the notion that if something bad happens, it is because of someone's bad character. (Who's to blame for a natural disaster?) This plays well to emotion, but emotions tend to be transient things. Liberal talk radio fails because it consists of too much "Bush is an idiot, har har...Cheney is evil... the U.S. is the Third Reich, etc." Liberals put a lot of stock in their feelings. I'm not the one who came up with the term "bleeding heart liberal."

Conservatives trust facts and data, and check them vigorously. This is because conservatives tend to be more interested in the factual implications of particular positions than they are in emotional appeal. Read a liberal publication and you will find many individual vignetes, hard cases, "the human face" of policy. Read the conservative press and you will find statistics, historical analogies and other data not likely to make Oprah.

The writings of "Scott Thomas" are a perfect illustration of the thesis. Why did the New Republic publish these writings? Because they tended to evoke an emotional response. What was the underlying topic? The character of the individuals depicted. Why do rightwing blogs fact check this stuff? Because it is the most effective way to dispel its influence.

re: #157 realwest

please ask any democrat what Venona is

almost the entire platfom of the democrat party is 100% unconstitutional, in my view and others.

JFK sold the US out to the soviets, he got us into a mess and sold us out.

JFK sent thousands of troops to Vetman, in secret, killed the leaders of Vietman when they had the place under control because the state department did not like them, the vietman leaders.

he slept around of his wife

he cut defense programs that weakened the US, like Skybolt.

he lied to the Cubans that landed at the Bay of Pigs, he allowed the plan to be changed when it should not have been.

RFK had the nerve to be against a war his brother made worst.

God save the United States from such men as these....

re: #178 distwalker

I disagree.

Look at what she writes about; I don't think this woman would have involved herself in anything shady.

She writes far too well to have been in any way responsible for this disaster; I think she's receiving a nasty shock, and I'm sorry for her. I think she's believed every word Beauchamp has said to her, and what the blogosphere is pointing out probably is a revelation she never anticipated.

This guy is will probably be court-martialed...and deserves it. He has a DUTY to report this kind of thing to authorities; PRECISELY because the Army does not want this kind of thing publicised. Its not that such things never happen......in any sufficiently large number of people, you will find some who will deliberately run over dogs. But Beauchamp has a duty to report such activity when he sees it.

He did not CYA by reporting. Expect to see his A in a sling very soon.

The Army (all military) takes these matters SERIOUSLY. These will also be investigated, and probably found to be nothing more than an overactive imagination and political theatre. But whether or not any evidence is found to support the allegations in the article, this guy faces a general discharge at the very minimum, and possible prison time as well. And whatever he gets he will richly deserve.re: #94 christheprofessor

re: #64 Ward Cleaver

re: #58 christheprofessor

re: #14 Leonidas Hoplite
He wants to be Kos... Not that his military service makes his lunacy any more credible, either...

What did Kos do in the Army - peel potatoes?

Heh. That probably was his most dangerous assignment... That is, after scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush...

This guy is will probably be court-martialed...and deserves it. He has a DUTY to report this kind of thing to authorities; PRECISELY because the Army does not want this kind of thing publicised. Its not that such things never happen......in any sufficiently large number of people, you will find some who will deliberately run over dogs. But Beauchamp has a duty to report such activity when he sees it.

He did not CYA by reporting. Expect to see his A in a sling very soon.

The Army (all military) takes these matters SERIOUSLY. These will also be investigated, and probably found to be nothing more than an overactive imagination and political theatre. But whether or not any evidence is found to support the allegations in the article, this guy faces a general discharge at the very minimum, and possible prison time as well. And whatever he gets he will richly deserve.This guy is will probably be court-martialed...and deserves it. He has a DUTY to report this kind of thing to authorities; PRECISELY because the Army does not want this kind of thing publicised. Its not that such things never happen......in any sufficiently large number of people, you will find some who will deliberately run over dogs. But Beauchamp has a duty to report such activity when he sees it.

He did not CYA by reporting. Expect to see his A in a sling very soon.

The Army (all military) takes these matters SERIOUSLY. These will also be investigated, and probably found to be nothing more than an overactive imagination and political theatre. But whether or not any evidence is found to support the allegations in the article, this guy faces a general discharge at the very minimum, and possible prison time as well. And whatever he gets he will richly deserve.

#12 Dar ul Harb...others

Court martialing this dirtbag isn't worth the effort. He'll probably have to tap dace for a while get the field grade Article 15, then get a misconduct discharge [Ch. 14 AR 635-200?] (usually a general under other than honorable conditions characterization). IIRC, active duty milbloggers have some rules, and it is clearly obvious that PVT Beauchamp here violated them.

It seems to me that he already has one Article 15 in his history (if he went in as an E3 because of his college credit and time in service and grade) so a misconduct discharge would be just the administrative remedy that would work. He wouldn't want to risk a court martial and it is pretty clear that counciling and rehabilitation wouldn't work.

re: #156 Buck

Good point, and that is probably the way it should be looked at.

Although "60 Minutes" and CBS did not get hurt by Rather and gang.

While I don't follow CBS's stock, I'm pretty sure they were indeed hurt by the extended fooforah caused by Mapes & Co. Hurt in the credibility department - big time - and a long-lasting hurt it will be.

Speaking personally, from my twenties to mid-thirties, I had a very high regard for CBS news, 60 Minutes in particular. With the ever-increasing value to me of having my news delivered over the Intertubes, CBS and well, much of the MSM became far less important to me as sources for where I gather info and start forming opinions.

When Rathergate hit, what was left of my respect for CBS and its news properties went right out the window. Nowadays, I can't watch anything labeled CBS news, without an undercurrent of Rathergate running through my mind - and Katie-Smiley-Happy-Lefty doesn't help matters there either.

News and opinion is all about credibility of the news deliverer IMO, not quite as much as who breaks the story. This is why (IMO) so many stories that are broken by our excellent bloggers are often pretty much ignored by many in the MSM, until the story reaches such a boil that they must report it. This story is such an example - the conservative blogs have been tearing at this for what - a week now (?) - and the MSM is only just starting to jump in ...

Personally, I'm of the opinion that our much-maligned (and justifiably so) lefty-MSM is starting to come around and cover the other side. I hate CNN, (but I've got it on everyday - all day - because I can't get FoxNews) and yet I'm seeing a subtle change in tone on some of their shows. (Of course there is also Glenn Beck showing up on CNN HLN, months ago)

Anyways, I'm now way off-topic, so I'll leave it at that.

A couple of questions must be asked:

1. How is it that Scott Thomas Beauchamp, former Editor-in-Chief of The Prospect (a college newspaper), is currently serving in the Army?

His (maverick?) decision to serve his country is to be commended, but this is not the typical career path of post-60s journalists and editors. Indeed, the “military-industrial complex” is preached by them to be the source of all evil in the world today.

What went wrong?

2. How much difficulty does TNR have in verifying sources and reports?

Imagine a source that’s:
- the former Editor-in-Chief of a (liberal, campus) newspaper
- a former campaigner for Howard Dean
- married to a staff employee
- in the military (so he’s the “real-est” source possible)

Best of all, his whereabouts could be tracked in near-real-time; calls and e-mails have dates and times associated with them, any news sent back (by any method) would make the office rounds at warp speed.

[Advertising] 4 out of 5 depositions agree; people will remember the seemingly innocuous details of office gossip; who said what and when, when asked.[/Advertising]

Ignore for the moment that he’s apparently behind the promotion curve (the reason(s) can’t be important), and his non-traditional (very-retro?) career path selection (he’s a maverick, just like Howard Dean).

TNR, rightly, should have jumped (and did jump) at this particular sourcing opportunity; outstanding credentials (even, dare I say it, to the point of being “doctrinaire”), plenty of communication, little or no compensation needed, . . .

The problem is that the source, Mr. Beauchamp, was writing fiction, and the smell (generated by the writing itself!) was such that no one with a 6th grade education or more would believe any of it.

Doubtless, Frank Foer and the rest of the fearless editors at TNR will prove that their big one are not simply due to saline injections, and stand behind their creation / sacrificial victim, Mr.Beauchamp, to the end

re: #181 Cognito

re: #54 NiceLass

Even knowing this is a liberal coverup for a liberal scheme gone bad, I still cannot fathom why he would say that being married to a staffer gave a writer credibility.

I'm stumped. Maybe Cognito could clue me in.

I have no idea. Frankly I don't care one way or another if the guy was married to a staffer -- there are other examples of husband-and-wife teams that have done very good work -- except that 1) he was writing pseudonymously and 2) he came up with some real humdingers. The veracity of the humdingers is what matters to me.

Humdinger, schumdinger. The point is, how does marriage to a staffer lend actual credibility to a writer?

Also one more note:

A Bad Conduct Discharge and a Dishonorable Discharge are felony convictions, a court martial must include them as part of the punishment in a conviction. These can be appealed through the courts of military review. The worse characterization from an administrative point of view is a "general under other than honorable conditions" and this can be appealed only administratively.

Hi, everyone -- as a lot of you know by now, I was the leak at TNR. I appreciate the condolences people have offered about my sacking on Thursday morning, but on this point, at least, I have no ill feelings towards the magazine. I publicly posted my suspicions from the workstation in my office, so they have me dead to rights on the misuse of a company computer.

On the other hand, I am still very upset, as I've been since last Friday, at their decision to run with the half-truth that this is an ideological attack on the magazine by conservatives, without at least a simple acknowledgment that a number of active-duty military members have cited rational grounds to question the factuality of Beauchamp's anecdotes.

One positive thing I've got going for me right now is that a neighbor I've become good friends with over the past several months is a recruiter at a job placement agency, and she's already helped me update my resume and is keeping an eye out for good openings.

re: #195 Throbert McGee

Hi Throbert..LOL. So it wasn't RUGBY who spilled the beans?

For what it's worth-I think you did the right thing. Good for you.

re: #179 Dar ul Harb No, the commenter's job is not to make the host look good, but neither is it the commenters job to personally insult the host, attack the host's credibility, post nasty, I mean really nasty shit about the host of this blog over on another blog then come here and play nicey-nice, either. If you don't like the way the host runs HIS blog, go find another one.

re: #193 NiceLass

re: #181 Cognito

re: #54 NiceLass

Even knowing this is a liberal coverup for a liberal scheme gone bad, I still cannot fathom why he would say that being married to a staffer gave a writer credibility. I'm stumped. Maybe Cognito could clue me in.

I have no idea. Frankly I don't care one way or another if the guy was married to a staffer -- there are other examples of husband-and-wife teams that have done very good work -- except that 1) he was writing pseudonymously and 2) he came up with some real humdingers. The veracity of the humdingers is what matters to me.

Humdinger, schumdinger. The point is, how does marriage to a staffer lend actual credibility to a writer?

re: #195 Throbert McGee Hey Throbert! I am sorry you lost your job over doing what you thought was the right thing to do and do hope you get a MUCH better job with MUCH better pay and benefits.
And thank you for you work at TNR.

re: #195 Throbert McGee

That's a heck of an outlook, Throbert. Very principled. Good for you.

“It is really unfortunate that someone like Scott, who was really only trying to tell his particular story," Well, TNR , your boy, Scott, took an oath that requires him to obey the Officers and regulations of the Army. As a Soldier, he's not allowed to have diarrhea of the mouth and there's this thing called Operational Security, OPSEC, he has to observe & it involves not blabbing about stuff the enemy might use to kill Soldiers, ie. troop movements that he blogged about. Your boy was briefed by his Public Affairs Office on what he can say and blog about concerning the war, he violated those rules & now he'll face th music.

Greyhawk: “Scott Thomas Beauchamp is an asshole. He either did what he said he did to a disfigured woman in a DFAC (which makes him an asshole) or he fabricated the story for reasons unknown (which makes him an asshole).” What realy confuses me about certain elements of the left is how they paint Scott up to be some sort of hero. Like Greyhawk said, there's no denying he's an asshole. Doesn't making Scotty-boy a "hero" lower the bar for the left, and isn't that a slap in the face to Soldiers who happen to be leftist in their politics as well?

This guy is so screwed. 100 bucks says someone is pissing in his rack right now or at least stealing every sensitive item he has and "leaving" them in mysterious places where they will easily be found like the chow hall or latrine.

re: #202 Ninobrown79 Um, please see my #133.

Fortunately since he could not hold back his shocking stories, all of the people should still be right there. Courts Martial all around for anyone guilty of committing crimes, and of course one for Scott too. Either he failed to report the atrocities (presumably to make better reading) or he made them up. Either way it's beam me up Scotty...

(Charles how's that for an excellent point? Occasional reader my *ss.)

re: #197 realwest

re: #179 Dar ul Harb No, the commenter's job is not to make the host look good...

That was a bit of Rush Limbaugh's schtick...

Yeah, interesting point

Its no coincidence that the "atrocities" he writes about probably dont rise to the level of serious offenses (like murder, rape, etc) under the CMJ.

B/C he knows damn well his failure to report such offenses would amount to a serious offense, prosecutable and with hefty jail sentences attached.

So he hides behind allegations that "they made fun of that poor girl!" , failure to report which is not likely a crime.

Smart, shrewd little cockroach this turd is

ALso, dollars to donuts he and TNR had looooong conversations with lawyers before this was published.

No ones going to be hanging for this.

Unless the stories can be proven unequivocally false. Which is basically impossible.

TO sum up, the "stories" are just bad enough to smear the military (and of course, the war effort and Bush), but not quite bad enough that he'll go to jail for not reporting them.

He shoots he scores!

re: #51

I agree, s daily blanket party will eventually get the idea across to him. I as so glad i never served with a POS like this guy.

re: #195 Throbert McGee

Every good wish.

(The Rat's always the first to know he's on a sinking ship...)

re: #202 Ninobrown79

This guy is so screwed. 100 bucks says someone is pissing in his rack right now or at least stealing every sensitive item he has and "leaving" them in mysterious places where they will easily be found like the chow hall or latrine.

Nino, I concur. Maybe he won't get anything UCMJ but the scorn of other members of your unit can be enough to make him wish that he did. This guy is a firstclass Sh*tbag and is probably under protective custody as we speak. After he leaves the army he'll probably write an "expose" about all the aggressiveness towards him... that is if he survives his enlistment. A pissed off First Shirt and XO ain't to be toyed with.

re: #204 Peacekeeper

LOLOLOLOLOL

re: #205 Dar ul Harb Ah, got it! Sorry for being so pedantic before, but I never listen to Rush (or radio, for that matter) and so posted as I did.
The host is not immune to criticism - politely albeit firmly stated, but some of what some of those former LGFer's said was just soooo way over the line I couldn't believe it.
And frankly, I did try to e-mail some of those involved, while the train wreck was on the way, to try to get them to "get off the track" (i.e., chill or shut up or whatever), but unfortunately got some less than pleasant responses!
And the way the whole situation evolved was just awful; as I said, many folks could see the train wreck coming, but couldn't stop it nor turn our heads away.
And, again, while I do miss some of those posters an awful lot, bottom line is: Charles was right in what he did on HIS blog.

Occasional Reader Akbar!

re: #188 Dianna

I am not even arguing that she did anything consciously shady. The situation lends itself to ex post de facto shadiness. How could it not? She knows what is the editorial position of her employer, right? She knows glowing reports of how the US is winning the support of Sunni tribal leaders at the expense of al Qaeda will be a non-starter at TNR.

So did she direct her husband on what to write? Maybe not. Did she sell her husband as somebody who writes the right stuff? To some degree, certainly. So there you have it. This private didn't get published on the merits of his work. He got published because his wife promoted the type of stuff he would write either before or after the fact.

C'mon! There are thousands of writers who would love to get published in a national periodical. The desire to be heard is why blogs and online forums exist. About 99% or writers or more don't get published because their writing doesn't meet standards, pass the smell test for accuracy or, frankly, never makes it to the desk of a publisher. The crap written by "Scott Thomas" skipped the whole smell test step of the process and went straight to print. Purposefully or not, Reeves short-circuited the whole vetting process and the result was the tripe we all read.

I was initially reluctant to take the time out of my already insane schedule fighting an actual war in order to play some role in an ideological battle that I never wanted to join.

Hmm, reminds me of another American public servant's attempt to deflect criticism by admonishing us to let him "get back to the important business of running the country". His "particular" story turned out to be not terribly truthy either.

This guy found time to deliberately plant himself in the middle of an ideological battle he very much wanted to wage but his battle plan didn't include an opposing "blog" army. Oopsy.

re: #172 realwest

An old infantry maxim:

"Never trust a private with a loaded weapon, or an officer with a map."

Maybe Scott is Kerry's long lost son....

re: #215 distwalker

Let's see if the wedding comes off.

Is it true love? (How did they meet BTW?) or

Was he writing under the influence of P*ssy? or

Was she (and the Army) being used to further his writing career?
_____________

I'm still predicting an OTH.

Where's Jellobob?

re: #217 fernandez ROTFLMAO! Especially the
"...an officer with a map."

re: #218 fernandez

Whatshisname at TNR acknowledged that they are married now. My guess is that the honeymoon is now over.

Fernandez,

If you really are a JAG, I am glad to be out of the uniform.

I admit that I wasn't the best of soldiers, but to poop on my because I was a 77F is low, and makes me doubt you are an officer.

I wish I could write your CO and tell him/her how well you use government time and resources. Don't you have better things to do? Reporting you to the Army's PAO occurred to me, but I do have better things to do.

Granted, I am defending a dirt bag on an ultra-right wing board, but I would think that a JAG would be used to defending dirt bags, more a part of your job than mine.

re: #215 distwalker

Responding to myself with evidence to support my post #215.

The magazine's editor, Franklin Foer, disclosed in an interview that Beauchamp is married to a New Republic staffer, and that is "part of the reason why we found him to be a credible writer."

re: #221 jellobob

Darlin', I'm sitting at home right now and am using my computer. I don't even think I can even get this site [I haven't tried] on a military computer.

I'm glad your out of the Army as well. It sounds like the strain of peacetime service in Korea was too much for you. (Shock! Sex and alcohol around soldiers! Did you think you joined the Salvation Army?!) You also have that annoying, "I'm going to tell on you" quality. (Admirable when it counts, annoying when it's just because other people are 'picking on you').

77F, now 92F (Petroleum Supply Specialist) is a VERY dangerous job in Iraq. It's not in 90's So. Korea. You did your time and got your benefits. A job. A more than fair exchange of money and lifetime benefits for labor provided. As you yourself have stated, and apparently offer yourself up as an example, any idiot can join. (Though, I don't believe that is true, having seen multiple Silver Stars and Bronze Stars tossed out for a hot UAs). I have the utmost respect for any man, whether he's Forrest Gump or Albert Einstein, who puts his life on the line for something greater than himself. You're not half the man a 92F currently is.

If you want to show up here waggin' your dick around about being a former soldier and knowing every 'thang', then you can expect other soldiers to take the piss out of you.

A bit harsh, I know, but you deserve it.

re: #224 Fernandez

Hey Fernandez, you aren't "supporting the troops."

Oh, yeah, "supporting the troops" is an invention of the left so they can hack on the soldiers' mission without seeming too mean about it. I support the troops that support the mission because the mission is why we have troops. Troops that don't support the mission they exist to support need a boot in the ass.

SFC D. Walker 11B4P (Ret.)

Sorry, #211, BaconEatingKaffir, but I read, yesterday, (on a link at Just One Minute), that Beachamp's been downgraded to a "2nd class rank." He's no longer first class. Taken from his pay records.

As to fame and fortune, ahead? I think he will find it fleeting.

But the manure now stuck to The New Republic? It can last; just as it does for the New Yuk Times, and Jayson Blair. And, then who got stuck with the Glass guy's bogus stuff?

Is that any way to run a successful company? No.

But does it figure for the left, who can't find enough ways to spell "defeat," to stick their de'feet hip deep, into it? It's their ball. And, they're trying to toss it to Bush.

Folks, we're not in Vietnam. This isn't the 1970's. And, if Foer at TNR hasn't figured it out; so what? Americans are not spitting on their soldiers this time around.

As to "journalism school" this turkey, Beauchamp, is a graduate of Missouri U. You think the Ivy's are gonna cover his ass?

Me? I think the left is full of cannibals, quite able to chew on their own.

And, the NET won this round. The army of bloggers have found the holes that exposed this idiot for what he is: A FABRICATOR.

How powerful is the Net? You ask, now that you know Immigration Bill is dead? And, McCain is lost in a field of other runners, just like Ron Paul.

Yes. It's come to that, when you're comparing what the left's done to itself. TNR is not maximizing its own opportunities. There's little difference between the management at TNR and C-BS.

re: #225 distwalker

The great thing about the Army is that 'Tall Poppies' get mowed down if they aren't what they claim to be. It's a very self-regulating group.

(I love NCOs, they are the backbone of the Army!)

a most excellent parody

Oh, holy cripes. I just read the full WaPo story with the "I'm a tool of corporate imperialism" quotes from Beauchamp's blog -- FFS.

And incidentally, just to clear a couple points up -- I was working at TNR as a "contract employee" through a temporary agency, not as an official staff member. And Elle Reeve announced her surprise elopement with her fiance (whose name I didn't know until this week) sometime in May, shortly after I began working there.

Excellent Article [Link: www.realclearpolitics.com...]

Pvt. Beauchamp: In Big Trouble Either Way
By Jack Kelly

If what Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp wrote in the New Republic isn't true, he's in trouble, and so is the magazine.

If what Pvt. Beauchamp wrote is true, he's in bigger trouble.

Pvt. Beauchamp described how he made fun of a woman whose face had been severely scarred by an IED: "I love chicks that have been intimate with IEDS," Pvt. Beauchamp quotes himself as saying, loudly, to his buddies in the chow hall. "It really turns me on -- melted skin, missing limbs, plastic noses."

Next he described finding the remains of children in a Saddam-era mass grave uncovered when his unit was constructing a combat outpost: "One private...found the top part of a human skull...He marched around with the skull on his head...No one was disgusted. Me included."

Finally, Pvt. Beauchamp described another friend "who only really enjoyed driving Bradley Fighting Vehicles because it gave him the opportunity to run things over. He took out curbs, concrete barriers, corners of buildings, stands in the market, and his favorite target: dogs."

Pvt. Beauchamp described how his friend killed three dogs in one day: "He slowed the Bradley down to lure the first kill in, and, as the diesel engine grew quieter, the dog walked close enough for him to jerk the machine hard to the right and snag its leg under the tracks."

Now that they've demonstrated their diarist is a real soldier, the New Republic's editors feel vindicated. But the issue is not whether Pvt. Beauchamp is a soldier. It's whether he's telling the truth or not. And his story stinks to high heaven. No one else at the base ever seems to have a seen a woman who fits the description of the woman in the chow hall. No mass graves have been discovered during the time Pvt. Beauchamp has been at FOB Falcon. It is physically impossible for the driver of a Bradley to see a dog to the immediate right of his vehicle.

It would be better for Pvt. Beauchamp if he made his stories up. It breaks no military rule to BS gullible liberal journalists. But if Pvt. Beauchamp is telling the truth, he and his buddies have broken so many articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice that I haven't space to list them all.

It isn't only Pvt. Beauchamp who'd be in trouble. If the latter two stories are true, then his fire team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant and platoon leader either witnessed them, and did nothing about them, or were negligent in supervising their soldiers. And if I were his company commander, I wouldn't be expecting below the zone promotion to major anytime soon.

His superiors won't be happy campers, and neither will his fellow troops, to whom he has brought unwanted scrutiny, deserved or not. I suspect Pvt. Beauchamp soon will be the guest of honor at a blanket party.

That he is Pvt. Beauchamp suggests this is not his first brush with the UCMJ. He called himself PFC Beauchamp on his Web site last September, which indicates he's been busted a stripe. He's been in the Army long enough to be a Spec 4.

On his blog (Sir Real Scott Thomas), Pvt. Beauchamp indicates he's an aspiring writer who joined the Army to establish credentials for voicing his liberal political opinions.

But is Pvt. Beauchamp telling the truth about what he sees in Iraq?

In a blog entry for May 8, 2006, Pvt. Beauchamp describes an atrocity: "'Put a 556 in his head.' (The caliber of an M-16 rifle is 5.56 millimeters.) On the street below, the man's brown face dissolves in a thick red mist. The lights in the city's houses shut off in unison. Electricity rationing. Water rationing too. You ever tried to survive for more than a few hours in 120 degree weather?"

On May 8, 2006, Pvt. Beauchamp was in Germany, where temperatures rarely reach 120 degrees, and the electricity and water work just fine.

re: #103 agarrett

I really look forward to seeing how the investigation continues.

And I'd love to see if TNR covers it...

I'd love to see TNR offer a full page of rebuttal space in their print magazine to the milbloggers and other military critics who questioned aspects of Beauchamp's reports.

In a blog entry for May 8, 2006, Pvt. Beauchamp describes an atrocity: "'Put a 556 in his head.' (The caliber of an M-16 rifle is 5.56 millimeters.) On the street below, the man's brown face dissolves in a thick red mist.

Again, oh for fuck's sake -- now I have this vision of Beauchamp pounding keys on a big Liberal Trope Wurlitzer.

I know what they can do. If Scott really believes in his heart about his fellow soldiers...put him in the front in the worst area.